Cry, Laugh, Cook! by Yvonne F. Conte

Pictured: Francesa DiVito Conte, Maria Conte, Francesco Conte
Amaroni, Italy

Cry, Laugh, Cook! by Yvonne F. Conte
Retail $16.95 in stores October 2010 – Pre Order & Save 20%

Want to get back to a day when life was easy, children did as they were told and your grandmother cooked on Sunday?

It all begins with you.

Laughter, Humor and Joy expert Yvonne Conte shows you how in this very different book about Life, Love and Italian Cooking.  Includes over 40 authentic Italian recipes from three generations of Conte’s.

Sample Below:

Introduction:
The Conte Family trace our origin to Amaroni, a small town in the Province of Catanzaro, in southern  Italy, in the Region of Calabria. My great  Grandparents, Franceso and Francesa (DiVito) Conte had three sons and two daughters. Their eldest son was my grandfather, Antonio Conte. We called him Pa. He came to this country as a young boy and hoped for a good life in the new world. He married Philomena Marrotta and had four children. The eldest was my father, Frances William Conte.

My Dad came from a strong, dedicated and loyal family. He knew the power of that kind of family strength and he passed that knowledge down to my sisters and I. Somehow that made me feel very safe and protected as a child growing up in the 50’s and 60’s. I always knew my family had my back, no matter what. They would always be there for me. I could count on that. If ever there was a disagreement with one of us kids, he would look at us and say, “That’s your sister. You’re family. I don’t want to hear anymore. Kiss and make up.” And we always did. My father would not tolerate any sort of discord. We cried a little bit, we laughed a little bit and then Daddy would get us in the kitchen and we’d cook! Somehow a wonderful meal and sitting around the table together made everything alright. He taught me that nothing is as important as the family. He has been gone now since 1995 and much has changed. Our families have gotten bigger and some of our traditions have gone by the wayside. I think that happens in most families as time goes on.

I wrote this book because I want my grandchildren to know that same kind of family strength and loyalty that I grew up with. I think it’s time for Americans to go back to their roots and back to the values, respect and beliefs that this country was founded on.

In the first section you will find a collection of essays. Some essays are funny, some are emotional and some are just my random thoughts. I’ve tried to be descriptive so that you can almost hear the laughter and the dishes clicking, smell the aromas  and see us around the table. The second section offers the same kind of values, respect and beliefs in conversations with Gary Dunes, a long time fixture in the Central New York radio market. The third section is my real gift to you. I’m giving away all the family secrets! Recipes from three generations of Conte’s fill the pages.  I’m telling you, you can almost smell the sauce. I hope you enjoy this book. Of everything I’ve ever written, this book offers more of me – my heart and soul, my thoughts and dreams, and the food that made me who I am. Mmmm, molto bene! Enjoy.  Yvonne

~~~

Yvonne Conte
Speaker/Coach/Author
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd. Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
www.yvonneconte.com
smile@yvonneconte.com
Cell:  315-727-8668
Office: 315-487-3771

Connect with me on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneconte
Connect with me on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/yvonneconte

Yvonne Conte is a professional speaker & coach who presents to small, medium and Fortune 500 companies. She is a sought after motivational keynote speaker for conferences, conventions, company training, and many other events. She is a radio and TV personality and best selling author. Best of all she is easy to work with and never acts like a Diva! To book Yvonne Conte, or to just say hello, please call 315-487-3771

A Life Well-Lived

Long before women burned their bras and raised their voices for equal rights, one women quietly paved the way. The choices she made in her life taught her four daughters, seven granddaughters and four great granddaughters that a women can do anything she wants to do with her life.  All you have to do is really, really want it and it’s yours.

It was 1934. Nine year old Angela, the seventh child in a family of eleven children, was at her dance class at the local YMCA. Her dance teacher asked if any of the girls in the class could sing. Five girls quickly raised their hands and the teacher asked to hear each one sing. Angela couldn’t wait for her turn. The teacher heard her crystal clear voice and invited her to sing for the Rotary Club. Angela said she would love to but would have to ask her mother’s permission. That night she wore her beautiful confirmation dress and sang for the Rotary Club in town. She said, “Singing made me feel special and I loved it!” Angela had found her calling.

After her ‘debut’ at the Rotary Club she began getting invitations to sing for various functions around town. She was the only child in the adult choir at church and sang all the solo’s in Latin. She entered a talent contest at the Midnight Movie House and won first prize which led her to sing live on the radio in Hazleton, a nearby town. Before she turned ten, it seemed this little girl knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. In an era when little girls were taught to cook and clean and expected to get married and have a man take care of them, Angela had other ideas.

Soon after graduation, she and her sisters Marie and Ginny left home and shared an apartment in Baltimore. While her sisters went to work for Eastern Air Craft, Angela secured two agents and sang in night clubs and hotels around town. Quickly she was booked and her singing profession was in full swing. She enjoyed an exciting career as, “Vonnie Blue” and was the featured singer in night clubs and hotels up and down the east coast. She especially enjoyed working with the big bands in Atlantic City and on the Board Walk.  Vonnie Blue (Angela) was a hit!

Just when her career seemed to be at it’s peek she met Frank Conte, a handsome charismatic and persistent man. It was 1947 and she was the featured act at the Kirk Grill on Blandina Street in Utica. They fell in love and were married in 1949. Angela soon gave up her thriving career on the stage and assisted her husband with his growing business. He was vice president in charge of sales at Permanent Stainless Steel Corporation and employed 60 cookware salesmen. Angela became president and creator of The Permanent Stainless Steel Women’s Club for the wives of these men. She held regular meetings and created a monthly magazine telling about the activities of those in the club. This was a very progressive thing for a women to be doing in the early 50’s. She did all this while raising four daughters and caring for her husband who was strickin with Rheumatoid Arthritis soon after they were married.

In 1960 the family moved from Utica to Syracuse. Angela never lost her love of music and began to sing at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt as the soloist for weddings and funerals and all the Latin Masses.

Angela was and still is a great example to all women. We have the opportunity to make choices in our lives. Angela never made excuses, she never said it’s too hard, she never complained, she never blamed. She took responsibility for her life. She knew what she wanted and she went for it.  I am proud to call her Mom.

