communityspotlight
Removing Roadblocks to Awareness
“I always knew I loved helping people with their health,” explains Willo Uhl, “but when I
learned that I could also help them view things differently so that they could see their
true magnificence, it ignited my passion and enlarged the scope of my life. I am only an
ordinary person. However, I am able to live my dream, and that is empowering.”
by lisa marlene
W
illo Uhl’s life daily manifests the change Uhl continues to be a good exam-
she wants to see in the world. As the ple of why, “It’s never too late.” Today,
owner of the Center to Self Reliance in she feels blessed with a life purpose
Fort Myers, Uhl fearlessly turns her own life experi- that is for the good of the whole, not
ences into transparent lessons for others, in order to only the individual. She is in touch with
demonstrate that happiness is not a destination, but a what she wants out of life and is happy
method of life. enough to sing about it with her choir
Uhl’s method for attaining a blissful life is of eight, the Women’s Song Circle,
directly related to her personal growth work with which practices twice a month.
Global Relationship Centers, founded by Bill Riedler, At the center, a menu of courses
and lessons gleaned from 65 years of life experience, teaches individuals how to remove
including 22 as a nutritional educator for Sunrider roadblocks to their awareness. Many
International. In 2003, Uhl’s leap of faith included are rooted in the theories of individual
purchasing the center and exhibiting the courage psychology articulated by Alfred Adler
to start a new life, at a time when most people are
Willo Uhl
(1870-1937) and address three social
interested in retiring. tasks: work, which means contribut-
When Uhl enrolled in Global’s basic course, “Understanding Yourself and ing to the welfare of others; friendship,
Others,” she observed that her mind, stretched by new ideas, never returned to its which embraces social relationships
former limits. Instead, it took on new dimensions. with friends and relatives; and love,
“I always knew I loved helping people with their health,” explains Uhl, “but which is the most intimate union be-
when I learned that I could also help them view things differently so that they tween partners.
could see their true magnificence, it ignited my passion and enlarged the scope of “You learn how you have created
my life. I am only an ordinary person. However, I am able to live my dream, and every situation in your life,” comments
that is empowering.” Uhl, “and by becoming aware of this,
Uhl’s parents worked as funeral directors, so she grew up in a funeral home you see that you have the power to
environment, surrounded by the heavy emotions of mourning and grief, which her do things differently. You learn how
young body and psyche absorbed like a sponge. “My job in the funeral home was to see things in a new light, with tools
to sit quietly on the stairway and listen,” recalls Uhl. “When a funeral was over, I to retrain your thinking, so that every
went down and cleaned up. I thought it was normal to live with so much sorrow day can be full of joy, love and happi-
until I enrolled in that pivotal course.” ness. People who come here learn to
Before that, she says she was afraid to really live. Her fear stemmed from a do what I did for myself. It’s rewarding
childhood message from her father, who never neglected to point out the various to see lives being transformed, just as
transgressions and extravagances that caused the death of anyone who ended up mine was.”
in their funeral home.
For 10 years after leaving her childhood home, Uhl studied spirituality and The Center to Self Reliance is located
world religions with a teacher from India. “I was convinced that life couldn’t be at 1939 Park Meadows Dr., Unit #9, in
just about living and then ‘Poof,’ you’re gone,” quips Uhl. “When I combined Fort Myers. Visit CenterToSelfReliance.
what I’d learned from my spiritual studies with my personal growth work and com or call 239-337-7333. For infor-
knowledge of health, I knew it was time for my coming-out party, which was just mation on Global Relationship Centers,
about the time that I opened the center.” visit GRC333.com. See ad, page 46.
November 2008 2
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