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Charlene Costanzo starts her story by describing the day she felt a lump on her neck.

She was traveling to promote her first book, "The Twelve Gifts of Birth," which focused on accessing strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love and faith in one's life.

Soon, the California-based author and graduate student in spiritual psychology was wrapping up her book tour to begin chemotherapy for non- Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"I went into a place of deep fear," she told The Evangelist. "I said, 'Charlene, can you walk your talk?'"

Mrs. Costanzo, now the author of two more books and a national speaker, learned that she could indeed access the "12 gifts" in her own life. That will be the subject of her keynote address at the annual Complementary Therapies Conference, to be held March 30 in Albany.

The conference, a day-long series of workshops, is sponsored by the Center for Complementary Therapies of St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam and the hospital's auxiliary. This year's theme is, "Twelve Gifts for Healing: A Path to Wholeness."

Mrs. Costanzo noted that she respects traditional medicine, having raised a daughter who is now an emergency-room physician.

However, during her struggle with cancer, the author also prayed, meditated and even smelled suntan lotion to "bring [her] to a place of joy," remembering childhood visits to the New Jersey shore.

These "complementary therapies," she believes, helped her tap into the 12 gifts that are within all people.

The author particularly tries to share her message with those who are struggling to find those gifts in themselves. "Everybody has them, but we all forget. Sometimes I feel like I'm without hope!" she explained. "There are times I don't feel like I have a particular gift. I'm still on a quest for understanding."

But "one question I ask myself when I'm feeling [a negative emotion] is, 'What gift will best serve me now?' A word will come - and, often, it's 'hope.'

"I don't see hope as wishing an outcome, but having a sense of trust," she added. "It's closely related to faith."

Mrs. Costanzo's keynote and the rest of the conference will cover more than her own story and struggles. In fact, she told The Evangelist that the series of "anchor activities" she plans through the day are all surprises for participants, and all intended to be fun.

She offered one peek at an activity: Participants will talk about strength and then create "tool kits," identifying what makes them feel strong each day.

Other activities will cover each of the other gifts that the author believes are "inherent at birth," "real" and "powerful."

"I love to speak about these gifts through storytelling and then through experiential activities," Mrs. Costanzo enthused.

Regarding the conference, she said, "I'm really looking forward to it - and it's not only for people facing a health challenge. It's for everyday living. We all do have hope, and we want to be using it" and the other 11 gifts.

The Complementary Therapies Conference will be held March 30, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn, Wolf Rd., Albany. The cost is $100, including a buffet lunch and refreshments. Register by calling Sister Rita Jean Dubrey, CSJ, at 841-7146.[[In-content Ad]]

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