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
a tree
Judy Hill
supporter. nature whisperer. weather survivor.
Judy Hill is a Supportive Life Therapist, Wellness Coach, and CEO of Redwolf Coaching and Consulting. She mentors creative consciousness with compassionate insight, guiding people toward external resolutions through their internal contributions. [www.redwolfcg.com]
Nature has a way of teaching us everything we need to learn, if we’re willing to look beyond what’s familiar.
I stand on my porch, the view enhanced by trees in the forefront and mountains behind. In this morning’s silence, with the warmth of the sun shining upon me, I live in gratitude.
My turning point regarding the power of nature comes one morning when the sky is covered in clouds – gray, uninviting and cold, much like the way I feel. Recently, I’d allowed myself to re-open an old emotional wound. That rekindling of what I thought I’d finally let go of has awakened me to the fact that even with all my learning, education, and life experience, I can still go back to the emotional house where all my past hurts, pains, and judgments reside.
As I look from my porch, I see, right in front of me, a tall tree, perfectly straight, with branches equally spaced. Then something catches my attention. One side of the tree is completely bare, stripped by a windstorm and now naked and vulnerable to the elements.
A synchronicity becomes apparent. As I stare, I realized that this tree … is me! One side is full, healthy, and rich with color, standing tall and holding firm in what I know to be true – that my heart and head are sound. The other side has been stripped, seemingly has no protection, and is raw from the past’s pain.
As I look again, I find the lesson. This tree is not leaning, nor does it appear to face any challenges. It’s standing on its foundation, erect and strong. It rises above, heading straight toward the sky. Even though it looks like it lacks balance, the tree somehow maintains its powerful stance. The setback this tree experienced has not halted its determination, courage, or strength to continue on. It simply trusts and believes that all its branches will grow back in time, all its wounds will heal, and, in the course of that transformation, it will grow even stronger.
Now, when I look at that tree, I no longer see sadness, but a loving acceptance of what has been, even as we – the tree and I – move confidently toward the future.
– Judy Hill
Explore More Meaning
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designer. self-described perfectionist. knitting enthusiast.
Angela Mayhoe is a retail girl by day, fashion designer by night, and blogger when time permits. [www.themuslin.com]
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Over the past seven years, this service project has taught the basics of Spiritual Psychology to over 1,400 inmates at the Valley State Prison for Women.
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mentor. author. destiny fulfiller.
A teacher in the fulfillment of personal and professional destinies, Peggy McColl is a best-selling author, a mentor for authors and entrepreneurs, and the founder of Dynamic Destinies Inc. [http://destinies.com]
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pop star. mentor embracer. dream pursuer.
After surviving in L.A. doing everything from being a celebrity personal assistant to dancing on a box for tips, recording artist Ben Roman is also the Special Events Manager of the world-famous Magic Castle. [www.benromanonline.com]
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consultant. facilitator. life enhancer.
For two decades, Leslie Harradine, a partner and Managing Director of Exhact GmbH, has traveled the globe to help individuals, teams, and business leaders enhance their personal and professional lives. [www.exhact.com]
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musical trio. hollywood implants. co-creators.
Nate and Ryan flew from Rhode Island. Jack flew from England. They landed in Los Angeles. Had a few laughs, had a few drinks, and hopped on a Cable Car. [wearecablecar.com]
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Author. Speaker. Empowerer.
Best-selling author Mary Morrissey has been a consultant for over 30 years. Her transformational talks and seminars have made her one of the world's leading teachers in the human potential movement. [www.marymorrissey.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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