Go Inspire Go...

GIG Giveaway: Share an Inspiring Story for a Chance to Win Deepak Chopra's Leela

2012-01-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

Start the year off right by bringing focus, energy, and balance to your life using technology! Go Inspire Go is giving away 2 copies of Deepak Chopra's Leela for Xbox 360, generously provided by our friends at Intent.com. The video game provides a unique interactive experience that helps you achieve a peaceful and focused flow state through relaxation, mediation techniques and the ancient theory of chakras. Created in collaboration with world-renowned expert on mind-body healing, Deepak Chopra, Leela aims to help you develop a healthier, harmonious and more balanced life. (For more info about the game, go to http://www.deepakchopraleela.com/)

It's simple -- here's how to enter:
1) LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - A winner will be randomly selected from our newest "likers."
2) SHARE A STORY IDEA - After you liked our Facebook page, share a story of how you or someone you know did something small that helped others. Post your story on our Facebook page or tweet it to @GoInspireGo. We will review entries and select a winner to receive a copy of the game AND we will cover your story on our blog, as well as share it on our networks.

Enter our giveaway through this Friday, February 3, 5:00 PST. Good luck!

GIG SPARK: Spreading the LOVE is Easier Than You Think. (VIDEO)

2012-01-21T21:35:00.000-08:00

Drum roll… and roll the music… In the spirit of Elton John’s Lion King tribute "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" -- our latest GIG Spark was crafted with lots of love by Kevin Schow, a senior at Huntington Beach High School near Los Angeles.

Kevin hit the busy streets of downtown San Francisco with one mission: To spread the love. How? By simply giving flowers to strangers.

Hope this video makes you smile, count your blessings -- things in your life that make you feel love -- and of course sparks a fire inside you to do what you can to make someone else feel loved.

Love this! Hope you do too…

Gigster: Kevin Schow
Where: San Francisco
Spark: Spreading the LOVE in San Francisco
Your Turn: It's simple -- think about a thoughtful deed and take action.

FEELING INSPIRED? GET INVOLVED! Make your own GIG Spark.

WHAT'S A GIG Spark & CREATE your own!

As a part of GoInspireGo's mission to inspire our viewers to discover their power, we've joined forces with Youth Service America (YSA), Lil' MDGs and Miley Cyrus' "Get Ur Good On" to bring you GIG Spark: A Lesson on Compassion.

A "GIG Spark" is a short 1-1:30 minute video that inspires viewers to take action and help others after they've watched the video. The video will feature you showing and telling viewers what you want them to do on video. It's simple, quick and can generate inspiration for others! The goal: a fun, easy way to inspire action.

We're inviting YOU and your community (school, organization, friends, etc.) to use your passion and creativity to produce a "GIG Spark" and inspire viewers with your story. This is for anyone who can shoot and edit short videos. Get Started on a GIG Spark now.

Inspiration can be fun and infectious! We believe in the power of small acts and using technology to crowdsource ideas, capture it on video, spread the word online, and inspire immediate action. We know that people (especially youth) care and want to do something good for others, but just don't know how. So why not teach compassion to kids and adults in your life? This is a quick way for you to use your power to spark civic engagement and inspire a small ripple of kindness that will create a domino effect…

We can't wait to see inspiring acts popping up all over the state, country, and world! What can YOU do?

* Follow us on: LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook

Lotus Bloom Child & Family Resource Center - Closing the Achievement Gap

2012-01-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

Go Inspire Go (GIG) is proud to share this month’s Social Good Spotlight, to raise awareness of individuals and organizations doing good in their communities in order to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. GIG believes everyone can find inspiration in helping others, whether it’s through doing small acts of kindness or working at an organization dedicated to making a difference. If you know of an individual or organization that you think should be featured, please email Marcia and help us forward their stories to inspire the world.

GIG Social Good Spotlight:
LOTUS BLOOM CHILD & FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER – Uplifting Children and Closing the Achievement Gap
by Marcia Estarija Silva

"Often times, I see parents and children smile more, talk more, and playing together more. These are indicators that our participants are gaining new skills and building on their school readiness skills." - Angela Louie Howard, Executive Director

What is Lotus Bloom Child & Family Resource Center?
Lotus Bloom is a multicultural organization based in Oakland, California that develops and provides a safe, loving environment for inner-city children and families, offering developmental play and art activities to children from 0 to 5 years of age. Last year, the center served approximately 600 individuals, of which 144 children and 138 adults participated in its 0-5 year old multicultural playgroups.

What is Lotus Bloom’s mission? What big changes is it trying to make?
Lotus Bloom’s mission is to empower individuals to realize their full potential and transcend their dreams into reality. In education, the “achievement gap” refers to the differences in academic performance - academic grades, standardized-test scores, drop-out rates, college-completion rates – and is most often used to describe the performance gaps between students from low-income families and those who are better off. In Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood, 86% of 3rd graders were not reading at grade level and kindergarten teachers reported that children entering school had no preschool or early care experience. To help fill this achievement gap, several local volunteers and social service providers came together to form Lotus Bloom in the Fall of 2006 to offer free access to playgroup and school readiness programs.

Counting and singing during circle time

How is Lotus Bloom using its power to help others?
Nationwide, the data is startling - 29 percent of 2-year-olds in poverty demonstrated proficiency in listening comprehension, compared with 39 percent of those at or above poverty, and 55 percent of those in poverty were proficient in expressive vocabulary, compared with 67 percent at or above poverty. The disparity increases in later years. Twenty percent of 4-year-olds in poverty were proficient in letter recognition, compared with 37 percent of their peers at or above poverty. Forty-five percent of 4-year-olds in poverty demonstrated proficiency in numbers and shapes, compared with 72 percent of their peers at or above poverty.

Dedicated to working with diverse populations and connecting people of different backgrounds to work collaboratively, Lotus Bloom promotes language development and early learning experiences through playgroups and classes, such as Asian Community Mental Health Playgroups, multicultural play groups by age, and Parent Child Yoga,. Many of these classes are free or offered or on a sliding scale of $1-$5 per child, per day.

Students learn about color mixing by blowing paint around on a canvas

What inspires Lotus Bloom to do this work?
"Seeing children and families make progress everyday inspires me to do the work, whether it is watching children play with other children, holding a pencil for the first time, or writing their first name," said Angela Louie Howard, Executive Director.

The majority of the families that go to Lotus Bloom come from low-income backgrounds and third world countries and the concept of learning through play is a new concept to them. "I love to see parents in our programs get acculturated, learn new skills, new songs, count in different languages, and make new friends," she said.

Getting their hands dirty on a field trip to Funk Town Farm,

a local neighborhood farm in the San Antonio neighborhood

What is Lotus Bloom focusing on now?
Lotus Bloom is working on a licensed community kitchen in order to help incubate small catering and food services within the community. The San Antonio neighborhood is plagued with fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds and Churches Chicken, and the organization wants to help the local neighborhood make use of their own cooking resources and build healthy and sustainable food programs. Food is also a great way to bring people together to share knowledge and culture and strengthen the community.

How can GIGSTERS get involved and support Lotus Bloom?
•Purchase a NSF certified oven/stove for their licensed community kitchen
•Volunteer and help by:
--- Working on our backyard to build community garden
--- Providing administrative support
--- Starting and facilitating a parent leadership group
--- Participating on Lotus Bloom’s Board of Directors
--- Plan and administer two fundraisers
• Donate and provide financial resources to support our work

To volunteer or get more information on how to support Lotus Bloom, click here to fill out their contact form.

Starting 2012 in a Funk? Diluting Your Inner Debbie Downer

2012-01-11T01:43:00.000-08:00

There’s a lot to be grateful for in life. Just look around you. Look inside yourself.

Since the start of 2012, I've received several calls from friends - and met up with one who I will call JC - who are rich on so many levels, but live in a mental state of poverty. The complaints endless were endless - “I have no money” or “this job or project is all I have” and, my favorite, “I would be so happy if ______ (fill in the blank).”

This prompted me to post this FB:

As Byron Katie would say, “is this true?” I’m sure that the truth or reality is only as true as the energy you give it or believe it to be. What’s more accurate: a) I’m poor, b) I’m broke, or c) I’m destitute? If any of those are true, then why are you sitting across from me at this trendy café, sipping on a nice cup of coffee and eating an egg and cheese bagel? (Note to my friend aka JC: you know who you are!)

Many conversations I’ve had ended with this bottom line: Many situations are just a mind game. It is what it is. And what is, is.

Need to get out of that funk? Here are some things that have helped me stay present and circumvent mental misery in 2011:

1. Put it in writing. I love to write and even if you don’t, just try this easy exercise. Write down exactly what you hope to achieve or what you need. Then take action or baby steps to get to that goal. Beware: it might just manifest.

2. Keep a gratitude journal. I just bought a two year journal: Building the Best You by Caroline Harper. It asks you five simple questions on one half of the page, then next year, you will write on the same page on the same date – and watch your blessings multiply. Here's a picture of one thing I'm grateful for today. (Thanks Devyn Rush for the recommendation!)

3. Focus on the present moment. Don’t let the past define you. Likewise, don’t let the future dictate your happiness. All we have is this present moment. As a student at the University of San Francisco, I used to think that if I got a job as a TV News Reporter in San Francisco one day, I would be so happy. I did it. It didn't bring the happiness that I thought it would. I don’t do it anymore!

And if all else fails, be grateful for your breath, your life. Again, there’s a lot to be grateful for. Just look around you. Feel inside you – you may be surprised! By the way, after my meeting with JC at the coffee shop and telling him about the three aforementioned things I did to get me out of a funk, he turned over a new leaf and started to tell me about all the blessings in his life. I guess he wasn’t a, b, c or any of the above. In the words of my friend, “Thanks for slapping me around and telling me not to be a Debbie Downer.”

The Power of the Handwritten Word

2012-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

This first blog of 2012 for Go Inspire Go was inspired by my favorite feature reporter, CBS's Steve Hartman and a story he produced that my multimedia consultant, Denise Poon sent me: Enjoy! I hope this inspires you to use the power of penmanship and gratitude in 2012.

Surprising Secret Santa Movement

2011-12-23T15:57:00.000-08:00

If you’re feeling down this holiday season, here’s a surefire pick-me-up to lift your spirits. Just Google Secret Santa Kmart and see the brimming news of a philanthropic phenomenon that has spread across America.

I love surreptitious surprises and movements of kindness, so I couldn’t help but get the chills after reading personal accounts of peoples’ stories of and reactions to anonymous Kris Kringles who are secretly paying off customers’ layaway accounts.

"I was surprised. It seemed so amazing to me," said Annette Pride, who works the layaway counter at a Kmart in Colorado and has witnessed acts of covert generosity since late last week.

"One woman stopped at the pawnshop and pawned something" to pay off her balance, Pride said, "but when she got here she found out that someone had already done that."

While all of the anonymous donors are different, there’s a common thread (besides good ole holiday cheer) - they’re paying off Christmas gifts other families couldn't afford, especially toys and children's clothes set aside by impoverished parents. These anonymous donors are leaving a one cent balance so the account doesn’t get closed out before the customer can pick up the goodies. Many have also been urging other strangers to follow their example.

From Washington to Florida, Kmart stores in more than 15 states have been hit by Santa’s helpers.

Take action:
Some recipients say they’re going to find a way to pay the act of kindness forward, while other Kris Kringles are encouraging people to be inspired to do the same. If you’re moved by what these anonymous donors have been doing, follow their lead! If you don’t have the means to do this, think of ways you can give this holiday sans the cashola.

Send a nice, hand written note to someone to express your gratitude. While I love using the power of the internet and social media to inspire social change - that’s why Go Inspire Go exists - go offline and write a thoughtful card. The details go a long way. Trust me on this.

Volunteer at a local charity this holiday and give the gift of service. During this time of year, food banks and soup kitchens need man and woman power!

Give your talents. Are you good at baking, singing or making people laugh? Give your time to someone in need. I know plenty of people who need help with chores, babysitting and errands this time of year.

Still don’t know what to do? Look at this example of how my students are sending 29 kids to school in Haiti, just by using their talents – they made videos (we’re still trying to send 52 more students; it only costs $85 per year for books, uniforms and tuition!):

Wonder Dog Rescue – Raising Awareness and Saving Lives

2011-12-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

Go Inspire Go (GIG) is proud to this month’s Social Good Spotlight, to raise awareness of individuals and organizationsdoing good in their communities in order to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. GIG believes everyone can find inspiration in helping others, whether it’s through doing small acts of kindness or working at an organization dedicated to making a difference. If you know of an individual or organization that you think should be featured, please contact Marcia and help us forward their stories to inspire the world.

GIG Social Good Spotlight:
WONDER DOG RESCUE – Raising Awareness and Saving Lives
by Marcia Estarija Silva

“Rescue can be very demanding and often sad...It's the camaraderie, support and love

that keep all of us going.” - Linda Beenau, Founder of Wonder Dog Rescue

What is Wonder Dog Rescue?
Wonder Dog Rescue is a dedicated network of foster homes and volunteers, rescuing dogs from all over Northern and Central California. Dogs come to the organization through owner surrender and shelters.

What is Wonder Dog Rescue’s mission? What big changes is it trying to make?
Wonder Dog Rescue was originally founded to rescue, rehabilitate and place Boston Terriers and others at risk of being euthanized due to the pet overpopulation problem. Over the years, it has expanded to include all sizes, shapes and ages of dogs and its mission has grown to include public education and awareness.

How is Wonder Dog Rescue using its power to help others?
Nationwide, approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters every year and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized. Many of these animals have been relinquished by owners or picked up by animal control. Wonder Dog Rescue has saved blind and deaf dogs, puppies as young as two weeks and seniors as old as 15. The organization offers hospice to special needs and elderly dogs, caring for them until the end of their lives.

What inspires Wonder Dog Rescue to do this work?
Linda Beenau started Wonder Dog Rescue in 1992 to help animals in need. With time and experience, she realized that animals were being killed in shelters because of human ignorance and greed, through puppy mills and breeding to produce dogs and cats for profit. Now education and awareness are important to Wonder Dog Rescue’s work. “I personally feel that it is difficult to change an adult’s mind, but children and youth are easier to teach,” Linda said. “Wonder Dog Rescue has a goal of creating a free training program for young people, who will train and mentor other youth.”

The greatest reward is seeing the dogs flourish under the care of the volunteers/visitors. “There are *never* too many walks in a day, or too many volunteers to sit by a dog. The animals have benefited tremendously from this one-on-one attention,” Linda added. “Visitors often comment on how happy and loving the dogs are...and this is because of the people who come in to be with them.”

What is Wonder Dog Rescue focusing on now?
- Working with youth volunteers: Many children and young adults volunteer with Wonder Dog Rescue. Some youth come here as part of their school's community outreach program and others come because of a love of animals. “One girl, Sienna (8 yrs old), comes in every Saturday to help at our adoption events. She wouldn't miss a day!”
- Partnership with The ARC of San Francisco: For nearly two years, Wonder Dog Rescue has worked with The ARC of San Francisco, a nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities. Volunteers from The Art come in regularly to walk and socialize the dogs, and to help with tasks around the office. “Anne Slater is one of these volunteers. She has an amazing gift to work with the very timid dogs. Anne taught my own pup to walk, and the little one wouldn't walk for anyone else... how we laughed at that!”
- “Guarding Dogs” Documentary: About a year ago, Wonder Dog Rescue was approached by J.R. Fleming of Unstuck Productions about a documentary on rescue dogs which led to the production of Guarding Dogs. WDR is a fiscal sponsor for the project and is one of the organizations featured in the film.
- Rescue Runs: In January 2011, with the support of the Shaw Family Fund, Wonder Dog Rescue purchased a van that has been used to transport dogs from high-kill shelters to rescue groups, travelling between Los Angeles and the Canadian border.

How can GIGSTERS get involved and support Wonder Dog Rescue?
1. Foster a dog – Wonder Dog Rescue will provide you with the supplies you need (food, toys, leashes, etc) to have a good experience and help with any questions or issues that arise.
2. Volunteer - Volunteers are especially needed for event planning, networking (Facebook, etc), photographing dogs and getting them up on Wonder Dog Rescue’s website, Petfinder.com and craigslist. Volunteers also work at adoption events & walk and/or socialize the dogs. Complete the volunteer application form to inform Wonder Dog Rescue of your interests.
3. Donate - If you are unable to foster or volunteer, consider making a donation, which will help to defer the costs of running rescue, transporting dogs and providing medical treatment to animals in need.

Sparking Kindness with Socks. GIG Spark: Technology + Storytelling = Action

2011-12-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love socks? They're warm, fuzzy and for the most part, inexpensive -- unless your phalanges are of the fabulous kind. As a journalist, I've covered many stories about homeless people -- and guess what? Socks nearly top their wish lists.

With that said, GoInspireGo is excited to share our first GIG Spark submission. Way to go and thanks Sierra Sanchez for warming our soles and our souls!

Gigster: Sierra Sanchez

Spark: Buying socks for the homeless in San Francisco, California

Your Turn: It’s simple - buy socks and give them. No strings attached. One of our favorite organizations, Just Give has a list of 35 things you can you to help the homeless. It’s easy, inexpensive, and a good GIG.

We hope this video sparks (and knocks) your socks off:

FEELING INSPIRED? GET INVOLVED! make your own GIG Spark:

WHAT’S A GIG Spark & CREATE your own!

As a part of GoInspireGo’s mission to inspire our viewers to discover their power, we've joined forces with Youth Service America (YSA), Lil' MDGs and Miley Cyrus' "Get Ur Good On" to bring you GIG Spark: A Lesson on Compassion.

A "GIG Spark" is a short 1-1:30 minute video that inspires viewers to take action and help others after they've watched the video. The video will feature you showing and telling viewers what you want them to do on video. It's simple, quick and can generate inspiration for others! The goal: a fun, easy way to inspire action.

We're inviting YOU and your community (school, organization, friends, etc.) to use your passion and creativity to produce a "GIG Spark" and inspire viewers with your story. This is for anyone who can shoot and edit short videos. Get Started on a GIG Spark now.

Inspiration can be fun and infectious! We believe in the power of small acts and using technology to crowdsource ideas, capture it on video, spread the word online, and inspire immediate action. We know that people (especially youth) care and want to do something good for others, but just don't know how. So why not teach compassion to kids and adults in your life? This is a quick way for you to use your power to spark civic engagement and inspire a small ripple of kindness that will create a domino effect…

We can't wait to see inspiring acts popping up all over the state, country, and world! What can YOU do?

*Follow us on: LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook

Gift of Compassion & Education: Help Us Send 62 Kids to School in Haiti (VIDEO)

2011-12-05T15:11:00.000-08:00

To everyone who cares about our youth and education,

I was heartbroken when I found out that 62 students couldn’t attend the new Institution Mahanaim High School that Rev. Lemaire Alerte and his Jersey City, N.J., community worked to build in his hometown of Grande Saline, Haiti. It’s the only high school in this area. (Since the high school was completed last year, the need for education was so high that the school is now serving grades K-12.)

I was even more saddened when I found out that it costs only $85 a year to send a child to school. This important opportunity includes a uniform, shoes and books.

I was compelled and empowered to relay this news to my classes at the Academy of Art in San Francisco where I teach a myriad of multimedia classes.

Immediately, hands shot up in the air -- many students were adamant about helping. Some students said they were going to follow my lead this Christmas and instead of asking for gifts, they too would ask loved ones to fund a child’s tuition.

One class creatively brainstormed and with very little help from me, they created this video to inspire people to open their hearts:

This ripple of kindness started during the summer of 2010 by another student –- Julian Cohen, a junior at a high school in New Jersey when he participated in a five-week summer program at the Academy of Art University. At the end, Julian told me he was inspired by my nonprofit, GoInspireGo, and wanted to do a story that he had researched about Alerte, whose mission was to build a high school in his hometown of Grande Saline.

There are only two junior high schools in this town. "Every time I go back to visit, the people tell me, 'Reverend, we need a school,'" Rev. Alerte explained. There are no high schools, so after junior high, the students don't have a choice but to travel five hours away to attend school. Students whose parents can't send them to school are resigned to a junior high education.

With fundraisers and community help, Rev. Alerte started to build the school, but had to stop after running out of funds. He needed $18,000 to complete the school.

Mahanaim during construction

Mahanaim after construction

Julian was moved by Alerte’s efforts and created this GIG story about it:

A few months later, across the country, band students in Kenny William’s class at Willow Glen High School in San Jose, Calif., saw the story. The students wanted to help, but they didn't know how. Their teacher told them that GoInspireGo's mantra is "What can YOU do?" so he asked them that simple question. The students decided to orchestrate a winter benefit concert to help Rev. Alerte. Some volunteers helped me produce this follow up video:

The students raised $1,643.85. When I called Rev. Alerte to tell him the news, he was overjoyed. “Thank you, God Bless you!” he said. I was pleased to learn that his church helped raise the money to complete the school.

Recently, Rev. Alerte told me the bittersweet news - 177 kids enrolled in the Mahanaim High School, but only 96 were able to attend. 81 are still waiting to get in.

I told Rev. Alerte that the money raised from the Willow Glen High School band class will send 19 kids to school, leaving 62 students needing funding. I made it my personal goal this holiday to send as many of the 62 kids to school as possible.

I’ve never seen my students this excited and take ownership over any philanthropy project. Likewise, many Willow Glen parents told me they too have never seen their children so enthusiastic about anything (especially because this wasn't "me-centric.") Meanwhile, my students are using social media to inspire social change and are tweeting, Facebooking and blogging the video to everyone who will listen.

We need your help!

Rev. Alerte hopes to raise enough money to buy desks, furniture and food for the Mahanaim Students

Please go to Haiti Enrichment Foundation's website for more information and send a check made out to:

Haitian Evangelical Church
2030 Kennedy Blvd.
Jersey City, N.J. 07305

Please specify on the check memo "Mahanaim Student Tuition - gig"

It’s nice to see that my students using their power (and the multimedia skills I’ve taught them) to give back to other kids who have less resources and privileges. It’s joyful to witness the shift (from me to “we”) that I see in them. They’re learning compassion and experiencing the gift of giving.

Thank you for giving the gift of education!

Happy Holidays!

In service,
Toan
Chief Inspirator, Go Inspire Go

*Follow us on: LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook

Socrates Spoke: Riding Out Fear (VIDEO)

2011-11-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

For one full minute I want you to sit down (preferably in silence) and think about what you have accomplished in your career thus far.

Now ask yourself, “Is my life any more meaningful?” If the answer is yes, you’re luckier than many people I know.

Recently, I’ve been talking with a lot of people who are experiencing the same situation: good job + good pay + good title = still not happy.

Many have admitted that they’re lucky to have good paying jobs with fancy titles but at the end of the day, they’re feeling uninspired, unhappy. The mental pendulum of guilt swings back and forth. I should be grateful… but I’m not… to and fro… the emotions go.

This is what happened to Casey Miller who, by all accounts, seemed to have it all: a good education, a good career and a good life. After graduating from Harvard with two degrees, Casey built a successful company that turns garbage into energy. He made money, was able to travel the world, acquired stuff, but still he felt empty.

“By most accounts, I was what I thought success should look like. Yet I was not any happier. And my life was certainly not any more meaningful. Like many people of my generation, I was stuck between the allure of capitalism and the painful realization that more does not mean better. I felt empty, even though my life was surrounded by wonderful places, experiences, and things.” Casey admits.

So he quit and moved to San Francisco (partly for love), but then he was dumped. He then couldn’t find a job and fell into depression.

Several conversations ensued. Casey told everyone that he was going to do something he was very afraid of: ride a bike (he hadn’t ridden a bike since elementary school) across the country – from Oregon to Massachusetts and along the way ask people some simple questions that delved deeper into the journey of finding meaning: What inspires you? Are you doing it now? Why not? His journey was aptly named “Socrates Spoke”:

Taking this risk helped him get the wheels of inspiration turning and, for once, Casey says he “found his meaning of life” and is now empowered to use his experience to help others discover what matters most to them. He's even created a website (CaseyAdamMiller.com) to inspire people to live the truest, biggest, most meaningful lives possible.