~~~

Yvonne Conte
Speaker/Coach/Author
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd. Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
www.yvonneconte.com
smile@yvonneconte.com
Cell:  315-727-8668
Office: 315-487-3771

Connect with me on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneconte
Connect with me on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/yvonneconte

Yvonne Conte is a professional speaker & coach who presents to small, medium and Fortune 500 companies. She is a sought after motivational keynote speaker for conferences, conventions, company training, and many other events. She is a radio and TV personality and best selling author. Best of all she is easy to work with and never acts like a Diva! To book Yvonne Conte, or to just say hello, please call 315-487-3771

Dear Friends & Italian Cheese

Out of the blue the phone call came, “It’s Peggy! I’m coming to Syracuse!”  The familiar sound of a dear friend was just as full of cheer as the 13 year old I had met 46 years prior. Peggy O’Neil and I first met in 1965 at Saint Cyril’s Academy for Girls in Danville, Pennsylvania where she quickly became my best friend. Both of us sent there by our parents in the hopes of a better education and in my case a place where I might learn some discipline.   We didn’t get either, however we created a bond that has remained strong four husbands, five kids and three grandchildren later!

We hit all the hot spots in town today and reminisced about the past. We started our day at the farmers market, picking out fresh tomatoes, cherries, grapes, salt potatoes, plums and lemons from local farmers. We sat in the sun and drank coffees and  enjoyed a bite to eat at a small cafe. At  the Italian Import store we bought fresh mozzarella and a special imported vinegar to go with our ripe red tomatoes. On the way home we stopped at  Columbus Bakery for fresh bread, the same bakery my father took me to every Sunday after church. We would buy three loaves of bread; two for our dinner and one to eat out of the bag on the way home. In honor of my dad, Peggy and I bought one for dinner and pulled the fresh soft still warm bread from the second bag and ate it with much delight. Next stop, the Italian deli next door for some unbelievably delicious smoked provolone! Yum. Just smelling the aroma of these priceless Italian specialties brings me back to my childhood, when things seemed simpler, life was to be enjoyed and Peggy and I giggled in the last row of room 416 in Sr. Mary Paul’s Latin class.

