SBHS Dede Ulbrich: 86 years young!

Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid of life. If you want to age gracefully, stay busy, positive, and connected. -Dede Ulbrich

This week, we meet Dede Ulbrich, a beautiful 86-year-old woman whose secret to staying young is laughter, love, and connection.   The granddaughter of former New Hampshire Governor Francis P. Murphy and founder of WMUR radio and television stations, Dede was raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her big, Irish family believed in the glory of hard work and having fun.  In this interview, Dede recalls that men returning from World War II and Vietnam were changed forever, and she was determined to live her life to the fullest. As a friend and former colleague of political consultant and White House special assistant Kenny O’Donnell, Dede attended the Inaugural Ball for President John F. Kennedy and later experienced the horror of losing her favorite president to an assassin’s bullet in Dallas. Years later, as the single mother of three sons, Dede rebuilt her life after divorce, taking a job selling running shoes at the Nike store in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Identified as a talented salesperson, she was recruited by company executives to join their elite marketing team.  Dede climbed the corporate ladder in a man’s world with zero hesitation, creating relationships with Olympic runners like Joan Benoit Samuelson.  A runner herself, she later met and married her second husband, Dick Ulbrich, DMD, experiencing the joy of finding love the second time around. Known affectionately as“Doc”, her husband built a lasting friendship with a gardener from Weston, Massachusetts named Nelson McNutt, who lived to be 105, leaving his entire estate in gratitude to the couple.  www.nelsonsgarden.com.  Filled with the kind of wisdom that can only come from a life well lived, Dede says,“Life is good. Always look for the beauty in life.  Keep searching for the things that make you happy.”   For 25 minutes of inspiration, just hit that download button. #gratitude #age #kennedyassasination #nelsonsgarden

Carol McKean: This V-Day, love yourself!

You have to take care of yourself first in order to take care of others. -Carol McKean

I’ve known Carol McKean for many years, and I’m so happy to introduce her to you.  She’s a PR superstar with her own events company, carolmckeanevents.com, and is the creator of the popular fundraising concept known as “fund-a-need.” In this interview, Carol shares her life story, including the hard parts I didn’t know about.   The story of her incredibly painful divorce is featured in the new Jan Fraser inspired life series, The Book on Love.  bookonlove.com.   Written by 40 women from the United States and around the world, the book is a fast read, filled with wisdom and the power of love.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Carol’s story reminds us that we may be born out of love, but our lives are far from perfect.  Says Carol:  “Fun times are easy, but when life deals you tragedy and hardship, it’s how you react to it and move forward that really matters.”   It took 7 grueling years for Carol and her husband to divorce, and during that time, she realized she was not safe in his presence and had lost herself in the relationship.  “When I sat down to write this story,  it just poured out of me in about 30 minutes, says Carol.  Many of my friends wondered why I was willing to share these details, but I believe we create connections when we share our stories.  What does she want readers to know?   “Whateversituation you are in, I promise there is hope…there is light.   The biggest lesson I had to learn was to love myself.”  #valentinesday #love #divorce #storytelling #bookonlove