Socrates once said: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Casey read this, listened and is riding high on these words of wisdom.

Take Action:
If you’re feeling unfulfilled, make a list of what you can do to find meaning.
1. Many people say, “I can’t quit my job.” However, you can spend a little bit of time outside of your work to engage in a hobby or passion project that enlivens you.

2. What would excite you out of bed in the morning? Take baby steps doing what brings you joy. Check out Casey's website for inspiration: CaseyAdamMiller.com

3. Stop talking about it. Do it now. This was the best advice several mentors gave me when I wanted to leave my TV career and pursue my nonprofit GoInspireGo.com

Using Technology and Storytelling to Inspire the Youth

2011-11-14T23:09:00.000-08:00

As a college professor, I have to admit I was very surprised to see the burgeoning support and growing good deeds that have rippled out from my students at the Academy of Art (AAU) and University of San Francisco – essentially, I’ve come to the conclusion that young people around the world want to help -- they just don’t know how.

But given some tutelage, support and a sprinkle of inspiration, amazing good things have grown…I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes. Just click around my passion project, Go Inspire Go, where we make videos of regular people doing small things that ripple out to meaningful changes (beware: there’s a call to action at the end of every video that has inspired thousands of viewers around the world to care, share and help.)

I realized a desperate need for a program that combines technology, social good and storytelling. That’s how “GIG Spark” a lesson on compassion was born.

A “GIG Spark” is a short 1-1:30 minute video that inspires viewers to take action and help others after they’ve watched the video. The video will feature you showing and telling viewers what you want them to do and show it on video. It’s simple, quick and can generate inspiration for others! The goal: a fun, easy way to inspire action.

Go Inspire Go has joined forces with YSA, Lil’ MDGs and Miley Cyrus' “Get Ur Good On” to bring you “GIG Spark.”

We’re inviting YOU and your community (school, organization, friends etc.) to use your passion and creativity to produce a “GIG Spark” and inspire viewers with your video. Here’s an example of one of the first “GIG Sparks”

For more information "GIG Spark", go to GoInspireGo.com

What can YOU do? (To Inspire Action)

Books for the Barrios - Teaching Children to Think Globally

2011-11-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

Go Inspire Go (GIG) is proud to share this month's Social Good Spotlight to raise awareness of individuals and organizations doing good in their communities to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. GIG believes everyone can find inspiration in helping others, whether it's through doing small acts of kindness or working at an organization dedicated to making a difference. If you know of an individual or organization that you think should be featured, please email Marcia and help us forward their stories to inspire the world.

GIG Social Good Spotlight:
BOOKS FOR THE BARRIOS – Teaching Children to Think Globally to Fight Poverty and Promote Peace
by Marcia Estarija Silva

"When American children come to our facility, they learn how children in the Philippines are just like us -– they are no different." – Nancy Harrington,co-founder of Books for the Barrios

What is Books for the Barrios?
Books for the Barrios is truly "a project of the heart." The 100 percent volunteer-run organization collects school textbooks, educational learning aids and devices from schools, publishers and schoolchildren in the U.S. and delivers them to remote barrio public schools throughout the Republic of the Philippines.

What is Books for the Barrios' mission? What big changes is it trying to make?
To provide all children, especially disadvantaged children in conflict areas, access to quality education. In addition to having enough books and school supplies, it's important that qualified teachers are educating the children. There is a shortage of primary school teachers worldwide, weakening global efforts to provide access to education to all children. Many developing countries lose their educated population, who leave their home countries for opportunities abroad. Strengthening the education system is essential to securing economic development and a better quality of life.

The U.S. Special Forces stationed in Jolo built two classrooms for pre-school Badjao children.

Four months later, Books for the Barrios donated books, toys, and art supplies for these 60 children.

How is Books for the Barrios using its power to help others?
By sharing resources and putting educational materials directly into the hands of the students and teachers who need it most. More than 40 percent of households in the Philippines live on less than $2 a day. More than 13 million Filipino kids live below the poverty line, representing over 44 percent of the population aged 15 and below. The neediest schools, most of which are located in remote areas of the country, are prioritized for shipments from Books for the Barrios, regardless of politics, religion or ethnicity. Back in the U.S., Books for the Barrios organizes opportunities for children to participate in the collection and packing of donations. The organization also enlists volunteer American education development specialists to provide professional teacher training programs to thousands of rural educators.

What inspires Books for the Barrios to do this?
Dan and Nancy Harrington, founders of Books for the Barrios, met in the Philippines in the late 1960s and fell in love with each other and the country. They cared deeply about Filipino children and their families, inspiring them to take action and start an organization in 1981 to provide educational materials to severely under-resourced schools. Nancy lamented, "I'm a teacher and when we lived in the Philippines, I saw the devastation in the schools. I felt the apathy with the government and people in general. I felt the hopelessness and I said, 'My god, what I throw away in my first grade classroom -– broken crayons and pencils -- would be gold to these children.' " This realization over three decades ago continues to fuel the organization today.

What is Books for the Barrios focusing on now?
Current projects include:
•    International Model-of-Excellence Schools Program – Books for the Barrios ships books and supplies to transform severely underdeveloped barrio schools into learning institutions that set a national standard.
•    Green Action Program – Books for the Barrios diverts at least 700,000 pounds from landfills in the U.S. by shipping valuable books and other learning tools that might otherwise become waste. The program educates children worldwide about the environment.
•    Global Pupils’ Email Program – In order for American children to understand that their classmates overseas are "just like them," the program teaches them computer literacy and encourages them to use the Internet to communicate with a global network of nearly 40,000 children worldwide.

How can GIGSTERS get involved and support Books for the Barrios?
•    Donate money to Books for the Barrios. Securing resources to sustain its work is the organization's biggest and constant challenge.
•    Provide items on their wish list. Organize a collection drive or party in your community or at your job and encourage your neighbors and friends to donate.
•    Volunteer your services. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, volunteer at their facility. If you're not in the area, the organization is always looking for help in getting donations, social networking and marketing, and other tasks. To find out various ways to volunteer, click here.

Nancy shared a story about a Filipino-American woman from Redwood City, Calif. who reached out to Books for the Barrios, wanting to give back. Books for the Barrios found a school in great need of resources in the woman's barrio in the Philippines. Now Nanunga Elementary in Hinigaran, Negros has a world-class library and a dedication ceremony was held last month.

Video Credit: Net25 Philippines

Bullied Teen Posts "It Gets Better" Video and Posts Final FB Update to Lady Gaga Before Commiting Suicide

2011-10-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Does it really get better?

Last month, Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old teen from Buffalo, N.Y. committed suicide after relentless bullying. Before he ended his life, he created an "It gets better" video where he mentioned his role model. "Lady Gaga, she makes me so happy and she lets me know that I was born this way. So that's my advice to you from her - you were born this way. And all you have to do is just hold your head up and you'll go far," Rodemeyer said. He reached out for help on the Internet, only to endure more incessant bullying.

In the spirit of teenagers like Rodemeyer, Oct. 20 is Spirit Day, an annual celebration on which people, schools, companies, etc., wear purple in an effort to raise anti-gay awareness. It's a day to take a stand against anti-gay bullying and to celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth.

Teenagers need to know that they are OK, that they are unique and special just the way they are. The more this message proliferates our media, our social media sites and conversations, the less our youth will feel hopeless and helpless.

We hope you'll take a moment of silence to remember the lives of all teenagers who committed suicide after suffering relentless bullying. We invite you to join us today in solidarity and show your spirit by wearing purple. Then, we want you to continue to think about what you can do to reach out to a teen in need.

Whether you're gay, straight, black, white or whatever spectrum you identify with, we all know how it feels to be taunted and treated differently because of our differences. Change starts with you. All it takes is one small act or conversation.

Take Action:

1. This week and beyond, we hope you are imbued and empowered by the stories of others speaking up and speaking out -- we challenge you to think of just one thing you can do to raise awareness about LGBT issues (Wear purple, or check out GLAAD's site to purple(fy) your FB or Twitter page.

2. Blog about an LGBT issue

3. Have a conversation about it, talk to the youth in your life and let them know that it isn't OK to make fun of anyone for any reason

4. Facebook and Tweet about your favorite inspiring LGBT solidarity story. This blog post is one of my favorite stories of solidarity.

(Courtesy: CBC)

With each and every small action, I believe it does get better.

Rodemeyer's final Facebook post was taken from Lady Gaga's song The Queen on his Facebook page. He wrote, "Don't forget me when I come crying to heaven's door."

WorldWomenWork - Empowering Women and Girls Worldwide

2011-10-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Go Inspire Go (GIG) is proud to share this month’s Social Good Spotlight, to raise awareness of individuals and organizations doing good in their communities in order to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. GIG believes everyone can find inspiration in helping others, whether it’s through doing small acts of kindness or working at an organization dedicated to making a difference. If you know of an individual or organization that you think should be featured, please contact GIG and help us forward their stories to inspire the world.

GIG Social Good Spotlight:
WORLDWOMENWORK – Conservation, Education, and Empowerment In partnership with women and girls around the world
by Marcia Estarija Silva

Masai jewelry makers

What is WorldWomenWork?
Founded by Singer Rankin, WorldWomenWork (WWW) partners with women artisans and activists in some of the most remote parts of the world. WWW purchases beautiful, unique products from small, women-owned enterprises - such as Zambian tablecloths and bedspreads, Pashmina shawls, handmade silver bracelets from Nepal, and beaded leather bags and belts from Kenya - then sells them to women all over the United States.

What is WWW’s mission? What big changes is it trying to make?
Nearly 100% of the proceeds from sales support projects by women in Kenya, Nepal, Indonesia, and 11 other countries that are educating girls, building economic independence for women, and protecting the environment. It’s a unique and effective social enterprise model.

Save the Elephants Scholarship Program participants (3 generations)

How is WWW using its power to help others?
By providing a steady stream of income that is reinvested in order to grow the enterprise. WWW buys extremely precious, one-of-a-kind items that are made by hand out of materials that are traditional and completely sustainable. Women become more economically independent and diverse perspectives are shared. Women are also encouraged to learn about and be active participants on the issues impacting their communities and environment.

Zambia Sewing School

What inspires WWW to do this?
Singer Rankin, founder of WWW, explained – “I feel passionately about the natural world and the need to protect it, the people and animals that inhabit these wild places. One of the most important ways is to educate and empower women. I truly believe that they are one of the few hopes of preserving endangered species. The world is out of control. We have lost the ability to connect with nature. It takes such a little bit to change lives and give people hope.”

What is WWW focusing on now?
Current WWW projects include:
•    Waka Simba (Women of Strength) and Simba Raishe (God’s Power) Womens' Groups, Zambia – These two women’s groups provide economic empowerment and skills training. WWW provides funding to send five women to sewing school for six months and to purchase sewing machines for their use. These groups are based in two villages where large mining interests threaten the natural environment. Group members have the opportunity to see the big picture and participate in decisions about the way their lands are being used.
•    Scholarships for Girls, The Greater Himalayan Foundation, Nepal – The Nepalese government schools provide free basic education up to class 10 (roughly 10th grade in the US), but families must pay to have their children get an education past that point. With scarce resources, Nepalese families often choose to have boys continue schooling, while girls are left behind. Scholarships from WWW give girls a chance to continue their educational pursuits.
•    Save the Elephants in Samburu, Kenya (an anti-poaching and scholarship program) and Elephant Nature Park, Thailand (a sanctuary for abused elephants) – WWW supports efforts to protect elephants and educate the public about the importance of saving them. At the turn of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today, there are an estimated 450,000 - 700,000 African elephants and between 35,000 - 40,000 wild Asian elephants. Many of the elephants living in the sanctuary have suffered terrible trauma from accidents and mistreatment during their lives.

How can GIGSTERS get involved and support WorldWomenWork?
•   Donate money to WWW
•   Shop for products on WWW’s online store
•   Sign up for WWW's newsletter and help spread the word about WWW's work to your networks

Video credit: Swell Pictures Inc.

Steve Jobs Inspired More Than Technology

2011-10-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

Many of us remember Steve Jobs as a technological visionary -- a modern day Edison. But aside from his inventions and accolades, he seemed to be a man with very inspiring and insightful views. In this Stanford commencement speech, Jobs poignantly shares three stories or life-defining moments in his 56-year journey and the knowledge he garnered from his experiences.

For me, it's a coincidence that Jobs speaks about connecting the dots -– I've often used a similar analogy. I believe that all of our experiences are like scattered dots: as we're sprinkling each dot, with each experience, we can't see or understand how they connect at the time. But as your life unfolds, and you collect more dots, you're able to connect them and eventually discover your path. Each dot, whether you perceive them as failures, bad luck or poor timing, all lead us to the next place we're supposed to be.

From the beginning of my life, some think I had a sordid start. I'm an immigrant who grew up in the ghetto and on welfare. I've lost four family members in eight short months. I've been laid off. I've quit a job that paid well and with a nice title. I've been done wrong by some family members and some friends. But now I can see that all my experiences, my struggles instilled the "hungry" immigrant work mentality in me. The losses inspired compassion and pushed me to leave the bright lights of the TV industry -– all of my dots have led me to where I am today.

By the age of 28, I reached all my wildest dreams and then some; as a TV reporter in a major market, I've been a reporter for a statewide show on PBS and of course, teaching at the university level. After nearly a decade in TV news, I left the biz and I've also passed up many lucrative job offers with great perks to pursue my passion project GoInspireGo (GIG) –- because this is what brings enlivens me and brings me joy.

Jobs fervently said, "You must do what you love" and "trust." Trust that you are exactly where you are supposed to be now -– and that it will lead you to where you're supposed to be.

So in the wise words of Steve Jobs, keep spreading your dots, one day you'll be able to connect them, you'll love and lose; and you'll gain. Love what you do and live life to the fullest before it's too late because death is "a destination we all share." And don't forget to "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish."

Words to live by.

@ the Apple Store in San Francisco's Union Square

Thank you for making your mark Mr. Jobs and leaving behind a legacy that will continue to affect us all. May you rest in peace.

Take Action:
1. Do you love what you do personally and professionally? If not, take baby steps now. (If you've been putting off jogging, make a date once a week with a friend to start. If you can't quit your job to do your passion project, earmark a few hours a week to get the ball rolling.)
2. Tell someone you love that you love them now, before it's too late.
3. Going through a tough time or situation –- be present and still. Think about what lesson this experience is teaching you and learn from it.

How were you inspired by Steve Jobs? WE want to know. Hit us up on Facebook or Twitter!

Ashamed to Empowered

2011-09-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

My childhood could be summed up with one word: shame.

I was ashamed because we were so po’. Yes I meant to leave the ‘or’ out of the word poor because we were so poor that we couldn’t afford the rest of the word. I can look back and laugh with nostalgia about this but it was quite sad. Sad because I was always embarrassed about our ‘situation.’ My parents left a bustling business in Vietnam. They gave everything up to immigrate to America for opportunity. When we landed in Sacramento (I was just two years old at the time) they had about $4 to their name and all 10 of us crammed into one trailer in a trailer park community. We then moved from ghetto to ghetto. I was always embarrassed to have friends over. The springs sprang out of holes in our mix-match couches. My mom used my tattered, no longer wearable hand-me-down clothes to stuff the crunchy burlap rice bag turned home-made pillows. I also remember being 5-years-old and waiting in line to receive free food – I didn’t know it was a food pantry at the time. One year, for Christmas, I made a makeshift Christmas tree with my grandma’s left over yarn and Christmas cards that I tacked on in zig-zag formation on the wall.

It wasn’t just material things, or lack thereof, that I was ashamed of, I was ashamed of a lot of other things; we were on welfare, we used food stamps and my immigrant Asian parents didn’t understand my American lifestyle. Prom, homecoming and sleepovers were never celebrated by my parents.

Looking back, I see all my experiences -- my past as scattered dots. As an adult, more than three decades later, I can slowly connect all the dots, even the outliers. I now know that all those experiences, growing up where hookers, drive-bys and liquor stores were my every day reality, set the stage for who I am today. My gratitude for all things – material and intangible – my love for connecting with people and their stories through journalism, philanthropy, teaching career and GoInspireGo, my immigrant worker bee mentality -- all blossomed out of shame. The makeshift Christmas tree made out of cards and yarn made me appreciate the true meaning of holidays with loved ones. The food pantry experience made me appreciate food in a whole new way as I’m now a foodie that loves to break bread with friends old and new. Meanwhile, I’m still trying to think about what the rice bag pillows have taught me… I guess, the love for 800+ thread count sheets?! Lol.

These defining moments and your defining moments create our lifes’ canvas. You are give tools and some have more paint than others, but you create the strokes and the masterpiece that makes your painting – your life, so special. So I invite every situation, every feeling, every person in my life as a teacher, as a lesson.

Photo Courtesy: Vasna Wilson

Please do the same… and as Maya Angelou says, “When you learn. Teach.” I now live my life with confidence, unabashed, and unashamed.

Happy Social Good Day (and week)! How you can take action...

2011-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

I wholeheartedly believe that everyone has the power to make positive change in someone’s life or in their community – that’s why I left my TV career and dedicated my life to my passion project, GoInspireGo (GIG). Today and this week, I’d like to you to join my team and Mashable in celebrating Social Good Day!

Here’s how you can use social media to a make difference NOW:

1. Mashable is an amazing, intrepid and innovative platform that encourages individuals around the world to use social media to benefit their communities through meet-ups, fundraisers, multimedia, and public education campaigns.

2. It’s quick and easy, just click here → Mashable Meetup on Social Good Day to meet others interested in "using social media to inspire social change" and to find out how you can participate.

3. In celebration of Social Good Day, please check out three of our inspiring GIG videos that exemplify how easy it is to make a difference. At the end of the videos, there is information on how you can create change. And of course sharing is caring, especially today – please join our community on Twitter and Facebook and spread the goodness!

Happy #SocialGoodDay!

London Riots Won Over by a Nation of Tea Lovers

2011-08-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

What happens after your life has been threatened and in danger and you’ve successfully run to safety? According to Jonathan Walker and his wife, Philippa Morgan Walker, "Put the kettle on!" That's exactly what this Camden, London, England couple did – they served the police tea after being stuck in the middle of the recent riots.

Watch how they inspired hope in the UK and beyond with their new found mantra, "Make tea, not war!"

I’m back in the United States after spending over a week in England, where order seems to have been restored on the London streets.

Most people here in America seemed to be unaffected by the mayhem and aftermath of the damage - broken glass, burned down cars and buildings and the harrowing stories of those caught in the thick of the senseless rioting in the United Kingdom.

My hope was to incorporate a Go Inspire Go (GIG) story during my travels in the UK. I went to England to witness a magical wedding of my friends Cathy and Julian. Their wedding was enchanting, with special elements and inspiring new friendships. The backdrop: Durham Cathedral, also familiar to many in “Harry Potter,” as the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Like the magic of Hollywood, this new GIG story also unraveled in a fairy tale fashion, starting with meeting new friends at a Lumley Castle reception.

Fiona Pattison, with happy4pr, was inspired by GIG and is now helping us launch in the UK. We immediately connected. With warmth, she asked, “Are you going to do a story on the riots?" Right when we met, we were on the same wavelength -- it was amazing. She introduced me to Oli Cohen, who founded Resonate Productions.

We immediately joined forces to produce a GIG video. Fiona had the perfect GIG story in mind and quickly connected me to her friend, Jonathan Walker and his lovely wife Philippa Morgan Walker who are now well known for their kind act amidst the chaos that erupted from the rioting.

Like many Americans, the Walkers felt distant from the rioting – despite their close proximity to the brimming violence and looting that happened just neighborhoods away. “We didn’t think it would happen here,” admitted Jonathan.

They did not expect that soon their lives would be in danger, taking a couple of turns along the way. After desperately trying to get back home to safety amidst the riots, they wanted to do something nice for the officer who eventually offered to escort them home.

They asked a simple question, “Would you fancy a cup of tea?”
It's amazing how this simple act of kindness inspired the country, the community and the Prime Minister. The London riots are literally won over by a nation of tea lovers!

No matter where you’re living, you’re a part of humanity – so in effect this does affect you. “It’s empowering to know that you actually have a lot of impact on your surrounding. Just please please, please, please, always do something. Just the tiny bit of light ceases darkness to exist,” emphasized Philipa.

“Life is full of moments, good and bad. And in those moments they can change the world's consciousness, make people aware of the world they are living in. A community has a voice and can make a difference, even if it is to help clean up what others have tried to destroy. The riots have simply made people stronger and helped to restore faith in human kindness,” Fiona believed.

This is what I found remarkable: That out of chaos came togetherness. The riots simply showed people's sense of community and many small acts of kindness -- from kind acts with cupcakes, volunteer community cleanup crews and others chipping in to help the victims -- added up to create a lot of change that helped to restore faith in human kindness in a time of great fear and loss.

While many people blame the rioters – I ask you to hold your judgment – my question is where do we go wrong as human beings? Where were the family members and role models in their lives? What if someone said or did something small, something kind that could’ve thwarted their actions?

What can YOU do?

Little Blessings - Unwanted Children of Vietnam

2011-08-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Deep down in my heart I believe that everyone on this planet is precious -- special in their own way -- no matter who you are, where you're from or how much you have in your bank account (or if you even have a bank account for that matter). It also breaks my heart to see children who are unwanted, uncared for for any reason. That's why I wanted to share this poignant blog post written by my good friend (I call her sister), Jessica Chang. "Changalang" as I call her, with a sense of endearment, took a leave of absence from her job, not to tour Asia and go on vacation or holiday, she spent time in Thailand and Vietnam teaching needy children and volunteering at an orphanage packed with disabled and sick kids. This marks the first trip of Jessica's new journey in a project and blog she created Volunteer Ventures -- that inspires everyone to Venture into the world of volunteering, while traveling. Go Jessica Go!

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It's been a whirlwind week here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam -– living in a house full of strangers-turned-friends and travel buddies, working with children with conditions I've never encountered before and trying to stay alive while crossing the street in this hectic city!

I've been working at the orphanage I was assigned to by Volunteers for Peace Vietnam for six days now and I'm still getting the hang of how to care for the kids. I work with children who range from about one to eight years old. As many of you can understand, taking care of children is no easy task. I've been a babysitter, a camp counselor and most recently an English teacher in Thailand. But when the kids can't talk, don't understand the language you're speaking and can barely move on their own, the challenges multiply. Most of the nurses and caregivers at the orphanage don't speak any English either, so it's been tough to figure out what they need us to help with.

Every morning, five volunteers leave our house to catch the bus to the orphanage. The whole place serves about 400 children whose ages range from infant to teens. The group we take care of is made up of more than 30 kids, about one to eight years old. It's hard to tell just how old each kid is though. One little girl has such thin legs and arms and looks about two-years-old, but she's actually six! Their disabilities range from blindness to cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, hyrdrocephalis (extra fluid buildup in the brain) and birth defects caused by Agent Orange (herbicide used during the Vietnam War). This little boy named Hao has hydrocephalus, but when you meet him, you barely notice, since his smile takes up his whole face!

When we arrive to the second floor section where our group of kids is located, we greet them in their stroller/highchairs or in their cribs. I like to say hello with a little song, like "Good Morning to You" (to the tune of "Happy Birthday"), "Twinkle Twinkle," "Row Row Row Your Boat" or "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I also play with their hands and feet to get them moving. This little girl, named Lien, likes it when I stroke her fingers, which she can't really move. The splints help keep her fingers outstretched.

This little boy (I haven't figured out his name yet) loves it when I slide my hand across his. I also play a simplified version of "Patty-cake" with him.

If they're in their chairs, we push them around the second floor hallways to give them a change of scenery -– somewhat. From what I've seen, they have no ramps or elevators to take the children downstairs to play in the playground or courtyard. We can also play with them on removable mats we lay out on the floor.