Peggy and I have had a wonderful visit, reminiscing and visiting with friends and family. We’ve laughed a lot. There is something absolutely comforting about connecting with long time friends, they know you. They know your heart. It’s almost as if they are a part of your soul, the very fabric of who you are. This summer make it a point to visit with old friends. Take that trip, make the call and reconnect. Just do it. You’ll be so glad you did.

In 1965 we were two mischievous little thrill seekers and we drove our poor parents crazy. Today Peggy is the Mayor of Deerfield Beach, Florida and I’m a keynote speaker and author. Side note to parents of unruly children…. it all works out fine in the end!

~~~

Yvonne Conte
Speaker/Coach/Author
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd. Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
www.yvonneconte.com
smile@yvonneconte.com
Cell:  315-727-8668
Office: 315-487-3771

Connect with me on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneconte
Connect with me on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/yvonneconte

Yvonne Conte is a professional speaker & coach who presents to small, medium and Fortune 500 companies. She is a sought after motivational keynote speaker for conferences, conventions, company training, and many other events. She is a radio and TV personality and best selling author. Best of all she is easy to work with and never acts like a Diva! To book Yvonne Conte, or to just say hello, please call 315-487-3771

Humorist Speaks on Happiness in Difficult Times

Yvonne Conte will discuss the importance of humor, laughter and joy in today’s negative world at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 8278 Oswego Road (Rte. 57) in Liverpool on June 10th from 7:00-9PM. Her talk is free and open to the public.

As a motivational humorist she frequently offers her opinions in the news media on how changing the way we look at the world will improve our quality of life and help us to be happier, healthier and more productive. Conte, is also CEO of Humor Advantage, Inc. and is a five time published author.

She will focus on the challenges we face on a daily basis at work, at home and in the marketplace and how a simple change of attitude will make any situation easier to move through. “I’m not a Pollyanna by any stretch of the imagination,” Conte says, “I realize we have serious situations in our world that need our attention.”  She has addressed major corporations across the country with her message of being positive in a negative world. Xerox, AT&T, The Arthritis Foundation, Time Warner and many other major players realize the importance of being able to see the silly side of life.

Humor Advantage was created by Conte in 1995 after she lost her job with Siemens Corporation and couldn’t find work anywhere. “I realized one thing missing in difficult times is a sense of humor, which helps us to be flexible and adaptable when we need it the most and will reduce our level of stress dramatically.” said Conte. Since then she has address over 1,000 businesses, organizations and associations nationally. She does about 65 keynotes a year moving companies and individuals to take positive actions in their lives. “Happier people”, says Conte, “are much more productive people.”

Locally Conte’s message of joy can be heard every Wednesday morning on WSEN 92.1 FM with morning show host Gary Dunes.

Free desserts and coffee with also be provided. Reservations can be made by calling (315)622-2077.

~~~

Yvonne Conte
Speaker/Coach/Author
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd. Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
www.yvonneconte.com
smile@yvonneconte.com
Cell:  315-727-8668
Office: 315-487-3771

Connect with me on Linkedin at: www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneconte
Connect with me on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/yvonneconte

Yvonne Conte is a professional speaker & coach who presents to small, medium and Fortune 500 companies. She is a sought after motivational keynote speaker for conferences, conventions, company training, and many other events. She is a radio and TV personality and best selling author. Best of all she is easy to work with and never acts like a Diva! To book Yvonne Conte, or to just say hello, please call 315-487-3771

Thirty Years of Love

Pictured above Joey (my grandson) and Gordon

Thirty years ago I took my children, Aubry and Johnny, to a free show at a mall to see Gordon, a character they had come to know from the children’s show, Sesame Street. Johnny had a great time singing and dancing with all the other children, however it was my daughter Aubry’s reaction to Gordon that took my breath away. She was mesmerized by him. She didn’t dance and sing like the other children. Instead she just stood there staring at Gordon, watching him intently, as if she were trying to figure something out. I had never seen her so taken by anyone before. After the show all the other children were being silly, pushing and shoving each other, laughing and all worked up from the excitement of the show and the sugar. Aubry stood like a ballerina, just watching her hero sign his name on his glossy eight by tens. It was interesting to watch how she methodically maneuvered her way up to the front of the line to get his autograph and have her picture taken with him. My daughter absolutely loved Gordon.

