New Page 1

CELEBRITY PROFILE: WALLY AMOS

Wally Amos became famous as America's original gourmet cookie chef. His mouth watering chocolate chip recipe quickly lead to celebrity for this special man. The national Spokesperson for Literacy Volunteers of America since 1979, and the founder of the Uncle Nonamé Cookie Company; Mr. Amos explained his philosophy of "Turning lemons into lemonade!"

"That phrase means turning adversity into opportunity. For me, the foundation is spirituality, to really believe that there's a power in my life greater than me. I choose to call that God.

"When you're involved in adverse situations, it seems as if everything is coming apart, and that you're just helpless. And you really cannot come up with solutions. It's really in those moments that you let go. And it is in that moment of letting go that answers begin to come, and the soulution begins to resolve itself."

"And one thing I do to get me to that point, and keep me there, is the meditate every morning. I work on living in the present, because what happens is you become fearful during those times and what you're fearing is that the future will not be the way you want it to be, the way you are projecting it to be. When I live in the present and do whatever needs to be done this second, do whatever needs to be done today, then I get through this second, and I get through today.

"Also, what works for me is focusing on solutions and answers. It's not reliving the challenges or problems over and over again. The results have been so great, because first of all, I've gotten this far, and I'm not out of the woods yet! But there've been so many people that have come into my life unexpectedly, total strangers, at the time that I needed them the absolute most. And I didn't create that, so that there is that power greater than me that is constantly protecting, constantly guiding me, and constantly producing the right results!"

Mr. Amos then provided some advice for people who are facing challenges in their own lives. "It seems that when you take your mind off of yourself and you place it one someone else that needs help, that something happens within you. That concept is 'Giving Is Receiving.' I would encourage young people who are hospitalized to look for ways to make other people feel good. And also to believe in something bigger than themselves."

Wally Amos

P. O. Box 897

Kailua, HI 96734

Great advice from a great man! CHEER wished to thank Mr. Amos for sharing his thoughts with us, and best of luck for the Uncle Nonamé Cookie Co!

Wally Amos