At 10 a.m. we feed them their lunch, since they go to bed and wake up so early. For the babies who can't chew, it's a green vegetable mush. For the intermediate eaters, it's a rice porridge with chopped vegetables and bits of meat. And for the advanced eaters, it's soup with short noodles, vegetables and pieces of meat. Not an extensive menu, but I'm sure it contains the nutrients the kids need. Each of the kids' bowls is labeled with his/her name -– that's the best way for us to learn their names, since it's hard to communicate with the caregivers.

I think I'm the slowest feeder of the bunch. So many of the caregivers shovel huge spoonfuls of food into the kids' mouths -– one after another –- to the point where the mush is oozing out of their mouths like lava out of a volcano! It's painful to watch, especially when the kids are practically choking! That's why I don’t mind allowing the kids time to chew and swallow. Even then they often cough so the food ends up on my face and clothes, or they can't keep the food in their mouth so they drool it all out onto their bibs.

After feeding, we wipe up their faces (and anywhere else they got food stuck on them) and put them back in their cribs for changing. We have a diaper change assembly line going on. The volunteers take off the kids' shorts and cloth diapers and dump them in a bucket. Then a caregiver follows to put a clean cloth diaper on them. Then we put a clean pair of shorts on them. Last week, I found a big piece of poop as big as the head of the little boy who made it. Once I got the diaper off, the boy stuck his foot in the poo, then peed on himself and on the floor!

After the kids settle down for their nap, we leave for a two-and-a-half-hour break. Almost all businesses in Ho Chi Minh City shut down between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for a siesta (Vietnamese-style). So we hop back on the bus to our house, eat lunch and take a break. Many of the other volunteers take a nap, but I haven't yet since I'm afraid I'll wake up too groggy.

We leave the house for the orphanage again at 2 p.m. and when we arrive it's pretty much the same drill as in the morning. We play with the kids in their cribs or take a few out to play on the mats. By this point, I've sung each of my children's songs a dozen times, so I've also added Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" to my repertoire. I figure it's a happy and upbeat song and they don't understand the words anyway. We feed the kids dinner about 3:15 p.m. (same menu) -– most of them stay in their cribs for the meal, but I try to take the kid I'm feeding out to their high chair so he or she can eat upright. Then it's clean up and diaper changing all over again before they go to bed. We head home at around 4:30 p.m.

There've been a few moments this past week when I've gotten a little choked up while playing with or holding one of these kids. To think how sweet and beautiful they are –- but unwanted and abandoned by their parents –- just breaks my heart. I remember reporting on a story about a daycare center in San Diego that helps nurture disabled children. I interviewed parents and teachers who talked about how these children are such blessings, no matter their disabilities and the extra care they need. I'm beginning to understand what they mean now. In the six days I've known them, these children have touched my heart like no other children I've met before. Most can't say please or thank you, but I'm happy to give them the love and affection they deserve and so desperately need –- poop, pee, drool and all.

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What can YOU do to make a difference?

Jessica's goal is to bring toys, supplies and even raise enough support to add an elevator or ramp to the center to get some appropriate medical care and surgeries for the kids.

If this story has touched you, open your heart and show some support! For more information about how you can help and to learn more about Volunteer Ventures visit her blog or Facebook page!

* Thanks Jessica for sharing your story and the amazing story of these "little blessings."

Three Steps to Generosity and How It Benefits YOU!

2011-08-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

When was the last time you gave unconditionally – with no strings attached? What about receiving with gratitude for the abundance in your life? And what does dancing have to do with being generous?

According to my friend and one of the most inspiringly generous people I know -- Nipun Mehta, founder of CharityFocus.org, a fully volunteer-run organization -- these are the three stages of generosity.

Please watch Nipun share his sentiments about generosity in this TEDx video and be moved to action. Think about what you can do to give, receive and dance:

You have the power to be generous. How you do it depends on you! What are you doing to make someone else’s life better right now?

Still don’t know?

Here are some ideas on where to start:
Karma Kitchen
Karma Clinic
Smile Cards

Thank you Charity Focus Family for your generosity!

In gratitude,

Toan

Going the Extra Smile: Project Connects World Through Grins VIDEO

2011-08-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

“I don’t know what I can do to help others,” is a response I often hear when people have been inspired by GoInspireGo stories, but do not understand their individual power.

Sometimes I simply quote from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, “You’ve always had the power … (to go back to Kansas),” said Glinda the good witch.

This simple reinforcing quote applies to all of us. We’ve always had the power to live better, be better and then do better for others.

For everyone who has ever asked me (or yourself) or doubted the ability to make a positive impact – no matter what socioeconomic background, gender, creed - just watch this video…and meet Claire Lemmel, someone who instantly puts a smile on your face and who has discovered the true meaning of Joy. Smile…

You’re probably grinning from ear to ear after watching this video. That’s good because if you are, it’s already benefitting your health. Many studies, including one from the University of California, Berkeley shows that simply smiling boosts the immune system, increases positive affect, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, enhances other people’s perception of you – plus it’s easy, fun and contagious.

According to Positive Psychology News Daily: “The eyes and lips are a powerful weapon that everyone is equipped with at birth. When used for good, this weapon can exert a significant amount of health and happiness on the smiler and recipient. So become the center of a positive change ripple. Squeeze your zigomatic major, squint your orbicularis oculi, and if you really want to get things flowing … expose your teeth.” So share this video with your frowny friends, smile with “what yo’ momma gave you.”

Photo Courtesy: William Wong

I believe I’ve found one answer to the common question, “I don’t know how I can help others. What can I do?” Witness Claire’s joy and listen to Glinda. And simply start smiling. Discover your own yellow brick road and think about what you can do to make someone smile today. Onward!

For more information about Claire's Connect project: ClaireLemmel.com

*Special Thanks: Megan Wegmann for your amazing energy & help with the Videography

A Quick, Simple Exercise to Awakening YOUR Passion (Power)

2011-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Many of us ask the question, "What should I do with my life?"

It seems like a question that is asked just as much as the age old philosophical question/quandary, "What is the meaning of life?" Well, allow me to attempt to find an answer to both of these questions based on my amalgamation of experience as a TV news reporter/college professor/curriculum writer/blogger/lover of life.

I've been running into many people lately from varied walks of life and different ages who are trying to figure out what their passion is. Rich or poor -- gay or straight -- black or white, so many are struggling with what that "thing" is that enlivens them and brings them joy. I've certainly struggled to find that "thing" through my own struggles in life; losing my job, losing four family members in eight short months and sometimes losing hope.

When my students and mentees inquire about my career path and ask what they should do with theirs, I tell them to do this exercise:

"When you go to bed tonight, close your eyes and let go of your worries. You probably had dinner, so you're not hungry. The lights are off so no one is watching in judgment. Think about what would excite you out of bed tomorrow morning. That's probably what you should be focused on doing in your life."

Then take it a step further –- now that you've ignited that spark of passion, think about how you can turn that into a brighter flame and then into a fully-fledged fire that is lit underneath you … and then ask yourself, "What can I do with it to make a living and help others?"

One of my students, Devin Williams, is one of the most brilliant video editors I've come across. I've had the pleasure of witnessing him come into and embrace his power of editing videos. Devin's former dream was to be a pro basketball player. He had his mind set. That's all he wanted to do -- until he took my beginner video class. He said, "Toan, I found my passion, that fire, that butterfly effect in my belly in your class. I became obsessed with telling stories with video and sound bites. I love editing and want to get better and better." Devin then took my vlogging class and has been offered a couple of paid freelance gigs.

I too remember feeling that fire –- my passion, however, was for using my voice to help inspire people to help others. You can ask my college professors, specifically Michael Robertson, the former chair of Communications at the University of San Francisco and he'll tell you even he had some doubts about "young Toan's" overambitious zest for using storytelling to inspire people. Robertson was a chiseled former journalist at the San Francisco Chronicle and he knew how the harsh news beast could brutalize young idealists like me. But I was adamant about using my power -- of storytelling and connecting with people to help people discover and use their powers to help others. My path led me to reporting gigs in Wisconsin, Texas and then San Francisco -- until it guided me to forge my own path through my social media site GoInspireGo.com.

For those of you who are struggling to find meaning in your job or your personal life, I dare you to do the aforementioned exercise. Pay attention to that little fire inside your belly that you’re putting on the backburner. What is that "thing" that makes you special? What do you love to do? Why aren't you doing it?

I'd love to hear about how you're using your power to help others.

Onward!
Toan

9-year-old's Water Wish Granted After Her Death

2011-07-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

You can't read this without feeling that effervescent, inspiring, chilling feeling -- the community, humanity pulled through to make this gir's wish come true, thousands of times over.

We all have birthday wishes. Most of the time, we wish for something for ourselves, often the newest, coolest, most gratifying, most personal present we can imagine. Instead of presents, then 8-year-old Rachel Beckwith from Bellevue, Wash., made a simple wish for people she never knew - clean drinking water for residents of third world countries.

Rachel campaigned to raise $300 by her 9th birthday to help CharityWater.org, a non-profit that brings fresh water to developing countries.

Her wish:
“On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations.”

On her birthday, June 12th, she raised $220, just $80 shy of her goal.

Sadly, shortly after her 9th birthday, tragedy struck.

(Photo Courtesy: Charity Water)

Last week, she was involved in a multiple car crash. On Sunday, Rachel was taken off life support, but her philanthropic spirit lives to inspire people – many of them complete strangers – to chip in and help her achieve her goal.

Members of Rachel’s church and the community banded together to make sure her wish came true, and Rachel’s donation page was reopened last Friday.

The media shared her story. Her story went viral – her dream continues to grow exponentially.

Monday evening it grew past $140,000 and by Wednesday afternoon, the total soared past the $430,000 mark.

Rachel’s mother, Samantha Paul, posted a message Monday on the website: “I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter’s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity! I know Rachel is smiling!”

I got goose bumps after hearing about Rachel’s story and the chain of humanity and goodwill from strangers. This is a beautiful example of, and testimony to, the fact that we are all one. It makes me think that if we each had the mentality that we’re all a part of the same experience of this journey called life, we could perhaps treat one another differently, more kindly, and live with more eager generosity.

Rachel started with her wish to get fresh water out to strangers in need. Then the community and strangers helped her exceed her dream. What are you doing to leave your mark in this world in the present moment? What can you do today to fulfill someone's wishes? What's stopping you from doing it now?

The Power of YOUR Words

2011-07-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

We’ve all gotten to where we are today because someone helped us along the way. My earliest recollection of someone who has made an impact on my life is Mrs. Perskinski, my kindergarten teacher.

I had a lot of friends in school and I was pretty social – as social as any 5-year-old social butterfly could be. But one day, I came to school filled with sadness. I was down right melancholy. Mrs. Perskinski knew something was wrong because I seemed depressed, despondent and different from my usual cheery demeanor. She asked me, “What’s wrong Toan? Is everything ok?” I told her, “I’m really sad.” She asked, “Why?” I told her that I saw on the news that another kid was shot and killed in my neighborhood and that made me really sad.

What she told me next changed the trajectory of my life forever.

She told me, “In life, we have choices, Toan. You can make bad choices and you can make good choices. If you make bad choices, then bad things happen to you. If you make good choices, good things happen.”

Looking back, I think she was trying to explain cause and affect, and the idea of karma -- that the good choices beget goodness and bad decisions lead to bad consequences.

This was the earliest philosophical conversation that I can remember – it was also the first person, outside of my family that made an impact on my life. Words possess such power, for good and bad. So I learned to be careful how I use them.
Funny how I chose to become a TV reporter who would cover death and destruction on a daily basis for almost a decade. I’m glad to report that although I’m grateful for that experience, I’ve left the news biz and carved out my own path to inspire people -through storytelling and videos - to use their power (resources, talents and network) to help others.

Thanks Mrs. Persinski and to everyone who is using your words carefully to inspire the future.

I’m currently looking for Mrs. Persinski to thank her for the impact and life lesson she’s had on me. I’m sure there’s someone in your life you’d like to thank for shaping your journey for the good…

I’d love to hear what they did and who they are (I'm sure they the person who inspired you would like to hear from you too): Twitter and Facebook

DooF - Inspiring Healthy, Fun Food for Kids!

2011-07-11T18:02:00.000-07:00

Go Inspire Go (GIG) is proud to introduce its first Social Good Spotlight, to raise awareness of individuals and organizations doing good in their communities in order to inspire others to take action and ultimately make real social change. GIG believes everyone can find inspiration in helping others, whether it’s through doing small acts of kindness or working at an organization dedicated to making a difference. If you know of an individual or organization that you think should be featured, please contact GIG and help us forward their stories to inspire the world.

GIG Social Good Spotlight:

DooF – MAKING HEALTHY FOOD FUN FOR KIDS

What is DooF?
Formed by Mike Axinn, DooF (food spelled backwards) has found new and creative ways to teach children how to eat well using the power of multi-media entertainment, education and live events.

What is DooF’s mission? What big changes is Doof trying to make?
DooF’s mission is to explore food from every possible perspective - backwards, forwards, sideways, upside-down and inside-out - in order to teach kids about how food gets from its source to their table.

Jennifer Schumacher, a DooF and GIG volunteer told us about this amazing organization.

So a couple of my volunteers (Robert Fletcher and Erin Sitt) and I came to the DooF-A-Palooza event at Jack London Square in Oakland, California and helped her produce this piece.

Thanks for the scoop and great editing job, Jen!

How is DooF using its power to help others?
DooF does many things, from producing short videos explaining how food comes from local farms and ends up in restaurants and markets to providing teachers with lessons plans to teach in their classrooms. DooF also puts on “DooF-A-Pallooza,” an event that brings together local markets, food producers, farmers, and families. On May 22, 2011, hundreds of families attended DooF’s 3rd festival at Jack London Square in Oakland. DooF describes it as a “food-backwards, table-to-source, food educational experience” that includes entertainment and hands-on activities with growers, chefs, purveyors, businesses, and cookbook authors.

What inspires DooF to do this work?
For years, children have been taught nutrition by being told what food they should and shouldn’t eat. The failure of these messages to inspire children to eat better and be physically active inspires DooF to think differently and show children how to have fun with food. By truly engaging children, DooF hopes they will truly learn healthy habits and live well.

What is DooF working on now?
DooF continues to look for new ways to spread its message of smart eating and play. An immediate project is to start working with younger filmmakers to produce films focused on having fun with food.

How can GIGSTERS get involved and support DooF?
1. Visit/Volunteer with DooF www.FoodBackwards.com
2. Be mindful when you eat. Love every bite and chew.
3. Think about one simple thing you can start with to improve your diet. Can you drink two more cups of water daily? Eat fruit and almonds for a snack in between meals?
4. Inspire a youngster in your life to eat healthier.

If you have a nonprofit that you believe deserves a pat on the back, we'd love to hear from you. Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

The Power of Group Meditation and Intention

2011-07-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I used to think meditation involved monks, gongs and a lot of chanting. I was sorta right. My paternal Grandma - who I endearingly call “Ah Ma” - inspired spirituality in me since I was a little kid. She’d light incense, close her eyes and sit in silence. To be quite honest, this would freak me out because I thought she was either dead or napping. So, as any little squirt would do, I either tiptoed up to her and held my finger close to her nostrils to make sure she was breathing or I would throw something at her, then run – she had a strong aim and could smack me with her slipper that rotated like a boomerang.

Through her example, I too would mediate, as a teenager and an adult. As life got more complicated, I would turn to this practice, this moment of silence and stillness, to focus and keep me grounded. To this day, I turn inward in this special space to listen to my breath, which keeps me centered and clears my mind.

Recently, I was invited by Mallika Chopra, founder of Intent.com, to participate in a unique experience: group meditation and Yoga in San Francisco’s bustling Union Square. The event, appropriately named “Seren-i-tea in the Square,” was co-hosted by Mallika and Stephanie Snyder, a well-known Yoga instructor.

More than 100 people showed up with yoga mats in tow. Included in this crowd were the winners of GIG’s first contest. We asked GIGsters to tell us what inspires them, and then we randomly selected 8 to receive a VIP pass to “Seren-i-tea in the Square.”

The following are the 8 winners with their responses (note: some comments were shortened/edited):

Adriana G. - “The positive energy of children inspires me. When I want to give up or something seems frustrating, I think about how we are born with this ability to keep trying until we succeed. We wouldn't get anywhere if we never tried to learn how to walk or ride a bike or learn to read. That desire fuels a baby to learn how to crawl or stand, and to keep on trying even after the many falls... I think sometimes we forget that we have that desire within us and it takes a child to remind us of that power we have always had within.”

JoAnne L. – “Love inspires me. Acts that expand the heart, open the mind, turn fear into faith, and judgment into compassion and understanding. Loving ourselves allows us to authentically love others...as a joyful humanity that awakens individuals to BE In Spirit with one another.”

Kim Y. – “Family & friends inspire me. They make each day worth living and encourage me to lead a good life and to never stop growing.”

Long P. – “Badminton inspires me to coach - almost 10 years at Wilcox High School. There’s so much to learn from the sport and to gain for myself and students. There’s always a new experience each season, and a new way to be inspired!”

Melissa A. – “Having the privilege to work with ‘at-risk’ youth and watching them flourish despite the incomprehensible hurdles they must overcome.”

Phuong H. – “My high school students and fellow teachers from South Central LA inspire me to teach…They are resilient and have taught me a lot about perseverance. My seniors will be the first to either graduate high school or attend college. The teachers are agents of change. They don't come to work for a paycheck; they invest in the kids and work hard to give the students all the tools they need to be successful in life.”

Sharon B. – “The resiliency of my students inspires me to move forward with the work of changing an institution that continues to give our students of color, most especially our African-American and Latino students, an education that places them in the peripheries of many people's minds. Their abilities to persist, grow, and succeed in the face of stereotypes and low expectations inspire me and move me to act.”

Susie S. – “What inspires me is someone going against all odds- someone following through when the cards are stacked against them. Fighting for what’s right, no matter what the cost is. Sometimes you have to lose to win! Someone who has the insight to see the big picture and hang in there. Someone who has hope to believe when no one else will.”

Thank you to all of our viewers/readers for your inspired participation and for being present. Thanks to Mallika and her Intent.com team for reminding us to love ourselves and our community - this inspires us to be serene, to be aware and to set our intentions.

I meditate regularly, practice yoga and try to operate in the space of consciousness, but this was a unique experience because there was a sense of power when people converge – a feeling words can’t paint – an effervescent vibrational energy of a collective consciousness and overflowing goodness. Apparently, more than 150 people joined in on this event, and more than 500 virtually participated. My one word summation of this special event: Powerful!

One of the most memorable parts of the group meditation (there were so many) was when Mallika asked us to close our eyes, focus on our breath, to set our intention. She asked us to let these questions flow through you: “Who am I?” and “How am I serving?” This resonated with me as I focused inward to think about what I am doing with my life, my skills, my time to serve the community and others. That’s exactly what my team and I set out to do through storytelling and our Go Inspire Go project. What are your intentions? How are you serving? How are you using your power to help others?

Facing Death and Rediscovering Life

2011-07-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you’ve been diagnosed with a life threatening condition? Live life, of course! That’s exactly what Alice Pyne, a British teenager who blogged about her dying wishes, did – though she never expected worldwide support in achieving her dreams.

"It doesn't look like I'm going to win this one,” she writes on her Alice’s Bucket List blog. “The cancer is spreading through my body. It's hard because I gave it my all. And it's a pain because there's so much stuff I still want to do. Anyway, Mum always tells me that life is what we make of it."

Alice's bucket list blog is the list of things she'd like to do before she dies, and she marks them DONE when a wish list item is complete –like swimming with sharks, meeting British pop stars Take That, and a movie night with friends.

Pyne admits she only expected the blog to be read by a few friends; however, it made its way around the world inspiring supporters from Canada, Australia and America to help her accomplish her dreams. Generous readers have offered Alice everything from photo-shoots to trips, and she continues to share her experiences through her blog.

I have never been given the grim news of a prescribed time of death – and I can’t even begin to understand how Alice must feel. But at one point in my life I lost 4 very close family members in 8 short months. During the healing process, I learned to live life more fully through the experience of death.

It’s been 10 years since my father, auntie and both grandmothers passed away and finally I have the clarity and composure to write about the lessons it brought me.

Both my father and aunt left their Earth suits months apart after courageously battling the big C. At the time, I couldn’t fathom how I would get past that experience. Then things got worse. Both of my grandmothers passed away a few months later – 4 deaths in 8 months. Whew… deep, melancholic physical, mental and spiritual pain ensued.

The loss hurt so much that I didn’t talk much for three months. When I crossed the street, I didn’t look left or right. I didn’t care if a Mack truck struck me. I felt like a large part of me was gone forever.

My sister, Lynn, described it best when she said, “I feel like I lost my purse and in it, I had everything that mattered to me.” Ok, well, I don’t have a man-purse, but I can say I could feel her on this one!

But in my deepest darkest time, I eventually began to thaw and saw light and felt warmth that eventually started to fill that hollow, dark space, void of life. I guess this is what death feels like to the living. On the contrary, I guess this is the visceral feeling of how it feels to live consciously. Three months after the last death, I started to regain feeling again.

I can clearly and consciously say that this life lesson about death made me love and revere life and the myriad of experiences even more – yes, I’m saying that the deaths of my loved ones made me love living even more.

Many friends have wondered, “How can you say that? That’s very optimistic.”

The truth is, my spirituality started to emerge. Like little spires of life that emerge after a forest fire like little signs of life blossoming from the charred debris and soil in the aftermath of the raging flames. The deaths were a firestorm of emotions that ensued, but the lesson they brought was light and love. I suddenly saw God through people, plants, children, etc. I felt love through their actions.

One friend said, “I know you feel like you’re in a vortex of darkness and you are freefalling, but know that I’m here for you, so call me anytime, even in the middle of the night, if you need someone to talk about how you’re feeling.” Another friend offered to pay my bills until I could get back up on my feet. I could not accept this generous offer, but I accepted the intention and love behind such a statement.

This powerful lesson also shined light on my own inner power, like the little seedling, that wanted to emerge, but was too afraid of the light.

Perhaps Marianne Williamson’s quote explains how I felt best:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

What I’ve learned from these tragic experiences made me realize that our time on this planet is limited. I gained this sense of urgency -- what is it that I’m doing to make my mark and create a legacy that will outlive me; what message do I hope to give the world? That question led me on this quest or passion work called GoInspireGo – my goal: to help viewers “Discover and Use Your Power to Help Others.”

Alice has inspired me to start a ‘living life list’ right now…

In the wise words of Alice Pyne, "I've created a bucket list because there are so many things I still want to do in my life ... some are possible, some will remain a dream. My blog is to document this precious time with my family and friends, doing the things I want to do. You only have one life ... live it!"

What can you do to live a fuller life and how are you using it to help others? Are you living life or is life living you?

Happy Social Media Day 2011! How YOU Can Participate!

2011-06-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

In case you didn’t know, it’s the 2nd annual social media day - or #SMDay to all you socially savvy multimedia peeps out there. Let’s take a step back and jump off the grid for a moment to take it all in – after all, if you’re reading this you’re probably over-programmed and need to take a quick walk to ponder what social media is and the power of what it can do for you personally and professionally.

First, what is social media? If you don’t know the answer to that question, you must be: a) living in a rural village (still no excuse - people from remote villages in South Africa have corresponded with me through a Facebook friend); or b) you know that it has to do with Facebook, Twitter, multimedia, etc. but you may not know exactly how to define it; or c) you’re my immigrant Asian mother who has never touched email, thinks Facebook is a cosmetic procedure, and doesn’t know that “Google” is more than baby talk.

If you’re at a loss for words and need a definition – Google it! Here’s the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition:

social media
noun pl but singular or pl in constr

Definition of SOCIAL MEDIA: forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)

So the next logical question is - what is social media day? Isn’t that everyday?!

A quick Google search (no, Google is not paying me, by the way) led me to Mashable’s definition of the true essence of #SMDay to celebrate "the technological advancements that enable everyone to connect with real-time information, communicate from miles apart, and have their voices be heard."

