Available for Public Speaking and Workshop Share:
Valerie Anne Burns is a public speaker on swimming through unimaginable waves of life and remaining above water with one's humor, curiosity, and dreams intact. She also offers a workshop titled, “Living and Healing Through Color”. Valerie discusses how you can discover magical beauty that speaks to you and your own healing. Learn how to become aware of color in nature to inspire its use in your own life and notice beauty all around you even in the medical world! Find ways to add color you love in your home sanctuary and wardrobe accent to assist you in your well-being.
A dream came through when Valerie Anne had the opportunity to return to Italy when she was sponsored by https://sendmeonvacation.org/#sthash.WNomsML0.dpbs to share an imagery vivid essay from her book, as well as her workshop at a retreat in Tuscany for breast cancer survivors. "To be back in a country I love where I contributed to a wonderful organization that sends breast cancer survivors on retreats was not only rewarding, but spectacular!"
Valerie Anne has survived cancer twice (more recently from a long ordeal with breast cancer and complications resulting in 9 surgeries), many losses, sexual assault and an interesting collection of hurdles and choppy waves. She's also had amazing adventures and magnificent experiences.
Valerie Anne is an an author of collection of essays titled, Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a motherless daughter. It tells the story of her warrior ride from the perspective of a motherless daughter and how if effects, love, career, loss, heartbreak, hurdles, challenging genetics, and a path to healing by capturing moments of ethereal beauty. When Valerie is not writing, she has a business as a style consultant for home décor and wardrobe image makeovers. She is also a graduate of the Hollywood school of hard knocks.
Valerie Anne is an an author of collection of essays titled, Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a motherless daughter. It tells the story of her warrior ride from the perspective of a motherless daughter and how if effects, love, career, loss, heartbreak, hurdles, challenging genetics, and a path to healing by capturing moments of ethereal beauty. When Valerie is not writing, she has a business as a style consultant for home décor and wardrobe image makeovers. She is also a graduate of the Hollywood school of hard knocks.
Here is my roster listing as a speaker on the National Cancer Survivor Day website, https://ncsd.org/ :
VALERIE ANNE BURNS
805-448-770 valerieburns@verizon.net, Website: CautionMermaidCrossing.com
Facebook: @ValerieAnneBurnsAuthor
Instagram: @CautionMermaidCrossing
Santa Barbara, CA
Valerie Anne Burns is the author of the upcoming memoir Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a
Motherless Daughter, a soulful home and wardrobe
style specialist, and a breast cancer survivor who shares
a window into her moments of visual beauty, authenticity, and brevity through the most harrowing of times.
From her experience utilizing a keen visual sense as a
story editor in Hollywood to Santa Barbara closets and
homes, this candid speaker skillfully juxtaposes a complicated breast cancer journey with wry humor through
her topic – “Healing and Living through Color.” At just
three years old, she lost her mother to breast cancer
which has generationally impacted her life ever since.
Additional Topics of Discussion:
*Find moments-of-beauty and staying centered; tips to endure a long journey with breast cancer, surgeries, and complications.
*Women Navigating Breast Cancer - Tips on How to get through medical micro-managing and overcome an isolating journey.
*Building confidence again post-surgery/reconstruction with an individualized Image Makeover.
Below is the blog I wrote that inspired the workshop I share for conferences, retreats and healing workshops
Living and Healing Through Color
When I first walked in the unit I've now moved
into, my eye went straight to the industrial white semi-gloss walls everywhere.
Semi-gloss is rarely used in homes any longer. It immediately reminded me of
the many sterile walls I'd been surrounded by, which sent a chill up my spine.
Most medical institutions paint in clinical shiny white or green because it's
easy to clean. The thought of living in a similar environment would have
brought up trauma memory. I knew what I needed to do as a first step to
generate beauty in my apartment.
I nearly raced to a paint store visualizing
color, and it had not only been a long while since I had my own space, but
color that I love in my space. I conspired with a friend who shares my fondness
for design, decorating with vibrancy, and all things beautiful. I asked her for
the specific orange she'd used in her kitchen years back. It has the exotic
name of Micado, and it's a sunburst orange reminding me of the orange-apricot
afternoon glow in Florence. I drove to various paint stores to hunt for exactly
what I wanted to transform my small nest. I'm not one of the decorators that
believes color makes a small room look smaller, and there are many elite
designers that would agree with me. I believe it defines a space.
Through the living room and hallway is a color
called Magnolia (cream) to which I had a few drops of red oxide added for a
punch of glow. Sage with orange accent in the bathroom, and my favorite bedroom
blue discovered again after disappearing for a few years, only to rise again in
the computer at Osh. It gives me the feeling of waking up at the bottom of
an ocean mermaid style inspiring a feeling of promise. Feng Shui thought
believes that a bedroom should be in a color you cherish that would also bring
in a sense of romance. I'd go further by saying, a bedroom should feel
sumptuous in decor and texture. Fabric came next. Resourceful and budget
oriented, I know how to search and find the perfect fabric accent (keeping
bigger pieces neutral like sofa, chair, etc.) to tie in all the colors creating
a flow not only in my home, but a flow within myself. One fabric I chose
brought in all my paint and accent colors, and it's of blossomed joyful flowers
providing the exact flare and statement I desired to make.
Since I was a very little girl, lonely for a
mother who left the world far too early, I've found ways to surround myself
with whatever could nurture me in the moment. My cats were hugged too tight. Key
Biscayne transported my spirit by warm, breezy sea green to aqua colored water,
and skies from cornflower blue to midnight blue as a storm came in. Sunsets
were a gift of flamenco pink and orange creamsicle. The beauty of color fed me
then, and will for as long as I remain on the planet. When
I've had many days in the past, and even occasional days in the present, where
staying under the covers is all I want to do, I find my way back to what I know
brings me encouragement.
I write in my book how it's moments of beauty,
connection, passion, and a willingness to be open that's kept me alive; that's
kept me going. During the most grueling breast cancer medical journey that felt
endless when I would stare at those sterile walls, I sought the friendship of
my jewel-toned hummingbirds to fill me with hope and healing energy. When these
bird angels would fly to my hand for nectar, and hover with wings going so fast
they were translucent, I'd have proximity to study the vibrant colors; fuchsia,
iridescent emerald green, royal purple, scarlet red, and deep orange. These
exquisite colors inspired my spirit and deep adoration for wildlife; as well as
inspiration for home design, wardrobe, and an imprint of sense memory I'll
never lose.
I trust that I will make the effort to live a
colorful life as I move forward - to color outside the lines, and bring a spark
of color to others. Especially since I've survived a challenging journey and
losses that still sting at times, I look toward a new beginning. I yearn to
seek things that make me feel alive and full of wonder - Connection that
surprises, swimming in aqua marine water that sweeps me away into another
living world, sitting in that café in Florence deep in the afternoon where the
orange glow drops on a wine glass; or something close to home where I snuggle
with a child or animal. I urge you to look for the unexpected around the corner.
It could be everything from the gift of chemistry and kissing for hours any
time of day, enveloped by a summer breeze, finding the perfect color that
brings you comfort and delight; or whatever pursuit brings
radiant zest in your life. Color far outside the lines and feel the sensation of
catching the perfect wind in your sails that creates a dynamic space for the
soul to soar.
Keep on swimming through life,
Valerie Anne
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