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
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
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revolutionary. miracle seeker. divine opportunist.
Leona is a spiritual gangster by birth, radical mentor by default, and evolving entrepreneur by surprise. She ardently believes that life is lived best with faith, gratitude, love, and courage. [www.leonamizrahi.com]
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singer / songwriter. dream interpreter. angelic messenger.
Former Canadian pop star, KAYA, walked away from fame to pursue a deep inner spiritual calling. His profound angelic encounters and intensive dream work led to his emergence as an international spiritual teacher with his wife, Christiane. [www.kayadreams.com]
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near-death survivor. critic silencer. natural spirit.
Anita Moorjani is the bestselling author of Dying to be Me, the moving, true story of her near-death experience at the end stage of cancer. [www.anitamoorjani.com]
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word wizard. stage illuminator. self truster.
By fusing acting, writing, comedy, and poetry, Steve Connell has become a transformative and sought-after speaker, performing privately for such luminaries as President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Norman Lear. [www.stevenconnell.com]
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philosopher. scholar. visionaire.
Dr. Jean Houston, scholar, philosopher, and researcher in human capacities, is one of the foremost visionary thinkers and doers of our time, and one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement. [www.jeanhouston.org]
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home finder. businessman. completer.
Nick Segal is the president of Partners Trust Real Estate Brokerage & Acquisitions. [www.thepartnerstrust.com]
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positivity purveyor. soul broadcaster. light-worker.
Marie Manning, known affectionately as "Twinkle" by many friends and colleagues, founded TV for Your Soul to bring positive messages of hope and community-stewardship, and empowerment to the world. [www.TVforYourSoul.com]
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curator. young artist fueler. calling listener.
Art is Kipton Cronkite's life. Every day he does his best to live with no regrets, to treat others with respect and surround himself with positive people who inspire others. [www.kipton.com]
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