“Today I am me. I am free-er than free. There is no one alive who is Me-er than Me. I am the BEST I can possibly be.” – Dr. Seuss.

Through these words, Dr. Seuss defines the essence of authenticity as an expression of freedom and confidence: freedom from the shackles of others’ expectations and demands on us and confidence in the notion that our very beings are worthy of love and respect.

Authenticity to me is a state of being – being comfortable in your own skin such that you can put forth the best expression of yourself. By best I don’t mean – wealthiest, most powerful, most influential, or most popular – by best, I mean the version that communicates to the world that “I matter”. One of my favourite “Oprah lessons” of all time is when she shares, “Because we are here, we matter.”

For me, residing in the space of authenticity is positively luminous, but sadly and admittedly, it is not always my first instinct. It can definitely be a struggle to move forward in a space of introspection, connection, and truth when faced with competing demands and others’ expectations of me.

I often think about being authentic when people ask me in a job interview, for instance: Tell us about yourself. As I provide a snapshot of my life as it appears on my resume, I begin to ask myself, is that authentically me? Do they see the real me?

Recently, after reading the brilliant Untethered Soul by Michael Singer, I began to reflect anew on this question of: Who are you? Singer articulately explores how we are not our jobs, our names, our histories, how none of these linear descriptors of our identity do justice to the sum of all of our qualities, history, experiences, and promise. He explores how we are not our thoughts, actions, or feelings but something much greater.

For me, authenticity is the perfect paradox: while it ostensibly asks us to embrace that which makes us unique, truly understanding and appreciating our authenticity connects us to a larger more universal truth. As Deepak Chopra explains, we are all “spiritual beings having a human experience.” Living authentically allows us to connect to core universal values of love, self-respect, understanding, compassion, and grace in ways that animate us all and infuse our relationships with vibrancy and lustre.

So if authenticity is so amazing both personally and for us as a collective community, why is it that we hide who we truly are? Because to be authentic requires us to be completely honest and complete honesty can be extremely scary.

Martha Beck, columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine and author of Steering by Starlight, appeared on Oprah’s Lifeclass: Season 1 (fourth webcast) to discuss the power of truth to set us free, sharing that our lives do not have to be what everyone thinks they should be. She encouraged us to be the happiest we have ever been by setting ourselves free, reminding us that as long as we are pretending to be someone we are not, we will not be all that we were meant to be.

In Lifeclass, Martha Beck urged us to share our deepest truths, let our walls down and then others will do the same. By sharing our deepest truths, we have the power to forge deeper, more authentic relationships. At the end of the day, she shared that people who love us want to know that loving our truth has brought us great joy.

Sai Baba, a spiritual teacher in India, has often explored the concept that we all have three dimensions: the one you think you are; the one others think you are; and the one you really are. Wouldn’t it be so amazing if we could take the first two dimensions and have them truly connect with the one we really are? Imagine the boundless possibilities that could emerge upon connecting to our core essence!

For me, a recent example of connecting to my authenticity was recognizing that I was not my profession and in fact, my profession was not the best vehicle through which to express my authentic self. I am a lawyer, but it is not my calling. Admitting that my authentic self yearned to work in the entertainment field, in creative endeavours, and then having the courage to state it publicly was the first time I authentically connected to my soul’s calling. Funny enough, my first public declaration of that facet of my truth, happened at a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010.

As Oprah so often shares with us, “the only courage you ever need is to live your own dreams.” For me, connecting to my authenticity required me to seize that courage and embark on the path to honor my calling. I am not fully there yet, but I am focused on moving in that direction, small step by small step. In my efforts to connect to my authenticity, I discovered that the people who truly love me, including my parents and friends, have been thrilled to know that embracing my truth has brought me such joy.

By being authentic, we take responsibility for our own lives and as Oprah shares rise into our best selves.

In honor of The Daily OWN and its weekly call to action, here are 3 challenges we can all undertake this week:
■ Introduce yourself to someone new by describing a part of you that gives them a glimpse into a facet of your authentic self.
■ Share a truth, big or small, with someone you love and trust.
■ Do something you love and that makes your heart smile. In that space of enchanting joy brought on by kindness and grace, we can all connect to our authentic selves.

Welcome to week nine of our O You 2012 Boot Camp Challenge. Today, during the authenticity week challenge, let’s take the time to connect to our true selves, listen to our hearts, and move forward in the world in the knowledge that our authentic selves are incredible!

Several months ago, my dad gave me a copy of Paulo Coelho’s life-changing book The Alchemist. Knowing how much I loved Oprah’s Lifeclass and that I was embarking on my own introspective, self-exploratory journey after having been laid off from work (due to budget cuts), my dad was certain this book would impact me at a core level.

