In the past decade, Phyllis

DeMeerleer has lost two of her

children and her marriage. Her

son died as an infant eight

years ago; a drunk driver killed

her 7-year-old daughter in

1996. Her husband left her two

years ago because, says

DeMeerleer, he couldn't

understand or tolerate her

continuing grief. "I wasn't

getting better fast enough for

him," she says.

But wait! The story has a happy

ending. DeMeerleer has finally

been able to cast off her

unprevailing woe thanks to a

self-proclaimed "personal growth

counselor" who taught her a

trick to do with her hands.

"I felt a huge relief," says

DeMeerleer. "I'm in charge of my

grief now — it doesn't control

me."

The personal growth counselor,

who may have devised the most

useful hand gesture since

chisanbop, is Martig Sheridan,

Seattle-based Anthony Robbins