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. TED-talker. no-bullsh**er.
Sophie Chiche, founder of lifebyme.com, is the single mom of an amazing 16-year-old, Leah, and wicked step-mom of 22-year-old, Sarah. They all live in LA. You can find them boxing, cooking, collaging, hosting brunches, laughing their head off or bickering over who’s washing and who’s drying the dishes.
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
time
Varda Kakon
Songwriter. Producer. Music Enthusiast.
Bio: Varda Kakon is a sound supervisor, producer and song writer. She has evolved in the world of music her whole life. She lives in France with husband Alain and son Ariel.
There are words that resonate within us, that are echoed in our thoughts, and remain with us in our daily lives. These words, said by the Dalai Lama, resonate with me:
“When I eat my rice, I eat my rice.”
How simple, and yet so difficult to apply in everyday life. Being in the moment, here and now: that is the challenge of the world in which we live.
Everything is going so fast and we’re caught in the spiral of performance. Without knowing it, we ultimately end up wasting our lives just trying to make ends meet. We want to be overly productive: answering a text message while reading emails, running on a treadmill while watching television, making phone calls while driving.
Where does the delightful state of awe stand in all this? We no longer have time to meet the eyes of another in the street. Our cars are going too fast. How can we notice and appreciate the color of the leaves in the morning when we’re busy staring at our Blackberries? We don’t get to see the change of the seasons anymore.
Pause: the silence in music that indicates the time to take a breath, to reflect, observe, fly, go beyong our limits.
What’s important to me is to be able to just “eat my rice when I eat my rice.” To read a story to my son and take the time to observe all his wonders. To listen to music, taking in the harmony and resonance of each note. To see love in the eyes of the ones I love. To sing without judging myself, surrendering to the feelings infusing my voice.
What’s important to me is to preserve the meaning of each word and gesture, letting them express themselves through my five senses: listening to the song of a bird, biting into an apple, gazing at a passing cloud, smelling the scent of jasmine, and letting a handful of sand fall between my fingers.
Optimizing time might be a way to give time a chance for optimism.
- Varda Kakon
Explore More Meaning
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author. consultant. no-reason lover.
Marci Shimoff is the best-selling author of six Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She’s one of the nation's leading experts on happiness, success, and the Law of Attraction. www.happyfornoreason.com
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creativity facilitator. inspired dad. theater baby.
Kyle Hermans runs the West Coast division of Synecticsworld, a global innovation and creativity firm. He’s deeply committed to releasing and enriching the creativity of others. www.synecticsworld.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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teacher. scholar. spiritual evolutionary.
Craig Hamilton, founder of Integral Enlightenment, is a pioneer in the emerging field of evolutionary spirituality. He’s a participant in the Synthesis Dialogues, a think tank presided over by the Dalai Lama. www.integralenlightenment.com
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author. humanitarian. speaker.
Cynthia Kersey is the author of best-selling books and is the Chief Humanitarian Officer of the Unstoppable Foundation. www.unstoppablefoundation.org
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author. spiritual transformer. teacher.
Jonathan Parker is an author and spiritual counselor with more than 30 years of experience teaching energy healing and enlightenment. He founded Quantum Quests International, Inc. www.JonathanParker.org
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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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story weaver. mystery buff. bull follower.
Author Kent Nerburn holds a PhD in religion and art. His most recent work completes a trilogy filled with spiritual and inspirational stories. His books have been Minnesota Book Award winners. www.kentnerburn.com
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