So the journey began, and as the boy in The Alchemist traveled through the desert to the pyramids in search of hidden treasure, this boy (me) took the book on a cross-Canada trip to Vancouver, reading it in the airport, on the plane, at a friend’s house, on the subway, and finally, unable to put it down, on a bench in the middle of a crowded shopping mall in downtown Vancouver. To say that this book moved me would be an understatement. I remember sitting on a bench in the mall visibly and audibly sobbing as I finished it. I was entranced by the book, not only because of its beautifully written prose so steeped in poetry, searing insights, and universal truths, but for its direct impact on my life and my journey in that moment. Several of its passages literally took my breath away:

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”

“You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say.”

Finishing The Alchemist brought me full circle to a moment, several weeks earlier, when the awesome Mastin Kipp wrote an article for the Daily Love entitled: Stop Playing Small about asking for what you want, thinking big and asking big. This article got me to think about dreams and what we will do in the pursuit of our life’s calling.

One passage in particular from Mastin’s brilliant article stopped me in my tracks:

“The key is don’t ask from your ego; ask from your heart. The ego asks because it wants to be superior, made larger and more significant. The heart asks because it wishes to share, heal and inspire the world. When you have a large vision and know your purpose, ask for it in all the biggest ways you can. Know that you have value and that your gifts need to be shared with the world.”

It was an evocative passage inducing all kinds of a-ha moments for me and when reading The Alchemist, I was reminded anew of the profundity of Mastin’s words. As I search for ways to honor my calling in life, it reminded me that in the space of gratitude and sheer authenticity, the vivacity of our dreams is undeniable.

One of the major lessons from The Alchemist was the notion that though each and every one of us is capable of achieving our dreams or vision for our future, it is our actions that move us forward on the path to their achievement. As Tony Robbins so aptly states, “It is decisions, not conditions, that determine our destiny.” It is the decisions we make in our lives, each and every single moment, that propel us towards our purpose and help us live the life of our dreams.

I truly believe the only way to live the life of my dreams, pursue my calling and use my life in service is to dream big and act on it! If it is meant to be, the universe will conspire to make the dream come true. If I fall, I know that I have the inner fortitude to pick myself up and carry on, because after all, as Paulo Coelho explains, the secret of life is to “fall seven times and to get up eight times.”

At the end of The Alchemist, the boy realizes that the treasure he was seeking all along was located at the point where he first began his epic journey. For me, the power in that moment in the book was the notion that though we all must travel the winding path of life in search of our own dreams, they may not necessarily be found at the place we sought them. What is most important is that, in the process of searching for our dreams, we end up connecting to the most authentic part of our selves.

Dare to dream and see what happens!

What is your big dream in life? What positive steps will you take today to realize your dreams?

Have you ever watched one YouTube video only to be sucked into watching one more, then another, and yet another until several hours later you are watching a video about cats that makes you wonder, how did I get here?

I have often called my nights of random YouTube video marathons “YouTube crawls,” because like pub crawls, they involve stumbling from one place to another, having fun, and being not quite sure how you ended up at the final destination.

Over the past year, instead of allowing YouTube to take me on a confusing, circuitous journey guided only by my wandering imagination and the infinite tentacles of the “Related Videos” trap, I have harnessed its power to enjoy positive, joyous, inspiration-filled videos that have had incredible benefits for my heart, mind, and overall mood.

When limited to a particular user or genre, a YouTube crawl can be an incredibly cathartic experience, a free mood enhancer that brightens your day and lifts your spirits in unimaginable ways.

One of my favorite YouTube crawls involves watching videos where Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey surprise viewers or families on their respective shows. It is my go-to cure for all that ails me.

Whether I am sick with the flu, feeling exhausted, craving inspiration, brooding over an argument with a friend, or feeling lost in life, the Ellen and Oprah YouTube crawls get me back on the road to finding my best self. I encourage you to try it. Type in “Ellen DeGeneres Surprise” or “Oprah Surprise” in the YouTube search field and let the ensuing videos from the official channels take you on a journey of joy and celebration!

Two months ago, I was laid off from my job due to budget cuts. In the weeks leading up to my last day at the office, I would come home feeling uncertain about what my next step would be. There was always a palpable level of anxiety and confusion in the air, and my nightly routine consisted of watching Ellen YouTube videos to lift my spirits.