I’m feeling immensely inspired because I attended a Social Media for Nonprofits event where Social Media Mavens like Beth Kanter (who inspired us nonprofiteers to network and find those free agents), Guy Kawasaki (who taught us how to be enchanting), and J.D. Lasica (who challenged us to streamline our tagline and boil down our cause to a strong, single sentence) shared their Social Media Swag for nonprofit ninjas like me.

I invite you to participate with my GoInspireGo (GIG) team and I today on this #SMDay 2011 by:

- Facebook/Tweet a message acknowledging that it's Social Media Day and encouraging people to make plans and meet up with at least one of their online friends. Make sure to use this hashtag: #smday 2011 and include us in the conversation using our handle: @GoInspireGo.

… and for those of you who are always tethered to your telephones, slaves to your SMS, or fanatically Facebook obsessed, perhaps you can do this:

- Facebook/Tweet us a message acknowledging that it's Social Media Day and ask people to post a comment about how social media helped them reconnect with someone – and then meet up with them in person. We still do need that personal connection, after all.

Then again, sometimes, I think being like my mom would keep me more calm and centered. Someone recently asked me, “Wow, you’ve done so much in your 30+ years of your life. You accomplished your goals to report in a large TV market and for PBS. You teach Multimedia and write curriculum for the University of San Francisco and the Academy of Art. You created GIG, share your blogs on the Huffington Post, Intent.com and have been invited to blog for Yahoo! What does your mom think?”

The answer is simple: My mom doesn’t know what multimedia is. Mom recently asked me (in the cutest broken Chinglish), “I don’t understand, how do the word get on com-putah for e-mail?”

Happy SMDay2011 everyone! Looking forward to your comments, Tweets, FB messages – and I promise you if you “like” me, I will “like" you back!

And as for mom, I’ll get off the grid right now and call her to say hi!

GIG Give-Away: Tell Us What Inspires You

2011-06-13T09:58:00.000-07:00

What inspires you? A friend or family member? A work of art? Cooking? Being out in nature? Your bike?

Respond via Facebook or Twitter starting today through Sunday, 6/19 and you will be entered into a drawing for a free VIP pass to Seren-i-Tea in the Square, happening in San Francisco’s Union Square on June 25, 2011. The midday event, hosted by Mallika Chopra, founder of Intent.com and daughter of famed author Dr. Deepak Chopra, features meditation, yoga, education and refreshments with the goal of encouraging and inspiring people to take time out to achieve balance in our hectic lives.

The event is open to the public, but as a VIP, you will receive a custom tote that contains a yoga mat, a designer scarf, and other goodies - a total value of $75. GIG VIPs also receive a $50 Whole Foods gift card.

Enter the contest by telling us who or what inspires you in one of the following ways:

Like Go Inspire Go on Facebook, then post a comment or upload a photo on our page
Follow, then tag @GoInspireGo on Twitter and include the hashtag #GIGVIP in your tweet

We will be looking at responses through the end of Sunday, June 19. We will then randomly select 8 winners and share their responses with you on Monday, June 20.

We look forward to hearing from you!

+++

Here’s more info about the event -

What: Seren-i-Tea in the Square, an interactive midday event featuring meditation, yoga, education and refreshments.
Who: Registration for this event is open to the public, but 8 GIG readers get to attend as VIP guests!

Featured guests include:
*Mallika Chopra – The daughter of Deepak Chopra, Mallika Chopra is a mother, author, blogger and founder of Intent.com. She will serve as event keynote to guide participants in finding serenity in their daily lives.
* Stephanie Snyder – Well known for her unique ability to infuse her challenging classes with strategic sequencing, yoga philosophy, technical alignment, and heart-felt humor, Stephanie has been featured on the cover of Yoga Journal Magazine, has been a contributing writer to Yoga Journals' "Home Practice" and was named San Francisco's most sought after yoga teacher by InStyle Magazine.

When: Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Union Square, 333 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Why: Our hectic days are consumed with jobs, loved-ones, everyday pressures and obligations. Often the last obligation we think about is the one we have to ourselves. This event is aimed at providing a real-time “self-moment” for participants and will offer tools and techniques to make “me-time” a deliberate and important part of daily routines – helping us achieve balance from within. [Be sure to follow @SokenbichaTea on Twitter and like Sokenbicha on Facebook.]

7 Rules for Making More Happiness: Design a Happy Life…NOW

2011-06-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ask yourself this simple question (Warning- it may lead to a complex answer):
Are you happy? What’s stopping you from living your fullest, happiest life now? Is it money, health, or circumstances you were born into?

This eloquent TED talk by designer Stefan Sagmeister reviews 7 Rules for Making More Happiness. It gave me pause to think of all the things I’m grateful for, and I hope it inspires you to do the same. Sagmeister, whose clients including the Rolling Stones and Lou Reed, offers a refreshing new look and some interesting stats on happiness indicators – many of which may surprise you!

I think this is fabulous, easily applicable advice. My takeaway from Sagmeister’s talk: Start simply. “Do more of the things I like to do, and less of the things I don’t like.”

His simple advice brings to mind a real life story that deeply resonated with me:
I recently heard that a good friend’s cousin, Laura, passed away. Laura worked her whole life, saving every single penny for her retirement, according to her plans, at age 63, a time when she believed she could finally be happy, relaxed, and free. She was going to travel the world. Instead, sadly, Laura died at age 62.

Earlier in my career as a TV Reporter, I always thought that if I got a job in a bigger market, earned a bigger paycheck, bought a better car, that I would be happy. I achieved all that, but didn’t feel much happier. My epiphany -- that I was always happy – it was a state of mind that none of the materials goals could change.

As I get older, I‘ve stopped trying to be happy. I discovered that happiness is being grateful for what I have now, at this present moment. I realize that I choose to be in the state of happiness now.

You can experience this contentment, too. Keep a gratitude journal or look for at least 3 things you’re grateful for everyday. The future isn’t guaranteed; it’s just a dream. It doesn’t exist yet, nor is it promised to us. You have the power to be happy right now, so don't wait for tomorrow. And if you’re still seeking happiness, here are some words to live happily ever after by…

‎"Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness." - Eckhart Tolle

Slow Your Roll: Think Twice Before You Yell, Honk or Lose It!

2011-05-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

I was recently driving in downtown San Francisco smack dab in the middle of rush hour when I witnessed a kind act that taught me an important life lesson from behind the wheel.

Traffic was packed with pedestrians, bicyclists and zig-zagging skateboarders who were crossing Market and 7th streets like Atari’s Frogger game.

Remember that? I think I’m dating myself again. That moment brought me back to my high school driver’s education class. For a moment, I felt like I was driving in a simulator just hoping for a good grade, but this time it was real life waiting to teach me a lesson.

My car was positioned four car-lengths behind the intersection. The light was green, but traffic wasn’t moving. Within a few seconds of the light turning green, the drivers behind me started honking their horns. The honking overpowered the hustle and bustle of traffic. For a few seconds, I started getting antsy too, but instead of getting flustered, I looked around inquisitively – surely, I thought to myself, something going on was creating the snarled and inert traffic.

Suddenly, my angst turned to empathy and I shivered with realization. A blind, disoriented man came into view as he wandered in the middle of the street not knowing where to go. All this confusion and frustration that everyone else was feeling while in their cars safely tucked away behind the wheel – imagine how he must be feeling! People screaming, horns honking, not being able to see the multiple sources of anger and annoyance … his confusion trumped ours instantly.

It wasn’t until I witnessed three people rushing to usher him out of harm’s way that I finally took a breath. Their kindness warmed my heart and made me smile inside and out, and suddenly I was so very thankful that I hadn’t let my frustration get the best of me.

The moment triggered memories of my late Auntie Hong Yee. She was a graceful woman, who embodied the word “Zen,” and she was my favorite aunt because she never judged and was always supportive of me and my four siblings. We trusted her and felt we could confide in her.

Hong Yee fought a long, courageous battle with cancer and passed away about ten years ago, but her timeless wisdom embraces us. Not a week goes by that I don’t think about her. I used to accompany her on an occasional errand and on some of her medical visits.

She did things on her own timetable, slowly, with patience and this included driving. She walked at her own pace. She would take her time meticulously cleaning and cooking. Oftentimes, she would drive under the speed limit. If the speed limit said 45 mph, she would carefully drive 40 mph or less.

Cancer slowed her down even more, to about 35 miles per hour. Every time I was in the car with her -- people would honk, snicker and even flip the bird at her. As a teenager I remember getting angry at them. I wanted to shout back at them and explain that she was ill and her days on earth were numbered. She felt my nervous energy and in a soft, loving voice, she said, “so what… let them get mad, they are not being conscious of what they’re doing.” I didn’t fully understand it then.

This experience changed my outlook on life’s speed bumps and barriers that block my path. Through her actions Hong Yee taught me to be more aware of my impatience and recognize that it is my ego that is getting out of control and driving the negative emotions. I also learned to be conscious of the way I react to other people’s actions and not to lash back out of habit – after all, negativity begets negativity.

I learned that I too needed to look at every situation that comes my way with the same compassion and consciousness as my beloved auntie. I wondered, what would the world be like if we viewed all the slow drivers as though they are our aunties, friends, family members or neighbors, who are going through their own battles in life. This awareness is the roadmap to my actions and have changed the trajectory of how I react.

All our actions and reactions affect others. If you’re a road raging parent, your kids will learn from your actions, and they too may react the same way, while driving, walking or living.

Beep. Beep. You are in the driver’s seat when it comes to what you choose to say or do to others. This is what my Auntie Hong Yee taught me: Be aware. Be conscious. And smile at other angry drivers.

(Oh, and don’t text while driving.)

Unexpected Inspiration and Empowerment from P.E.

2011-05-10T23:44:00.000-07:00

Warning: This blog may make you sweat or at least inspire you to get physical --and we hope so -- even if it’s the Olivia Newton-John type of physical. In honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Go Inspire Go's board member, Marcia Estarija Silva, was inspired to share her personal experience in hopes that you’ll be inspired to get your move on. I already went on my morning run today, but this inspired me to go on an afternoon walk and be in the moment while enjoying the 80+ degree weather. Bring a friend along for your journey and connect while getting some exercise. Then, share your experience in the comments and tell us how you’re getting your move on…
-Toan

I recently did research at work on physical education (P.E.) in California’s public schools and what struck me most was that most schools don’t meet the state’s P.E. requirements. This problem isn’t unique to California. Budget cuts and the shifting of resources to help students get high test scores are big reasons why schools provide inadequate P.E. Many students aren’t getting the physical activity they need to develop good habits and maintain a healthy weight. There are also mental health benefits that students are missing out on.

This research project caused me to reflect on my own relationship with P.E. I had a chubby period in elementary school. I constantly ate candy and drank soda. I wore the same outfit for multiple days and had an awful poodle perm. Yes, I was a self-loathing pre-teen.

In elementary school, a game of kickball or “Red Rover” counted as physical fitness. It certainly didn’t seem like enough.

I had no idea that P.E. would be a big deal at my new junior high school. There was a “striping” awards program – if students passed fitness tests, they were given a white or gold fabric stripe to proudly affix to the side of their P.E. uniform shorts. I was not a ‘striper,’ but I felt very connected to another P.E. activity.

We ran one and a half miles every Friday and were graded not on speed, but on improvement. I wasn’t the fastest runner and it certainly wasn’t easy for me to run that distance, but it was worth it. I eventually lost those pre-teen pudgy pounds and my self-esteem improved. I felt optimistic and focused. Every aspect of my teen life improved, from increased extracurricular activities to stronger friendships to better grades. I knew that I owed some of this to that darned weekly run.

I talked to Javy, my friend since junior high, and we agreed that that period in our lives, ages 12-14, was one of our most impressionable. For him, it was a particular basketball game and the relationship with his coach. Javy missed ten foul shots and his team ended up losing the game by two points. He felt that the loss was entirely his fault. His coach didn’t disagree. Instead, his coach made Javy do an exhausting basketball exercise everyday, which seemed like a punishment. However, Javy’s self-esteem got a boost and he learned how to handle criticism and manage expectations, both internally and externally.

Who knew that physical fitness could be so complex and life-changing at age 13?

Whether your memories of P.E. are good or bad, hopefully you can step back and see how those experiences were essential to becoming who you are today. If you think today’s youth should have those same opportunities to be active and grow, inside and out, check out First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to get ideas on what you can do in your community.

Selfless Acts = Positive Effect

2011-04-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

If you’re like me, do you ever wonder if, where, or how your good acts ripple out? Will we ever know?

I hope this blog post gives you some faith, hope and inspiration. After covering the local news for about a decade, I finally listened to my inner voice which I had been ignoring because I liked the comfy paycheck that came with my big market news job.

When I was laid off more than two years ago, I decided to use my storytelling power to inspire and help others through GoInspireGo.com (GIG).

I’ve never needed validation of what I’ve known to be true –- that good does beget goodness –- but for all those naysayers, a new study may make you believe that good acts do ripple out in a BIG way.

According to a new study conducted by the University of British Columbia, “People with a good ‘moral identity’ were inspired to do good when they read media stories about Good Samaritans’ selfless acts.” Karl Aquino, the lead author of the study said that four separate studies show a direct correlation between someone’s exposure to media stories of “extraordinary virtue and their yearning to change the world.”

How can we quantify the media’s role on the cause and effect of good stories manifesting beyond the moment a person sees and hears stories of good deeds?

"If more attention was devoted to recounting stories of uncommon acts of human virtue, the media could have a quantifiable positive effect on the moral behavior of a significant group of people," said Aquino, a professor at the Sauder School of Business at UBC.

Leading GIG, I’ve experienced the effects of this study firsthand. I founded this video-based website that inspires social change, where we strive to help viewers “Discover and use their power to help others.” There’s a call to action at the end of every video, which our all-volunteer team forwards via social media in order to inspire social change.

Disenchanted by the death and destruction that comes along with reporting the news, two years ago, I decided to start using my power with GIG, connecting with people and storytelling to help others. My hope -- that a droplet of intent would ripple out and inspire a wave of change, that five people would help five others and so on ...

You don’t believe me? Check out how Phoebe, a preschooler in San Francisco inspired the world by enabling the San Francisco Food Bank to give more than 140,000 healthy meals. Then there’s Jorge Munoz, a school bus driver in Queens, N.Y., who would spend more than half his salary to buy, cook, package and deliver food to the needy under the subway stop near his home. These are just a few of the stories GIG shared that created huge ripples of rad(ness).

Contrary to popular belief that “if it bleeds it leads,” people are craving inspiring stories now more than ever. According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the most widely shared/e-mailed stories were awe-inspiring, emotional and positive.

Of course, you didn’t need a study to make you believe. Just think about what stories we tend to post, tweet and email most: stories that move us, give us hope, stories that -– no matter how bad life could be at this moment -- make us believe that tomorrow will be a better day.

We invite you along for the inspirational journey… GoInspireGo.com.

Celebrating Mother Earth: Visiting Parks, A Natural Way to Unplug

2011-04-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

(Photos by Jeff Silva)

Have you hugged your mother lately? No, I'm not talking about the woman who gave birth to you; I'm referring to our shared mother -– Mother Earth. April 22 is Earth Day and we're asking you to join us in celebrating this great big globe that we live on. We're all just dots on this big green and blue sphere, so it's easy to think, "How can little ol' me make a difference?" YOU CAN make a difference –- a BIG one! Today we challenge you to do something, one thing, anything that will better our world. One of my friends, Sara Bayles, picks up trash for 20 minutes a day along the Santa Monica shoreline and blogs about it. Can you imagine if one billion people picked up one piece of trash today? What if we did this everyday? Also, check out this Earth Day site to find out how this day originated.

Go Inspire Go's board member, Marcia Estarija Silva, is doing her part by sharing her experience of unplugging … naturally. If you enjoy the gifts of nature, think about how you can care for the environment and preserve its beauty so our future generations can share in the joy.

Being out in nature wasn't a big part of my upbringing. My parents, who were born and raised in a rural town in the Philippines, probably didn't think it was necessary and I never thought I was missing out.

Then I became an adult. My outdoor activities were still rather minimal. In fact, it seemed I had gone to the other side of the spectrum. I was merging with my computer and phone. Indeed, I started feeling (and continue to feel) too connected, checking email, status updates, and tweets multiple times in an hour. I didn't have the willpower to turn the devices off and put them away.

So it was a huge shift when I started dating my now-husband who had a penchant for visiting national and state parks. Hiking and camping suddenly became normal activities in my life. And with those things came no cell phone reception and Internet access. I heard nothing now.

Initially, it was really hard to accept. I would check my phone throughout a park visit or camping trip and think that those bars would miraculously appear amongst the redwoods and sequoias, canyons and cliffs, rivers and lakes. Nope. Nothing. Nada.

I learned to leave the phone alone, buried away in the tent or in the car, and focus on the beauty around me. Out of sight; out of mind. It was peaceful, relaxing, even liberating.

I recently went with my husband and a couple of friends to Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, Calif. We all snow-shoed for the first time and we were probably the oldest group of people actually playing in the snowplay area.

There was free wi-fi access in the lodge and, yes, we all jumped at a chance to check the Internet. But when we realized the wi-fi was not so good, we didn't fall apart. It wasn't the end of the world. Those unread webpages and emails would still be there later.

I was somewhat amused by the first ever National Day of Unplugging this past March. Maybe five years ago, a call to turn off computers and phones for 24 hours would have seemed impossible. But, honestly, I shouldn't have been so snooty about it. Sometimes a specific ask is all we need to finally do something to change our behavior.

Visiting parks is one way to disconnect from electronics and gadgets and reconnect with the simple things that we sometimes take for granted, like a 2,700 year-old Giant Sequoia or the relationships that keep us rooted in life.

If all you do is celebrate Earth Day by sharing the wondrous experience of nature with a friend who is perhaps not so use to the idea, like I was, you've already made a BIG difference. I hope you are inspired to visit and support your parks, whether it's the first or umpteenth time. For more information, visit the National Parks Foundation or Google your state's parks website.

Youth: The Hope of Today

2011-04-14T22:30:00.000-07:00

I asked Steve Culbertson, the CEO of Youth Service America to guest blog about Global Youth Service Day -- here's his inspiring post. Go Youth Go! -- Toan Lam, Chief Inspirator, GoInspireGo

Since 1988, Youth Service America has encouraged millions of American kids, ages 5-25, to participate in service projects at the same time every April. National Youth Service Day, now called Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), is the only event that recognizes and celebrates the contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days of the year. In the beginning, participants came from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the American Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC.

During a trip I took to Russia in 1998, a 15 year old boy named Evgeny raised his hand and asked me if there was any reason why the kids in the Russian Federation couldn’t join their peers in the United States in celebrating National Youth Service Day. I was dumbstruck by the brilliance and simplicity of his idea. Of course his question made sense, given that young people relate best to other young people, no matter where they live.

With the help of Evgeny’s peers across Russia, and other organizations we recruited with partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank, we launched the first Global Youth Service Day in 2000 with 27 participating countries. Within a couple of years, we quickly surpassed participation by kids in more than 100 countries on six continents.

A combination of technologies such as Internet, email, and social networking helped expansion, combined with a slew of disasters, such as September 11th; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; the Pakistan Earthquake; the Chinese Earthquake; Darfur; Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and the Asian Tsunami, which drove more and more young people into service and into GYSD. Lots of publicity about diseases such as malaria, HIV-AIDS, and tuberculosis woke up a generation of kids to the sufferings of their peers around the planet. Passion for animals, concern for the environment, and service-learning classes on subjects such as the links between climate change and industrialization created new motivation for young people to get involved and take action.

On April 15-17, 2011 (over three days to accommodate teachers, weekend programs, and our Jewish colleagues) millions of kids around the world will take the time to show off their energy, commitment, idealism, and creativity in solving the world’s most difficult problems around health, education, human service, human rights, and the environment.

Elementary school children in Turkey will create a flash mob demonstration dressed as water droplets to bring attention to the world’s scarcity of water. In Ecuador, youth will remove invasive plants in favor of native trees and build dry bathrooms throughout community parks, all which assist in compositing and fertilization. Atlanta, Georgia youth have worked all semester with local, green-friendly professionals and are constructing a new playground, sports fields and park to replace the school’s decimated grounds.

With half the world’s population under 25 years old, we must make room in our hearts and minds for the contributions of youth. Too often, they are recipients of our high-minded programs and educational systems, which often only create passivity and boredom in young people. We need to have them on the giving end of the power stick, as actors in delivering service to world, not receiving it.

Think recycling. Think littering. Think Egypt. Youth are not hope of tomorrow, nor some distant leaders of the future. They are actively leading and changing the world today. Come join them on Global Youth Service Day 2011.

*Steve Culbertson is President and CEO of Youth Service America, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve communities by increasing the number and the diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in substantive roles. You may follow him on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Culbs. Information on Global Youth Service Day may be found at http://www.YSA.org

Millions of Youth Unite in Global Weekend of Service

2011-04-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

Contrary to all the bad press permeating mainstream media today about the young folks of America – their bullying, sexting, drugs, alcohol and all sorts of bad behavior -- I believe in the youth and the good they do. I believe in their power to make their mark on our gigantic globe … NOW. What I don’t believe in is the seemingly innocent question you and I are too often guilty of asking: “What do you want to do when you grow up?” While I’m sure the intent behind this question is to spark curiosity, hope, or perhaps some forward thinking and goal-setting, I know that our future, our youth, can make an impact now.

Don’t believe me? Just check out some of our GoInspireGo (GIG) stories about the inspiring youth of America like Lily Gordon, a teenager who is working on beating hunger in Tanzania, or Phoebe Russell who enabled the San Francisco Food Bank to give out more than 140,000 meals, or the band students from San Jose, CA who were inspired by this GIG video to orchestrate a winter concert to help Reverend Lemaire Alerte, Reverend of the Haitian Evangelical Church in Jersey City, N.J., accomplish his dream of building a school in Haiti.

The folks at Youth Service of America (YSA), the world’s largest and longest-running youth service campaign, share the sentiment -- kids have the power to make a difference today.

This weekend, from April 15 – 17, millions of youth around the world, spanning 100 countries and six continents, will join YSA to celebrate Global Youth Service Day. Witness the wonderful work and service of children and communities working in unison to solve the world’s problems. From elementary school students' flash mobs in Turkey highlighting the world’s water woes to Georgian kids building playgrounds to enrich local families and communities, I invite you to inspire the youth in your life to take action and be the change. Encourage them to participate in Global Youth Service Day.

As adults, I believe it is our filial duty to give back, inspire and challenge our youth to do better for themselves and others.

One of my favorite quotes is from Desmond Tutu, Angelican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa: “The ocean is made up of individual drops of water.”

We are each a single drop of water moving together to create waves, to create change. My question to you is: Where do you see yourself (and the youth in your life) in the sea of change?

What can YOU do?

Threads of Compassion Weave Warmth, Gratitude and Life-Changing Lesson

2011-04-08T09:39:00.000-07:00

I never thought that the dude that directed blockbuster comedies such as Ace Ventura, The Nutty Professor and Bruce Almighty -- movies that don't particularly interest me -- would craft an inspiring, probing, life-changing film.

Tom Shadyac's non-fiction documentary genre "I Am" is a powerful, in-depth and eye-opening look into our world. It raises two simple, yet intensely deep questions: "What's wrong with it [our world]?" and "How can we all make it better?" This non-fiction flick tells the story of Tom Shadyac's near death experience -- how it awakened his spirit and how he is choosing to consciously live the rest of his life. He explores how interconnected humanity really is, using science to explain how when two people touch or are in proximity to one another, the person's heartbeat signal actually registers in the other person's brain. Researchers also explain how our thoughts and emotions affect the world around us, even impacting bacteria in yogurt. Yes, I did write yogurt!