Last week when I read in the paper that Gordon would be at the Palace Theater here in Syracuse, I thought it would be wonderful to take my grandson Joey to see him. I wanted to see how he would react to his mother’s childhood idol.

We arrived at the Palace an hour early and lo and behold, Gordon was just getting out of the WCNY van in front of the theatre. Joey and I approached him and asked if we could take a picture. He was as caring and gentle as he had been the first time I met him so many years ago. I showed him the picture of him and Aubry that I had taken and he actually said, “Where was that taken?” I said, “In Chattanooga about 1979.” He smiled and said, “I remember that visit to Chattanooga.” Then he gazed at the picture of Aubry and then took a good look at Joey. He patted Joey on the top of his head and said with his signature grin, “And this is her little boy? How about that!”    I found Roscoe Orman (Gordon) to be every bit as kind as the character that has become a fixture on Sesame Street. Meeting him again on that sidewalk was all I really needed to make it worth my time and the price of the ticket.

Joey was excited when we entered the theatre and saw the big picture of all the Sesame Street characters on the screen and heard the music blaring. We settled in on the very front row and waited patiently. I was remembering how much this had meant to Aubry and secretly was hoping Joey would have the same reaction. When the show started Joey jumped right in and danced and sang and clapped his hands. He had a ball front and center, right in front of Gordon. Joey was all boy. He was just there to have fun. I was a bit disappointed that he wasn’t enthralled with Gordon like his mom was. I sat in my seat and got all teary eyed just thinking of my daughter and how she loved this man. When Gordon sang a sweet song about wanting a child called,  “If I Had A Kid Like You,” I had to get the kleenex out.  This man had been a big part of my daughters childhood. He helped her learn to count, to learn her ABC’s, to dance and sing. He had been a strong male role model and I felt like this was a very full circle moment for me.

Once the show was over and Joey was strapped in his car seat we chatted a bit about the day.  I asked him what was the best part of the day and his response was the potato chips that he got to pick out for himself at lunch. It wasn’t the response I had hoped for.

After a few minutes of silence Joey spoke, “I’d like to go see Gordon again tomorrow Nonni.”

And I replied, “Oh honey Gordon has to go back to Sesame Street. That was the only time we can see him except on TV.”

Little Joey thought a minute and then took a big sigh and said with a smile, “Oh well, that’s OK. I can always go there in my dreams!”

I cried all the way home!  He is his Mama’s kid!

Click here to read my daughters (Aubry Panek) story on Gordon’s visit.

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

Oh Yes I Can!

As I walk my 3.4 miles each morning I repeat out loud enthusiastically; “I am happy, I am healthy, I am the spiritual person God intended me to be.” I repeat my two full pages of positive affirmations every morning and every night; “I love life. I eat only foods that are good for me. I love water. I am writing a number one best selling book.”

I do believe that a good positive mindset helps us to achieve success in every area of life.  o why is it I haven’t written one word of that new book in three weeks? And why oh why did I eat a muffin smothered with peanut butter and chocolate this morning?  Unfortunately, I am exposed to negative thinking every day – in the media, in the words and actions of people in my life and yes even in my job as a motivational speaker! All that negative input has a profound impact on how I look at life. So am I doomed? Not really. I just need to be very aware of what I allow inside my mind and what I thoughtfully add to the mix. I have to choose to be positive every single day.

Positive people have a mental attitude that purposefully sees the bright side of life. Their attitude and state of mind focuses on what is going right instead of what isn’t. That attitude causes them to expect positive results in all areas of life. That expectation brings positive results. Positive people expect to be happy, healthy and financially sound. Their miracles come in Cans; “I can. I will and if not today then tomorrow.”  They just never give up.

How can you and I develop this kind of mindset when the people in our lives  shower us with negative conversation and the media fills us up with the worst of the worst.  We can do so by interacting with other like minded people, by reading uplifting and motivating books, and through visualization, affirmations and meditation or prayer. Think of your mind as a mini water pitcher. It’s filled with dirty water all day long and you must continue to fill it with clean fresh water in order to flush out the dirt. In with the good and out with the bad. Come on we can do it! All things are possible to those who truly believe. I can do it! I can do it, if I put my mind to it!