At this juncture, I feel that I must include a WARNING: the unintended side effect of watching these videos is spontaneous bursts of cathartic crying! I am speaking from experience here. My old roommate would often catch me sobbing uncontrollably while watching, because I could not contain the emotion. I had to let it all out. In the process of sharing in the joys of others, I forgot, sometimes momentarily, often altogether, the troubles which were plaguing my consciousness.

My friend, Megan Castran, recently filmed a video blog for Gene-Manuel Whirling’s The Whirling Blog, where she talked about how, even in the depths of a particularly sad, lonely, or isolating time in your life, sharing in the joy of others, celebrating their successes, and boisterously cheering on their progress can fill your heart and mind with love and light in a way that propels you forward in a soul-expanding way.

Watching these videos serves three purposes:

1.They remind me anything in this world is achievable. Our dreams are real, and, at any moment, our dreams can come alive in beautifully surprising ways.

2.They remind me to be grateful for each precious moment in life, because through the stories of others, I realize that some days, even when the going gets tough, I am here, and I have the potential to move toward the life of my dreams.

3.They remind me that I can experience as much, if not more, joy in witnessing these moments and sharing kindness than I can in being the recipient of kindness. During a recent taping of Oprah’s Lifeclass in Toronto in April 2012, Deepak Chopra shared a similar message with the audience that captured my heart. He said that by making another person happy, we increase our own happiness by fifteen percent. When you hear about world leaders or change makers discussing the power of happiness, it is often not found in the accumulation of wealth or prestige, but in the potential to use your life, voice, and message in service to others. Oprah and Ellen both talk about how it is exponentially more joyous for them to give than receive. Perhaps there is a message in that for all of us.

I may not be able to give 350 people cars like Oprah did in her season nineteen premiere, or surprise someone with a vacation, or build someone a house, but what I can do is take from those moments pockets of inspiration and energy to fuel my way towards helping where I can. Can I buy the person in line behind me at Starbucks his or her coffee? Can I drop off a bag of groceries in the food bank collection box at my local grocery store? Can I remember to ask about a co-worker’s sick parent or child? Can I commit to volunteering at the local food bank or soup kitchen? Can I share a smile with a stranger on the bus? Can I offer to pay someone’s bus fare when they are short a few dollars? Yes I can.

I’m not going to lie. Would I love to be surprised like the people in the videos? Sure, that would be amazing, but more powerful than anything physical, is the idea that true happiness is found in giving and sharing. All of my most profound memories of joy are couched in moments where I was able to share something—an experience, gift, laugh, or hug—with someone else.

As Ellen says at the end of every show, “be kind to one another.” Let the kindness of others inspire you, buoy your spirits, and help you believe in the possibility that life, with its myriad complexities and challenges, is ultimately the repository of the world’s best gifts—joy, love, laughter, and light.

So, pop a bowl of popcorn, cue up the following videos and be prepared to laugh, cry, smile, clap your hands, holler, and jump up and down. I dare you not to be uplifted.

Feel free to share your reaction to these inspiring videos and tell us who’s on your favorite YouTube Crawl!

A few weeks ago, I watched Lee Hirsch’s new documentary film, Bully, which is heartbreakingly devastating and powerful. According to the filmmakers, over thirteen million kids in America will be bullied this year. I first heard about the film on the Ellen DeGeneres Show when Ellen interviewed the Long family, one of the families featured in the film. Bully chronicles the stories of three teens, twelve-year-old Alex from Iowa, sixteen-year-old Kelby from Oklahoma, and fourteen-year-old Ja’Meya from Mississippi, who have faced bullying and peer violence in their respective schools and communities with life-altering results for them and their families. The film also focuses on the experiences of Kirk and Laura Smalley, and David and Tina Long, whose lives where irrevocably changed when their sons, Ty (eleven) and Tyler (seventeen) committed suicide after prolonged experiences with bullying.

The stories of Alex, Kelby, Ja’Meya, Ty, and Tyler were unfamiliar to me, and yet they resonated with me.

I grew up in a small city in Western Canada. When other kids were playing sports, I was singing. When other kids were being invited to parties, I wore yellow pants and participated in drama club. I was extremely skinny with wiry hair. My idea of fun was reading Anna Karenina, watching the Oscars, and learning French. I marched to the beat of my own drummer. I did not fit in with the traditionally popular group, and yet shockingly I found a place where my voice had meaning.

Watching the film, I felt a sense of relief that their stories were not my experience. More overwhelmingly, perhaps, I felt a sense of guilt and confusion, because there was no reason why my story should have been so different. There is no reason a) why the teens in the film could not have been embraced for the amazing people they were and b) why I escaped the clutches of bullying for having been different than the “norm.”

