Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
December 5th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
People are great!
If I had believed what everyone said about the way life “is” instead of listening to my own experience, I probably couldn’t say people are great.
In almost 50 years of life, I’ve directly felt the effects of the Vietnam War from my father, survived a family divorce, lived through a tornado, gave birth and raised two children, and helped my mother with cancer and assisted in her dying and death process, just to name a few of many significant events. Life by no means has been easy. Yet my track record shows resilience, success, and experience. I’ve started more than one business and am a community leader. Interestingly enough, people consider that I’m naive because I’m still open to life and see the good in people. I’m not naive … and I am OPEN to the inspiration that life offers at every turn.
People ask me how I stay open when everyone knows how tough life really is. I tell them I’ve come to a realization that people are equal parts great and foolish, and it simply comes down to choosing one’s focus on others. I’m amazed as I watch my daughter go through high school amid a culture of gossip, looking good, and two-faced behavior. I find that as a parent I’m given constant invitations to step into teen land and banter. Business, media and politics look like sophisticated versions of this same culture. But here’s the thing … not all of it is. In fact, a lot of it isn’t. It simply requires shifting one’s focus to see a whole other 
side to people. Because people are great.
I recently came across a study that identified a human need to assist or help others (to really explore this feel free to read the article). Fundamentally it appears that humans are social creatures whose biology is more giving than previously thought.
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September 22nd, 2009 | Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
I had a walkabout in New York City early this morning. It was lovely. It was exciting. What a great city to host the UN General Assembly starting this week and the Clinton Global Initiative starting today. My spontaneous walkabout led me to a 5 foot marble slab with these words etched in it:
“I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility, every opportunity an obligation, every possession a duty.” – John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
As I read each word, they rang true for me at this place, at this time. This is why I’ve come to the CGI … for myself and for others’ worth and rights. This is why I’m here today, now … Attending a Clinton Global Initiative is a magnificent event. It’s sort of a combination of a rock concert, a town hall , the Academy Awards, a political convention, and a giant shareholders meeting all wrapped up into one enchilada. It’s quite an enchilada! This is my third CGI and I’m still thoroughly awestruck by the experience. The model that Bill Clinton has created, as I’ve referred to it before, is without precedent. I always leave inspired and expanded from my participation. Today was no exception.
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September 6th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
“There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.”
My dog, Archie, a cute, white, 10 pound Bichon Frise, has no problem sleeping. He takes naps all day 
long. When it’s time to play or go for a walk, he’s all there, ready to go, jumping in 360-degree circles and full of life. My cat, Suzie Q, a black, demure being who we sometimes feel has shamanistic qualities, also has no problem sleeping. Last time I checked, most other animals like the birds out my window or my horses at the barn, don’t have any problem sleeping either. Our family enjoys deep slumber on a regular basis as well. I realized that I took sleep for granted.
That’s why, when I heard that Michael Jackson paid massive, unthinkable amounts of money and took dangerous risks just to get a good night’s sleep, I began to take a closer look at what’s going on.
About 60 million Americans a year (that’s 1 in 5) have insomnia frequently or for extended periods of time, according to the National Institute of Health.
Hmmm … the yoga teacher in me diagnoses this as
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June 30th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Have you ever heard that, “You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything?” In the mid-80s, this saying stayed with me the whole time I watched the movie, Gandhi. Perhaps I was at a place in my life where I was really ready to get the truth and power behind taking a stand.
If Gandhi could bring down the British Empire by a stand, then anything was possible.
In May, 2005, while I was hosting a Hunter Lovins/Natural Capitalism event in my living room, I declared to everyone that this planet was mine and I stand for a sustainable future for my kids and all generations to come. Immediately after this evening, with candid education from Bill Becker and Hunter, I came to understand the seriousness of global warming. Still … my stand didn’t waver. Instead, I went into ACTION!
I told all the mothers, teenagers, senior citizens, and anyone else who would listen, that our planet’s in jeopardy, and that the people need to lead. My message was not one of panic; rather it was one of responsibility.
As a Colorado citizen, in 2006 I had my company write a check to cover the costs of replacing every single light bulb in our state capital building. This was the beginning of a campaign, called the New Light Project, to expand to every state. I did this to demonstrate my stand and my power as a global citizen. I was certain that politicians and big business would follow once the results were in. Not only is it the right thing to do from an energy standpoint, but the savings are impressive as well!
Today, my instincts proved correct. The article below demonstrates the power of taking a stand. Can you believe it? President Obama is making sure that the light bulbs in the White House are being changed … and that’s just the beginning of New Light.
What are you willing to stand for?
Obama Touts New Light Bulb Standards
President Obama on Monday announced new federal efforts to promote energy efficiency in the United 
States, through stricter standards on fluorescent and incandescent light and other measures.
“I know light bulbs might not seem sexy,” Mr. Obama said, “but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and our businesses.”
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