Visit Yvonne at the Humor Advantage www.yvonneconte.com

May 4th Conte is Keynote Speaker in Albany for the  NYS Case Management Conference.

May 19th Conte will be speaking for P.E.A.C.E INC. at The Double Tree in East Syracuse.

May 27th Conte will be honored with Syracuse’s Women in Leadership Award for 2010  at the Genesee Grand Hotel. Call Erica  at 315-477-9418 for tickets.

June 10th her session is open to the public at King of Kings Lutheran Church Liverpool, NY.

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

The Psychology of Humor; Necessity of Using Humor in Chronic, Autoimmune Disorders

April is National Humor Month so do Something Silly!  It’s good for your health. Can your mental outlook really influence your health? Many experts say YES!

How much does the mind influence how the body functions? The question has prompted a great deal of debate in recent years as scientists have come to realize that mental stress has a negative effect on the immune system, while a positive attitude and a good hard belly laugh benefits a person’s health. As a matter of fact laughter is one of the best antidotes for stress and anxiety.

First hand I know the difficulty of living with chronic pain and depression. At twenty-three I was stricken with Rheumatoid Arthritis and some days I hurt so bad I just want to curl up in a ball and cry.
Instead I fight my pain and depression with joy. I choose to find something to be happy about and engage myself in something positive. When I get a flare up and the pain is just too much to bear I reach for my stash – my collection of laughter filled video’s and DVD’s. My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Cousin Vinny and Airplane are my favorites. I also keep a collection of I Love Lucy re-runs and the complete collection of Seinfeld’s TV shows handy. Because I know a hearty chuckle stretches the muscles from the diaphragm all the way to the scalp and releases the tension that causes fatigue, stress and headaches while giving me a giant burst of energy. Laughing releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers and mood lifters.

We all go through difficult situations, some manage to find a way to a better time and others whine and complain and share the misery with everyone. I say, “Pain is inevitable, the suffering part is optional.” Living life in a joyful way is a choice we make every day. If you want to be happy – act happy. Bill Cosby said, “You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find the humor in anything, you can survive it.”

So the next time you have an ache or pain and your feeling blue, don’t whine and complain. Instead find something filled with joy to do. Take a walk in the sunshine. Enjoy the changing of the leaves. Kiss your grand kids. Invite your funniest friend to lunch. Just don’t sit there – do something silly!

April 17th Conte will be speaking at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, Crystal Lake IL. Call Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital 800-323-8622 for tickets.

Conte will be hosting 2010 CNY Art Show April 23rd at the Links At Erie Village.

April 24th 7 p.m. Conte will Host SILLY BUSINESS AT THE VINEYARD with headline comic Dan Viola. Call 315-487-3771 for tickets.

May 1st Conte will be keynote speaker for Celebration of Women’s Health at the Black River Valley Club in Watertown, NY Call. Carthage Area Hospital for tickets at 315-519-1529.

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

The Family

This week I worked in Wichita Kansas.  My cousin Vinny lives there with his wife Teresa and son Andrew.  Because I was in town, Vinny’s dad and sister, Jimmy and Stacey drove  five hours up from Texas just to see me. It didn’t matter that Jimmy recently had a hip operation or that Stacey had to take time off from work to be there.  They came because we’re family.

We spent  most of the 72 hours of my visit laughing and reminiscing about the old days.  We have many beautiful memories of our childhood growing up in upstate New York surrounded by a cast of characters we called The Family.  Our grandfather could be found seated at his desk in the dining room, with a drink in one hand and a deck of cards in the other.  Dressed in a suit and tie,  his shoes were  shined and he never left the house without his fedora and his beautiful smile.  Our grandmother was the boss of the family if truth be told.  She pretty much ran the home and the family restaurant and grand-pa seemed perfectly fine with that arrangement.  Her food was legendary.  No matter how my poor mother tried, no one made stuffed peppers like Grand-ma Conte  Her home at 412 Ashland Avenue was a safe haven for all of us. It was there in the dining room that the family gathered for every birthday, anniversary, holiday and especially for Sunday dinner.  There was always enough room for everyone and the food was abundant.  I never remember a cross word or a sad moment, only the sound of aunts and uncles telling stories and laughing, dishes  clinking and  an army of cousins giggling around the kitchen nook.