This is perhaps the most harrowing aspect of bullying—it has no reason and no justification. It is the manifestation of hatred and fear of the other, cloaked in the guise of social behavior. Bullying uses difference (real, perceived, or manufactured) as the impetus for cruelty and mistreatment and remains in many places as one of the last vestiges of acceptable violence. “It is OK,” “Boys will be boys,” “They are just kids,” “They will grow out of it,” “It happens all the time,” are examples of ways in which we as a society excuse bullying and pretend it is not a serious problem warranting serious attention. This is simply unacceptable.

Moreover, being a teenager in 2012 is exponentially more difficult than it was in 1995. I am now thirty-one years old and only got my first cell phone at twenty-one. I only began using Facebook in 2007, blogging in 2008, texting in 2009, and tweeting in 2010. My interactions with my friends at school ended when I walked out of the building. I had two distinct worlds which, for the most part, did not intersect. Teens today live an all-consuming, overlapping existence which means that problems which previously could have been left in the school hallways are a constant shadow seeping into every aspect of their lives.

Watching the film, I also marvelled that many of the same elements that we as a society are so quick to condemn in the context of teen bullying are percolating within our collective consciousness, manifesting in the way we deal with other adults, in the media, in our political discourse, and in our propensity to criticize rather than embrace. Are we teaching our youth the discourse which provides the foundation for differentiation, judgment and bullying? If so, we must be willing to eschew the negative and move to the positive, because the energy we put out into the world has a tangible impact. We must through our words and actions serve as powerful examples of love and light.

Young people are truly amazing teachers. They hold a mirror to our faces to show us how issues we are quick to ignore manifest in incredibly powerful, immediate ways. The three students chronicled in the film demonstrate exemplary bravery and candor in using their stories as a way to highlight the epidemic of bullying, and as a catalyst to compel change for other teens—and society in general.

Furthermore, the resolve of the Smalley and Long families to use their voices in service, by organizing rallies, town hall meetings, and organizations to combat bullying is inspirational. In the depths of their unimaginable grief, these parents knew that their children’s lives, lost far too soon, were meant for something bigger. More than a cautionary tale, Ty and Tyler serve as powerful ambassadors and beacons for the importance of acceptance, inclusion, and respect.

I walked away from the film, knowing for sure that we all have the capacity to make a difference. As young people. As adults. As citizens. When we see unkindness in action, we cannot look away. When we see pain, we must try to provide support. We must use our voices in ways that are meaningful and positive. We must use the resources at our disposal to create a culture of love.

I walked away from the film knowing that we must use our stories in a way that is empowering, affirming, and life-changing. If the Smalley and Long families, who lost their children to suicide, were able to reach into the wellspring of hurt and loss in an effort to increase awareness and promote acceptance, it is incumbent upon us to use our lives in service.

If Alex, Kelby, and Ja’Meya could open their lives and hearts, be vulnerable, and share their deepest thoughts and fears on film, so that we could learn from their experiences, it is incumbent upon us to let them know that their efforts were not in vain.

If Bully taught me anything, it has taught me that we are all worthy of respect.

We are all worthy of validation—of being seen, of being heard, and of knowing that we matter.

We are all worthy of love.

The Whirling Blog run by Gene-Manuel Whirling published my piece on Oprah’s Lifeclass and lessons on gratitude in June 2012. You can read the full piece at the following link:

Lessons on Gratitude: Lifeclass and Beyond

Lots of love to all!

Over the past few weeks, I have wanted to write a post about the experience of attending the Lifeclass tapings in person on April 16 in Toronto. When I sit down to reflect on that day, I am overcome with a flood of emotions and memories about the cathartic, amazing experience with Oprah, the Lifeclass team and producers, and the fellow attendees in Toronto.

Recently, I had a chance to share some of my memories with the incredible Amy and Nancy Harrington of the Pop-Culture Passionistas for a piece that they wrote for Yahoo TV! where they spoke with several attendees of the Toronto tapings. Their full piece, released May 1, can be found at the following link: http://tv.yahoo.com/news/fans-recount-experiences-oprah-lifeclass-toronto-193700885.html

Here are some of the questions that I answered in discussing that amazing day with them:

1) Why did you want to attend “Lifeclass”?

I wanted to attend Lifeclass, because I had watched every episode and webcast of Lifeclass season 1 with my parents who live nearly 1500 miles away. It was a life-changing, soul-stirring experience that helped me look inward, cut out the cacophony of everyday life and connect to my OWN true inner voice. Through the lives and stories of others, shared through honest reflection and great reverence, Lifeclass harnessed and continues to harness the potential of each one of us to be teachers and students to one another, learn and grow together, and to realize that at our cores, we are all connected by a common experience of love and the resolve to connect to our life’s purpose. I was so excited to attend in person, because if I was so moved by the television experience, I was positive that the in-person experience would be all the more meaningful and it most certainly was!

