Last weekend I attended the Localshops1.com 2nd Birthday party and awards ceremony. It was held at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa and featured an incredible brunch buffet. Everyone had a great time and I met many dynamic Tampa Bay people.

One of the most interesting people I met was Olga Bof. She is an energetic, engaging woman with lots of ideas. One of the most interesting ideas is the opening of a children’s bookstore, called Cheeky Monkeys Books & Toys. It’s mission is to instill a life-long love of reading in children of all types. This will be  a solid local community resource. Check out Olga’s video:

Here is how you can help:

Olga is currently competing for a $50,000 grant in the August round of the Pepsi Refresh Project to help get the children’s bookstore a start. Hundreds of thousands of applicants attempt to enter the competition every month and Cheeky Monkeys is one of the lucky ones in the “Neighborhoods” category.  You can vote EVERY SINGLE DAY IN AUGUST IN TWO WAYS:

• TEXT 101443 TO 73774
• Vote online at  http://pep.si/cheekycity

You can also help by spreading the word TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. If you’d like to contact Olga to get involved or see how you can help, you can email her. You can also follow Cheeky Monkeys on Facebook.

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.

I’ve voted today!    Have you?

The last new book that really got me excited was Susan Barry’s, “Fixing My Gaze.” It is a unique book about how and why vision therapy works. I was fortunate enough to interview Dr. Barry about her book.

Well, now there is another book out that I am equally excited about. It is called, “See It. Say It. Do It!” and is written by my friend and colleague, Dr. Lynn F. Hellerstein.  I know that the subject, developing visualization ability to improve overall performance and quality of life, was a long-time interest of Dr. Hellerstein, and I was interested to see how this would be treated in a book format.

Like “Fixing My Gaze,” this new book is very easy to read and is accessible to anyone with interest. I have given away several copies to patients and friends, and they have agreed that this is useful to anyone who wants to improve their life and abilities. You can read what Edna, our Vision Therapist, had to say about it here.

So, I am thankful that Dr. Hellerstein took some time from her busy schedule to answer some questions about ” See It. Say It. Do It!”

Dr. B: “See It. Say It. Do It!” is very well done. Did it take a long time to write and publish?

Dr. Hellerstein: I presented a one day course at COVD (College of Optometrists in Vision Development) to the vision therapists in October 2008. Numerous attendees commented on how much they learned and enjoyed the course.  They wanted more written visualization materials and references so that they could share them with their patients, parents, and teachers.  I remember saying to myself, “There needs to be a book for parents & teachers on the power of visualization.  But I’m not going to write it!”

I never really liked to write.  I’d much rather present a workshop.  I’ve published in optometry and medical journals.  A book on visualization, though, was really different.  It needed to be creative, interactive, full of pictures, and easily readable.

In December 2008, while sitting in one of Harv Eker’s self-improvement courses, the presenter made a statement that “most people have a book within them.  It’s now time to write it.”  At that very moment, I decided that I would write my book. I immediately visualized the finished book, and what needed to be included in it. The writing process itself was the obstacle.  I called a friend and mentor to ask if she would assist me, and she immediately agreed.  That reassurance was all I needed to start.  The funny part is that my friend never ended up writing the book with me!

I started the writing process in December 2008 and finished it nine months later.  It was like giving birth to a child!  I went through the ups and downs, excitement and frustrations, and the obstacles and breakthroughs. In talking with other authors, nine months from start to finish is an extremely short time for writing and publishing.  What did I know about authoring and publishing a book?  Not much.  But as I kept my dream alive, wonderful supportive coaches and mentors just appeared in my life to assist me throughout the entire process.

The real answer to your question, however, is that this book took over 30 years to write and publish.  It’s a culmination of my 30+ years of optometric experience.

So has the “See it. Say It. Do It!” model been intact for  those 30 years or has it evolved?

The ” See It. Say It. Do It!” model has evolved over the years.   As my model of vision changed throughout practice, my concept and implementation of visualization strategies expanded as well.  Patients continue to teach me what is most effective for them to become more confident, overcome obstacles, be more successful in school and sports, and develop a joy for learning.  Writing “See it. Say It. Do It!” helped me clarify my thoughts into an understandable, usable, efficient method.

If you have a reader of “See it. Say It. Do It!” who may be skeptical about the importance of vision in life and learning, what would you say to them?

I don’t get near as many skeptical questions as I used to early on in my optometric career.  Developmental/behavioral optometry now has more research and improved exposure in the media.

Occasionally, I still encounter a reading teacher who tries to convince me that reading problems don’t involve vision.  She strongly believes that reading difficulties are the sole result of language processing problems.  I ask the teacher to close her eyes and read.  “No, that’s silly to do that.   I can’t see the print,” she’ll state.  She doesn’t seem to see the humor of my example nor the importance of vision in learning.  If you can’t properly see, you can’t even start the language processing aspect of reading.  This is a very simple demonstration of a complex reading process, but the goal is to educate and to allow the skeptic to experience how vision leads to performance.

