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
right place
Strider Wasilewski
pro surfer. quiksilver core ambassador. daddy.
Pro surfer and dad Strider Wasilewski is living his life alive with one thing on his mind ... happiness. He says, "Die living." [www.quiksilver.com]
For me, the meaning of life is love and happiness. If you have those two things, then every day is going to be amazing.
I found what’s meaningful to me when I was a kid. We were on welfare, living in Santa Monica, and being at the beach was how we played. My brother and I would wait until a surfer lost their board, take it, and surf until they figured out what we’d done. Surfing was the one thing we had and we were drawn to it like magnets. I fell in love with surfing then. It became my life and has led to every bit of life I have now. I feel like my soul has been at the beach for thousands of years. How else could I be this comfortable in the ocean in one lifetime?
The ocean is the largest body of negative ions in our atmosphere. When we go into the ocean, we’re calmed. We’re stripped of everything else, to the point where there’s nothing to think about but the moment right in front of us. If I’m feeling under the weather or having a hard time with my thoughts, I go into the ocean and look out at the horizon – it clears my head pretty quickly.
When we take kids with autism surfing, they go out kicking and screaming, but when they catch a wave they smile and laugh and cry. Some of them haven’t spoken to their parents their whole lives, but then they surf and say their first words. It’s pretty obvious that there’s healing value in being in the ocean.
I recently camped out on the beach in Malibu, at the site of an 8,000-year-old Chumash village being resurrected. At about ten o’clock at night I paddled out in a kayak by myself to go lobster fishing. It was rainy and overcast and hard to see anything. I dropped the hoop net and laid back in the boat. I thought about life for a while, then fell asleep out there on the ocean.
I woke up around midnight, hearing dolphins nearby – blowing, breathing, and jumping in the phosphorescent water. It was so beautiful I thought I was dreaming. The dolphins jumped next to me and splashed me. I think they were doing it on purpose because I’d drifted away from the lobster net. I watched them a while, said hello, and then paddled back to the beach.
Maybe, if you’re having a hard time in life and you can’t find your place, you’re just not in the right place.
– Strider Wasilewski
Explore More Meaning
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melodic explorer. structured whirlwind. continuous grower.
The musical genius of Tbird Luv is about taking risks and creating beauty. She hopes to inspire all of us to take whatever we find beautiful and stand behind it, support it, and proliferate it. [www.tbirdluvmusic.com]
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art supporter. real dreamer. voice finder.
Justin Oswald is on the board of directors at p:ear, an organization serving disadvantaged youth in Portland, Oregon. He knows how to make big dreams a reality. [www.pearmentor.org]
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actress. book dweller. literature cheerleader.
Lauren is the Founder and Program Director of Reading Opens Minds (ROM), an organization that brings the Book Club experience across Los Angeles. A graduate of Juilliard, Lauren has appeared on numerous stages and television shows. [www.ReadingOpensMinds.org]
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new thought minister. author. emissary of peace.
Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder of Agape International Spiritual Center and a celebrated author. [www.agapelive.com]
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amused mom. choice expert. systematic investigator.
Sheena Iyengar is a world-renowned expert on choice. Her insights are invaluable to businesses, and to every individual trying to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. [www.sheenaiyengar.com]
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million dollar dreamer. x factor finder. passion pursuer.
Thomas F. La Vecchia, MBA, is the author of “The X Factor Selling System: The Sales Expert’s Guide to Selling” teaching others easy steps which can be used in the business world or in everyday life.
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sustainability advocate. entrepreneur. fosterer.
Ingrid Vanderveldt is an entrepreneur, TV personality, and passionate advocate of working with women to foster a more sustainable future. She consults with Fortune 500 companies on their WOMEN + GREEN initiatives. [http://ingridvanderveldt.com]
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fitness expert. health advocate. icon.
Using his unique wit, passion, and enthusiasm, Richard Simmons, the nation's most revered fitness expert, continues his crusade to encourage people to take control of their fitness destiny. [www.richardsimmons.com]
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