2) How would you describe the Lifeclass experience?

The Lifeclass experience in Toronto was phenomenal. It was enriching, robust, and nourishing. My best friends in Ottawa bought me a ticket to the evening show and my parents surprised me with a ticket to the morning taping on gratitude – these were literally the best gifts I had ever received.

It was also so special to share the Lifeclass experience with many wonderful friends who I had met on Twitter, who love Lifeclass and OWN as much as I do and who are fantastically brilliant, deeply committed, expansively generous people. They warmed my heart with their megawatt smiles and kind spirits. We shared hugs, pictures, stories, cards, and one friend, Janet, brought me my own ice cream scoop for Lifeclass. It was so fantastic to see how a friendship formed on Twitter was so strong and vibrant. It was so lovely to meet Nada, Liz, Misty, Janet, Tonya, Julie, and Linda in person!

3) What was the most important thing you learned while at Lifeclass?

Lifeclass was replete with aha moments for me, but two central themes stood out for me:

4) Tony Robbins: Tony stated in his presentation that it is decisions not conditions that determine our destiny. This really struck a chord with me, because we often get so stuck in our own stories saying “if only this happened, then my life would be better.” If only I had a better job, if only I owned a house, if only my friend didn’t say that to me, if only X, if only Y, if only Z. There are not certain conditions in our lives that determine our destiny, our future, our happiness. It is the decisions we make in our lives, each and every single moment, that propel us forward in life, move us towards our purpose and help us live the life of our dreams.

4) What is the most important thing that you learned from Oprah that day?

I wanted to share with you what I learned from Oprah on April 16, as she taught Lifeclass and facilitated the discussions with the guest teachers. She was the epitome of grace and generosity, walking through the huge crowds in the morning to ensure that people in the back had a chance to say hello and constantly extending every kindness to the people in the audience.

The biggest lesson Oprah demonstrated that day and everyday is that in the space of gratitude, the magic and possibility of life reveals itself in all its splendor. She showed us the importance of living with an open, grateful heart. Thank you so much Oprah!

Over the past few months, I have been thinking a lot about the power of gratitude. After attending Lifeclass in Toronto on April 16 and watching the Season Finale of Oprah’s Lifeclass (Topic: Gratitude) on April 30, the notion of gratitude has captured my heart and consciousness in new, vivid, indescribable ways. For the past few years, inspired by Oprah, I have been keeping a gratitude journal and have been journaling every night, listing 3 to 5 things from each day for which I am grateful.

At the outset, this process was difficult for me, because I had become accustomed to ruminating on the negative, to stewing in my sense of being unjustly aggrieved, and to letting small moments of difficulty overtake the tremendous pieces of light and love that had filled my heart and life.

Initially, my gratitude journal would often have a common theme – “I am happy that the worst case scenario didn’t happen.” If my bag broke on the way to the office, I would write in my journal that I was grateful that the papers in my bag didn’t blow away in the wind.

In time, however, I was able to eschew this tendency and view the moments of my day and the gratitude they engendered as small, joyous gifts. I was able to use the journal to take notice of the small pockets of light and love in my life – i.e. the kindness of a stranger in opening the door for me, the bus driver’s boisterous greeting when I got on the bus, the warm words of affection in a friend’s email, and the love of my parents’ voices on our daily telephone call. Keeping the gratitude journal made me more conscious, every moment of every day, and I started to make mental notes about things that were happening during my day that I wanted to include in my journal that night. It has been a truly transformative experience!

Looking back, I can now clearly state that the gratitude journal changed my life and turned my world from gloomy and grey to vibrant, lush, and technicolor, making me more appreciative of the myriad blessings I enjoy every single day.

Recently, I have faced two specific struggles & the power of gratitude has saved me in both instances.

First, March 30 was my last day of work as a lawyer with the government. I was laid off due to budget cuts. However, I was and am filled with a sense of gratitude not only for my career to date and the amazing people I met on this journey, but also for the lay-off itself, because it gave me the strength to look inward, think about my life, & consider how to live my life with purpose. As Oprah says, it is our life’s work to find our calling and honor it now. The lay-off gave me the strength, courage, and ability to undertake this important personal work with gusto and vigor.

