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
love
Lynda Filler
poet. photographer. lover.
Lynda Filler is a poet, author, photographer, and would-be public speaker who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. She has two published poetry books and is currently working on two memoir/biographies. [www.thelovefix.com]
In January of 2008 I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. In layman’s language, that’s a swollen heart with pumping function at half-speed. After extensive tests, the doctors said, “We have no idea why you have this condition. All we can do is treat it with medication and have hope.” Prognosis? Not good.
Because my doctors talked in a language I didn’t understand, I did what we all do today: I researched on the Internet. I read about defibrillators, heart transplants, and sudden death, none of which I found remotely appealing.
When I looked at my situation objectively, a swollen heart made perfect sense. I grew up with an alcoholic father and went through a few throw-away marriages and way-too-young boyfriends. I’m surprised my heart was only swollen and not completely destroyed.
After ten months of aggressive treatment, my heart was still pumping at half-speed. At some point during that traumatic time, I decided I needed to look inside my heart and face the emotional blocks I’d been building up all my life. I opened my heart to practitioners of the healing arts. I started to write it all out. Poetry became my safe place. In November of 2008 I took a trip to Sedona and worked with a healer named Akal. He helped me save my life. In January of 2009 I was diagnosed as healed.
Here are my truths. Maybe they can help you, too. I learned how to let people hold me and help me. I reached deep inside and pulled out my feelings. I allowed my gift of writing to help me let go of limiting self-beliefs. I took my mind and my heart on a healing journey. And I cried and cried and cried some more.
I discovered that my gifts are sharing, writing it all out, and living love. Although my physical healing has had ups and downs, right now my heart is functioning normally. The doctors ask me, “What did you do? How did you heal from a problem that is, at best, controllable with medication?” Most of the time, I tell them what they expect to hear, listing COQ10, L-Carnitine, and various other vitamins and low-level exercise routines. But the real answer is love.
In a flash of stunning clarity, I’ve realized my life purpose: I am love.
Every day, I live to give love. When I’m true to love – open and vulnerable – I find family. Love reflects back. That’s how my universe works.
– Lynda Filler
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honesty seeker. brilliance infuser. really great mom.
A go-getter in all endeavors, motivational speaker January L'Angelle likes to stir up trouble. She writes and directs films and co-founded Stay Brilliant, an organization working to better the lives of people living with mental anomalies. [www.staybrilliant.com]
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appreciative son. moment cogitator. lesson learner.
Jeff Semigran is a senior at UC Berkeley studying environmental and civil engineering. He is an alumnus of the Teen Insight Seminars and Leadership series. This piece is part of the Insight University and Life By Me week of giving back. www.givingtuesday.org/insight-university
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advocating parent. identity reframer. lioness.
Shelly Christensen is a champion of people with disabilities who seek spiritual access. She helps sacred communities understand and be better at including children and adults with disabilities and their families. [www.inclusioninnovations.com]
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emoter. now chaser. crisis averter.
BJ Panda Bear is the natural blonde bombshell with the heart of gold entertaining through DJing, hosting events, and producing visual and audio works that shines light on the ups and downs of futurity. [www.BJPandaBear.com]
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author. professor. emotional liberator.
Dr. Judith Orloff, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry and best-selling author, passionately asserts that we have the power to transform negative emotions and achieve inner peace. [www.drjudithorloff.com]
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spiritual pioneer. author. authentic empowerer.
As a bestselling author and pioneer of the new spirituality, Gary Zukav's gentle presence, humor, and insightful wisdom have inspired millions to realize their soul's greatest potential. [www.seatofthesoul.com]
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nurse vietnam veteran. healer. conscious percussionist.
Sarah Blum is a nurse Vietnam veteran, nurse psychotherapist, life coach, energy healer, spiritual guide, author, activist, African drummer, and has a black belt in aikido. [www.sarahshealinghaven.com]
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star reader. man of service. juicer.
Astrologer Kiel Pollitt writes horoscopes for several National and International publications. After graduating from The International School of Dakar in Senegal, West Africa, he attended George Mason University and The Institute For Integrative Nutrition. [www.Astro-Health.com]
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