Quality of life is directly proportionate to the quality of relationships. This certainty has saturated my presence of mind, particularly after a dear friend, Bruce J. Nichols of Philadelphia, has fallen asleep in the Lord this past week. His unexpected passing corresponds with the passage: the Lord comes like a thief in the night.

Bruce was an honorable man of honesty, integrity and sincerity—hallmark attributes to which I am drawn and desire to emulate. Most recently, Bruce experienced several painful life events. While tending to illness in his family, this long journey was followed by the death of his dear friend, companion and partner Jim—who suffered a heart attack. After countless months of careful investment and planning, in March Bruce opened a Society Hill fusion restaurant The Headhouse, a trendy beer and wine bar on Lombard Street at Headhouse Square, with partner Madame Saito, Philadelphia’s Queen of Sushi. In little more than a month, the restaurant was closed, as ownership transferred to Saito. But Bruce continued on with new ideas and direction, including writing an opera. His September visit to my monastery was a welcomed respite during the overwhelming ups and downs of the manufacturing of our Easeamine Skin Collection. He easily empathized with my concerns, while Bruce’s compassionate nature mingled his heart and spirit with mine. Always prudent, practical and concerned for others, he shelved his personal heartaches in order to be present to mine.

In the midst of a part-business part-vacation, David, Bruce’s younger brother, contacted me regarding the extraordinary turn of events. A healthy man was diagnosed with leukemia and four weeks later, died from complications of the remedy. Sobered by Bruce’s death, I have been reminded of life’s essentials: love and service—a way of life Bruce captured.

Death can be wasted when we choose not to garner from the experience—truth or some commitment to better ourselves. Bruce’s courage, compassion, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit gives me continue strength to blindly trust in God, knowing He is extravagant and provides where He guides. Bruce, you have a piece of my heart, until we meet again!

New anti-aging line a result of extraordinary clinical success with healing effects for the skin

WORCESTER, Mass., Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Today marks the launch of the Easeamine® Skin Care Collection, a new line of anti-aging products with exclusive use of patented Adenosine Skin Technology™. The Easeamine Skin Care Collection includes Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, Day Creme, Night Creme and Eye Creme, available for purchase online at www.easeamine.com.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101130/NE06152LOGO)

Developed by Dr. James G. Dobson, Jr., Ph.D. and Dr. Michael Ethier, Ph.D. while conducting cardiovascular research at University of Massachusetts Medical School, Adenosine was discovered to have a marked effect on skin repair, resulting in the patent for Adenosine Skin Technology.

“Scientists and dermatologists have long sought topical treatments that stimulate collagen production in the skin,” said Dr. Dobson. “But until the use of Adenosine in Easeamine, the products available were limited to invasive treatments or chemical solutions.”

Easeamine’s Adenosine Skin Technology delivers Adenosine, a naturally-occuring compound found in all body tissue and fluids, to the lower layers of skin (dermis) where it(1):

* increases the production of dermal fibroblast proteins (collagen and elastin),
* increases blood flow to the outer layers of the skin, and
* increases cell size, giving skin a fuller, smoother appearance.

Easeamine promotes healthy skin by decreasing the amount of wrinkling, roughness, dryness, laxity or sallowness in skin. In clinical trials, Easeamine showed improvements of as much as 48% in skin firmness, softness and elasticity as well as improvement of fine lines and wrinkles.

Science aside, Easeamine Skin Care Collection heals more than the skin. The purchase of Easeamine also benefits the Teresian Carmelite monastic community of Millbury, Mass. — providing funding for its charitable work that benefits the underprivileged through educational and outreach programs.

“In transforming your skin you are providing an opportunity to transform the lives of others,” says Brother Dennis Wyrzykowski, founder of Carmelite Works and prior of the Teresian Carmelites.

About Easeamine

The Easeamine® Skin Care Collection offers five anti-aging products: Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, Day Creme, Night Creme and Eye Creme. Each product is available exclusively online through Carmel Laboratories, Inc. and has unparalleled anti-aging benefits. Adenosine Skin Technology, the result of Dr. James G. Dobson’s cardiovascular research, is what sets Easeamine apart by taking the naturally-occurring compound Adenosine and turning it into a powerful weapon of rejuvenation, working from the inside out to create healthier, smoother and younger-looking skin. Easeamine’s patented trans-dermal delivery technology sends Adenosine deep into the lower layers of the skin where it works to increase production of collagen and elastin, increase blood flow to the outer layers of the skin and increase cell size for a smoother appearance. In clinical trials, Easeamine measured unheard of results in firmness and elasticity and marked improvement in overall appearance. All Easeamine products are free of parabens, preservatives, mineral oils, artificial fragrance and artificial colors and dyes. Proceeds from sales of Easeamine benefit the monastic community and charitable work led by Prior, Brother Dennis Wyrzykowski of the Teresian Carmelites. For more information, visit www.easeamine.com.

(1) Clinical safety and efficacy trials conducted in 2007 by International Research Services Inc.

SOURCE Easeamine

It is an understatement to say, I am fortunate to have the team who are working with me in developing our Easeamine Skin Care Collection. As leading specialists in their perspective expertise, from packaging design (Santo Fareri) and distribution (Tim Carelli)— to chemists (Rene Jose & associates) and scientists (Jim Dobson et al.), I have the honor of working with individuals of tremendous character: honesty, integrity and sincerity. A gift from God, my team created the complete package, of which our website is a composite. There, you can purchase and experience the best skin care product in the anti-aging skin care industry.