The film "I AM" truly is amazing. I don't use the words truly and amazing lightly either. It shook me to my core and moved me to tears. As a former TV reporter, I've seen so many tragic and profound real-life stories and multimedia pieces, that I’ve become desensitized. If you ask my friends, they'll tell you that it takes something significantly moving for me to laugh and cry during a movie. That's why I want to share my experience with you…

Shadyac recounts his life-changing shift after a cycling accident nearly took his life. Not wanting to spoil the ending, I'll stop there. I'll only tell you that he became disillusioned with life on the A-list -- the status and material wealth that came with it -- and had an epiphany that sparked a shift that led to drastic life changes. He sold his house, expunged material "things" (the personal jet, big home and fancy cars) and moved to a mobile home to start a new life filled with awareness.

Aside from the snapshot of Shadyac's surreal awakening, the images, textures and riveting interviews with Desmond Tutu, Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky are brilliantly woven together, with a sprinkle of eye-opening scientific data, and a lot of moving scenes, vignettes, facts, figures that will leave you feeling like you can really make your mark in this world.

Coincidentally, on my way home, I had an experience that eerily depicted scenes from the movie. I was out of gas. For some weird reason I passed up the gas station right off of the freeway exit and was compelled to drive out of my way, past my San Francisco apartment, to gas up. As I pulled up, a scene played out before me like the movie I just watched -- fancy shiny cars, hybrids, Mercedes and Hondas juxtaposed next to two homeless men eating out of the trash can, another asking customers to clean their windows in exchange for some spare change.

As I got out of the warm confines of my car to pump gas, I immediately noticed the frigid wind against my face. That's when a homeless man walked up to me, with a desperate glare in his eyes. He told me, "Sir, someone stole all my stuff. Do you believe that? Do you have an extra jacket or tee shirt in your car that I can have?" I was shocked to think that someone would steal from a homeless man and immediately glanced inside my car and didn't have any garments. I told him, "If you would've asked me yesterday, I would've given you two as I just cleaned out my car." His hopeful face filled with despondency. In a genuine tone, he said, "Thank you, have a nice night."

I felt terrible that he didn't have anything to keep him warm, aside from a thin tee. I had a thin maroon v-neck sweater on and I was shivering. I thought, wow, he only has a tee-shirt on, so he must be colder than I was. I said, "Wait, do you want this sweater I'm wearing?" His eyes lit up as though he won the Mega Millions jackpot. Dumbfounded by the offer, he graciously said, "Oh, yes, please, anything will help, I'm cccold." I took off the sweater and handed it to him.

What happened next caught me completely off guard. He put both hands in front of him, palms facing me to signal me to stop and said, "Wait, you don't have to give it to me now, you can take it off when you're done pumping gas so you're not cold." Wow, I immediately got the chills (not from the windy weather) and handed it over to him right away. I thought to myself, how thoughtful of him to think about my warmth when he had been exposed to the elements for God knows how long.

I then asked him for his name. He said, "I'm Kevin." I shook his frozen hand and said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Toan. Have a good night and God bless you.” His smile widened, revealing a mouth full of missing teeth. WOW. Talk about adding more octane to an already inspiring night.

Admittedly, I rarely give to the homeless on the street. I thought, I give so much to the homeless through GoInspireGo.com and have passed up lucrative job offers to build my organization (a video based website that inspires people to help others.)

This personal, raw, real connection and experience taught me that we are more interconnected than we think. Our actions, however small we think it might be, could change how people treat others. No ripple is too small.

This experience taught me that there is more I can do, simple things like clearing out the many sweaters and jackets in my closet and donating them to folks like Kevin. In return, Kevin probably doesn't know what ripple he created in me as I share this story with you and many others. He created a shift in me, raised my awareness and consciousness -– and emblazoned in my mind is his smile, filled with so much hope. I will never forget that.

Perhaps there is more that you can do too…
What can you do to make someone else’s life better today? You have the power.

Make the Connection: Why One Man is Walking from Canada to Mexico

2011-03-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

Pause.

Seriously, just for one minute.

Think about the last time you had a minute to yourself. Perhaps you were waiting for a friend to arrive or the bus to come. Out of nervous habit, did you pull out your cell phone to send a text, check your email or Facebook?

I do that all the time. But I'm hoping to change that, thanks to Jordan Bower. Unfortunately, quiet moments have become awkward as technology, which conveniently connects us, is also creating a bigger disconnect.

Jordan is a business graduate-turned-vagabond who hopes his wanderlust inspires you to change by putting down your gizmos, gear and gadgets to engage with one another. The 30-year-old Toronto native wants you to join him on his journey. His latest adventure: to walk from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Mexico. His goal is to create a shift in you and me.

Why would anyone want to walk for 1,800 miles?

"I started to feel a lot of disconnection going on. It was the start of the Facebook thing -– and the way people were relating with each other started to change," Bower said. "Personally, I was going through some growth, so I went traveling and went to India."

That trip changed the trajectory of Jordan's path personally, philosophically and photographically.

I met up with Jordan recently during his stop in San Francisco's Mission District to find out what inspired Jordan's journey and how the purpose of his unique photo project clicked like a shutter.

"There's a lot of bad things about the quality of life in India when compared to the wealth and prosperity of life in North America, but one thing Indians don't lack for is community," he said.

Jordan says he doesn't expect you to follow in his footsteps. Instead, he hopes you have a moment of awakening.

"Enlightenment isn't going to come through an app or through your computer," Jordan emphasized. "Community comes with people interacting with people."

Jordan's pilgrimage has cut into his savings. Ironically, he turned to his community for help. Through Kickstarter.com, he raised $8,051 to pursue his passion. However, he needs to raise funds to complete his journey to Mexico. Here's his fundraiser page. He also shares his adventures through his photoblog: WalkingToMexico.com.

What can YOU do to connect with someone today?

How You Can Use Social Media to Mobilize Help for Japan

2011-03-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

As soon as I heard about the earthquake in Japan, my heart fell. Understanding the catastrophic enormity of the situation, I anxiously fired up my laptop -- sweaty palms and all -– to Facebook and tweeted my friends to see if they were OK.

Specifically I wanted to hear back from a good friend I have known through the Asian American Journalists Association and ABC News, Akiko Fujita, who lives and covers the news from Tokyo. I haven't heard back from her, but was relieved to know she's OK, thanks to her social media community.

Images from the tragedy of Japan's one-two punch from last week's earthquake and tsunami continue to flood the multimedia landscape: Facebook, Twitter, blogs and news outlets consume our attention. Today's technology is changing the way we learn news.

With the click of a mouse, virtual birds-eye views like these show the unfiltered enormity of the devastation. According to Japanese officials and news outlets, a tide of more than 2,000 bodies washed ashore in Miyagi, the region closest to the epicenter, tens of thousands more are missing or feared dead.

The BBC and The Daily Beast readers send in stories of survival and loss.

Yuko Abe, 54, of Rikuzentakata, a northern town that now is almost totally flattened, writes in tears from an evacuation center. "I am looking for my parents and my older brother," Abe said. "Seeing the way the area is, I thought that perhaps they did not make it. I also cannot tell my siblings that live away that I am safe, as mobile phones and telephones are not working."

John McLaughlan, a teacher in Sendai, wrote that his whole kindergarten class is missing. "I just hope they were evacuated," he said.

Then there are the stories of hope. After being swept away atop his roof, Hiromitsu Shinkawa, 60, was spotted by a rescue ship, thanks to the red flag he made. "[He] saw the tsunami coming and ran home to gather his belongings. In a flash, his home was decimated. He was swept out to sea on what used to be the roof of his house. "No helicopters or boats that came nearby noticed me. I thought that day was going to be the last day of my life," Shinkawa said. Before being rescued onto the ship, he drank a glass of water and then broke into tears. Shinkawa's wife is still missing.

We absorb the constant multimedia images of destruction and devastation, voyeuristically hooked by the horror.

As I blog from the comfort of my San Francisco apartment, I wonder what would we do if a tragedy of this magnitude shook our reality? Who would I call? How are my friends and family?

Every victim has a story -- people desperately waiting to hear from their loved ones, the people stuck beneath the rubble and those like Shinkawa, who were swept away by the tsunami and, of course, the thousands of others who weren't so lucky to escape death.

In a weird way, I found solace in the abundance of Facebook and Twitter messages. Messages like this tweet from @TimeOutTokyo: "If you're feeling utterly useless (we know the feeling) here's a list of ways you can help http://bit.ly/gX5pdU #helpJapan"

I thought what can I do to help?

Ironically, the answer is right in front of me. I had an epiphany – use my website as a platform to inspire people to help. GoInspireGo.com, my nonprofit (a video-based website that inspires people to "Discover and use their power to help others") harnesses social media to inspire social change.

Here are some suggestions on easy ways to help… and, in numbers we can make that difference:

1.) Make your Facebook updates and Tweets count. Texas-based start-up HelpAttack! is partnering with the Red Cross, to support that organization's earthquake relief efforts. It's easy here’s how.

a) Log in to Facebook or Twitter
b) Pledge an amount for every update (You can cap the total amount)
c) At the end of the month, your credit card gets charged based on your updates

2.) Through Groupon, the website that sends you daily deals, now allows you to donate. You can easily donate $5, $10 or $25 for the International Medical Corps., a humanitarian aid group that helps with Japan's earthquake relief efforts. So far, they’ve raised more than $16,000. The daily coupon site Living Social is also offering a similar donation program.

3.) Social Gaming: FarmVille fans, listen up, you too can help children who are victims of the quake by just doing what you love – playing the game. Zynga, the company that created this popular Facebook game announced that it is teaming up with Save the Children to support earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Users can donate in eight of the company's most popular games just by playing FarmVille, YoVille, Zynga Poker, Words With Friends, Cafe World, CityVille, FrontierVille and zBar.

4.) SXSW4Japan: Organizers of the tech world's annual social media spectacular, the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, are doing what they know best to raise money for Japan -- using social media. The event director tweeted that some social media marvels launched a website to raise money for victims in Japan. So far, more than $36,000 has been raised. And if you feel inspired to create your own campaign, the site also includes helpful tips for launching your own fundraising page.

5.) Text: This is the easiest way to help out, quickly, and without a lot of fuss. The Mobile Giving Foundation launched an effort late last week, empowering people to give by using their cell phones to donate $5 or $10. Here are just a few options:

a) The Red Cross has its own mobile giving program, in which supporters can text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to donate $10.

b) Text "JAPAN" or "TSUNAM" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.

c) Text "4JAPAN"or "4TSUNAMI" to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of World Vision, Inc.

d) Text "MERCY" to 25283 to donate $10 on behalf of Mercy Corps.

e) If you want to support The Salvation Army USA, you can text "JAPAN" to 80888 to make a $10 donation to the organization.

You can do something to make a difference. It's in your hands. You have the power.

Prayers to our brothers and sisters in Japan.

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Harnessing The Power of Connecting On and Off-Line

2011-03-10T11:32:00.001-08:00

If you're reading this post, chances are, you've recently Facebooked, Tweeted, Friended or Liked someone. As the quickly changing landscape of multimedia and social networks continue to take shape -- and then change again, we'd like to ask you this -- what impact do your online clicks, clacks and messages have on the users on the other side of the screen? Go Inspire Go's board member, Marcia Estarija Silva, shares her experience of how she reconnected and helped a Facebook friend in need.

Good, genuine people attract other good, genuine people. That’s how I met Roseabelle, by way of my childhood friend Rachelle. Over the years, I have crossed paths with Roseabelle at various Rachelle-related events, from birthday parties to a wedding and, in this age of social networking, quite frequently on Facebook.

Through Roseabelle’s Facebook status updates, I followed the progress of her daughter Olivia. Born July 5, 2008, Olivia was diagnosed with Stage 3 Wilm’s Tumor on July 24, 2009.

My heart rose and sank with Roseabelle’s updates, learning that Olivia was back in the hospital because of a serious infection or that her sonograms and X-rays were clear or that Olivia was thankfully only suffering from pneumonia (yes, there was relief that it was *only* pneumonia).

Roseabelle also provided lighter updates, like a posted picture of adorable Olivia enjoying a pony ride at Camp Arroyo. These posts reminded us that, despite all the hospital visits, Olivia was a fighter and, through it all, still able to enjoy being a little girl.

Roseabelle’s candor and strength inspired me. She didn’t have time to be emotional. All that mattered was getting Olivia the care that she needed.

How did Roseabelle keep a strong face? According to Roseabelle, it was love and support from family and friends that helped her get through this.

Olivia’s treatment ended in February 2010 and she is currently doing really well. She has had check-ups every 3 months since and test results have come back negative. Olivia is hitting all the milestones for her age, like walking and talking.

Cautiously optimistic, Roseabelle is now focused on keeping up with her 2 year-old who registered for preschool last fall. While Roseabelle has returned to work full-time at a gluten-free bakery and occasionally teaches at a cooking school, her first priority remains to keep Olivia healthy.

An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, Roseabelle notes that the organization does more than prevention, education, research, and advocacy. It also provides services to those in need, from giving rides to patients who can’t drive themselves to appointments to providing college scholarships for children with parents who’ve exhausted their savings on treatment.

She continues to participate in Relay for Life, a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. To support Olivia and Roseabelle directly, visit Team LIV’s Relay for Life page. To volunteer, join or create a team, visit American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. To get on Roseabelle’s mailing list of events and news, email her at roseabelle@roseabelle.com.

I’d also like to encourage you to reach out to friends on Facebook (or other social networks) that you’ve fallen out of touch with -- especially those who are going through a difficult time. Then set aside time to meet with them and connect off-line. When I read emotionally revealing postings from my online-only friends, I often think my message won’t really mean anything to them. I’ve learned that a simple gesture, whether it’s ‘liking’ a status update, commenting on a picture or connecting them to someone who could help, can mean more that we think. If you are willing, let them know you are listening and that you care. I hope this post inspires you to reach out to the people you care about.

Click on...

How Your Clutter is Holding You Back From Helping Others

2011-03-05T17:06:00.000-08:00

What does simplifying and decluttering your life have to do with your altruistic intents? Clearing your physical, emotional and spiritual life could lead to extra time for yourself and for others. Go Inspire Go's marketing volunteer, Sarah Skotvold shares her insights on how clearing her personal and professional life allows her to give back.

For my New Year’s resolution, I decided to focus on clutter clearing. The idea was to simplify my home and work life. In the beginning, I started with all of the logical first steps: halting junk mail/e-mail; throwing away old files and papers; and cleaning out my closets and drawers. I quickly realized how powerful this exercise can be in not only clearing out the physical clutter but the mental clutter that blocked my ability to see the truly important aspects to my life. I knew I wanted to help others in some way and make a difference; but I became overwhelmed with choosing a direction. My mind was filled with so many to do lists and tasks unrelated to my true goals, I found it hard to focus.

It turned out that the journey to simplify my mind and life changed to finding a means to help others. I found a number of valuable free resources online and checked out a stack of books from the library. Next, I used these resources to take action and start taking steps to make changes and simplify my life. I found that as I organized my environment, my mental state was more organized as well. This allowed me to be more relaxed, focused, meditate, exercise and spend more time outside.

With a clear mind, I could see the truly important aspects of life. I would focus my attention on my family/friends, my health, traveling, giving back to others and writing. I have always enjoyed writing but stopped because I had filled my schedule with so many other tasks. I decided to make writing a priority in my life again.

By simplifying, I opened up time and space in my life to write. It became clear that writing could be my tool to help others, so I started focusing on writing positive stories that inspire change. Now I’m meeting two of my most important goals in life through one medium--I find that inspiring!

So what inspires you, how can you make a difference? If you do not have a clear answer, perhaps starting your own clutter clearing process will help. I truly believe that the first step in inspiring and helping others is to feel inspired within yourself. Enjoy simplifying and discovering what inspires you and then passing that gift on to others.

Cheers,
Sarah

Some fabulous resources on clutter clearing
Free Resources
Thriving On Less by Leo Babauta
The Change Blog-How to Get More From Life by Alie Hale

Books (I recommend checking them out from your local library)
Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James
Simplify Your Work Life by Elaine St. James
Soul Couching 28 Days to Discover Your Authentic Self by Denise Linn

Teenager Helps African Villagers Build Brick Oven and Water System to Survive

2011-02-14T22:59:00.000-08:00

Special to Go Inspire Go: Blogpost by GIG Contributor Jessica Chang and Toan Lam

Meet Lily Gordon. It's hard to believe she's only 16. While most teenagers her age are focused on getting their driver's license, Lily is focused on beating hunger in Tanzania. When Go Inspire Go's volunteer crew visited her family home in Berkeley, Calif., we immediately knew she was no ordinary teenager. As her father answered the door, Lily was in the kitchen cooking a delicious dinner for her parents and our crew.

Lily's social awareness was sparked at an early age. She showed maturity, compassion and gratitude at 10-years-old. After learning about Africa and hearing about the starving African children from a classmate, she wanted to help. For her 11th birthday, instead of presents, she asked her friends to donate money to help build a water pipe for a Tanzanian school.

"The idea of getting 25 more puzzles didn't seem as enchanting as the idea of being able to give kids water," Lily said. She and her friends raised nearly $2,000 -– more than Lily had ever imagined.

When she was 12 she hit another milestone -– Lily's first visit to Tanzania with African Immigrants Social & Cultural Services. She was struck by the beauty of the country -– but even more so -– the inner beauty of the people.

"Being really immersed in the culture and seeing the people, I guess it made me want to help even more, just because I felt really connected to them and I felt they gave so much to me and were so welcoming to me even though they had so much less than me."

She noticed the stark difference between what she and her friends had in America and was moved that the kids she visited didn't even have the basics: proper shelter, education or health care. What struck her most –- the lack of food –- was a devastating part of their existence Lily witnessed first-hand at the hospital. "Malnutrition is just part of existence there almost. The bloated bellies, they're all very small for their age," she said.

Lily learned that bread is imported to villages from big cities several hours away, but it's often rotten by the time it arrives.

She knew she had to do something.

She came up with an idea that would save lives. When she returned home to California, she poured her heart –- and her time -– into fundraising and learning how to build a brick oven to empower the villagers to make their own bread and self sustain.

Last summer, Lily, her family and her friends built a rainwater harvest system to make clean water for the orphans. This summer, she plans to teach the villagers how to make their own smaller adobe ovens and a community garden.

"I'm so lucky I found it when I was young, but I feel like if anyone got the joy that I received from just being with these people, working together to do what we could, then there's no way they would've turned down the opportunity," she said.

Simple things many of us take for granted, like cooking dinner and breaking bread with our crew was an experience she knows many people, like her new friends in Tanzania, don't have.

Special thanks to Jessica Chang for reporting this GIG story. Chang is is a former TV reporter who is developing her own travel/volunteer project: Volunteer Ventures.

9 + 1 Things YOU Can Do to Be Happy in the Next 30 Minutes

2011-01-21T00:27:00.000-08:00

What would it take for you to be happier? How long do you think it would take?

In a day and age where many feel entitled to instant gratification, it’s easy to become quickly unhappy when you don’t get what you want, right away – think about the last time your smart phone took a few seconds longer to load your favorite application, or remember the time when you sat on the tarmac an extra hour because of engine problems with the plane? Take a deep breath and read on… according to Gretchen Rubin, who wrote this Real Simple article, feeling better ASAP is a lot simpler than you may think:

“Being happier doesn't have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next 30 minutes, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you've achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood.”

1. Raise your activity level. Pump up your energy. If you're on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better...

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven't talked to in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel friendlier toward you, but you'll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also...

7. Save someone's life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good―it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it 'til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you're smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you "should" or "need to" learn about.
I’ve decided to add a plus 1, because this always makes me feel better…

# 10. Laugh like crazy – do it now – your co-workers or people around you will laugh or scoff at you, which will in turn, make you laugh and feel better!

I challenge you to do one of these things for yourself – or someone else -- and post a comment below this blog and tell us what you’ve done. Still not convinced? Rubin ends on this happy note:

“Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal, but in fact, research shows that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy, and productive -- and they're more inclined to help other people. By working to boost your own happiness, you're making other people happier, too.”

By following up on one of these suggestions, you may not achieve your long-term happiness goal; however, it may make getting there a little more bearable. So if your application is still loading, smile at someone nearby and if you’re on the tarmac, make a new friend!

Paying it Back: Unemployed Man Lifeline to 60 Neighbors

2010-12-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

(Courtesy: Alex Bauzon)

Every Tuesday afternoon you can hear the wheels of Herman Travis' shopping cart clacking against the cracked, sloped sidewalks of San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood -- an annoying sound for any passerby. But for many residents in this low-income community the sound is heavenly -- their angel, 50-year-old Travis.

"It makes me feel good, seeing them smile when I knock on their door, it just makes me feel good," Travis said humbly.

Travis is the lifeline for many of those who depend on him to eat.

With a cheery disposition, he delivers food to 60 neighbors who eagerly wait for Travis' visit. Many recipients are elderly and disabled. Getting out of the house to pick up food from the San Francisco Food Bank and pantries is nearly impossible.

So Travis brings the food to them.

"It means a lot to me, as a senior. I can't get out. I'm sort of confined to my house. It's just a blessing, a blessing, something you can depend on, Herman's always there with a smile," recipient Millie Sheehy said.

Travis partnered up with the S.F. Food Bank to make this do-good deed possible. For the past three years, a truck drops off 1,300 pounds of food at the Holly Courts low-income housing complex where he lives. A handful of volunteers help Travis sort and pack brown paper grocery bags. He loads his cart and off he goes, on his three-hour mission to feed his neighbors.

"I don't know how we would express it, except for saying that we would be completely lost without him," Bebe Castaine, 81, said.

But besides feeding their stomachs, he also feeds their spirits. Everyone who answers the door beams with excitement, the smiles overflow.

"He spoils me rotten by coming to my door. And he's always positive, he's always got something nice to say. So I enjoy him,” said 93-year-old Millie Sheehy, who smiles wide and giggles like a schoolgirl when her "No. 1" drops by.

Travis knows the stories behind every drop off. The rapport, trust and loyalty are unique as they are special.

Knock. Knock. Knock. No answer. "Her mother's been gone for a while, her mother died," Travis explained with a deep, melancholy breath.

He takes a moment to catch his breath and shake the sadness, then heads up the steep sidewalk to the next visit.

On the way to the next delivery, Travis, shared that he also has a lot to be grateful for. "I'm glad I'm healthy enough to do this," he said in gratitude. This neighborhood angel has been unemployed for the past few months. His construction work dried up. Now he is applying for general assistance. He too depends on the food bank to get by.

It started when "I didn't have no work," he said fervently. "I'm paying back because they helped me, so I'm paying back, that's what any human being should do. Pay back what people give you."

Travis says he hopes others will do the same –- give the gift of goodwill.
"It makes me feel good, seeing them smile when I knock on their door, it just makes me feel good," Travis admitted emphatically.

For now, Travis said, he'll continue to stay positive and that he'll jump at the chance of any job when it comes around. While the future is uncertain for this neighborhood angel, one thing is clear –- his current job, which doesn't grant him a paycheck, is a job that feeds his soul.

What can YOU do this holiday season and in 2011 to help a family member, friend or stranger? You have more power than you may think.

Onward!

Small Acts. Big Changes. What can YOU do?

2010-12-13T23:49:00.000-08:00

One small act can truly change the world.

Just ask Phoebe, a six-year-old first grader, who inspired her community to enthusiastically support her aluminum can and letter writing fund-raising campaign. After seeing homeless people in her San Francisco neighborhood when she was in preschool, she felt two things: sadness and a desire to help. She eventually inspired contributions to cover 135,000 meals for the needy, donated by the San Francisco Food Bank. First lady, Michelle Obama also wrote her a personal note to congratulate her.

Then there’s Caitlin Boyle, whose operation is beautiful from the inside out. After having a bad self-esteem moment (who doesn’t have those?), what’s a girl to do? Do something kind for others. Not everyone would conclude, or put this positive thought into action. Caitlin scribbled, “You are beautiful” on a piece of paper and stuck it on the mirror of the public bathroom at her community college in Florida. She blogged about the experience. World-wide response action ensued with readers posting their own notes. As fate would have it, those words of encouragement turned around days for weary folks. Some smiled and in some cases, some recipients of the random note decided not to commit suicide.

