“I’ve Gotta Feelin” Flashmob

I found this really awe-inspiring. Even though, I’ve heard the “I Gotta Feeling” Black Eyes Peas song countless times, I’m incredibly amazed by this recent event in Chicago.

Oprah had the streets shut down for her 24th Anniversary and the Black Eyed Peas came on stage to perform. They surprised her as they secretly choreographed with the audience to participate in a major way. They also shifted the lyrics to “Oprah Feelin”.

You’ll have to see the result for yourself. I have to agree with Oprah -
It is so cool!

Inspirational Video Collage of Movie Speeches

All in 2 Minutes. Some humorous ones also included. Thanks Justin for sharing.

I will not die an unlived life

I will not die an unlived life
I will not live in fear of falling
Or of catching fire
I choose to inhabit my days
To allow my living to open me
Making me less afraid
More accessible
To loosen my heart
So that it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise
I choose to risk my significance.
To live so that that which comes to me as seed
Goes to the next as blossom
And that which comes to me as blossom
Goes on as fruit.

poem by
- Dawna Markova

All I Need Is a Miracle

by Rick Knight, New York

The recent water landing in the Hudson River of US Air flight 1549 by Captain Chelsey Sullenberger garnered international attention as news and video from the event went viral and global. Not only was it a major feat for an emergency water landing in which every single person on board, passenger and crew, survived, but that within precious minutes of the jet hitting the icy waters, speed boats and ferries were en route to assist. Less than a minute after the aircraft came to a stop, passengers were already filing out onto its massive wings, buoyed by the hundreds of gallons of fuel on board. The shaken passengers huddled together in the freezing January morning, the dry streets of Manhattan only a few hundred yards away. But they were alive!

Not only did Capt. Sullenberger pull off one for the record books, the behavior of all involved was nothing short of a true testament to the ability of people to come together in a crisis and support one another in the highest and most altruistic sense.  It was a miracle, it was an inspiration to us all, and boy, did we need it!

We needed something to remind us that a crash doesn’t always mean disaster, whether it’s a jet airliner or a financial market collapse. We can see from the coast guard footage of how quickly and consciously people can come together to help one another. Like many other frequent flyers, I tend to ignore the safety demonstration given by the flight attendants that are presented for my instruction and well-being. I have to wonder how many people were paying attention that morning. Or were they just glad to get out of Laguardia and on their way, taking the miracle of flight, completely for granted, already planning far ahead to what they were going to do at their destination. Buckled into their seats, none of them entertained their flight’s imminent rendezvous with a much less fortunate flock of geese.

Being immersed in ice water has a way of waking you up quickly. Read the rest of this entry »

Waking Up In Bliss

Being a former Engineer, I’m a big fan of lists and formulas. I used to wake up not wanting to get up, sometimes feeling the Blues. That’s all changed now. I wake up more often motivated, inspired and ready to jump-start my day. I’ve grown to understand that having daily rituals helps me to create a clear and consistent context to a fulfilling life. The Context is the vase that holds the flowers and water. Without a strong context the flowers go dry and wither away. Here is my formula for Waking Up Inspired: Read the rest of this entry »

Man and Superman

“A Splendid Torch”
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.
-George Bernard Shaw

Inspired Action

I’m here visiting San Diego, California. The energy here feels quite unique, particularly from the often business of New York City where I live.  It’s often easy in New York to succumb to the never-ending “to do: list.  In California and when I travel for fun, I feel stirred up to be creative and to be in inspired action.  The truth is that, I am very clear minded here…a sort of relaxed focus.  There are less distractions and it’s easier to be in the now.

What does it take for you to be clear minded and at peace with yourself?  It’s time to take inventory of the things pulling you from just Being.  Awareness is the start.  Clarity is a process of self acceptance, being in integrity with oneself and having integrity with others, regularly releasing the past, and moving forward with momentum. Read the rest of this entry »