Extraordinary Lives Foundation - We provide Piggie Bear tool kits to help increase children's social emotional learning. The HUGS for Life Healing Center bridges the gap between medical professionals and approved holistic healers. Their mission is to improve children's mental health & wellness and support families by providing educational tools, resources and awareness events.
Originally from New York, Mara James relocated to California with her husband and her three children in 2007. They established Dr. James’s OBGYN practice, and for seven years, Mara managed the busyoce.
Then, in 2014, Mara unexpectedly experienced a manic episode and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through her battle with mental health, many wellness professionals helped Mara heal and transform her life. Mara’s experience—in addition to the experience of some of her close family members—has kindled in her a passion for forwarding the cause of children’s mental health. She established the Extraordinary Lives Foundation and created Piggie Bear to promote mental health awareness and provide both children and their parents with the resources they need to pursue holistic wellness in any and all avenues available. Mara lives with her family in Orange County, California.
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The segment begins with Mara discussing her story about what led her to create this foundation. After she experienced a manic episode, she was treated with medication and worked with therapists and psychiatrists to become better. She then experienced a moment of spiritual awakening and began to work with holistic healers to help her heal her inner wounded child. This inspired her towards holistic approaches toward healing.
She then discusses the origins of piggy bear: she felt compelled to purchase a stuffed piggy bear while shopping one day. The piggie bear, in addition to an insight received during meditation, led her to realize that she should publish a children’s book.
Mara discusses how her organization raises funds for Piggy bear kits which contain tools to help children cope and manage emotional health challenges. She describes children as empaths who often take on the feelings and states of minds of their parents. Mara remarks that children aren’t often given the tools to manage ‘big emotions’ and that the Piggie bear book helps children to master their emotions. Mara and Tommy then discuss the importance of holistic approaches to healing which need to be incorporated into everyday life.
Mara discusses the Hugs for Life Healing Center. She describes it as a space to bridge the gap between medical professionals and holistic healers.
She tells a story about her son who was diagnosed with a few different conditions. She discusses his journey with different types of healing and how he has managed to maintain his wellness. She finally tells a story about an energetic chiropractor who is able to uncover and heal deeper spiritual issues that affect his clients.
Mara discusses her podcast called ‘Let’s talk Wellness’ which hosts conversations with different wellness practitioners. Her vision for Piggie bear is to have Piggy bear sold to Build-A-Bear and to have it be a part of Disney theme parks. She hopes to rent or to be donated a space for Hugs for Life Healing Center. She hopes to create a healing space through the center for children and celebrities who experience emotional pain. Her organization does monthly donations with organizations, homeless shelters and military families. The segment ends with a discussion about the interconnectedness between humans and the Universe.