In New York, Jorge Munoz, a school bus driver has been cooking, packing and delivering food to the 140 + hungry people that wait under a subway stop in Queens, New York every night at 9:30. For many years, he’s used half of his weekly salary of $700 to buy food and supplies. Then, CNN, Go Inspire Go and other media outlets shared his story.

Hungry for more? The Yahoo! For Good do-gooders asked me to report and blog about 10 Inspiring Acts of 2010, where we featured 10 folks, including the three above, who did one small act of kindness that rippled out to big changes!

This was an epiphany for me because of my sordid childhood.

Growing up in the ghetto as an immigrant from Vietnam, all 10 of my family members crammed into a small trailer. People said “Wow, that sucks.” However, if you ask any of my family members, they’ll tell you quite the contrary. My mom says, "We were so happy, we were safe, all together and we clung onto hope and opportunity."

Books were my passport out of the ghetto. I voraciously read every single thing I could find. I remember even reading the shampoo bottle in the bathroom out loud everyday as a kid. Many of the words I've learned became my everyday vernacular. I tried very carefully not to slip up and use words like “enamored” around the neighborhood bullies. I was unsuccessful. The neighborhood kids would often say, "$##*!" why you tryin' to be white?" (I never could understand why being able to conjugate my verbs and speaking in complete sentences meant that I was acting white.)
I let them have my power.

They stole my voice and I became quiet -- until college -- that's when I realized that through my voice, was my gift, my power.

In red ink, my expository writing teacher, Carolyn Weber wrote on one of my papers: "You are a gifted and talented writer. I hope you do something with it in your life." This woke me up. It created a shift. Against my parent's behest -- to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer -- I went on to do TV news, but was still unfulfilled after 10 years in the biz.

The biggest gift given to me in my adult life was being laid off from my big market TV reporting gig. During a run shortly after being axed, I “woke up” and decided to make a drastic move. As soon as I realized the intent and meaning in my life, clarity followed. I promised myself that I would eat out less, shop less and take a year off of work to use my gift for storytelling to give back. I did not have a huge savings. I was worried about how I would make ends meet after a few months. I was not rich, am not rich and have turned down many lucrative jobs to continue my mission. To pay the bills, I teach two days a week at a local university. The small YouTube channel became Go Inspire Go aka GIG. Since launching GIG year and a half ago, so many miracles -- large and small -- have transpired. I've met so many amazing people who did one small thing, that created big changes. I've also crossed paths with those who helped complete the circle of giving, those who were inspired to reach out and help the inspiring people we've featured.

My new GIG allows me to be the voice for the voiceless… With every story, every blog, I try to inspire my viewers/readers to do what I did “Discover and use their power (talents, gift, network, etc.) to help others.”

This holiday season, give the best gift of all – yourself. I hope you’re inspired by my Yahoo! 2010 Inspiring Acts blog.

Be inspired. Take action. For more inspirational stories go to Go Inspire Go.

What can YOU do?

Four Preschoolers Inspire 135,000 Meals for the Needy

2010-11-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

As you gather with family and friends for the holidays, I hope you’ll be inspired to share this story with a young person in your life –- and encourage them to think of others, who may not be fortunate enough to enjoy a warm meal, have a place to live or people to celebrate with.

Meet Ethan, Emily and Sophia -- three of the youngest humanitarians you may ever meet. Taking the lead from Phoebe, their preschool predecessor, they have raised money, rallied resources and heightened visibility (about hunger in their community) to enable the San Francisco Food Bank to serve more than 135,000 meals.

It all started a year ago, when Phoebe was in preschool (she is now in first grade). Phoebe saw homeless and hungry people in her community and asked her mother, "Why do they look so sad and dirty?" Her mother explained homelessness and hunger to her.

Phoebe knew two things: that it made her sad and that she wanted to help. She enlisted the help of her teacher, Kathleen Albert and her classmates. Her goal was to raise $1,000 in two months. Phoebe was determined to collect aluminum cans and recycle them for cash because that’s what she and her older sister did for fun. The then five-year-old decided the money raised would be donated to the SF Food Bank. She hand wrote letters and mailed them out to 150 family, friends and community members.

"Caaans? What are you talking about?" Albert said in disbelief. "I thought five cents a can, one thousand dollars. It was unrealistic. But Phoebe was adamant about it."

At first, a few cans trickled in, then thousands showed up at the preschool's door step. Checks and envelopes stuffed with cash were also jammed into the mailbox. The community got excited. Businesses matched donations.

Phoebe raised $3,736.30 by her deadline, enough for the S.F. Food Bank to feed nearly 18,000 people.

Albert held a party to celebrate the donation. Go Inspire Go (GIG) attended, created and posted a video. At the end of the video, GIG challenged the viewers with this statement: "If a 5-year-old could raise enough to feed nearly 18,000 people, what can YOU do? Please make a donation to the San Francisco Food bank, and tell them Phoebe sent you."

Other media outlets shared Phoebe's philanthropic project. GIG's video went viral, and amassed more than 30,000 views. Six months later, the S.F. Food Bank wrote GIG, with an update: the money raised spiked to $20,202, or about 80,000 meals. Additionally GIG sent the video to Tyson Foods' Hunger Relief Challenge, which led to the company's donation of 15 tons of chicken. Now more than 120,000 meals could be served.

This inspirational story gets better! Before the end of the school year, Phoebe's preschool protégés, Ethan, Emily and Sophia were moved by Phoebe's philanthropic spirit.

"I like helping other people," Ethan said. "I don't like seeing hungry people," explained Sophia. "We asked other people to help," Emily said.

Albert said the three worked together relentlessly to write letters, count the change and smash dozens of bags full of cans. They even came up with their own campaign slogan, inspired by President Barack Obama: "Yes We Can!"

And yes, they did! The grand total so far: $5,479.05.

Thanks to Ethan, Emily, Sophia and Phoebe, their small altruistic act of goodness means more than 135,000 meals can be shared in their community.

If four five-year-olds could inspire 135,000 meals, what can YOU do this holiday season? As our little philanthropic friends will tell you –- yes you can!

To make a donation to the San Francisco Food Bank, click here!

* Phoebe's mother told me that First Lady, Michelle Obama wrote Phoebe a letter to thank her for her generosity. No telling if Mrs. Obama will reach out to Ethan, Emily and Sophia.

Inspiration in Action:

You can find out more about Toan Lam & Go Inspire Go at www.goinspirego.com. Visit our YouTube page to check out more GIG stories. Contact Toan at info@goinspirego.com.

Follow Toan Lam on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GoInspireGo

Recipe For Success: Karma Kitchen Serves Up Generosity

2010-10-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

What would you do if the next time you ask for your bill after dining out, your server said, "There is no charge, your meal was paid for by the person who came before you"? Yep, that's right, nothing, zip, zilch -– on your bill. You literally see "$0.00."

In a world and society where we're taught, "If it's too good to be true, it's NOT," it's hard to believe.

In this case, you have to feel it, experience it -– to believe it.
Every Sunday at The Taste of Himalayas restaurant in Berkeley, Calif. -- Karma Kitchen is cooking up kindness and generosity across the San Francisco Bay Area. It's a volunteer-run experiment in generosity that is growing.

On your zero-dollar and zero-cent bill, there is a kind note that reads, "Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those who dine after you." Patrons can choose to pay nothing or pay for only what they feel is right.

The recipe for this generous idea began three years ago, with Viral and Pavi Mehta and a group of friends. "It's an excuse to start a conversation about generosity," Viral said, with a kind, genuine and humble voice. Included in the morning's training session are lots of hugs as approximately a dozen volunteers gather in a circle; a moment of silence, introductions and stories of why all the volunteers are spending a Sunday morning, volunteering to greet, cook and serve complete strangers.

One volunteer tells me her impetus to give back started one morning when she was rushing out the door to a final exam and her car wouldn't start. A neighbor saw her in distress and offered to give her a ride. Moved by the small act of kindness, she was inspired to pay it forward. When a friend told her about Karma Kitchen, she jumped at the opportunity. "The volunteers are here to serve, there's no ulterior motive, no paycheck, they want to give back," Pavi said with passion.

This project is just one of several experiments under the umbrella of Charity Focus, an "incubator of gift economy projects that inspires people to be the change they wish to see," according to founder Nipun Mehta. "A gift economy is an economic system in which goods and services are given freely, rather than traded. In a market economy, one's wealth is increased by 'saving.' In contrast, in a gift economy, wealth is decreased by hoarding, for it is the circulation of the gifts within the community that leads to increase: increase in connections, increase in relationship strength."

It is hard to put into words the magic, songs and stories of giving shared -- that unfold and swirl under the roof of this bustling restaurant when Karma Kitchen is underway. It's infectious. You want to give back, unconditionally.

Come as a volunteer customer and feel for yourself. The smell, the stories and the kindness swirling around will make you hungry to help others and give back. Here's a tip from a soon-to-be-repeat customer:

1. Volunteers, sign up online early as there is a waiting list to serve
2. Eat at a community table and meet new friends
3. Visit and receive gifts from the Kindness Table
4. Say thank you
5. Pay it forward
6. Be ready to be inspired to be a chain in the circle of giving
7. Enjoy!

The generosity is spreading: Karma Kitchens are now also open in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Buon Appetito & Cheers!

1000+ Volunteers Team Up to "Be The Change." What can YOU do?!

2010-10-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

People talk about change. Some dream about it. Others take action and ARE the change.

In early October, more than 1,000 volunteers teamed up with Hands On Bay Area, a non-profit that inspires, empowers and enables volunteers to be the change they wish to see, for an appropriately titled "Be the Change Day."

From San Francisco to San Jose, volunteers worked on 17 projects across the Bay Area -- from sorting life-saving medical supplies that will be shipped to third-world countries, to beautifying sustainable community gardens. Everyone worked in unison with one goal in mind: to better the community.

At Sanchez Elementary School in San Francisco's Mission District, I met some "Change Makers" who tore down an old chain link fence and installed a new picket fence, while others prepped its sustainable learning garden for the young students.

"Change" was Ranjan Prasad's wish for his birthday this year. He picked Sanchez Elementary School because he is interested in supporting childhood education. Prasad and a handful of friends woke up bright and early to pull weeds and clean up the new garden. "Schools in San Francisco are in desperate need of help, so this is how I can give back to the kids, to the community," Prasad said.

Across the Bay, I discovered a hidden gem in the Gardens at Lake Merritt in Oakland. I was greeted with soothing sounds from a koi pond fountain and a lush green backdrop of colorful flowers and soaring trees. Beyond the green oasis, sounds of rakes, hand shovels and conversation buzzed like an orchestra of goodness. More than a hundred volunteers worked, laughed and inspired one another.

Myriam Garcia and her two young children Max and Paloma, took a break to tell me why they spent their Saturday morning working in the community garden. "I came to beautify the city where I grew up, where I work. This is my community," she said passionately.

"Volunteering means you do it from your heart, you're not doing it because you're getting paid." Garcia said she's planting the seeds of volunteerism early with her 8-year-old son Max and 6-year-old daughter Paloma.

Through volunteering she sees a shift in her children, who are learning an important lesson in civics. "You have to make them a part of what life is about… You don't pay people to beautify your life." She said her children are excited to give back. "Volunteering means you help others," Paloma said proudly.

Down south at Sunnyvale's Full Circle Farms, dozens of volunteers gathered to harvest food. "I just want them to come back, to be inspired to give back to the community they're living in," Shubda Garani, HOBA board member, said.

Volunteers told me their efforts will continue giving back long after the saws and shovels are put away –- and in Prasad's case, long before his birthday candles are blown out.

"People think they don't have money to give back, but they can give time," Prasad said. Only time will tell how Garcia and Prasad's ripples of kindness will billow through their friends, children and out into the community.

What can YOU do to be the change?!

Bullied to death -- and How the Power of Pink Could Thwart Suicide

2010-10-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

(Courtesy: Tyler Clementi)

Everyone knows what it feels like to be made fun of – belittled, embarrassed, humiliated – but has it been so extreme that you actually contemplated ending your life because the shame was so heavy that suicide was the only option?

In September alone, four people were literally, bullied to death. All were believed to be victims of anti-gay bullying are now dead. How many other unknown teens are pushed to the limit, and take their lives?

This weekend, friends, family and strangers said good bye to 18-year-old Rutgers University freshman, Tyler Clementi, whose intimate encounter with another man was streamed live on the Internet by his roommate and another student. These two people, who allegedly provided the video content and splattered it on the Internet, probably thought it was funny – it was not. Tyler is dead. Police say three days after the video was broadcast, Clementi jumped off of the George Washington bridge. The two face legal, moral and consequences, including invasion of privacy and possibly up to five years in prison.

With easy, powerful technological advances and the Internet at our fingertips, someone’s life can be destroyed by the click of a mouse. I believe that everyone has the power to be more responsible. We have the power to teach the youngsters in our lives that teasing, taunting and terrorizing others is not acceptable.

Please read and share this story of how we can inspire compassion and tolerance. It’s about how two teens utilized the Internet and the Power of Pink to combat bullying…
A few years ago, two Canadian students, were moved to action after hearing about the bullying of a freshman at Central Kings Rural High School in Nova Scotia. The victim, a 9th grader, wore a pink polo shirt on his first day of school. According to CBC News, student bullies called the boy a ‘homosexual’ for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up.”

(Courtesy: CBC)

When seniors, David Shepherd and Travis Price heard about the news – something clicked… they were moved to make a difference. The two started a “Sea of Pink” campaign and using social networking to spread the word. They went to a discount store and bought 50 pink shirts, and mass emailed their friends urging them to wear them in solidarity the next day.

"I just figured enough was enough," said Shepherd.
The anti-bullying message created a wave of support. A sea of pink took over the classrooms and hallways. Hundreds – not just 50 – students came out decked in pink: polos, tees and tank tops.

The duo who led this sea of change say when the bullies student saw the support, it was a powerful moment. He blushed and smiled.

"Definitely it looked like there was a big weight lifted off his shoulders. He went from looking right depressed to being as happy as can be," said Shepherd.
As for the bullies – no one has heard a peep from them since.

The boys dubbed their campaign “Sea of Pink” support.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres posted a video in response to Clementi’s suicide and the other recent tragedies.

"My heart is breaking for their families, their friends and for our society that continues to let this happen," said DeGeneres, (in a not-her-usual) melancholy tone. "These kids needed us. We have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can't let intolerance and ignorance take another kid's life."

Just like the Internet, your words and actions could spread the good and bad – They hold the power – you choose how to use them. Please use them wisely and take a moment to share this empowering story with a youngster in your life.

Imagine how just a bit of activism, however small, could create big changes. Think about what you, your friends and – your children could do to help save someone’s dignity – to save someone’s life. It could be the life of someone you know, of someone you love.

Sunflower Power - How One Cancer Survivor's Garden Inspires Community of Hope

2010-09-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

Photo(s) Courtesy: Nancy Siegler

Sunflowers have always made me smile -- I don’t know why, but they just do -- and I hope this story makes you smile too!

Nancy Siegler of Cameron Park, California knows first-hand the hope, strength and power of the sunflower.

Siegler started planting sunflowers last year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She believes it helped her get through some very scary times. Twelve months ago, she had 30 plants. This year she’s planted 310 sunflower seeds. Three of the plants are more than 16-feet tall. "They're magical," she tells me, excitedly. "They make me feel good and give me inner strength."

But sunflowers aren’t the only things growing in her garden.

Who would’ve thought her penchant for these powerful red, orange and gold petals would resonate with so many people and create such huge ripples of inspiration beyond her colorful garden.

"Today, I am doing well," she said. "What's so special is that I have combined the happiness of the sunflower with the awareness of breast cancer into an event to raise money for breast cancer research."

Siegler wanted to share this symbol of hope with her community. Like her garden, filled with 26 species of sunflowers, the idea blossomed. A month ago, she decided to open her garden to the public. Her goal: to raise $1,000 for the American Cancer Society in Sacramento.

“We weren’t sure if anybody would come,” she admits.
But like anything, with love, care and faith – growth is inevitable.
More than 600 people came to bask in the Sacramento sun, share stories and witness these flowering symbols of hope.

She says her event raised a about $5,000 dollars – all from donations. "I was overwhelmed!" she said, in a bubbly voice, as though she just received a huge surprise.

Many people waited in line to meet Siegler and tell her empowering stories of how sunflowers positively impacted their lives. "It makes me feel good, that I'm not alone in this fight and that I'm not the only one who believes in the strength of these flowers… If even for a moment, they make you feel good, it's worth it," she said, passionately.

Since Siegler opened up her private oasis of inspiration to the public, strangers have open reached out – using their talents and resources -- to help her. "One man told me he would come help me with gardening for next year's event -- hopefully in May, depending on Mother Nature --and some children came by and helped me paint the barn."

Do you believe in the strength of the sunflower?

If you don’t, this “Sunflower Floranista” challenges you to take part in her non-scientific experiment: "Add the sunflower to your garden and see how good it can make you feel. Cut some of their flowers and have them in your home. They will bring smiles to all who come.”

Siegler is already harvesting this year’s seeds for next year’s garden. Meanwhile, she has bigger plans to spread the sunflower power. She is working with many breast cancer awareness groups across the country to adopt the sunflower as the official flower.
“I realized that I’m not alone in this… (battle with breast cancer and extrapolating positivity from these plants) 99% of people who have come to my garden tell me they believe in the strength of the sunflower.”

How’s that for flower power?!

What can YOU do to spread generosity, kindness and compassion in your community?

All ideas and projects start off as a thought, a seed – imagine how your passion could blossom into compassion. You may never know where the seeds you’ll scatter will go or grow!

Superhero Capes Provide Hope & Inspiration for Sick Children

2010-09-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

Are Superheroes for real?

I’ve never met a Superhero before, but now I believe they exist.

I recently flew to South Dakota and Pennsylvania and met the tiniest, bravest, most inspiring Superheroes, including my new Superhero friend, 5-year-old Brooke Mulford.

Wearing her special pink cape, running with her arms raised in the air and screaming with joy, little Brooke forgets about all of the cancer procedures, medicine and treatments she’s had to endure because when the cape is on, this little girl believes she’s “Super Brooke.”

Accessorized in her favorite color pink, Brooke is among 4,000 sick children and their siblings, who have custom homemade Superhero capes. The capes are gifts, sewn with inspiration and sent with blessings of love, from Wonder Capes.

Brooke’s personalized pink Superhero cape gives her comfort, reassurance and power to fight stage 4, high risk Neuroblastoma-- infant and childhood cancer of the nervous system.

All Superheroes need someone extraordinary, to outfit them… Meet Amy Pankratz. By day, Amy is a stay at home mother of three, juggling the normal multiple schedules, obligations and responsibilities: including elementary and preschool school carpools, room mother activities, etc. By night, when her so-called “Love Bugs” are asleep, she sews through most of the night – many times, pulling all nighters.

Amy and her husband Michael call their “hobby” and mission, “Wonder Capes.”
These capes are homemade, beautifully crafted “Superhero” comfort capes delivered to sick children around the world. As a mother of small children, Amy knows how important it is to love, encourage and support all of them. She understands that often parents focus on their sick child, taking away time and attention from their other children - that’s why she also accessorizes their siblings.

The capes are heartfelt inspirations. “I read their story. I think about them. I pray for them while I make it,” said Amy.

I’ve been dreaming about traveling to meet Amy and her family for about a year. There were many challenges to my plans: first funding, then scheduling and more behind-the-scenes logistics etc. Recently, everything fell into place and then BAM! I was on my way to cover one of the most personal stories ever in my 10-years of being a journalist.

How perfect that after nearly a year of trying to connect with Amy and Wonder Capes, that the stars aligned just in time – September, which is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month-- a way to focus attention on the important need to fund the fight against these cancers.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children 1 to 14 years old. On average, 1 to 2 children develop the disease each year for every 10,000 children in the United States. In the 2007, approximately 10,400 children, living in the US, under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer and about 1,545 children will die from the disease.

Scientist and Pediatric Oncologist, Dr. Peter Adamson, with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) explains the disparity between adult and childhood cancer, “Cancer is a big problem in the adult population, it is a very small, but very important problem in the pediatric population, so the funding tends to mirror that large difference.”

Dr. Adamson, who is also Chair-elect of the Children’s Oncology Group, underscores the tremendous value and importance in pediatric cancer funding, “when you save a child with cancer, you give them a lifetime – 70, or 80 years.”

Everyone has the power to make a difference to find a cure for this horrific disease. Established well-known pediatric cancer research funders include: Cure Search for Children’s Cancer, CHOP Foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and St. Baldrick’s.

Also this month, the entertainment industry unites for Stand Up 2 Cancer, a celebrity-studded, simultaneous multi-network broadcast show-- just one of the many of the platforms for cancer awareness and funding.

As you will see in our GIG story, we too highlight the brightest STARS and Superheroes on the forefront of research, care and this determined fight.

In my lifetime, it my hope is that you discover your Superhero powers to make a difference and that you’re moved to use them to give back.

GIG “Call to Action”

Since I created Go Inspire Go, my video-based, inspirational website that “Helps viewers discover their power and use it to help others,” I’ve been jonesing to do a story about the fight against cancer.

Covering and sharing this story with you has been a dream of mine, and something I’ve been moved to do, since my father and aunt both passed away, months from each other, in 2001. Back then, I felt powerless.

After meeting Amy, other parents and Superheroes, I finally regained my power. Like the Brooke and the other little Superheroes I recently befriended at CHOP, I too believe in miracles and the positive “power” of the cape!

For many of the sick kids who receive their cape, the Metropolis (and second home) where they fly is the hospital. Hopefully one day, they can fly freely outside and away from the villain they call cancer.

You may not be a sewing superstar like Amy, (I’m no Martha Stewart either); however, I do know that you have it in you to give back, no matter big or small. You can make a charitable donation ---a gift to honor or remember someone- to cancer research organizations, or if you’re on a tight budget, you can volunteer at your local hospital, sponsor, or organize a fundraising event.

Do you have commitment phobia, or hesitate supporting a non-profit, or cause? No worries, be creative. Maybe there’s a family member, friend, neighbor fighting cancer, who you can help with errands, household responsibilities, or better yet, lend your talents (painting, music, etc.) and spend time making your important Superhero smile.

Here’s an example of paying it forward; In the video, you saw that Nick’s mother, Angi Kappenman was inspired by Amy to give back. The Kappenman's donate backpacks to parents of a sick child at a local hospital – in them are activities, such as coloring books, crayons, etc. along with a picture of Nick and a message to “Stay Strong Carry On,” a mantra the family repeats as Nick continues his checkups... The intent is two-fold: to keep kids entertained and to help parents organize hospital paperwork.

It’s obvious that I love talking and revere in storytelling. One of my contributions is using my skills to create videos and blogs that raise visibility and support for amazing superheroes-- many I want you to meet through GIG.

Please view and share our heartwarming video by copying and sending this video & blog link, sharing on facebook, or tweeting.

To all the Superhero families and children who continue to fight, the “C” villain: Stay strong. Carry on. Bless you.

Onward!
Toan Lam

Special thanks to: Denise Poon with Creative Streamline, Steve Kotton, Dianne Fukami, Phat & Lynn Lam, Yasmine Farazian, Luis Pena, Vera Poon, Keely & Tanya Stevenson, Le Tran, Michael Hang, Allison Tom.

Yoga Drama

2010-08-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

When you think about yoga, you probably wouldn’t pair it in a sentence with the word drama – the words blend like oil and water.

Right?

I recently had a -– let’s just say -- interesting experience where the two mixed together. It wasn’t pretty. But it was funny. Kind of.
My sister Lynn, who is a yoga instructor, and her friends Tallie (who is also a yoga instructor) and another friend Barbara (not her real name), drove down to San Francisco from Sacramento, to take a Yoga class taught by her friend Bryan, a well-known Yogi-Guru-Master.