In the midst of this transition, I filmed a promo video for the Oprah Winfrey Network and was a Skype panelist in the Season 2 Premiere of Lifeclass in St. Louis on March 26, where I had a chance to ask a question to Oprah and Iyanla Vanzant about inadequacy, pain and power. It was fantastic that the Lifeclass Skype call happened during my last week at work, because it gave me hope that my dreams of working in the entertainment field are, as Tererai Trent said during her 2011 appearance on the Oprah Show: ACHIEVABLE.

Second, over the past few years, my eyesight has been deteriorating and this past year, there has been a further marked decline. I have been legally blind since 2005, but was always hopeful that the decline would eventually stop. It has not. However, what this experience has taught me is that I must seize every precious moment and live life to the fullest.

To this end, every single day, I take what I call are “mental gratitude pictures” and write about these pictures in my gratitude journal. Usually, this process involves me 1) pausing; 2) taking notice of a particular moment, image or detail around me; 3) taking a deep breath; 4) closing my eyes; and 5) envisioning the moment, image, or detail in my mind. For instance, when I see the sun reflect off a building, or the smile on someone’s face, or the color of a flower or scarf, or the billowy clouds, I take a moment, pause and take a mental picture. The literal images I see through my eyes are fuzzier now, and I know in time, my physical vision will become worse. These mental gratitude pictures remind me to live in the moment and to treasure the world around me.

Given my experience with vision loss, I was blown away by the story Bishop Jakes shared, on the April 30th Lifeclass broadcast, about his Twitter friendship with Jana Jackson, a woman who is physically blind (and has been so since birth), but who has an exceptionally strong inner vision, couched in compassion, optimism, and happiness.

When Bishop Jakes first began corresponding with Jana on Twitter, he did not know that she was blind – he was inspired by her constant optimism and grace. Jana moved me to tears. She is a musician, vocalist, and active member of her congregation and community. She reminds me of the power we hold to live our lives and tell our stories in a way that is empowering.

Thank you so much Jana for reminding me all that we have always had the power.

Thank you for inspiring me to look inward, strengthen my inner vision, and live my life in a positive, heart-expanding, soul-nourishing way.

As Twitter captain for Ottawa, with the kind help of my lovely friends, I organized the live Lifeclass Season 2 finale viewing party at the storied, landmark Lieutenant’s Pump British Pub in downtown Ottawa. The owner, John, gave us a private room for the event (with the big screen TV) and the staff were so gracious and kind throughout the evening!

Getting ready for the event, I was inspired by the work of the amazing Twitter captains from around North America – Sandy, Jackie, Beth, Lia, Brittney, and Nada, as well as the many Lifeclass viewers who hosted tweet ups in their homes – Liz, Linda, Ruth, and so many others! I decided that to make it an interactive viewing experience, I would have a few items to highlight the impact that Oprah and Lifeclass have had on my life! Here are a few photos of the items I was collecting and making before leaving for the Lieutenant’s Pump:

I made sure to bring all my back issues of O Magazine to use as a centrepieces for all of the tables in the room:

We ordered cupcakes from the Ottawa Cupcakery and I added gratitude flags in 3 languages – Thank You, Merci, and Gracias – to make the Lifeclass-inspired “Graticakes”. They were a hit with everyone!

We also asked people to bring a donation of canned/non-perishable food items for the Ottawa Food Bank and they did not disappoint! It was a true demonstration of gratitude for the blessings in all of our lives!

As part of our viewing experience, the 15 attendees tweeted, but we also had them write posts to stick to the walls in the room. There was the Wall “O” Gratitude on which people wrote and posted notes about things in their lives for which they were grateful:

Some examples of what people are grateful for (and what they posted) include:

* jobs * friends and community * coconut cupcakes * fitting into my dress * family * loving and being loved * my metabolism * literature * health * democracy * lipgloss * lifeclass * friends who are always there for us * Scrabble * the internet * trivia * Clarence’s musical knowledge * teamwork * government job * gravity * facial expressions * humor * solitude * being able to pursue my passion in life *

We also set up an “A-Ha Moments” Wall on which people posted their a-ha moments from watching the Lifeclass Season 2 Finale – real time!

Some examples of the A-Ha Moments that people posted on that wall include:

* Everybody’s life is a warning or an example * The Tony Robbins visualization exercise is so powerful * Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future * We get caught up in the doing, we forget about the being * Gratitude is a state of being * There is power in finding gratitude in seemingly difficult situations * Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly * Don’t get stuck in your story * PAIN = Pay Attention Inward Now * Gratitude completely changes your life and how you see the world *

People watched the show on TV, tweeted, discussed the concept of gratitude, and wrote posts for the Wall O Gratitude and the A-Ha Moments Wall! Such a fun, interactive night!

