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!

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

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

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. In a city that has long-standing residual trauma associated with the crashes of jet aircraft, how wondrous it must’ve been to see nearly every human being on that flight not only survive but walk to their own freedom! Flight 1549 did not crash. By a number of strokes of good luck, it landed safely on the water! With its full load of passengers, some 50 tons fell from a few thousand feet in the sky, skimmed onto the Hudson River with precision.

Let each of us take a few minutes and just bask in the gratitude of the miracle of Flight 1549! Not just the miracle of a safe water landing, but the miracle of flight we so casually enjoy that gets us thousands of miles in a matter of hours, the miracle of information traveling at the speed of light around this massive globe, the miracle of people coming together and helping one another in a crisis and the miracle that there’s still so much yet to experience in a world of abundance. We need only allow it to be so.

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: 1. Before going to bed spend 10 minutes bringing completion to your current day. Journal your Wins and Magic Moments. What are some of your outcomes for your next day. There is a great template for this at www.10powerquestions.com. 2. Bring Closure to your day and say to yourself “I am very complete and happy with my day today” . Do something light and fun after, like reading fiction and and proceed to bed. 3. As you lay there in bed, spend 5 or more minutes visualing your next day unfold; from the morning when you wake up, your various interactions, meetings and engagements, to seeing yourself sleeping early or on time. Tell yourself what time you intend to wake up and why you choose to wake up at that time. In your visualization, see all the resources you need available to you, for example that parking spot becomes available as you drive up to your meeting. The client you want to reach instantly picks up. Use as many senses to connect with the experience. 5. Say to yourself, “I will have very fruitful dreams tonight”. Allow images of gratitude to come up as you drift to sleep. 6. Upon waking the next morning, allow yourself to reflect on the dreams you’ve had for a few minutes. Connect deeply with gratitude in the moment and prayer for a new day. You can follow this with your morning meditation and exercise. enJOY!

“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

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. Inspired Action is being pulled forward by Purpose away from the distractions of the past pulling you back.  As my friend Ted says, ‘Action is born from Inspiration, and from Inspiration we act. Action comes from the heart, not from the mind.’  Inspiration comes when the mind is at peace with ourselves.  Have you ever gotten that million dollar idea when you were on vacation?  Isn’t it rare to get a headache when you are enjoying the moment?  It’s time to make your home and your office a vacation sanctuary where you can be at peace with your Greatness.  Find a Lifestyle Designer near you or become one yourself. 

In life, many of us are fortunate to have a coach who reminds us of our Greatness.   For some, that coach could be a parent, a friend, a manager, a spiritual advisor or perhaps a real-life coach.  My fencing coach back in college took a stand for me and reminded me of the importance of not only working hard and getting good grades, but also about living a life that I love.  He created a team of athletes who pushed each other me to higher standards.

Over the past few years I’ve become a serious movie buff.  One scene that comes to mind is Al Pacino’s role as the coach for the Miami Sharks in Any Given Sunday.  He’s vulnerable, and not only motivating,  he’s extremely inspiring.  Each time I see this scene.  I’m reminded of my fencing coach, and all the people in my life now who see me for possibility.

Another inspiring coach is in the movie Facing the Giants.  We all have a comfort zone or some say a mental thermostat that we live by.  Imagine having a coach who pushes you beyond the boundaries that either you or society set.

There is of course more to the equation.  Raising and maintaining your thermostat involves shifting the environment and the people who surround you and creating new empowering habits and asking better questions.

One question I ask myself daily and have my coaching clients ask themselves is  “Where I have you raised or lowered your standards”.  For me, this question allows me to look for opportunities to play a bigger game and be on my edge daily.  What questions are driving you?

Life is the most fragile gift we are given.  And we often fail to see just how easy it can be taken away.  Living each day or even each minute to the fullest is a value of great importance.

Imagine just for a minute that you are the winner of an unlimited cash prize.  Each night after midnight, $1,440 is deposited into your bank account to which you have access for that day.  The only catch is that the entire amount must be spent wisely, and none can be carried over to the next day.  Most obviously you must strive to spend every penny on something important and must rush to complete this task.  In your mind you always fear that one morning you will awaken to find that there is no money in the bank, and that you have nothing. Each day you are handed 1,440 minutes of life, and each night your “bank” is erased and you start over.  Striving to spend each minute to the fullest is definitely one of the most valued laws of life because you will never know when your account will be gone.  And when it is, will you be able to say you spent each minute wisely?

- Patricia Harris, Lost Time

Lost time is never found again – Benjamin Franklin

Life is all about Learning, Study as if you were live forever Live as if you were to die tomorrow. – M Gandhi

Many of you may have seen the Free Hugs Campaign Video in Australia months ago.  This was started by one man looking to make a difference, showing people what it feels to be embraced with love and compassion.  Truly inspiring  It has also created a worldwide sensation with people in various countries taking up “Free Hugs” signs.

My good friend Darren just left yesterday for Korea to teach English for a year.   This video stood out. Enjoy!

You can read about it all started an how to start you own free hugs campaign at:

http://www.freehugscampaign.org/index.php