Parking is a premium in many parts of the City by the Bay, especially at the yoga spot in the Castro neighborhood where the class was scheduled to be held. The whole day was picture perfect: great parking, clear skies, mild temperatures, quality time with my sis and her friends, a healthy, light breakfast and lots of laughs…

Then the drama ensued.

We walk over to the Yoga center and as we turned the corner near the entrance, people stormed out of the door, red-face, stomping feet, pouty-lips and all.

Huff. Puff. Huff. Puff.

Posted on the door was a sign, in BIG bold, sans serif, Times Roman letters read: Bryan’s class will be taught today by _______ ________ (In respect to the sub, I’ll omit the name of the poor woman who had dropped her plans that weekend to fill in, just to be faced with a bunch of outraged Yogis with their stretchy designer lycra pants in a bunch.)

Silly, un-yoga-like comments spilled onto the sidewalk: “I can’t believe this! We drove all the way up from Los Angeles just to see Bryan,” said two elderly men with salt and pepper hair, in disdain. “I won’t be able to make this trip again at least for two more years. I want my money back.”

Then my sister’s friend, Barbara added to the madness, surprised me and said, “Dammit, we came to see Bryan, not some other young sub girl to teach us Yoga! I want my money back, too."

Waaait a minute, did she just say that? I thought to myself. Isn’t part of Yoga supposed to be about letting go of judgment?

My sister got on her iPhone and texted Bryan to see why he wasn’t going to make his appearance. There was no answer. So she checked his FaceBook (gotta love FB) She saw his status, which explained his absence: “Stuck on the tarmac at LAX because of strong winds and bad weather."

The two angry men chatted with my sister and her gang for a bit as more people arrived, some yelling at the woman at the counter, as if the woman at the front desk was Mother Nature and the cause of Bryan’s absence.

With the Yoga wisdom my sis taught me from back in the day, I took a deep breathe and tried to breathe humor into the ‘situation.’ “Why don’t you all gather together and I’ll take a picture and send it to Bryan, to show that you support him and miss him?” One. Two. Three, cheesy pouty faces… They all laughed -– I could literally feel the awkwardness fade away –- you know, that same tension-releasing feeling you get when you work the downward dog, but minus the fierce bark.

Tallie smiled the whole time. I asked her, isn’t Yoga supposed to be about going with the flow? Taking deep breathes when facing a tough situation? Surrendering?

Chillax people!

Tallie agreed, “Oh well,” she said. “It wasn’t meant to be.” Then I replied with one of my favorite quotes from Eckhardt Tolle, “It is what it is.” It was really as simple as that. Move on.

My sister and her friends turned around and drove back to Sacramento. Lynn wanted to stay and enjoy the city, however, Barbara, wasn’t ready to let go and let this situation dictate her day and insisted they go home. The fun and adventure was over for them as they hit the road.

Lamenting about what should have, could have, would have been isn’t going to make the situation any better. In life, if go with the flow and are gentle with yourself in tense situations, you will always be in a better space. Let’s take cars for example; when you constantly speed, slam on the brakes and peel out -– your car wears down more quickly. The same idea applies to your body. Wouldn’t you rather buy a used ’79 Ford Mustang from the granny that drove it gently and with care, rather than the teenager who drove it to the ground?

Life is really like a “choose your own adventure book.” Remember those? It’s full of choices, lessons and consequences. When situations appear in your life will you let them bug and eat away at you? Or will you be grateful and try to search for the true meaning of the lesson presented to you? Will yelling, screaming, pouting get make you feel better? If so, good, then move on. Or will you move onward and enjoy your day?

No one is perfect, I let my tighty whiteys get in a bunch once in a while, but when I do, I now remember to chuckle at myself afterward because I realize my ridiculous reactions.

One helpful method of moving on -– think to yourself, is this something I’m going to stress over tomorrow? Next week? Next month? Next Year? If it is a foreseeable long term situation, then I give it more thought, if not, I move forward.

When things don’t go your way, think about the important lessons you learned because you can’t go back in time to undo what ‘is.’ Because after all, “it is what it is.”

Namaste…

How Much Could Your Boss Pay You to Be Unhappy

2010-07-22T11:28:00.001-07:00

If you could choose one or the other - money or happiness --which one would it be? My good friend - I'll call her Abby - has what she calls "a big dilemma." Abby has more than 15 years of experience in the TV biz as a TV reporter for a major national news outlet and producer for a lifestyle cable show. For as long as I've known her (about 14 years) she's always been level headed, pragmatic and the pinnacle of sound judgment and instinct.

Until now.

She's in a "situation" that many hard-working, go-getting, ambitious professionals are experiencing. Now she has a stable, high paying job, at a advertising firm in a big city, the job is pretty easy, she gets a month vacation annually, several of her assignments are glamorous and whisk her off to exotic locations -- but she still is not happy. No, she's not ungrateful -- actually, she's quite the opposite.

She has a perfect job for those on the outside looking in. But the ugly truth is, she works ridiculously long hours, her boss is "a rude jerk" and her not-so-nice co-workers - let's just say they're not exactly who she'd hang out with during happy hour.
Recently, the cable channel she was laid off from called her back and offered her a producing job. A job where many of her friends who she loves and adores still work. Sweeeet, perfect, right?! Well, problem is, the job offers more than $30k less than the trendy ad agency job - and this job offer will expire in a year, which means she'll be waiting in line at the unemployment office once again, this time next year, for Uncle Sam to send the bimonthly checks for $450 before taxes.

What to do? What would you do? My suggestion - follow your heart, not the money.
I'm not saying, money doesn't buy you happiness - because having a nice home, luxury car, being able to take vacations, shopping, eating out and not having to stress about buying an extra hot, grande caramel macchiato is a good feeling. Trust me, I know,.I used to have a nice paying job as a TV Reporter. I was making good money, living the high life in a big city with the high skyscrapers to match it - but I was miserable.

I didn't find true happiness and balance until I was given the gift of being laid off. I'm not going to lie, the lifestyle adjustments and change post-lay off stung. Badly. It wasn't until I decided to stop my job search, live meagerly for a year and give back to the community through what became my non-profit inspirational website, Go Inspire Go (GIG), that I found true happiness. I'm not going to sugar coat this - it's a lot of work building a startup with an all-volunteer base, I work long hours, and it is very hard finding startup grants in these tough economic times. But I am hopeful and inspired by the stories and trust that the funds will come, eventually.

Spiritual guru, Dr. Wayne Dyer produced an amazing film, Ambition to Meaning that resonated with my professional career. The message: We are all born and bred into a society of ambition, not the good kind of ambition (because ambition is a good thing) rather, the type of ambition that feeds the big ego - the ego that wants a big title, big house, big car, etc. But all this means nothing if it is not connected to meaning in your life. When I watched this film two years ago, I had what Oprah calls a "Aha Moment," when I realized that it wasn't all about me, myself and I. Rather it was about us - about community. The powerful experiences, stories and connections I've created through GIG are priceless.

In the end, this may not seem like a big dilemma, perhaps, until you're faced with it. Sure, it's great that, in a time where jobs are scarce, Abby has choices, doesn't have kids to feed and the decision won't mean that she'll be out on the streets - however, this is a life decision and lesson that may young professionals I know are facing. How much could someone pay you to be happy? What does happiness mean to you and why?

I've been to many funerals in my short life (four family members died in eight months) and I can truly say, through experience, that no one will stand up during your eulogy and say, "(fill in a name here) was the best worker, who never missed a day of work, was diligent and always came in under budget." Trust me. You won't be able to take your mansion, yacht or savings -- Instead, what you'll take away and what people will remember are the experience, what you're leaving behind that makes the community and world better.

Are you making your mark? Living your meaning? Is that a Dyer phrase? It's very nice!! I hope you are and Abby will - and if you aren't I hope this blog post will inspire you - or at least give you a nudge -- to wake up, take the steps, and make the right decisions personal or professional, for which you'll be remembered. So what should Abby do? I'm sure she'll be able to have her coffee (extra hot caramel macchiato) and drink it, too.

What to do if you're faced with this "situation."
1.) Make a pros and cons list - this will help you visualize what's at stake.
2.) An assignment I like to give my mentees and students - Tonight, when your stomach is full, you're in bed, in the dark, no eyes of judgement are on you... I want you to think about what would get you so excited to jump out of bed in the morning? Is it a hobby? Something you've been dying to do, but were too afraid? Figure out a way to turn your extracurriculars into a career. Who says you can't make money doing something you love. Take baby steps. I'm not saying quit your job, rather, look for jobs in that field or intern/volunteer in that field - you may be surprised to find that people like helping those who want to be helped. And whether it works out or not, you'll be one step closer to seeking what job makes you happy.
3.) Trust your instinct. God gave it to us to protect us. Ask yourself how do you feel before, during and after work? Look in the mirror - your body has an internal compass, your gut, that tells you if you're in happy, stressed, or danger.
4.) Ask, ask, ask your network of friends- Gather your close friends over dinner or a grande caramel macchiato - and ask for their input. They know you best and can tell you the truth. They may also know of other job opportunities.

***
You can find out more about Toan Lam at www.goinspirego.com. Click on the YouTube link and check out the stories his team created, and videos created by viewers.
Contact Toan: toanlam@goinspirego.com

Homeboy Industries -- (VIDEO)

2010-07-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

"I was 7-years-old, my mom turned on the burner of the stove and burned both of my hands," says former 'homeboy,' Luis Colocio. With tears in this grown man's eyes, he finishes- "I ran to the bathroom that night, put both of my hands in the toilet to cool them down and fell asleep in the bathroom."

There is no doubt, this severe consequence for playing with matches falls under the 'child abuse' category." But, as a grown man, Colocio says he "forgives her. She raised me how she knew best," he adds. Colicio says he grew up in the hood, was raised by an abusive, single mother, who locked him up in the house to protect him from the tough streets. "I didn't have a father figure."

This personal experience is just a snapshot of the numerous heartbreaking stories I heard while connecting with some "homeboys" and "homegirls" at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California -- the nation's largest gang rehabilitation center in the United States.

What comes to mind when I say the word "Homeboy" or "Homegirl?"

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Home·boy \ˈhōm-ˌbȯi\ means:
1 : a boy or man from one's neighborhood, hometown, or region
2 : a fellow member of a youth gang
3 : an inner-city youth

As you watch our Go Inspire Go video on Homeboy Industries, I ask you to observe without judgment for the next few minutes and take in a deep breath of compassion:

I serendipitously came across this story during a business trip to Los Angeles. As usual, I was welcomed by the thick layer of smog and "sig-alert" traffic, so my media consultant, Denise Poon, and I decided to exit the freeway, grab a bite to eat and wait for traffic to die down (By the way traffic hardly ever 'dies down' in the City of Angels.)

We found Homegirl Café, one of the many businesses under the umbrella of Homeboy Industries. Poon and I were so moved by our waitress' story on how Homeboy Industries turned her life around -- we just had to come back and cover this story to share it with you...Especially after she told us about their recent layoffs.

Founder Father Greg Boyle and the "Homeboys and Homegirls" moved me to produce this video - my hope is that viewers will think twice before judging others. Father Boyle believes that no life is more important than another.

As the pastor of Dolores Mission Church, in Pico-Aliso, which Fr. Boyle describes as the poorest parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he was inspired to create Homeboy Industries more than 23-years ago to give people like Colocio a second chance to turn their lives around.

This area is also known to have the highest concentration of gang activity in the entire city. Fr. Boyle says, "I started burying many gang members... I just had to do something." (For the gang members and parolees who wanted a way out of the hood - and back in to the working world.) Finding jobs for parolees wasn't easy, so he decided to create jobs, training, placement services - AND hire them.

As you see in our GIG video, Homeboy Industries needs 5 million dollars to get through the next six months. Father Boyle says, due to the bad economy, grants and donations dwindled, so they need the money to bridge the gap.

I am so inspired by Fr. Boyle and Homeboy Industries' story of compassion and hope. As I sign off, I think of two of my favorite quotes:

"Now you know, so you can't pretend you don't." -Oprah Winfrey

"If you judge people, you don't have time to love them." - Mother Teresa

My challenge to you - "What can YOU do?"

***
You can find out more about Toan Lam at http://www.goinspirego.com. Click on the YouTube link and check out the stories his team created, and videos created by viewers.

Contact Toan at: info@goinspirego.com

MC Yogi "Gives Love"

2010-06-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

What does Yoga and Hip Hop have in common? A heck of a lot! Just ask MC Yogi!

This yoga inspired artist puts a new and unique spin on rapping, freestyling and yoga. MC Yogi spent much of his teen years painting graffiti and listening to hip hop. Beastie Boys & Run DMC were his role models. He found an outlet for his creativity at an at-risk youth group during high school. When he was 18, he was introduced to Yoga and fell in love.

This discovery led him on a journey that changed him deeply, he began studying this ancient discipline and grew physically, mentally and emotionally. This video made me smile and moved me to think -- What can I do today, to spread the love and make someone else's day better?

What have you done lately to give love? It doesn't have to be a 'ginormous' gesture - it could be as easy as holding the door open for someone, paying toll for the car behind you or just a simple smile to a stranger. At Go Inspire Go, our mantra: What Can You Do?

Thanks for your inspiration MC Yogi!

Namaste!

How a Lovely Lady with a Yellow Umbrella Will Make You Smile

2010-06-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Just who is Amy Krouse Rosenthal? While Amy fits under many titles -- artist, filmmaker, author -- I know her as the-out-of-the-box lovely lady with the yellow umbrella, who created a movement that brought folks together through her creativity and made me smile. Amy inspires me to inspire you to create something that makes people in your life smile, laugh and connect. So get off your Facebook and Twitter just for a minute, and check out Amy's videos below.

When I created my inspirational website, Go Inspire Go, after being laid off from my TV reporting gig, I set out to inspire people to discover their power and use it to help others. I never would've imagined that job offers, new friendships and invaluable new experiences would forge from my altruistic mission to give back through my resources and talents.

Thank you Amy for using your talents to create community, curiosity and elevate humanity.
I don't want to spill the beans on the lovely movement she's created; you'll just have to watch for yourself:

This is a short film she created in June of 2008.

On 08/08/2008 at 8:08 p.m., with her yellow umbrella in tow, Amy met her online community at Millenium Park in Chicago - what happened next will make you smile:

Her project, "The Beckoning of Lovely" began with a spontaneous public gathering of strangers and friends new and old. It goes to show how the power of one could inspire others to gather and connect and create something, anything that makes you feel good, warm and fuzzy. This inspires me to think about how I can continue using my power to spread the inspiration. I hope it nudges you, tickles you, inspires you to think about what you can do, however small or large, to make someone else's life better!

"The Beckoning of Lovely" has since evolved into an expanding film project involving hundreds of strangers from around the world. Go Amy Go!

Children Of The Trains

2010-06-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

There is something magical about locomotives -- maybe I've watched too many episodes of "Thomas the Train" with my five-year-old nephew, Drew who is entranced by the choo-choo sounds and shiny blue box cars carefully crafted to match the cheery music.

But for thousands of destitute, despondent and impoverished children left to fend for themselves on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand, there is deeper meaning to the real locomotives they call home. The "Library Train" is a heart-wrenching and inspiring story where trains are transformed in temporary shelters and learning centers for homeless children. A special place that inspires and gives hope to many needy children living in the slums of Bangkok.

In 1999, Railway Police commander Jarumporn Suramanee started a daily three-hour program in Bangkok's train station to teach homeless children the basic life skills they were never taught.

Soon after, junk-yard box cars were brought back to life and transformed into colorful, learning centers and a temporary shelter, packed with books and activities for many children who had nothing: no family, no friends and no hope. Now, 10 railway police officers are making it their mission to serve, protect, provide shelter and educate the children, instead of fighting them in the all-too-common clashes in the slums of Bangkok between the cops and the youth.

Jaran, now 17 years-old, was abandoned as an infant and left for dead in a garbage dump. He was later found by his grandfather, who cared for him until he passed away, leaving Jaran homeless with no family, no friends and no support. He had nowhere to go and began to sniff glue to help to escape and forget about the pain. Kittima, a railway police officer found Jaran, brought him back to the Library Train, cared for him and helped him find a job on a dairy farm milking cows as a way to raise money to survive and move beyond his situation. Jaran now refers to Kittima as his father.

Meanwhile, Kiet says he ran away from a violent environment, after being brutally beaten by his own family members. He wandered the streets of Bangkok alone in search of food, shelter and hope. He spent much of his time trying to avoid the police -- however, it was a police officer who became his saving grace. One day, while rummaging garbage cans for recyclables, he met Chatchai, a railway cop who promised to take him to a safe place. Kiet was brought to the Library Train where he was reacquainted with his older brother, Kop, who ran away from home years earlier and never thought they would reunite again.

This video, created by Barbara Grandvoinet, my filmmaker friend, takes us on a journey of hope -- through this story of The Children of The Train. (Get a tissue handy.)

While researching a family trip to Thailand, Barbara ran across this inspiring story of hope -- and what's possible. She contacted the organizers of the Library Train and wanted to help. Barbara then decided to make a film, www.ChildrenOfTheTrains.com, featuring this amazing program. A big thank you to Barbara for sharing your story with Go Inspire Go. And our ongoing prayers to the Library Train leaders and the innocent children who continue to search for hope... Like the founder of the Library Train, Barbara wanted to use her gifts -- of capturing stories on film to inspire others to do what they can to help the children of the trains.

What can you do?

Dr. Gives the "Gift" of Healthcare

2010-04-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Trying to fix America’s Healthcare problem(s) is confusing, frustrating and hard to figure out. Consider the intricacies of the paperwork, the red tape and the circuitous phone calls back and forth with insurance companies about what medical procedures are covered when desperately needed. The stress, terror and despondency that this can create are enough to make anyone sick.

When I was a teenager, I remember trying to help my grandmother and mother (who speak limited English) figure out their healthcare benefits. Breast cancer claimed my Aunt Hong’s life 10-years ago. I remember she was more worried about what her insurance would or would not cover, more than the cancer itself. I remember my heart beating fast, palms sweaty, as I tried to decipher the legalese and medical jargon on the forms for my family members. It’s as if the paperwork was made to confuse applicants. I could just imagine the frustration of my elders and how helpless they felt relying on a kid to do the paperwork so they can get the medical care they so desperately needed. I’ve had my personal tug-of-wars with my previous dental insurance provider when I was in pain during finals my third year in college and the insurance company denied my root canal.

I’m not here to make a statement about America’s broken healthcare system or air my grievances about whose done me wrong. As a matter of fact, I’ve had some pretty pleasant encounters with my HMO’s and PPO’s. Rather I’m here to share an inspirational story of a Doctor whom I recently met through my friends at CharityFocus. A doctor with a prescription on how she can fix America’s healthcare boo boos.

Amidst the ongoing healthcare debate in America, one doctor, out of Oakland, California has a simple solution: just give it away.

“We give, no strings attached.” Dr. Aumatma Shah says with a big smile. Dr. Shah co-founded KarmaClinic in Oakland, California April 2009 . She decided to volunteer her services full-time about four months ago and doesn’t get paid a single penny. Yep, that’s right, she doesn’t get a paycheck. Patients don’t have to pay for her services. She gives the gift of healthcare.

Why would anyone do such a thing, especially when Naturopathic doctors can charge $50-300 an hour? GoInspireGo.com made an appointment with Dr. Shah to find out what inspired her to gift healthcare, how she sustains the clinic and how she pays her bills without a paycheck or hidden savings.

Dr. Shah is Naturopathic Doctor (using natural remedies to heal). She received her Naturopathic Medicine Degree and her Masters degree in Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and got her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rutgers University. Even though she excelled in the pre-med program at Rutgers, Dr. Shah found her calling through Naturopathy because it connects the mind, body, and spirit.

The concept is simple: “We wish to give the gift of healthcare.” She says. “Our current healthcare system is broken and is in shambles, the reform really doesn't address the root cause. Even with the at-best option for single payer, the healthcare system would not address the problem of disconnectedness that people so commonly feel from their practitioners.” Dr. Shah believes that the universe will sustain the cost operating the clinic and her basic needs. “All I need is food and shelter,” she says with another smile. Anonymous donations have miraculously sustained her since the clinic opened its doors.

Oh, and I must mention, the quality of time spent with patients. After they make an appointment online, Dr. Shah sends patients a long, in depth questionnaire, with questions that reach deep within, such as the patients’ perspective on life and their responsibility to heal, before she meets with them. The first appointment is about two hours long. Along with no payment due at the end of the visit, patients don’t have to wait in line and get a unique one-on-one medical experience that has many patients leaving transformed – with a renewed outlook on their health and their lives. On top of the deep connection, the attention and quality time with Dr. Shah, patients leave with the gift of a smile card that reminds you to “smile” and pay this gift forward in an anonymous way – a gift, a shift and an experience that money can’t buy.

This experiment is about to face its biggest test yet – Dr. Shah’s medical school loans will be due next month. Still, she trusts that if the loans need to be paid, the money will come. The universe will provide.

When I tell people about Karma Clinic and explain what Dr. Shah is doing, I could literally see people’s minds churning – People ask how could this be? How does she pay her bills? What? Blank and discombobulated facial expressions ensue.
Some people I’ve come across while producing this story have called me credulous, others were skeptical of Naturopathy and exactly how and why Dr. Shah does what she does. I’m not insinuating that naturopathy will work for you; everyone has the right to think and choose the path of healing they believe in.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a supporter, I hope this story inspires you to think about what you can do for others.

Through our work at Go Inspire Go, we hope to help people discover and use their “power” to help others. Through our videos, we hope that you will discover your power (resources, talents, gifts) to give back. You don’t have to take drastic measures, sell your home or quit your job -- I hope to inspire you to think about what you’re capable of doing to help others, in your scope, in your comfort level, on your own time.

When I think about my Aunt Hong, who died in her 40’s and everyone who is battling illnesses and insurance companies, I can’t help but think about what Dr. Shah said that will always continue to resonate and inspire me: “We give the patients the respect that they deserve, regardless of whether they have money or not, because they’re human beings.” Isn’t that the way healthcare should be? Isn’t this the way we should treat others, no matter what resources or gifts we have to offer? No matter how much you have in your bank account, what title you do or do not have, I truly believe that everyone has the power to help others.

What Can YOU do?

Jog Blog Adventure

2010-04-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

Inspiration nudged me out of bed this morning and it made me do something awesome that I never have done before...

That inspiration came in many forms: sunlight beaming through my window --, as you will see, it was a beautiful, crisp San Francisco spring morning, a fresh bowl of strawberries and an early morning phone call with an old college friend, Sandy, who wanted to spontaneously drop by for a visit. A series of events led me to the theme of today's video and blog post: Gratitude -- and how it can change the trajectory of your day.

So I blog today, in honor of being aware and grateful of everything around me as I go about my daily routine.

I invite you to slow down and do the same.

Back to this morning... I was surprised to hear Sandy's familiar voice. "Toan I am quitting my job, so I thought I'd give you a call to see what you're doing today, maybe we can hang out and catch up?" Sandy said. After she told me that she was excited to reconnect, I replied, "First off, congrats for quitting your job and yes I'd love to hang out, it's been a while." It just so happened that I had no plans (which is a rarity for me because I teach four classes at the Academy of Art and run a non-profit): No classes to teach, no meetings with anyone from my non-profit and no conference calls. So, like a little kid who just set a play-date with a long lost friend, I jumped at the opportunity to reconnect with Sandy.