The most effective way of teaching the importance of vision is through demonstration.  It’s easy to create double or blurred vision through the use of lenses and prisms, and then let the skeptic function in life and learning.

If you have noticed, I’ve left the words “vision,” “vision therapy,” “optometry,” “20/20,” etc., off the front cover of the book.  After great consideration and consultation with my colleagues, I did that purposely.  The public still has difficulty understanding the concept that vision is more than 20/20.  The COVD Public Relations (PR) committee has worked for years to “Make Vision Therapy Visible.”  Many parents still don’t relate to information about “vision” when they think their kids see just fine.

I decided not to deal with the vision controversy on the front cover.  Rather, I wanted to find a way to use familiar language for parents  so that they could more easily relate to it.  This would hopefully make it more inviting and accessible to their needs.  Then the information about the critical link between vision and learning could be shared in the chapters.  That is why the sub-title became, “The Parent’s & Teacher’s Action Guide to Creating Successful Students & Confident Kids.”  Parents want that for their kids.  Now maybe they’ll look in the book and see how to do that.

How did you get started in vision therapy?

From day one in optometry school, I knew that there was more to vision beyond 20/20 due to my own struggles with reading.  As an 8 year old, I remembered seeing my sister snuggled on the couch reading her favorite book.  She’d read for hours and hours and hours.  She loved to read.  I’d pick up my book, sit on the couch, and after a few minutes, I’d be sound asleep.  I knew how to read, had plenty of books to read, wanted to read, and saw well. Yet after ten minutes of reading, the print would blur, the letters would dance around, my eyelids became heavy, and then it was lights out.

I never understood why my sister took books on a vacation.  Books on a vacation?  What a waste.  I go on vacation for fun!  Reading was work.

I quickly learned to avoid reading even through college and optometry school.  Nothing I’m proud of.  It’s just the way it was.  Luckily, I was able to compensate. I was organized, motivated to excel, knew how to take tests and made good grades.

After experiencing vision therapy at the age of forty, I now love to read.  I look forward to vacations.  Not just for the fun and relaxation, but it’s the only time I have to read for pleasure now!

Many of the patients I treat in my practice are not as lucky as I was.  They don’t have the skills to compensate.  They struggle in school.  They can’t finish a book, flunk spelling, dread writing, forget their math facts, feel “stupid”, avoid tasks, lose confidence and eventually give up.  Parents are frustrated watching their kids struggle.

When vision problems are diagnosed, vision therapy can often lead the way to creating successful, confident students and athletes.  What a gift—to be a developmental optometrist and be part of this beautiful learning process.

I think a lot of us have gotten interested in vision therapy based on our own visual problems. But not all of us have written books! Have you been pleased by the reception your book has gotten?

I’ve been ecstatic with the response.   COVD had scheduled me to speak on “visualization” at the 2009 Annual Meeting.  This was prior to my plan of writing a book. The timing was magical.  The book just happened to be delivered one week before the COVD meeting.

The COVD attendees at the conference were gracious and generous.  Many purchased 1 or 2 books to initially read.  Then we started getting orders from ODs for 50-100 books at a time…for their patients, parents, teachers and other referral sources.  This has resulted in more media coverage for the local ODs, increased patient referrals and new opportunities for ODs to meet with the education world.

As “Making Vision Therapy More Visible” happens with the increased book exposure as well as with other books and articles related to vision therapy, everyone benefits:  the local OD, parent/educator and most importantly…kids.  Here are examples of what some of the optometrists and medical doctors around the country have told me:

“I just had an article in our local paper, and it has generated great interest. It has been fantastic. I’ve had articles before, but I think that with books like Sue Barry’s and now yours, we have so much more “support” in our local communities than before.”

“We have created a bulletin board in our reception area to help educate our patients about this exciting new book and how it can help parents and teachers to create successful students and confident kids!”

“Order me 8 more – one for each exam room.”

Bottom line:  More kids get the help they so dearly need!

That is truly fantastic!  What other projects do you currently have going on?

“See It. Say It. Do It!” has a 2010 publishing date, so I’m in the pre-launch phase.  March 2010 is the official book launch.  PR and media experts will be utilized for written, radio and TV press coverage.  In March, which coincides with the American Optometric Association Save Your Vision week, I will be presenting a series of free webinars for parents and educators.  In addition, there will be a webinar for optometrists and vision therapists.

Another exciting project has evolved from “See It. Say It. Do It!”.  My vision therapists have collaborated to create a workbook that accompanies “See It. Say It. Do It!”. This workbook focuses on the “Do It.” aspects.  It’s all about organization skills … how to take action and be successful.  My vision therapy staff utilizes these organizational charts with our VT patients.  Increased compliance, not only with home VT activities but also with chores and school homework, are noted.  The workbook should be published in the next couple of months.

