author. speaker. motivator.
Affectionately known as "America's #1 Success Coach," Jack Canfield is the originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and a leading authority in the areas of self-esteem, achievement motivation, and peak performance. [www.jackcanfield.com]
political powerhouse. media mogul. author.
Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]
author. speaker. linchpin.
Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]
yogi. philanthropist. dynamic teacher.
Krishna Kaur is the founder of YOGA for Youth, a program that takes yoga, meditation, and stimulating discussions on the philosophy of yoga to urban youth. [www.yogaforyouth.org]
producer. philanthropist. tv legend.
Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]
race car driver. activist. carbon free girl.
Leilani Münter is a professional race car driver and an environmental activist who uses her voice in the number one spectator sport in America as a catalyst for change. [www.leilanimunter.com]
Freedom Fighter. Philanthropist. Game Changer.
By going undercover to meet slaves and slaveholders, Kevin Bales exposed modern slavery's penetration into the global economy. He co-founded Free the Slaves, which has helped to liberate thousands of slaves. [www.freetheslaves.net]
mom. big dreamer. lady in red.
Sophie Chiche, lifebyme.com founder and curator, enjoys asking deep questions and living a life of meaning. Today she's launching Shape House, an urban sweat lodge, a place to melt away fears and fat. [www.shapehousela.com]
Writer. Entrepreneur. Daily Lover.
Entrepreneur and writer Mastin Kipp founded TheDailyLove.com, which merges pop culture with inspiration, and co-founded The Love Yourself Company, an apparel company that has started a global self-esteem movement. [www.TheDailyLove.com]
singer. musician. crier.
Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]
archbishop. author. peaceful leader.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is Chairman of The Elders, a group of world leaders who address some of the world's most pressing problems. He works energetically for human-rights and in his ministry. [www.tutu.org]
author. ceo. humanitarian.
Zainab Salbi is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, a group dedicated to helping women survivors of war rebuild their lives. [www.womenforwomen.org]
speaker. psychotherapist. life embracer.
Despite his physical challenges, Sean Stephenson has taken a stand for a quality of life that has inspired millions of people around the world. He's a professional speaker, psychotherapist, and author. [www.timetostand.com]
yogi. meditator. teacher.
Kia Miller teaches Yoga at Yoga Works in Los Angeles, leads teacher trainings, and runs retreats and workshops on meditation, chakras, pranayam, and mantras, and other practices. [www.kiamiller.com]
creator. writer. idea geek.
Simon Mainwaring is an ex-Nike/Wieden creative, former Worldwide Creative Director at Motorola/Ogilvy, branding/advertising writer, author/speaker/blogger, Australian, idea geek. [www.simonmainwaring.com]
Strategist. Writer. Life Coach.
Shannon Bindler is a style editor, life coach, and the co-founder of Get Up Girl, an empowerment company that inspires women to shine. [www.getupgirl.com]
Designer. Art Director. Passionate Creator.
Grammy-nominated art director/designer/photographer Mathieu Bitton has designed over 450 CDs and movie posters. He's a renowned collector of and authority on black films and their soundtracks. [www.candytangerine.com]
Agent. Producer. Photography Enthusiast.
Opus Reps founder and agent-producer Jorge Perez travels the world producing photo shoots with great photographers and celebrities. He's also very involved with Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles. www.opusreps.com
kindness
Jean Fain
psychotherapist. hypnotherapist. veteran journalist.
Author and psychotherapist Jean Fain uses hypnosis and mindfulness to treat everyday eating issues. She has dedicated her work to helping others keep physically, emotionally, and mentally fit. [www.jeanfain.com]
I never bought the bumper sticker “Commit Random Acts of Kindness,” but I’ve always felt good about making the world a kinder place one act at a time. While random kindness still makes me feel warm and fuzzy in the moment, it’s deliberate kindness that makes a lasting world of difference. Many a writer has gone off on her own to discover the meaning of life, but not me. When life’s little details eclipse the big picture, I reliably rediscover meaning in the deliberate kindness of loved ones.
Unlike random acts of kindness, which are often handed out like Halloween candy – with good intentions and cheer, but without much thought or discrimination – deliberate kindness is an intentional, thoughtful, and loving act. Not to be confused with obligation, reflex, or virtue, this kind of kindness is beyond compare. Whether it’s a single act or an activity that’s repeated day after day, week after week, year after year, there’s nothing like your nearest and dearest expressing genuine interest in your interests, showing real concern for your concerns, believing in you regardless of your belief in yourself.
If I’d never known the deliberate kindness of friends, family, and colleagues, I’m convinced my writing dreams would have remained just dreams. My teaching gig at Harvard Medical School would have stayed an ambitious goal. Now that my first book has seen the light of day, I can clearly track each and every historical act of deliberate kindness for what it was – a gift that enriched the lives of gift-giver and gift-taker. I can now fully appreciate what I took for granted as a child – the gift my mother gave me every time she read me a bedtime story, delighted in my book reports, and clipped and saved my newspaper columns. Even before I put colored pencil to construction paper for my third-grade magnum opus on the opossum, my mom was laying the foundation for dreams to come. Without her loving-kindness, it’s hard to imagine dreaming so big, living so large.
I’d like to be able to give this precious gift to everyone who dares to dream, but the best I can do is pass on the Biblical advice to “Give and you shall receive.” Commit a deliberate act of kindness.
– Jean Fain
Explore More Meaning
-
movement specialist. passion cultivator. soultree planter.
Karin McDermott is the founder and owner of Soultree Motion, Inc., a movement and lifestyle company. She teaches movement as a method for unearthing the passionate human soul. [www.KarinMcDermott.com]
-
art devotee. fresh creator. eye-catcher.
Artist Daniel Maltzman's work draws from contemporary influences and incorporates a pop-culture bent. He's the new name on the short list of savvy art collectors. [www.danielmaltzman.com]
-
hope vocalizer. musician with a cause. purpose liver.
Bekah Eden is a singer, songwriter, musician and Cause Artist based out of Virginia Beach. In the fall she took home the Upcoming Female Artist Award at the Malibu Music Awards. [www.bekaheden.com]
-
publishing pioneer. novelist. dot aficionado.
William Gladstone is a bestselling novelist, a literary agent for exceptional authors, and a publishing pioneer. He contributed to the creation of the first print-on-demand book publishing company and the first eBook publishing company. [http://12thebook.com]
-
compassionate producer. loving daughter. wisdom seeker.
Maia Monasterios is an award-winning director, producer, and writer of such projects as PBS History Detectives stories including: Vietnam Diary, Titanic Luxury Liner Picture Frame, Clint Black's Rogue Book and The Beatles Autographs. [http://www.indiegogo.com/Vietnam-Veterans-Forgive-and-Heal]
-
original thinker. entrepreneurial leader. knowledge hunter.
Over the years, Michael E. Gerber's?companies have helped tens of thousands of small business owners to successfully transform their businesses into world-class operations. [www.michaelegerbercompanies.com]
-
designer. conscious brand manager. wild redhead.
Drai is a priestess, song keeper, mother, wife, and artist. As founder of Wild Redhead Design, she loves to partner with folks who are making a difference. [www.myspace.com/wildredheaddesign/blog]
-
writer. teacher. intuitive alchemist.
Teacher, writer, and intuitive alchemist, Hiro Boga believes in the power of love and truth to transform the world. [www.hiroboga.com]
- More
Comments