The phone call left me feeling tingly, excited, grateful for what the day has in store.
After my morning ritual of brushing my teeth, washing my face and a moment of silence -- I decided to eat some strawberries before going on my morning run. The water running over my bowl of strawberries stopped me for a moment. Time suspended. I was mesmerized. I took a moment to look at the berries, that were vibrantly red, ripe and juicy -- mother nature's gift, I thought. I thought to myself, How often do we ever stop, amazed at the beauty that surrounds us during our daily journey? The shape of the fruit, juxtaposed with the green stem -- I thought, every little seed seemed perfectly crafted onto the berry. I never thought strawberries and a phone call would cause me to pause for a moment and reflect. After a busy week, I finally stopped once to realize, WOW, I do really have a lot to be grateful for: fresh fruit, connecting with an old friend, a morning jaunt in one most beautiful cities in the world and oh yeah, I have jobs that I love (trust me, I've been at many jobs that I didn't enjoy). Teaching and inspiring a new fleet of multimedia content providers at AAU and of course, my non-profit, Go Inspire Go, where I create videos with a call to action and inspire people to use their resources and talents to give back to the community.

So, my instinct told me to do something I've never done before in my life -- I pulled out my Flip Video Camera and decided that I was going to document what I was grateful for during my morning jog today. Initially, I was going to keep the video for my own reference, but had such an insightful run, I decided to share it with you. It was just the same route that I take regularly, but how I felt was very different. Just by being aware and focusing on things I was grateful for, I discovered things that I never stopped to appreciate during my daily jaunt. Come along on the journey with me and watch what I found -- I hope that it inspires you to be more aware and grateful for the beauty that surrounds you, as you go about your busy daily routine. As you watch, as yourself, "What amazing things do I overlook everyday as I go about life's hustle and bustle?"

There were so many highlights on my run: The pure joy that emanated on little three-year-old Ethan's face -- I could literally feel the joy while watching him and his grandmother connect and laugh while running up the hill. Then there were my two new friends, Orla and Danielle, enjoying the sun at the cafe. Orla is a TV Reporter with SKY TV in London. Danielle just moved into the neighborhood to attend medical school. Welcome new neighbor! Orla invited me to give her a ring when visiting across the Pond.

This euphoria you receive from being grateful isn't just make believe. There are many health benefits when you become aware of what you're thankful for -- Robert Emmonds and his colleagues conducted a research project on Gratitude and Thankfulness at the University of California Davis -- He found that there is an abundance of benefits from being grateful.

1.) Greater Optimism and Physical Fitness: Those who keep regular gratitude journals exercised on a regular basis and were overall had more optimistic outlooks on life.

2.) Reaching Goals: Thankful people also consistently achieved more personal goals, especially after keeping a gratitude journal for two months.

3.) Stress Relief: Being grateful is also an effective way to release stress, according to Emmons. "Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress."

4.) Children who practice grateful thinking have more positive attitudes toward school and their families. (No wonder that being grateful for strawberries and a phone call from a long lost friend brought me way back to the days of being a little boy, who shot out of bed, ready for the day's possibilities.)

5.) Helps Cope With Illness: Among people with a neuromuscular disease, Emmons found that a "21-day gratitude intervention" produced more "high-energy positive moods, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, more optimistic ratings of one's life, and better sleep duration and sleep quality, relative to a control group."

I realized that when you go about your day and you look for things that you're grateful for, you stop worrying about what you don't have, you worry less and you live in the present moment, you feel and experience life from a whole new space. Your lens shifts. Then you wonder, what can I do to make someone grateful today?

Today's gift taught me many things. Like the perfectly embedded seeds on the strawberries and the flowers blooming alongside Telegraph hill today, I realized that I too am exactly where I am supposed to be at this point in time, in my life, both personally and professionally. And I am thankful for that. Sure I sometimes wish that I could have a bigger house, more money in the bank and that I could afford to own a home here in San Francisco, etcetera etcetera... Then I think about the series of events that have ensued after being laid off from my major market TV reporting gig and deciding to live off of my savings for a year so I could use my storytelling skills to give back through Go Inspire Go team.

I reflect on how much my team and I have been able to accomplish, inspiring and helping tens of thousands of people around the world through our videos. When I embarked on this journey to inspire people (to use their resources and talents to help others) through this project, one year ago, I hoped that at least a handful of people would pay attention and be inspired to act. On a weekly basis, viewers from around the world email to tell us what they've done to help others, purely by being inspired by our website and our stories - I would have never imagined that through helping people help others the biggest receiver would be me.

When I stop and think about the things I'm grateful for, I lose count. I just have to make sure I continue to be aware and grateful on a day to day basis. I think I'll go and download that "Gratitude Journal iPhone application, to remind me to be grateful for all the greatness that surrounds me. I challenge you to go out and look for 10 things you're grateful for today -- and everyday. I'm sure that you and those you cross paths with -- on your journey to work or play -- will thank you too! Thank you for reading...

Whoa, I didn't thing that a bowl of strawberries and a phone call would lead me to this experience, video and blog today.

GIG & Haiti Relief Efforts: As Media Spotlight Dwindles...GIG Moves High School Students to Action!

2010-03-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

For the most part, the mainstream media's spotlight has gone dark in the aftermath of the devastation from January's earthquake in Haiti. It’s been more than two months since the quake that in a matter of seconds tore lives apart: killing an estimated 230,000 people (many more bodies are uncounted for) and leaving more than 1.3 million homeless, according to the Associated Press.

There are so many untold stories, good and bad, some that are just now emerging. Go Inspire Go (GIG) hopes to continue shedding light and inspiration on how people are helping other people in Haiti and beyond. Here’s an amazing follow up from one of our “Helping Haiti” videos…

High school Band Teacher, Kenneth Williams, from San Jose California, saw this recent GIG video about New Jersey Reverend Lemaire Alerte, whose mission is to build a junior high school in his home town of Grande Saline, Haiti. “I was inspired because I know how hard it is to build something without having a lot of resources,” Williams said, with empathy and determination. “So when I saw that Rev. Alerte was helping his fellow Haitians by building a school for the kids, I asked my students, “What did you do after the earthquake in Haiti?” Williams was inspired to not only teach a civics lesson to his students, but a lesson in compassion.” Wow! I’m so proud of the students who banded together and synergized their resources and talents to give back!

Williams said many students in his six classes initially thought they really did enough to help by using their cell phones to text 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross. “That’s great, but do you pay for your cell phone bill?” He asked his students. “No, our parents pay our cell phone bill, we’re not working so we can’t help much,” some students said. “Oh so your mom and dad pay your cell phone bill, so they helped the victims in Haiti?” Williams replied – Then came the challenge. The following question “What did you do?” let to a bigger conversation -- how can you use your talents to help?” Take a look at how Williams challenged his students to orchestrate an amazing call to action:

This video below epitomizes what Go Inspire Go is all about: To inspire viewers through our videos to use their resources and talents to help others. Williams told me that the more than 100 students organized most of the benefit concert with little supervision. Parents told me that they never saw their children so involved – possessed almost -- in helping others. Students told me they were so proud that they could use their talents, doing something they love, to benefit others in need.

I’m happy to see that President Barack Obama nudged former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to take a trip to Haiti this week to raise awareness for earthquake relief.

According to this HuffingtonPost article, “The ex-presidents are spearheading U.S. fundraising in response to the Jan. 12 earthquake. Tapped by President Barack Obama for the role, they are making the one-day visit to assess recovery needs.”

As President Barack Obama joined forces with Bush and Clinton to assess how to more efficiently help, I am elated to see that many people, like Williams and his students are doing what they can and what’s in their power to help.

Great job Kenneth Williams and students at Willow Glen High School -- it all started from a GIG video volunteer Julian Cohen created with us! Williams now tells me the students were so moved by this experience, they will organize another benefit. This time the proceeds will go to helping the earthquake victims in Chile.

So today, I’m signing off on an even higher note… When you put goodness out into the world, like a boomerang, goodness finds its way back.

6-Year-Old Inspires Movement; Feeds 120,000 People

2010-03-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

Take a close look at the photo of the young lady on my blog – Her name is Phoebe Russell. Although I’ve had some amazing teachers in my more than three decades on this earth, I can truly say that Miss. Russell is the best teacher I’ve ever had, when it comes to the true meaning of “Service.” No, nothing is wrong with your eyes and no, this is not a picture of her from way back when she was youthful. Phoebe is 6-years-old. Since meeting her last year, she has taught me a lot about life and about fitting into this world as an “adult.”

I met Phoebe when she was 5-years-old through our friends at the San Francisco Food Bank. I created this video for my inspirational website www.GoInspireGo.com on her project to feed the hungry.

Phoebe’s mother told me in a way that made me feel humble, “There’s always little things that we can do in our daily life that makes a huge difference for other people. The project started off as a small thing. Phoebe’s taught me, you got to just do it.” That’s when I realized how deep Phoebe’s wisdom was, even at this tender age.

While on the way to school, she saw some homeless people on the street. She became curious. “I was sad,” she told me in timid voice. So she did what kids are good at – she asked questions -- which led to a movement that, to this date, has fed about 120,000 people in her community.

“Why do they look so sad?” She inquired inquisitively. “And how do we help them?” Her parents explained that the food bank helps feed hungry people. She became determined to raise money for the food bank by collecting cans, recycling them and cashing them in for money.
Phoebe innocently told me, “It makes me sad because they have no food and shelter. Me my dad and sister would go to whole foods… we would have this big bag of cans and we would turn them in to get money, so I wanted to collect cans.”

With the help of her preschool teacher, Phoebe reached out to her network – during recess, she hand wrote, signed and sent letters to family and friends. Her goal was ambitious – you might say impossible -- for a 5-year-old, but then again what do grown-ups know anyway?

To say the project gained momentum is an understatement.

Family, friends, the media shared her story… which led to a ripple effect of giving. Within two months, Phoebe raised $3,736.30. According to the SF Food Bank, that’s enough to feed nearly 18,000 people.

The news gets better.

I featured Phoebe’s video on Go Inspire Go.com and it went viral immediately. More than 26,000 hits from all corners of the world, YouTube comments and e-mails poured in. Parents, churches and other community groups contacted our team to say they were sharing our blog and video with their children (as bedtime stories) and during sermons and meetings. I could see a shift happening – people were inspired by Phoebe’s actions to act.

Fast forward 6 months.

I received an email from Gayle Keck, a Media Manager at the SF Food Bank. The total from Phoebe’s project: $20,202!” That’s enough to feed 90,000 people.
Get ready to keep on smiling… yes, this story does get better.
Go Inspire Go submitted the video to Tyson Foods Hunger Relief Challenge. Phoebe became the “Tyson Hunger All-Star.” A title that comes with a donation of 15-tons of Chicken!
That means the SF Food Bank is able to feed 120,000 people in the community.

Wow!

This isn’t just a civic’s lesson to her peers; Phoebe taught us big kids a thing or two as well.
Tyson’s Ed Nicholson said in his 15-years with the company, Phoebe is the one who left a life-long lasting impression on him. “This is to recognize unlikely people in unlikely places doing extraordinary things. I think maybe phoebe is the one of the most unlikely we’ve run across and perhaps doing one of the most extraordinary thing,” Nicholson said, in a voice with so much excitement, I thought he had won the contest.

Paul Ash, Executive Director of the SF Food Bank, was blown away too. He told me, “We’ve never had someone this young do this much. We certainly have volunteers, come in with parents, but no one so young who moved something along so independently and with such great results.

Little Phoebe taught me some big lessons in life as well.

First off, you don’t have to be rich, famous or even experienced (that’s my nice way of saying old) to give back. Small acts of kindness matter in a big way. It’s amazing to see Phoebe in her “zone” and working in the spirit of service, with only one goal: to help others.

 I also learned to unlearn things that we’re told constantly as we “get older.” Just over a year ago, I started my Go Inspire Go Project, my mission was to set up a global platform for people to see and share inspiring stories. My Vision is for viewers to be inspired to use their own resources and talents to help others.

Along the way, we’ve inspired and empowered people to help those featured through our call to action. (There are links at the end of every story on how they could be a part of the change.)

More than once I almost put the project on pause because I was constantly inundated with people asking me, “You’re doing what? Okaaay,” and “How are you going to monetize this?” “You need to have a business plan, now.”

I admit, there were times when I felt like giving up. But people sent story ideas my way…which touched the journalist in me. (My parents wanted me to nix the journalism thing and become a doctor –but what Asian old school parent doesn’t want their children to wear scrubs and make more moola?) That’s when I just started doing what I knew best -- connect, inspire and empower people through my stories, which led to the vision of my project.
Over a year later, I am still humbled, amazed and intrigued by the fact that children like Phoebe are uninhibited and just take risks. As you see in the first video link above, kids dance shamelessly, freely and unabashed. Kids believe they’re artists, singers and astronauts.

But what happens to us when we get older?

Aren’t we supposed to get wiser? More connected? How many times have people put up roadblocks on the path to your dreams? How many times have you been told, “You want to be an artist?” or “How are you going to pay your bills?” While these are valid questions that I had to ask myself every day as I took on this project, I learned to cut back, ask questions and rubix-cube my opportunities to work for me.

I don’t make a lot of money and still work part-time to work on this project, fueled with hope, passion and compassion.

As I sit here at Starbucks and blog, I wonder how many artists, singers and astronauts out there who “could’ve been.” But were thwarted one way or another.

 The world is a big place, we are very small. But the opportunities are vast, limitless -- and within our reach.

So with no shame, I’m proud to say, I learned a lot from little Phoebe – Even though it took some imagination, a shift in my thinking to see life through lens of a 5-year-old. Or as Phoebe corrected me recently, I’m 6-and-a-half!”

 Boy I’ve got a lot to learn!

New York Woman Saves Lives of 10,000+ Dogs

2010-02-28T23:35:00.000-08:00

If you’ve ever walked past Emelinda’s mobile miracle on wheels in the heart of New York’s Union Square - it’s hard not to get teary eyed as you see the happy, somber and nervous faces and wagging tails of the dogs in cages, anxiously waiting for loving homes.

Emelinda Narvaez, believes dogs are “Angels of This Earth.” But to the more than 10,000 dogs she’s rescued in York – she is the Angel. She does her miracle work through her non-profit, “Earth Angels,” a no-kill canine rescue and adoption organization established to rescue homeless and abandoned dogs.

For the past 41 years, every single day, rain, shine, or sleet, Emelinda has been saving pets on the streets and picking up dogs from overcrowded shelters (that otherwise would’ve been euthanized). She then nurses them back to health and finds happy, healthy homes for her four legged friends.

On average she gets about 8-10 rescue calls a day. Her van is just crammed full of cages, rags and dog toys. She's really a one-woman show – many times, driving into the most dangerous parts of the boroughs to rescue these dogs.

Emelinda ‘s passion to save dogs is deep rooted. As a little girl, she recalls witnessing animals in her community being abused. She would rescue dogs, cats, and other animals by placing them in homes around her local community. This inspired her to start her own organization when she got older.

Go Inspire Go’s New York volunteer, Stephanie Lin was inspired to produce a video on Emelinda’s amazing efforts and shares the amazing story of selfless heroism:

This miracle worker relies on donations and pays for the bulk of her operation: microchipping, shots and treatment for the dogs out of her savings and social security.

“Even if it’s one I can save a day, it’s one that is out of problems,” She says in a matter of fact tone of voice.

With a deep rooted love for her dogs, Emelinda puts the dog’s problems before her own.
Emelinda is a cancer survivor. She tells us she still suffers from numerous health problems. But instead of using the money to care for her own personal health, she spends her money to care for the dogs.

After the economy took a downturn, donations have fallen by 25% -- she now desperately needs your help. To make matters worse, in May, the New York housing authority banned large dogs from the public housing projects. This led to a spike in the number of large dogs being abandoned, and many were being turned in to Animal Control. This has increased pressure on Emelinda -- she now has less funding and more dogs to save.

Meanwhile, Emelinda says she strongly believes that “If you want to raise your children to be good citizens, you should teach them to be kind to animals.” If you ever witness her compassion in action, you will see her explaining to children the importance of loving and respecting animals.

Please check out her website, share the video and make a donation.
WWW.EarthAngelsNYC.org

How You Can Help New Jersey Rev. Lemaire Alerte Build a School in Haiti

2010-02-15T14:28:00.000-08:00

“Please pray for them, pray for my people in Haiti.” Rev. Lemaire Alerte, pastor of the Haitian Evangelical Church in Jersey City, New Jersey pleaded to me over the phone. His voice was calm, stern and deeply melancholy. “Please pray.”

I believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking – and I also believe we can do more to help Haiti. Like Rev. Alerte, I know that, as a global community, we can put more of our time, energy and resources in helping others who desperately need our help.

Rev. Alerte is from Grande-Saline in central Haiti. He has made many missionary trips back to his homeland to help his impoverished community. With a sense of urgency, he tells me that it was already “a bad situation --poverty, orphans.” all elements in the pandemonium haunted Haiti before the recent tragedy. While visiting his hometown, Rev. Alerte says the constant pleas for education touched him deeply: “Please help us bring education and schools here, our kids need it,” He heard over and over again.

He listened.

For the past three years, Rev. Alerte has been on a mission to build a Jr. High School in Grande-Saline. The total cost: $75,000. Through donations and fundraisers, Rev. Alerte has raised about $10,000 and has spent about $18,000 of his own money for the project. With the $28,000 raised so far, construction began. However, the project can not be completed without your help.

Particularly now.

Grand–Saline was not physically devastated by the recent 7.0 Earthquake, but the ripple effects will be felt for a long time. Rev. Alerte tells me many families are flooding his hometown to flee the devastation. Therefore, the need for a Jr. High School is even more urgent as many children, orphans – Haiti’s future -- are immigrating to Rev. Alerte’s hometown for refuge, schooling and hope.

GoInspireGo.com’s youngest volunteer, New Jersey high school student, Julian Cohen and his friend Jamie Cahn, was moved by Rev. Alerte’s story and captured it on video for you to see:

Rev. Alerte is also working with the Red Cross in New Jersey to collect, money, food, clothes and other resources for his community in Grande-Saline. He plans to visit to his hometown at the end of February to oversee construction and connect with his community.

Rev. Alerte listened. But he needs your help.

If you’d like to make a donation to Rev. Alerte’s mission, please visit www.hefoundation.weebly.com.

Please email, FB, Twitter this story and make a small donation.

MedShare and GO Inspire GO Urges YOU to ACT NOW!

2010-01-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Another aftershock 6.1 hit Haiti today. Amazingly, rescue efforts are continuing and people are still being pulled out of the rubble alive!
Please read and take action!

It’s been just over a week since the 7.0 earthquake rocked the poor island nation of Haiti to its core. As I write, family, friends and strangers carry lifeless bodies to cemeteries where other piles of flesh and bones pile up. There is simply not enough room to bury the dead. On the streets, countless victims bear open wounds. Apocalyptic images and sounds plaster our TV sets and computer screens -- the desperate need for food, water, shelter and proper medical care remain.

It's numbing and amazing to me that some reports
out of Haiti's ground zero -- are stories of hope. I saw an ABC news report about how Haitian communities are banding together to help each other, when they have nothing of their own. One by one, victims are removing blocks of rubble and digging out their loved ones and even strangers from crumbled buildings. Others are using twine and cardboard as makeshift splints to bandage those with broken limbs.

Search and rescue efforts continue... and some communities have nothing to hold onto but their will and songs of hope that are overpowered by the cries of desperation.

I look around my community here in the San Francisco Bay Area and juxtapose the images -- that have been plaguing my mind since the horrific quake -- with the people, thousands of miles away that are moved to act. As the body count continues to rise in Haiti -- it's comforting to know that people at the local non-profit, MedShare.org, are counting surplus supplies that are being packaged and drop-shipped to Haiti.

It is not too late to take action everybody, WE MUST ALL DO SOMETHING NOW to help the people in Haiti. Following the quake, the team at Go Inspire Go immediately sent emails to our community, urging everyone in our global nexus to act – in whatever way they could – by donating money or time to help the people in Haiti who have no shelter, no food, water and proper medical care. I asked everyone to email/comment about how they’re helping the people in Haiti on our GoInspireGo Blog and our Huffington Post Blog. The hope – to inspire people by your actions – to act.

Some of you responded and donated right away to the Red Cross by texting Haiti to 90999 on your cell phones, while others shared links and donated to other reputable companies who will match our donation dollar for dollar.
Several people emailed and commented telling us about MedShare.Org – a non-profit out of Decatur, Georgia and San Leandro, California. For 11 years, MedShare has been collecting sorting and shipping surplus medical supplies from hospitals (supplies that would’ve otherwise ended up in the garbage) to more than 80 countries. MedShare already had a shipment en route to a hospital in Haiti before the earthquake, however, a team of thousands work feverishly, to send over more than half a million dollars worth of medical supplies to Haiti since last Tuesday’s disaster.

After receiving your feedback, The Go Inspire Go Team was inspired to take action. We visited the folks at MedShare in San Leandro and created this video to inspire you to volunteer or donate your time to this amazing group and/or to do whatever you can to HELP HAITI -- NOW. Please watch, share and DO SOMETHING.

Meanwhile, I’m urging everyone in our multi-media community to pick up your cameras and document how other people in their communities are reaching out – even from thousands of miles away. If you’d like to send over your video or ideas on how to help Haiti, please email info@goinspirego.com.

Please check out these stories captured by Haitian film students at Ciné Institute. These reports, uploaded to the film school’s Vimeo Channel, highlight the utter devastation from the town of Jacmel just off of Haiti’s southern coast. These reports show the dire conditions from a park-turned-refugee camp. As you’re watching, please ask yourself “WHAT CAN I DO?” (Warning: Some images in these videos are disturbing):

This report was filed by Ciné Institute student, Lesly Decembre:

Student - Lesly Decembre reports from a makeshift refugee camp in Jacmel from Ciné Institute on Vimeo.

This report was filed this Monday by Ciné Institute student, Keziah Jean:

Pinchinat: Report by Keziah Jean from Ciné Institute on Vimeo.

Links to how YOU can HELP HAITI can be found on the right side of this blog!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our Haitian brothers and sisters.

xx
Toan

SPECIAL THANKS: GO Inspire GO volunteers, Ashley Lopez and Luis Pena-Philippides(production), Jessica Chang (co-writing MedShare story), Lorelle Graffeo (Help Haiti Logo and Web Design), Kevin Lee (programming).

Help Haiti! What Can You Do?

2010-01-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

I sit and watch in horror -- The destruction and lives ripped apart by the massive devastation from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shook Port-au-Prince, Haiti Tuesday... The gutted homes, buildings and even a collapsed hospital. The images and sounds of bloody children's cries as they search for their parents and loved ones haunt us. WE can not sit and just watch anymore. The lifeless bodies strewn across the rubble, covered by cardboard and plastic -- and the grief stricken cries for help haunt me. WE can not sit and just watch anymore -- I've had many conversations with friends, colleagues and volunteers of GoInspireGo about what we can do to help. WE need YOUR help!

Whether you know a lot or a little about Haiti is irrelevant at this point. WE can not sit and just watch anymore.WE as a global community need to reach out and help NOW! The earthquake has come, rocked and ravaged a community (the death toll continues to grow... and is still uncounted for) According to Bulgarian News Agency, BGNES, A Red Cross representative says the number the fatalities of the earthquake that hit Haiti can be anywhere between 45,000 and 50,000. WE can not sit and just watch anymore.

In addition to the staggering death toll, another estimated 3 million plus people have been injured and left without homes.

*The Go Inspire Go team is contacting non-profits and people in our network and community to gather an action plan on how to help. Please send your ideas to us at toanlam@goinspirego.com by 8pm Pacific Time today. We will compile the data and gather an action plan.

WE can not sit and just watch anymore.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? -- Can you send a donation to the Red Cross or other non-profits that are helping with rescue and relief efforts? Can you blog or create a video (and send it to us) about what people in your community are doing to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti? Do something! Please email this out to everyone in your email and social networking list -- Please send your ideas to us at toanlam@goinspirego.com and/or post what you're doing to help on our comments section below. We want people to be inspired by your actions and be moved to act.

PLEASE DO SOMETHING...

In the spirit of service,

Toan Lam
Founder, Go Inspire Go

Please See This List Care of The New York Times Within Our HELP HAITI Sidebar for All the Agencies You Can Contact. Thank You!

**ALSO YOU CAN TEXT 90999 FOR DONATIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO HAITI**