My cousins were like sisters and brothers to me.  We ran, we jumped,  climbed trees and chased each other around the yard until we were hot and sweaty.  All of us in our Sunday best, the boys in little suits and ties, hair neatly cut and slicked to perfection, and the girls in party dresses, lace trimmed socks, patten leather shoes and sausage curls with ribbons.  We caught lightening bugs in jars and marveled at how they flickered.  We ate fresh purple grapes right off the vine, played tickle fish and laughed until we couldn’t breath.  The bigger kids looked after the little kids and someone always fell and cried as their mom cleaned up the scrap and put on a band-aid. We never gave a thought to what a wonderful time we were fortunate to be  living in.

I knew these people would always be there for me.  I could count on them.  I knew they loved me, if for no other reason, but because we were and always would be, family.  I want my three grandsons to know that kind of security and  love. I want to ensure that they have these kinds of memories.  I want to know that one day long in the future, one of their cousins will travel five hours by car just to see them for a few hours because they’re family.

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

Professional Stand Up Comedy at The Vineyard, April 24th, 2010

Save the date!
Lighten Up folks! – April is National Humor Month and to celebrate The Syracuse Vineyard is sponsoring a night of Laughter and Silliness.  On Saturday, April 24th, at 7:00 pm come join us in the Fireside Room as I host – Silly Business at the Vineyard.  Your headliner for the evening is Nationally Known Stand-Up comic Dan Viola. Dan has worked with Jon Stewart, Kevin Meaney, Steven Wright, Sam Kinison, Has been featured in numerous TV commercials and appeared on The Nashville Network  Tickets are $6.50 and includes free parking and  all the popcorn you can eat.  Plus we will be handing out over 25 door prizes donated by local companies. Email or Call Yvonne  now for reservations at 315-487-3771 and join us for an evening of smart, clean and razor sharp comedy.  That’s 315-487-3771.

Bring your friends and neighbors and join us for an evening of smart, clean and razor sharp comedy.

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

The Truth About St Patrick!

After the dead of winter, St Patrick’s Day is a welcome sign of spring. It’s a day when everyone claims to be Irish. We wear green shamrocks, eat corned beef, watch parades and wear silly hats. It’s an all day celebration. The patron saint of Ireland is one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. Over 3 million people line the streets of NY and 180,000 happy people are part of the largest and oldest parade every year. But how many of us really know the truth about this day of joy?  Let’s take a closer look at this world-wide holiday and separate the fact from the blarney!

It all started at the end of the forth century – not in Ireland, but in Great Britain where a little boy was born Maewyn Succat. At 15 he was kidnapped by Irish Marauders and taken to Ireland where he was imprisoned. After six years, he escaped walking nearly 200 miles to safety. Once back Britain, he had a vision from God to return to Ireland and help the very people who had taken him. He studied more than 15 years and became a priest, took the name Patrick and convert the Irish to Christianity. Folklore has him driving the snakes out of Ireland.  Truth be told, it was a metaphor. There were never any snakes on the island, but he did cleanse the island of paganism. We think of the Shamrock as a good luck charm, however St. Patrick introduced the shamrock as an easy way to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish people.  Three parts and yet one-brilliant!

The Irish are famous for oral legends and myth, leprechauns and lucky charms and so it is no surprise that the story of Patrick’s life became entwined with symbolism over time. However the truth of his life is a far greater story and one we can all learn from. This is a story of a man  who came from a horrific situation, a small boy taken from his family, enslaved,  who was able to inspire a nation, introduce them to a strong faith and completely change the color green to be a symbol of a nation.  No matter what your beginning is….it’s what you do with your life that really matters. Go out and do your part to make this a better world for those who come after you!  I can almost hear the bagpipes! Happy St. Paddy Day!

Yvonne Conte, Motivational Humorist
Humor Advantage, Inc.
4736 Onondaga Blvd., Ste. 231
Syracuse, NY 13219
Yvonne Conte Website
Voice: 315.487.3771
Fax: 315.487.5633
E-mail Yvonne here

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