88 Keys to Living a Long and Purposeful Life

By: Hazel Ramsbotham

Narrated by: Hazel Ramsbotham

You, too, can learn a lifetime of lessons from this amazing woman's experiences.

At age 88, Hazel Ramsbotham lives debt free, takes no medication, never gets sick, has a memory that's sharp as a tack, and possesses more energy at 10 pm than most teenagers at a hip-hop concert. Performing push-ups onstage at conferences amazes her audiences while her words motivate. What's her secret?

Just like 88 keys of a piano function together in harmony to create a beautiful sound, you will find the answer to Hazel's longevity in her 88 Keys to Living a Long and Purposeful Life.

For the first time, Hazel reveals her 88 specific suggestions (keys) for you to achieve health, wealth, and wisdom for a fulfilled life. Each nugget of advice is introduced by an actual event in her past, often under physically demanding and emotionally abusive conditions.

As Dr. Paul Williams mentions in his foreword, "Every one of her 88 Keys offers something to be learned by everyone who reads her story."

Specifically, you will discover how to:

• Value your family as the most important gift in your life.
• Gain confidence in yourself to do what you must.
• Face fear head-on using grit and resolve.
• Survive an emotionally abusive relationship and be stronger and wiser because of it.
• Maintain, and even increase, your energy as you age.
• Move beyond living paycheck to paycheck once and for all.
• See life as an exciting adventure rather than a repetitive grind.

Play Your Music

Music has been the one constant in Hazel's life. She taught piano for 74 years and has trained award-winning pianists, many of whom moved into music teaching and leadership positions. Organizing her experiences into five main book sections using the acronym M.U.S.I.C. offers you a resource to come back to for guidance as you are confronted with new aspects of life year after year.

Jason Geary, PhD, professor and director at the University of Maryland School of Music, received piano lessons from Hazel when he was just 15 years old. He writes in his chapter foreword, "Woven together by a narrative thread that is at times joyful, comedic, painful, pragmatic, and motivational, Hazel’s story is ultimately one about the triumph of the human spirit amid life’s trials and tribulations."

Who should read this book? Originally, 88 Keys was intended to be a simple chronological biography of Hazel's life as a gift for her children and grandchildren. But, her instructions need to be heard and followed by anyone who wants to live life with purpose.

• Music instructors can strengthen their dedication to teaching.
• Young women of the #MeToo movement can understand the devastating effects of abuse.
• Men can appreciate the courage and strength women can possess when pushed to their limits.
• Business owners can learn the importance of resourcefulness.
• Parents will learn the value of their children learning music early in life.
• Retirees can be inspired to find new beginnings.

Loren Slocum-Lahav, an international speaker and author, writes in her chapter foreword about Hazel's message, "It doesn't matter where you are in your life right now, this book will help you get exactly where you want to go."

Phyllis I. Pieffer, NCTM, sums up the importance of 88 Keys to Living a Long and Purposeful Life in her chapter foreword as follows, "[The book] challenges each of us to do more; to continue to play our instrument every day, to continue to connect with other human beings, sharing ideas and goals, and to not give up on anything as being too hard or impossible to reach."

©2018 Hazel Ramsbotham (P)2021 Hazel Ramsbotham

Amazing woman with an amazing life

Hazel is a woman who has lived her life. I want to make sure that I make the most of this life and don’t waste the God given gifts and talents that I have been blessed with. Hazel has lived her life using all of her gifts and talents along with the struggles and disappointments. Her spirit and love of life is such a blessing. I was honored to meet her and let me tell you that this love radiates from her warm smile and passionate heart. Thank you Hazel!