I am excited share that my friend Adam Nadler’s award-winning film, Totally Sick, is being featured at the Glendale International Film Festival on September 27. If you’re in Los Angeles, you’ll want to check it out. Adam shared with me the story behind the story that I think you’ll enjoy.
Behind the Scenes of Totally Sick
by Adam Nadler
A number of years ago, on the first Thursday in June, I filed for divorce. Exactly one week later, while sitting in a taxi on the way to my graveyard-shift proofreading job, I adjusted my collar and felt a large, protruding lump just over my collarbone. The phone calls to family and friends began this way: “Well, I have good news and bad news …”
Divorce, if you’re wondering, was the good news. The cancer, not so much. But my illness coincided with the start of a new relationship. It’s a moving and dramatic story, with a lot of ups and downs and very close calls, and I knew I eventually wanted to write about it.
The problem was that all the movies and TV shows I’d ever seen about cancer were those cloying “Love Story” knockoffs, where two beautiful young people fall in love, one gets cancer and dies, and it’s really sad but also heartwarming.
Who needs another one of those?
That’s when I had the idea for “Totally Sick,” where, instead of two beautiful young people, you get Bob and Carol—a pair of cynical, abrasive, potty-mouthed, middle-aged New Yorkers, who hook up online, have a terrible first date, decide to sleep together anyway, and still hate each other.
Then Bob wakes up with a lump in his neck.
The pilot script earned top honors at several competitions, and then my producing partner Phil Rivo stepped in, and with comedian Kerri Louise in the role of Carol, we filmed Act One of the pilot as a proof-of-concept.
“Totally Sick” has been having a great run on the festival circuit, recently won Best Comedy Short at the Coney Island Film Festival, and on September 27 will be screening in Los Angeles as part of the Glendale International Film Festival.
If you’ll be in Los Angeles on September 27, I hope to see you at the screening. I promise you, “Love Story” it ain’t.
Adam’s film revolves around two cynical, but hilarious New Yorkers navigating a complicated situation and dealing with serious struggles.
News reports and our own daily challenges may be weighing heavily. We can’t control what happens in the world, but we can decide how to respond—with kindness and self-care. And few things bring more comfort, joy, and companionship than a pet.
Meet Finnegan and Daisy!
These two cuties are looking for a loving home as their devoted rescue worker, Lynn Spencer, faces some health challenges. Opening your heart (and home) to these furry friends brings joy, comfort, and companionship. For more details about adopting or supporting Lynn’s care and feeding of stray cats, message her here.
Writing to Find Peace
This week’s webinar came at a moment when many participants were carrying heavy burdens — the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the anniversary of September 11th, and the weight of troubling headlines. But with deep breathing the Self-Acknowledgement Hug, and a mental Word of the Day cluster, we created a safe and calm space for writing. I asked each participant to visualize a quiet, sacred, place: a temple, the beach, a forest. But before they could enter this peaceful place, worries or things that bothered them were to be put into bowls, not to rid ourselves of them, but to gently set them aside. Then we wrote.
One participant reflected:
“Yes, things have been strange in our world… And yet just as I say to others — best is to watch; nobody appointed me ringmaster of this Universe!”
Jaclyn shared the challenge of protecting creative time amid constant demands from emails, phone calls, and others who expect their “yes.”
I really just want to write. I try to take care of outside distractions, take a walk to feed the birds and squirrels, a quick nap, then write for an hour or so, then exercise before dinner. I find I am constantly distracted by news, spam and work emails – which must be dealt with, people wanting my attention or participation, especially my roommate who thinks I’m obligated to be in constant communication with him or at his beck and call.
Last night someone called just as I was about to work/write, for a one-hour, unpaid consultation on her marketing plan for which I was unable to help, except that I though the web design was too retro looking. Too 1950s and not attractive to present day children. I feel unable to turn people down and am constantly saying, “yes”, instead of “no”.
Beth shared feeling hopeless and upset with herself but then light and hope returned:
Before entering the temple, my body was tense, especially my shoulders. I realized I was more frustrated about how I had let myself get so upset about the previous two days with its trivial problems and challenges.
And then today, I lost hope.
But finally, I feel my peace returning and a glimmer of light for humanity.
Donna’s writing described feelings of safety, and warm memories from her past emerged:
I’m at the temple carrying with me the problems and upsetting, frustrating, and unhappy feelings that were on my mind. As soon as I walked in, the Japanese elder with the plate with compartments was standing there as if he was waiting for me. I unloaded the impressions about myself and what I was either upset about or just bothered me into the sections of the plate. All of a sudden, I felt so relieved — everything I had put into the plate seemed so small and harmless. Because of the safe, secure, and loving environment the temple represented to me, I felt like I had entered another world — another reality — of which the other world outside the temple was not real. I felt so relieved and light, I thought I was levitating. I was feeling at peace, happy — happy being with my being … secure, safe — everything is all right. “This is the truth,” I thought, “Everything else is theatre — an illusion.” This lightened my body even more while bringing a heartfelt smile to my face.
I started walking in the temple, experiencing the vibrations of love and safety. Then, out of the blue, I started thinking about Jonathan Livingston Seagull. That book and cassette narration by Richard Harris inspired and gave me hope when I was bedridden at seventeen years of age because of a car accident. Those warm, positive, and inspiring memories of imagining myself being airborne and not being held down by the physical body came back, and I truly felt I was floating as I walked slowly in the temple. It truly was a walking meditation. Like I said before, I was happy being with my being.
And Lynne provided this moving poem:
Before I Entered the Temple:
*My heart was hurt,
I took out the stones of
betrayal, upset with the world.
Then there was an empty space.
I filled it with self-love, put
those stones in a pot where I could
see them, but they were no longer
hurting my heart.*
The evening reminded us that even in troubled times, we can set aside what weighs on us, breathe deeply, and let writing guide us back to peace. I’d love for you to continue this journey with us — join our next webinar on Wednesday, September 24, where we’ll explore techniques to nurture calm, creativity, and resilience through writing.
Here’s to your personal success,
Professor Marilyn Horowitz
Writing Through Uncertainty
Sept. 24, 7:00 pm EST
Join us for our upcoming webinar where we’ll utilize the Beyond Happiness Method along with writing techniques designed to quiet the noise of daily life. Together, we’ll learn how to set aside the chaos of the world so we can tap into a calm, creative state of mind.
Bring your pen and paper! This webinar offers practical tools to help you feel safe, steady, and creatively free—no matter what tomorrow brings.
The Superhuman We Already Have
Why do we keep searching outside ourselves for wisdom we already hold within? In my latest essay, I explore the unconscious as a living intelligence — one capable of insight, creativity, and even prophecy. Drawing on thinkers like Jung, stories of Mozart and Tesla, and practices from the Beyond Happiness System, discover how you can reclaim your own inner superintelligence.
Subscribe to the Beyond Happiness Substack for access to this and other exclusive content:
https://beyondhappiness.substack.com
I’ve been sharing insights on creativity, writing, and the Beyond Happiness Method as a guest on a variety of podcasts. From personal growth to the inspiration behind Bad Girl Pie, each conversation offers fresh perspectives and practical takeaways.
Catch up on the latest episodes, as well as a calendar of upcoming live shows here.
English 
Spanish