
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]

Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and Editor in Chief of the Huffington Post and the author of twelve books. [www.huffingtonpost.com]

Seth Godin is a prominent author, blogger and speaker. [www.squidoo.com/linchpin]

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]

Norman Lear has enjoyed a long career in television and film. He is also a political and social activist and philanthropist. [www.normanlear.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Liz Phair is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. [www.lizphair.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
twinkle

Shortly before I met my first chosen mentor, I discovered the word Namaste. Loosely translated, it means, “The light in me sees the light in you.” That resonated with me because I tend to see the good in people. Enter my mentor … she would look at me and say, “You just shine, you twinkle, and the whole room becomes happy when you walk in.” She saw the light in me and was one of the first I can remember who so clearly told me so.
I’ve had many teachers and many life-changing moments, not all of them pretty at first glance. I’ve experienced the death of many loved ones: my parents, my brother, my god-father, all my grand parents, a best friend, my lover. I’ve been divorced. Twice. I’ve seen with my own eyes, felt with my own heart, and have scars on my own skin from the undeniable depravity that exists in our world.
But I’ve also experienced the miraculous.
I’ve birthed life into the world four times, twice laboring and delivering virtually pain-free as I committed to the belief that it was natural and possible. I’ve survived three hurricanes, an earthquake, and a tornado, and shared in the communal cleanup and caretaking after each. I know firsthand what it’s like to be looked at by eyes filled with perfect love from my children.
I believe we find peace and joy by traveling within, by discovering our life’s purpose and acting in harmony with it. I’m becoming more and more certain that the sustainability of the peace, joy, and purpose we discover in our hearts is strengthened (and weakened) by the community we choose to surround ourselves with. In myriad ways, we connect and affect. When we see the light in others and hold mirrors so they can see the light in themselves, we strengthen.
Last week, my youngest son and I were at a local coffeehouse and a woman there was crying. My son, who’s four years old, quietly got off his chair and danced toward her. With a swirl of his hands, he placed two tissues on the table beside her. It was a moment of innocent kindness that lifted her too-sad eyes in a smile of gratitude.
How can we heal suffering, famine, pollution, homelessness, and environmental crisis? Look. See the light in the person, the nation, and the child next to you. And act in a way that shows you do.
– Marie Manning
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