Thank you so much, Lynn. This has been wonderful. Anything else you’d like to say?

Thank you, Nate, for the opportunity to share one of the most exciting journeys of my life.  I am grateful for my mentors, colleagues, staff, friends and family who supported me throughout this process.  And a special thank you to my patients, for their teachings, courage and trust. Without them, I would have never visualized this book.  It was truly a transformational experience.  My “Ta-Dah”!

For additional information:   www.SeeItSayItDoIt.com (ph)  303-850-9499

Be well!

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.

“If you imagine it, you can achieve it.  If you dream it, you can become it.”- William Arthur Ward

How many times have we seen the impossible become possible through a simple thought or dream?  Can you imagine all the possibilities and opportunities that would open up in your life just by taking one small step towards your dream or goal?

In Dr. Lynn F. Hellerstein’s book, See It.  Say It.  Do It!, she reinforces this concept of visualization.  By teaching a child to visualize first,  then to verbally affirm that goal as if he has already achieved  it, and finally to take the necessary actions to accomplishing that goal, you are giving that child invaluable tools that will last him his whole lifetime.  You will have instilled a self-confidence that would ensure him to become successful in any area of his life.

It sounds so simple, and yet we don’t even realize what an impact it could actually have in our daily lives.  Some of us already use visualization and don’t even know it, but we don’t use visualization to its full potential.  But if we start now , we can teach ourselves, children, and others how such a simple, yet powerful concept can truly alter people’s lives forever.

Dr.  Hellerstein shows us how easily we can learn and teach visualization techniques by giving us step-by-step instructions and fun activities that can be utilized in any age group.  If you want to make a difference in someone’s life, or even in your own, then you need to read this book and discover for yourself just how powerful your visualization can be for you!

Edna Moore, Vision Therapist

Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Westchase, Tampa, FL
Connect with Us:

The other day I downloaded Chris Brogan and Julian Smith’s “Trust Agents” to listen to in the car on my way to and from work. I don’t remember where, but I had heard some positive things and wanted to check it out.

I’m about halfway through and liking it so much, that I wanted to establish a social media reading list. I just read Tribes, by Seth Godin on recommendation from Julia Gorzka and I already knew that I wanted to read Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crush It” next, but what after that?

So did a very informal poll on Twitter and here are the tweets I received:

@JuliaGorzka: Post Tribes Reading List: Groundswell by Charlene Li & Josh Bernhoff. Lots of great examples.

@JuliaGorzka:  Re-Imagine by Tom Peters, currently reading & loving Re-Imagine by Tom Peters

@tweetmaker: Serious about SMM? Read @google (Kaushik Avinash) blog and peruse Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” frequently.

When I joked that I probably wasn’t *that* serious….

@tweetmaker: My thrust: Insights about how one might approach & leverage SMM abound in sources where no direct mention of SMM exists.

@social_forces: Gladwell’s “Tipping Point” and Godin’s “Ideavirus” for a 1-2 punch?

I mentioned I hadn’t heard of “Ideavirus”

@social_forces: It’s a fine read. What Godin lacks vs Gladwell’s eloquence, he makes up 4 w/ practical application. Like a “how to” for tipping pts.

@missdestructo Hmm. How To Win Friends and Influence People is a good start…. then as far as SM goes, I love Trust Agents.

@GiftsTV current ones I’m reading – Word of Mouth Marketing – Andy Sernovitz and Six Pixels of Seperation – Mitch Joel – others you found ?

@lizzharmon: That’s tough. Hard to narrow it down to 2: Trust Agents & Tribes; also Socialnomics & Twitter Power. I read a lot.

@lizzharmon: I think I’d add Groundswell and anything by Brian Solis.

@chrisbrogan: The New Community Rules by @tamar, and Six Pixels of Separation by @mitchjoel

And my favorite…..

@NetWeave BTW, I know some folks will disagree heartily with me, that’s just my opinion.I believe that any book on SM is obsolete by the time the ink dries. Spend your reading time on @Mashable, @TechCrunch, etc.

So there you go. That should keep you busy until the new year. And by then you’ll have a bunch more to read.

If you have other suggestions of read books, please leave a comment so I can add them to the list.

Happy Reading.

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.

As far as I am concerned, the coolest thing a kid can be spotted with is a book. It doesn’t really matter if it is Harry Potter or my daughter’s current favorite, “Llama Llama Red Pajama.”

Now that we have the new kid’s area, we need to fill our kid’s library! What books are popular for kids 12 and under right now? If  two of your children saw a stack of books, which one would they fight over?

Please submit a comment, tweet @brightetestampa, or  email doc@brighteyestampa.com with any suggestions, so we can have the best stocked kids library in Westchase!

Thanks in advance!

Be Well.

Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.