Adenosine IS the new anti-aging skin care technology. Throughout the cosmetic industry, Adenosine is being used in many cosmetic products. Needless to say, the effects of Adenosine on the heart and skin are proven to be restorative and healing.

For the sake of clarity—Carmel Laboratories, LLC, the maker of the Easeamine Skin Care Collection, is the only company in the United States having the exclusive license, obtained from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, for the patented Adenosine Skin Technology. No other cosmetic or skin care company has the license to use this patented technology. Furthermore, the secret to the effectiveness of Adenosine is found within the patent. The secret? Adenosine is only effective within the concentrations established within the Adenosine Skin Technology. Carmel Laboratories, LLC is the only company in the cosmetic industry with whom the author of the patent, Dr. James G. Dobson, Jr., consultants for product development.

The universe collaborates to enable our dreams to come true. In the fantastic display of beauty found in creation, I am grateful for the coalescent gifts mentioned above which have enabled me to support my monastery and develop projects to serve the needs of the poor and marginalized.

Brewery…Skin Technology…what’s up with this Brother? This is the immediate dialogue flogging my wits, as the thoughts swirl…“what will people think”?

I come from a modest family lifestyle. When our means were meager, it was common practice in our household to give—out of our need—not our excess. Somehow, in the development of awareness and perception, at an early age I recognized economy—the difference between wants and needs. In time, economic patterns and trends slowly wandered into my philosophizing and theorizing. (Due to health issues as a child, I was alone much of the time.) I am referring to my life between the ages of 6 and 16. As a child and adolescent, I was occupied with the movement of my heart and spirit in relation to the world around me. I was extremely sensitive to war veterans, POW’s, the homeless and the starving—praying and wondering how ‘they’ survive the emotional, physical and spiritual trauma. Perhaps my sensitivities developed through my father’s love for war movies and seeing Sally Struthers’ TV commercials requesting donations.

Eventually, through personal and historical circumstances, I recognized the only commerce that was barely affected by economic crisis were alcohol, cosmetics and energy, i.e., oil, gas, electricity, etc.

Attempting to follow my heart, spirit and God, I pursued the brewery idea (and we know what happened there), but stumbled upon the “Wind Project” and the “Adenosine Skin Technology”. Through my eyes, these projects were gifts from God and a means to serve others.

Our Carmelite community of consecrated men, women and lay members was founded in 1971. Like every family, we had our ups, downs and financial challenges, which at times were frightening and overwhelming. Sometimes, faith enabled me to see them as challenges. Along the journey, donations were not paying the bills; we needed to develop an income, while experiencing a compelling desire to develop a vehicle to serve the needs of the poor and marginalized—outside of our five hours of prayer. In the process, we stumbled upon an awe-inspiring piece of property, which we ‘knew’ was to be the home of our monastery. After much due diligence and a Purchase & Sale agreement in hand, we discovered that the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative sited our desired property as the “best location in Massachusetts for wind energy”. With faith and a substantial deficit, we unwittingly embarked upon a wind project for the poor (75% of the revenue will go to the poor—details of which I will elaborate in the future).

As I further attempted to develop a cottage industry for my monastery, in 2005 I pursued the establishment of a brewery in conjunction with one of the European Trappist monasteries. After a year of research, development, branding and negotiations with the Trappists, four days before the signing of contracts—the endeavor dissolved. (No tears in our beer!)

During this time, Dr. Dobson, a lay member of my Carmelite community in Worcester, MA encouraged me to obtain the Exclusive License for his Patented Adenosine Skin Technology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. (You should see the youthful healthiness of the Dr.’s wife—Susan. She is 60 and has the complexion of a 35-year-old woman.) Within two weeks of the evaporation of our brewery effort, we began negotiations with the University of Massachusetts Medical School for the Exclusive Licensing of the patented Adenosine Skin Technology. After six months of negotiations, we secured the exclusive license and began the business development of Easeamine®.

This is my first blog and I liken the initial angst to giving birth to a baby (according to my mother’s stories). My baby girl has not entered the birth canal and I am already concerned about her first day of school, first date (I dust for finger prints!), college, and the fiancé who may not be good enough.

Daunting and exhilarating seem to capture a part of the equation. The story spans years of dreams, aspirations and obstacles—culminating to the tangible, extraordinary and more obstacles. In hindsight, the obstacles end up being stepping-stones to spiritual, emotional and physical maturity (getting older has its perks).

What does a consecrated Brother living a monastic Carmelite tradition (monk) have in common with a wrinkle cream: Easeamine? The answer: the marriage of spirituality and a deep-seated desire to serve the needs of the poor and marginalized, particularly through education.

Due to one of life’s gifts disguised as an obstacle, I can imagine the critics jabbing at the inconvenient dichotomy: monk—wrinkle cream, who is he kidding! However, in the back of my mind is the old adage: truth is stranger than fiction. Anyone attempting to live an honest, sincere and personally generous way of life, will recognize the viability of such a phrase.

In order to jumpstart the past into the present, I will use an outline of key events that brought me to the keyboard, and elaborate as I my fingers continue to do the talking.