We had a door prize for one attendee which included chocolates and movie passes. Carmen T. won!

Finally, to say thank you, and remembering Oprah’s lesson that the best things in life are shared, I prepared scrolls with copies of one of my all-time favorite O Magazine columns – “The Top 20 Things Oprah Knows for Sure” from the April 2011 edition of O Magazine. This column can be found at the following link: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Top-20-Things-Oprah-Knows-for-Sure

The scrolls containing this article, were rolled like diplomas (It was like Lifeclass Season 2 Graduation) and bound with ribbon and candy!

Thank you to the wonderful people who attended the Season Finale Party for Oprah’s Lifeclass Season 2 in Ottawa. I am grateful for your friendship and enthusiastic participation!

Thanks to the Lieutenant’s Pump in Ottawa – John and the entire staff for their kindness and generousity! We had an amazing time!

Thank you to my friends and fellow OWN Ambassadors around the world for their leadership, encouragement and grace. Love you all! Thank you to Maya Watson and those at Harpo and OWN for helping us promote the events around North America!

Finally, thank you to Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Iyanla Vanzant, Tony Robbins, Bishop Jakes, and the entire Harpo and OWN teams for a phenomenal second season of Lifeclass, a lifetime of lessons, and a heart full of love, light, and joy! I am scooping it all up and will be doing so for a long time to come!

Scoopfuls of gratitude and love. Always.

[NOTE: The full photo album from the event can be found HERE]

I was thrilled when I heard that Oprah was traveling to India to film episodes of her weekly series Next Chapter on OWN, because I knew that she would bring the same reverence, precision, and evocative questioning that have been the hallmarks of her robust career to her exploration of India, its people, and its social structures.

I was also excited for Oprah to explore the paradox of India, the dichotomies of wealth and poverty, expansive urban populations and close-knit families, to unearth notions of its identity that are often eschewed in mainstream media in favour of rote categorizations. Oprah did not disappoint. In her first of two episodes in India, she revealed the paradox of India, shining a light onto stories, families, people, and experiences that otherwise would not have a voice. She shared not just one image but many ideas – complex, robust, changing, and magical. With over one billion people and a huge Diaspora worldwide, India is quite literally so many things to so many people.

The fact that Oprah was able, in such a short time, through Next Chapter – Part I, to capture pockets of insight into the many ways in which India comes alive in the world is truly remarkable. By using the analytic lenses of family and socio-economic status, Oprah’s work in this episode of Next Chapter was deeply insightful and highly revelatory in the lessons it unearthed about a) India and b) common linkages that connect us all to the human experience.

The Colaba District: Introducing Anchal

Oprah started her adventure by visiting the Colaba district in Mumbai, one of India’s largest and most heavily populated cities. The images of the slums, which many prefer to call “hutments”, are haunting, visceral and unforgettable.

In a particularly moving segment, Oprah met with a family of five who live in a small, one-room dwelling in the Colaba district where they all sleep in a row on the floor. Seated on the floor in the room, Oprah engaged the family in conversation about their life and dreams. The eldest daughter, Anchal, a bright student and joyful spirit, shared with Oprah her love of learning and dream of becoming a teacher. She expressed her sheer, unabashed joy of living her life with her family in their circumstances. In a moment of perfect you-can’t-pay-for-this-advertising, Anchal plugged Discovery TV as her favorite network.

Anchal’s father spoke movingly about his wish to have his children educated, recognizing, as Oprah has often said, that education is the pathway to freedom. He was moved to tears (and so was I) when he shared his fears and worries about his family’s future.

The segment was poignant in that, while it showed the impact of poverty in India, it also demonstrated that though viewers in Canada and the US may be separated geographically and financially from this family’s circumstances in India, we all shared a collective human experience in our longing for a better life for our families.

Furthermore, Anchal’s enthusiasm for life demonstrates the amazing capacity of children to teach us about what truly matters. She demonstrates an insight & understanding of the sacrifices her family has made for her education and is consciously, constantly grateful for the blessings in her life. That is the power of gratitude – turning seemingly unbearable circumstances into buoyant moments of warmth and possibility. Thank you Anchal for being an exceptional teacher. You are already living your dream.

The Samami Family and the Multi-Generational Family Experience: Arranged Marriage and Finger Foods

Oprah next visited the Samamis, a middle class family. There were four generations who all lived together in the same home. I watched with interest, because this is the story of my family in India as well. My grandmother lives with my aunt, my cousin, and my cousin’s daughter in one house. It is a four-generation matriarchy – the epitome of sister power.

