Namaste!

Just returned from a speaking gig for YPO (Young President's Organization) in today's Mumbai, yesterday's Bombay. So chaotic, incense burning everywhere, 20 million people in all pockets and corners of the city, 55,000 taxis, cats and dogs wandering the streets, and lovely, lovely people. The eye contact in the most impreessive, they really look at you, want to look at you, want to share with you. The familiar greeting, "Namaste" translates to "The god within me sees and honors the god within you"...and that's how they look at you, as an animated chip pf the energy and force of the world. Not a bad way to interact with others, I think.
It's like Muhammed Yunus, the Nobel Prize Winner said during the conference, every human is born with the same qualities and possibilities, some are treated like bonsai and placed in containers that are too small, stunting their growth.
Everyone's real life work is to help peopple get planted in bigger containers, whether your children, your friends, or you. Expand, develop, GROW...that is the real secret to the happiness everyone is looking for, to grow in spirit into what you were truly meant to be.
Namaste is a good place to start..today.

Appearance on Don't Forget the Lyrics

In the third grade I wanted to be "somebody" and thought I could sing and dance my way to stardom. When asked for voice lessons, my Dad asked me to "try out" for him and my Mother at 7pm that night. I worked all day on my rendition of "Sunny", dressed up and hit the living room sound stage at 7 sharp.
Swirling his scotch and water, holding a clipboard, my Dad said, "Go ahead, sing".
Now, I thought every kid had to do this type of thing if they wanted piano lessons, or ballet school...I sold "Sunny" complete with choreography I had seen Lulu do in "To Sir, with Love;" I mean, I worked it! When I was finished my Dad looked up from his clipboard and said, "Do you have anything else?" ANYTHING ELSE...DO I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
I composed my 9 year old self and said, "A little somethig from The Troggs". "Go ahead", said Dad.
Long story short, I sang, was told they would give me an answer in the morning and was sent to bed. Over Cheerios the next day, my Dad told me that I didn't have a distictive voice, would never be famous and NO, I couldn't have singing lessons.
Fast forward over 40 years and a Julliard trained vocalist and friend is asked to try out for "Don't Forget the Lyrics". She tells them I am the one they want, I know so many lyrics from teaching aerobics and spin classes for 25 years...and they call!!!I try out as a dare, they love me and before I know what's happening I have a microphone in my hand and am singing with the live band from American Idol while trading jokes with Wayne Brady!
This is all to say, it is never too late to re-write your personal history.Life is full of chances and it's up to you to grab them. My singing story is no longer from the 3rd grade and about judgement from my Father.My singing story is about being chosen from over 15,000 people to appear on a national show where I sang my little heart out again, and it was fun, it was true, it was accepted and it was ME!
You must do the thing you fear, you must happen to life and you must SING!!!!

Although my book is all about growing younger, from the inside out..this blog is really about listening to that still, small voice inside all of us, no matter what our age, that keeps asking, "Who are you?" and "What do you want?"
Whether trying to be teacher's pet in grade school, running for cheerleader in high school, graduating with honors from college, building a career, raising children, teaching fitness, earning a doctorate, becoming a professor (geez, I am getting tired just writing this list) my main motivation was always someone else's approval. A teacher, classmates, parents, co-workers,you name it, If it breathed, I wanted it to like me (which explains some very unfortunate choices in men)!
I know I am not alone, they have written books on this dis-ease..but I lived it and am finally on the other side (just don't post a negative comment) and ready to help anyone who suffers from over-achievement issues, under-appreciated accomplishment syndrome or faces looking at themselves daily wondering, what now, what next?
Let's start at the beginning...
First memory:
My first clear and vivid memory takes place in 1955 on a runway in Los Angeles flying to Kansas. I got a window seat with my Grandmother Meme on one side and across the aisle, Daddy Bob, my grandfather. I smashed my little face against the window to watch a man hose down the runway, he looked up at me, sprayed the hose at me, and the water on the window lasted all through the flight, leaving me with a mottled view. What does it mean?
No matter how exciting an event, no matter how good your intentions to enjoy the view, there will always be someone who will rain on your parade, or wet your window. Does it ruin the trip?Only if you let it! Once we landed in Kansas, we were local celebrities (not too many people were flyting places in those days) and ended up with photos and pictures in the local paper! This explains my undying belief that I was born to be famous!
What is your first memory and what do yout think it means or how did it influence your character?