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
accept
Scott Sandler
father. papa. daddy.
After enduring an incredible tragedy, architectural photographer Scott Sandler started Rachel's Registry to help cancer patients more easily find current and pertinent clinical trials. [www.rachelsregistry.com]
I go to the cemetery at least every other Sunday. I sit with her. I talk to her. I miss her. My daughter Rachel had just graduated from the University of Arizona when she was diagnosed with a very rare cancer. Seven months later, she passed away.
The one solace I have is that when Rachel was alive, she was so full of life. Not a day went by that she didn’t have a good time. She never let the little things get in her way. At only 22, Rachel had lived a very full life and I’m so thankful for that.
It was obvious by the way Rachel lived that her family and friends were the most important part of her life. During her final weeks, Rachel probably had two hundred friends visit her. People were there around the clock. Her friends decorated her room with pictures of recent college days. Believe it or not, for three weeks, it was one big party.
Rachel taught me the true importance of friends and family. In the end, that’s all there is, really. 400 to 500 people attended Rachel’s funeral. Cars just kept coming and coming. It was standing room only. A friend of hers told me, “Rachel was an angel and she was put on this Earth to touch people’s lives and make them smile and make them happy.” If you listen to her friends talk about her and see the pictures, you know that’s exactly what she did.
As a result of this tragedy, I’ve reshaped the way I look at things. I accept people the way they are. I don’t sweat the small things any more. Rachel could be the most unorganized, sloppy person. There were four-year-old food wrappers in her car. I’d get mad and say, “We spent a ton of money on this thing. Keep it clean!” She’d reply, “But the car still runs great.” That was the big picture. She didn’t sweat little details. When I went to clean the car before I sold it and saw all the crap in there, instead of getting mad, I just laughed.
Rachel never did anything to disappoint me, by any stretch of the imagination. Still, I tried to change her. I’m an organized, black-and-white guy and I tried to make her more like me, but that just wasn’t her. We must love our kids for who they are. Don’t try to change them. I’ve learned this lesson, but it came at a big price.
– Scott Sandler
Explore More Meaning
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traveling writer. dream doer. every day creator.
Jacqueline Boone is the creator of the blog and web show, 6 Months to Live. She is an explorer at heart who is passionate about truly living. [6monthstolive.me]
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melody maker. peanuts appreciator. energy seeker.
Gabe Morgan, music and business student at CSU Northridge, is a musician, songwriter, lyricist, and producer. He is a 2004 graduate of Teen Insight and our featured contributor for Giving Tuesday. [www.givingtuesday.org/partner-detail/insight-university]
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television writer. playwright. comedienne.
Gloria Calderón Kellett is an author, playwright, television comedy writer and producer, sketch comedy group member, stand-up comedian, and Alma award winner. [www.everythinggloria.com]
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writer. storyteller. spiritual psychologist.
Omer Vaughn is a writer and storyteller. Read more at [www.amomentofawareness.com]
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phd candidate. lecturer. flyer.
PhD candidate and lecturer Magdalena Gilewicz is currently training to be a certified transformative coach. She's also conquering her fear of heights by becoming a helicopter pilot. [www.maggiegilewicz.com]
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clean water champion. pro surfer. global changer.
Jon Rose founded the non-profit organization Waves for Water, which works with world leaders and strategic partners to provide clean water to communities in need around the world. [www.wavesforwater.org]
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me embracer. inner journeyer. wellness warrior.
Ava Sydney is the founder of Body Temple LA, a website created for everyone who wants to enjoy optimum health and happiness. She is also a life coach, producer and nature photographer. [www.BodyTempleLA.com]
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clarity inspirer. core explorer. fear-facing dude.
Craig Marshall was a yoga monk for 35 years. His visionary work has awakened thousands worldwide, teaching them how to face fears and draw on intuition to realize their full identity and deepest dreams. [www.gapzip.com]
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