Mondays with Mayra - Living Life Forward, Sharing Wisdom Back

In this fascinating interview, Marc Davidson, the President of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Cal-State, Long Beach, discusses the organization's role in reinventing education for older adults. Moving beyond the confines of retirement, OLLI embraces the philosophy that one is never too old to learn, offering a curriculum centered on the pure joy of learning, free from the pressures of grades and academic credit. This lifelong learning approach helps participants find a renewed sense of purpose and fulfillment beyond their careers, fosters cognitive health and builds strong social connections. By providing a stimulating environment and diverse course options, OLLI empowers this  generation of learners to stay engaged with the world and continue their personal growth at every stage of life.

My friend Amy Coney Barrett whom I never met and who sits on the US Supreme Court and with whom I have a lot in common needs to know how I feel about certain issues as we both are mothers who have birthed and adopted children, white and brown, and both are practicing Catholics yet our beliefs are so different.  This mother worries about the inheritance our kids will get as Amy is also. Free speech? What about our brown children, what inheritance?

Host Dr. Mayra Fernández, mom of 17 children, 11 adopted, shares her thought-provoking ideas with her video friends in an "Open Video" to Amy on the Supreme Court whom she considers a fellow traveler with much in common: their womanhood, their educational background, Notre-Dame, their association with the island of Hispañola, their faith and .... a great love for their children, both birthed and adopted.  Dr. Mayra challenges Amy to remember what color skin Amy's two adopted children have and Mayra's and so many others. The big challenge indeed is to vote for the welfare of all children, not just theirs. and for Amy to think before Amy votes against her own black, immigrant children's welfare.

They had a dream: to be a songwriter! They realized that precious dream at Cal-State Long Beach's OLLI Center, a university withing a university with outstanding professors teaching the Elders of the communities around them. Watch, listen, observe that it is never too late with the right place, the right teachers and right dream to make it happen. These Elders prove it!

There are all kinds of grieving. You grieve for a lost key (yikes!) to lost friends, precious family members (who are you going to call in the middle of the night when your life is falling apart?), a home, a spouse (we don't want death to part us!). But, perhaps, the deepest wound to heal from is the death of your child. It doesn't make sense. It's totally unfair. It doesn't follow the cycle of life, for God's sake! Speaking of God, what about him?  See how Mayra does grieving the child she lost but she'll also share that your grieving is personal, unique to you. Should you ask others to respect your grieving process? Watch this video so that you and those you love are grieving can make some sense of it. Or is there sense to it?

Southern California was drenched with rains over a year ago. The rains caused great damage to people, businesses and housing. Then in the spring, flowers bloomed in this semi-desert land, flowers we had never ever seen before! Mayra shares some of them with us.So too our lives are deluged with pain and circumstances out of our control. If we hang in there long enough, believe enough, surround ourselves with people who support us, then the flowers of our lives bloom. It's as if they are saying with a prophet of long ago, "Wait on it. It will come to pass. It is not a lie!" Meet Vicky Perez.  After a very active and successful life, Vicky Perez is  in the the midst of great "rains"... brushes with death, a stroke, kidney transplant, pending blindness, yet she generates "flowers" in her day-to-day life.A simple but extraordinary life! A kick-ass life! You'll fall in love with her.

"Monday Mayra" brings us to the realization that, "What fun to be 83 and not give a hoot about what anybody thinks!" Here at the beach, one can dress fancy or prancy, call out a friendly hi! and not worry if they answer back. With Ash, her  co-host puppy, she shares a fun afternoon on the beach while giving  a fun and wise twist to her visit.

Visitors want my recipe for my super delicious and very nutritious breakfast cakes. But I just throw ingredients in. A lo loco! So here is the recipe for my Nutritious Delicious Crazy Breakfast Cakes!

Sharing My New Toaster Oven in Manner Easy to Understand and Not the  Least Bit Boring what with a Cute Puppy as Co-Host!

Stories are everywhere. They entertain us. They instruct us. They inspire us. We just have to look around. What family stories do you have? Who do you meet along your walks who look like they are living a great story be it sad, happy, etc. I take different paths. Let me share a few of them with you.

Where did Dr. Mayra Fernandez get the inspiration for her successful parent workshops?As a child, she dreamed of a better life—not just for herself, but for all children. That dream became her mission. Today, as an educator and advocate, Dr. Fernandez empowers parents with tools to help their children thrive: nutritious and delicious meals, loving and logical discipline, and brain-and-heart-based skills tailored to how children learn best.Now, in a post-COVID world where children and parents alike are struggling, Dr. Mayra is more determined than ever. But she can’t do it alone. She needs your help to bring her life-changing workshops into more schools—so that every child can dream, grow, and succeed.