Watching Oprah interact with the Samami family, it was interesting to see parallels to North American family life in the way the family gathers around the table at meal time. Plus, it allowed Oprah to experience her first traditional East Indian meal and eat with her hands, as is customary in India. [CONFESSION TIME: Growing up, eating with my hands was so normal that I could never eat with cutlery when my parents took me to restaurants as a child. I would fling food off the fork and onto myself before it reached my mouth.]

Over dinner, Oprah engaged the family in conversations about arranged marriage. It was fascinating to hear how love grew out of marriage instead of being the basis for marriage. These conversations resonated with me, because my own parents had an arranged marriage in 1972. They did not speak to one another until their wedding day and saw each other only once before, across a crowded room during their engagement ceremony, two weeks before they were married. After their wedding, my dad came back to Canada to continue work on his PhD and my mom joined him a year later. When she arrived in Canada, it was the middle of winter, and she had never before left India or her family. Imagine moving to a new land to meet your husband who you do not really know. I always marvel at their love story which flourished from and in their marriage. Next month marks their 40th wedding anniversary. 40 years strong in love.

Bollywood: Family and Celebrity

In this episode, Oprah also visited with Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan (son of famed Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan), film stars of Bollywood cinema, often referred to as the Brad and Angelina of India.

Abishek, Aishwarya and their new daughter live with Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya, demonstrating that joint families are not borne of financial necessity but rooted instead in a collective love for deep family roots and a reverence for the daily support of extended family. In her visit with the family, Oprah rocked a sari and shared how the paparazzi frenzy surrounding the Bachchans was surreal, unlike anything she had ever seen before in her life.

My India

For me, India has been a constant in my life. The birthplace of my history. The source of my family. The place where grandma lives. The geographic underpinning to my identity and core values.

India is found in my favorite foods, the music in my house, the curve of my nose, the fabric of my being.

Yet, at many levels, India has been a mystery to me – a veritable enigma wrapped in the cloak of the familiar. Being born and raised in Canada, visiting India once every few years, I have never fully grasped India in its many forms, in its beauty, complexity, and variety. During every visit, it still surprises me and manages to take my breath away.

Part I of Oprah’s Next Chapter in India painted a picture of India that is fluid, vibrant, textured, and beyond categorization, demonstrating that regardless of socio-economic status, history, or condition, everybody has a story and a voice that is worthy of respect and attention. Furthermore, the episode showed that though geography may separate us from India, shared experiences and common dreams unite us in a myriad of interesting, unexpected ways.

At the beginning of the episode, Oprah discusses how the greeting, Namaste, in India signifies an acknowledgment from the divine in you to the divine in others. We are all sparks of divinity. We all matter. The power of Namaste as a greeting and as a principle reminds me of the following verse from one of my favorite india.arie songs:

I wonder, I wonder if you really knew, that I see God in you
And I wonder if you can see, how much you mean to me
I know you cannot read my mind, but I hope you feel my vibe
I think it’s time I let you know that, I see the God in you

Thank you Oprah for the blessings of Next Chapter – Part I in India. We are so grateful to you, your team, and OWN TV for making such a long journey and for inviting us to see India through the eyes of the many people who call it home.

Namaste.

On their website, the Pop-Culture Passionistas describe themselves in the following terms:

“We’re huge pop culture fans. In fact, you could say it’s our passion. Our whole family’s creative. Guess it’s a dominant gene. Growing up, we developed a love of TV, movies, music, and food as well as a fascination with celebrity. When we’re not absorbing the entertainment world, we’re writing and producing videos about pop culture people, places, and things. This blog is where all our passions collide. Enjoy! Amy & Nancy Harrington NOTE: In order to avoid sibling rivalry issues, and keep people guessing, the Pop Culture Passionistas always speak in the royal we.”

They wanted to speak with me about my experience participating in Lifeclass! They were absolutely fantastic – warm, engaging, kind and generous and our conversation was SO MUCH FUN! It was like I was chatting with two long-lost friends! I encourage you to check out their amazing site!

They very kindly wrote a few pieces about the Lifeclass premiere and our interview is contained in the first and second articles below. As you will notice, in addition to writing for their own website, they write pieces for Yahoo TV! Thanks so much Amy and Nancy for your kindness. Huge hugs!

Article 1: Prasanna Ranganathan and Three Ways Oprah Winfrey Changed His Life

Article 2: Prasanna Ranganathan – One of Oprah’s Biggest Fans

Article 3: “Oprah’s Lifeclass: The Tour” The Top 10 VIP Moments with Oprah from the St. Louis Event