You love your adult children. So why don't they call? Why do they forget your birthday? Mother's Day? Where did you fail them? Dr. Mayra Fernandez, mother of 17 children (yes, 17!) asks the same questions! Find out what her answer is! You'll be pleasantly surprised. Well, maybe not so pleasantly. But you'll be surprised!

I have a lover who has let me down, Amazon by name! Very famous. Very rich! All I wanted was a bike I could ride to church, swimming, shopping. Listen to my story and cry with me.

Hair! In the Bible and the Koran, hair is mentioned. It's honored and condemned. It can be a woman's glory or a pain in the neck. Is there a personal hair story of glory or pain in your life? What about funny or creative ones? Dr. Mayra shares hers. She also asks you to share yours!

Father's Day we meet Miguel Santini, an extraordinary man who has come from the proverbial Rags to Riches while involving and lifting up his family. Miguel Santini started selling used tires, then his own mechanic shop, then learning how to repair and paint cars, (body shop) then to get government contracts to repair government cars, then jump to diesel trucks! And surely there's another "then..." in his life. But Miguel Santini is a husband and father first and he has taught his children to work beside him.

A dad shares: "My child makes a mistake? The end of the world? No, the beginning of a wiser one!" Learn how this very sccessful father disciplines his five  children. First, he asks for their forgiveness for making his own the mistakes. View how it goes from there, the great lessons his children learn and the results.

A little boy saves his mommy from certain death, "Daddy, stop! You are hurting mommy."  Karen Connell's son, 6, raised his arms when the cops came,  guns drawn: "Don't shoot! We're the good guys!" he exclaimed. He knew he was the good guy yet his mother like many women in domestic violence situations had convinced herself otherwise. Karen, an incredible role model, explains the why, the how,  the healing, inner and outer .... and with a happy ending that has saved many other Karens.

A mother grieves the death of her daughter Suni so she writes a children's book to share Suni's life. Mom wraps her arms around the chair with her daughter's hanging school shirt to feel Suni's love and smiles. Her little grandson, sensitive and loving, does exactly the same. Mom then feels her daughter smiles as well. @mondayswithmayra

Southern California witnessed heavy rains this past year.  We struggled. Mother Nature felt badly about it and rewarded us with beautiful flowers which Mayra shares. Mayra dedicates this video  to her cousin, James Yuhas, Sr., her favorite veteran who fought in Korea for love of country at age 17 (yes, he lied!). PTSD was his reward.

A freeeee concert in beautiful Long Beach Airport with the famous Second Wind Band of professional musicians honoring Mother's Day!

Ron Gilbert, né Bernstein, fled a boring life to impersonating gangsters and other characters on stage and film. A glittering life followed: Broadway,  Hollywood, local theatres all over the world, television, acting and writing. He had a great time! Ron Gilbert invites you to his world.

She Was Left for Dead—But That Was Only the BeginningIn a brutal act of violence, a husband slashes his wife’s throat. As blood pours and hope fades, it’s her 6-year-old son who springs into action, saving her life. She escapes, collapsing in the street—until a doctor, by sheer miracle, happens to walk by.But this isn’t just a story of survival.It’s a story of transformation.Against all odds, she recovers. Then she chooses something extraordinary: to turn her pain into purpose. She rises—not just for herself or her son, but for countless others.She makes history.Watch the incredible true story of a woman who refused to let trauma define her—and instead, built a legacy from it.View this video. Be changed. Be inspired.

Last on "Mondays with Mayra," Karen Connell shared how her marriage to the charismatic, brilliant and handsome Michael led her into a marriage filled with the horrendous acts of control and violence. Finally she had had enough and snuck out with her young son. With months in a women's shelter she learned how to survive without him. She found out that he had started  going to AA. Could he possibly perhaps have changed? This question led to her plunging into the darkest part of her life. Michael slashing her throat. But Ward, her little boy, age 6, against his dad, 6'3," saved her from certain death. This is her story and Ward's.Next week, we will meet Karen again and what she has done with her life post-trauma. How she has changed the police and the law to help women and men in situations like she and her little boy experienced.

A Preview of a great story to come next week. The Love of her life charms her into total submission. Their son, 6, saves her from certain death. Dr. Mayra previews this extraordinary and compelling story and a taste of the interview for next week.

Allow me to introduce Kaylie and Jose, a couple who hold a special place in my heart. Married for just over two years, they are proud parents to two little ones under the age of two—two lively boys who, I’m honored to say, call me "Abuelita." Over the past few years, they've become like family to me and I have had the honor of being in their lives. This past month, I’ve had the privilege of spending time in their home, witnessing the love and care they share with each other and their children. I’m excited for you to hear their heartfelt insights on marriage, family, and the beautiful journey they’re on together!

Meet Maria Cervantes, Mom of 7 kids, who every year gets them together no matter how far they live or  how busy they are. As a special treat, meet Natalie Velazquez, the youngest of the 7, and hear her thoughts on our world and future.

Meet Lauren and David, a newly engaged couple that met a little over two years ago at my goddaughter's wedding! Lauren was a bridesmaid and David was a groomsmen. As they celebrated the love of two of their best friends, they ended up finding one another. Learn about their love journey and what they have to look forward to!

I beat high-blood pressure, pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, weight problems. Today at 83, I dance, swim and bicycle ride. And this wall is my secret!  Nutrients that keep me going strong including a 42-year-old mill for making real whole-grain bread my Mormon friends taught me to make. Plusl good friends whose pictures and presence I keep near me and in my heart for their supportand love.

There are internal walls and external walls. Walls to keep us safe. Walls to tell all who we are, what and who we love and even what we drink. Dr. Mayra shares her wall of beautiful art from her native Dominican Republic and her wall of art from China  including the art of tea. The Elder Ash, 77 in human years,  completes the picture.

No date for St. Valentine? Just look around you. There is love everywhere! In activities and hobbies you "love" to do by yourself or with others. In  people, even strangers, you meet.   Did you say strangers? Yes! Two young tourists stopped their strolling on the beach path to help Dr. Mayra when she fell from her bike as she was rushing to film young people training for the armed forces boot camp. We call that 'love". Yes, love of country. By talking to them as they did impossible exercises for their training, her heart felt uplifted and filled with love.In this enchanting video, let Dr. Mayra show you her adventures looking for love all in the right places. Even when she's still nursing her knees!

Dr. Mayra has been sharing interesting people and topics in her vlox for all to enjoy. Now she shares some highlights of her own life: mother of 17 children, over 20 grandchildren (and counting!), some scenes of her traumatic yet wonderful childhood, a not-so-happy divorce, her travels, her doctorate finally 19 49. You'll want her sharing some more. So don't forget to sign up and tell her so.

An engineer. A firefighter. Both living a great life as Wise Elders. One travels the world. The other rides in luxury. Cars, that is. How did they do it? What's the one thing they have in common? See if you can guess. And no matter your age, learn from them!

Wise Elders know they must also have fun. And there is so much to choose from. The variety of  our Elders having fun is outstanding! Come and join us as we share with them.

Jackie Robinson becomes a little girl's hero and mentor as she navigates her life toward her dream. Now she's asking her Wise Elder viewers to be a hero to others, to live life forward and share wisdom back!

I am Dr.Mayra Fernandez. I have a doctorate in multicultural education from the University of San Francisco so you know that this space is going to be full of learning, respect and curiosity. In each session, we will explore new topics, share stories and learn from each other.Imagine meeting new people from different backgrounds and having meaningful conversations that open your mind and bring fresh perspectives to your own upcoming or present senior years! It is also a warm and welcoming space where you will be encouraged to listen, share and just have fun. Whether you want to dive into a new subject with me, share your own experiences, or simply enjoy the company of people I will interview, Mondays with Mayra has something for seniors and about-to-be-seniors. It is a call. A serious call to Elderhood, so that together we can combat old biases about aging, above all, our own!I hope you will join us for this journey of discovery, connection and enjoyment. It will be a time to learn, laugh and leap together to new horizons!So this is the first albeit, short, episode of Mondays with Mayra. In the future with your suggestions,I will interview fascinating elders with lots to share about their current lives. With my camera I will take you to interesting places and events. We will have fun just being ourselves and sharing, sharing, sharing!See you every Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. You are welcomed to see this video on your own time and day on Facebook and on YouTube. One more thing…If I had known turning 70 would be so wonderful,        I would have turned 70 a long time ago!©-Dr. Mayra Fernandez See me on my webpage... https://mondayswithmayra.my.canva.site#elderly, #mondayswithmayra, #elderhood, #agingbias, #livelifeforward, #sharewisdomback