Monday, August 6, 2012

I AM Movie Asks "What's Wrong With the World?" Special Screening August 10 in Las Vegas

“Amazing…” –Ellen Degeneres

You are invited to attend a special screening of the distinctly powerful documentary I AM (as seen on OPRAH) at the Center for Spiritual Living in Las Vegas on Friday, August 10.

I AM Documentary

As a Spiritual Coach, I embrace the opportunity to host the screening and share the film's inspiring message.

About I AM
I AM is the story of a successful Hollywood director, Tom Shadyac (LIAR LIAR, NUTTY PROFESSOR, BRUCE ALMIGHTY) who experienced a life threatening head injury, and his ensuing journey to answer two very basic questions: What's wrong with our world? and What can we do about it?

With a film crew of four, Tom visits some of today's GREAT MINDS, including authors, poets, teachers, religious leaders, and scientists (Howard Zinn, Lynn McTaggart, Desmond Tutu, Thom Harmann, Coleman Barks) searching for the fundamental endemic problem that causes all of the other problems, while simultaneously reflecting on this own life choices of excess, greed and eventual healing.

They started by asking what's wrong with the world, and ended up discovering what's right with it.

Special Screening on Friday, August 10
The screening will be held at the Center for Spiritual Living from 6:30 PM to approximately 8:30 PM -- this includes a post-screening Q&A which provides an opportunity for you to share your takeaways from the film and how you will incorporate them into your life to make a difference.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the Center for Spiritual Living bookstore in Las Vegas and at the door.

Praise For I AM
"Amazing..." --Ellen Degeneres

"Everyone needs to see this film!" --Bruce Cohen, Academy Award Winning Producer (American Beauty)

"Entertaining and enlightening. The I AM Documentary is a spark of light and a work of love." --Marianne Williamson, New York Times Best Seller

Click here to purchase the I AM DVD.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Real Leadership: Former NFL Star Turned Supreme Court Justice

"He was studying law in the locker room as an NFL player." - Steve Rushin

As a football fan it is with interest that I watch The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players as voted by the players themselves. In 2010, Number 43 on the list was Alan Page.
Honorable Alan C. Page

Page’s career was recounted by sportswriter Steve Rushin who, as a kid, was a Minnesota Vikings fan in awe of number 88, Alan Page.

From 1967 until 1978 Page was a defensive player for the Vikings (thereafter, he joined the Chicago Bears and played through their 1981 season.) He never missed a game in his 15-year career. On the field he was considered relentless; off the field he was described as mild-mannered and cerebral.

In 1971 he was the first defensive player to be named MVP since the award’s inception. In 1979 he became the first active NFL player to complete a marathon. It is said that he has since completed hundreds of marathons.

Why Page is a Stand Out
So, why does Alan Page stand out in Steve Rushin’s mind? Besides being a gifted player, Rushin discovered Page’s grace and humility.

In the 1970s when Rushin was unable to find a Vikings jersey with the number 88 on it, he created his own. He knew Page would be staying at a nearby hotel, so he set out to have him autograph the homemade jersey. To his dismay, Page did not sign autographs. Twenty-five years later, Rushin met Page and told him the story.

Page later responded by sending a signed number 88 jersey with a note explaining that it was meant to replace Rushin’s threadbare jersey. According to Rushin, “I can count on one hand the number of NFL subjects I’ve received a handwritten note from after that.”

The reason Page didn’t sign autographs, says Rushin, was that he did not want people to feel he was better than they were because he was a football player.

No Regrets Over Super Bowl
Although some players retire with regrets over never winning the big one, Page cared little about never winning a Super Bowl.

He focused on HIGHER EDUCATION and attended the University of Minnesota Law School while still playing for the Vikings. Amazingly, there were times he studied his law books during locker room breaks. In 1978, Page received his law degree and today, he is a MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.

Hard Work, Discipline and Focus
Of the many mementos in Page’s office, none reflect his career as an NFL player. Instead there are mementos of Jim Crow laws and other reminders of the power lawmakers possess to make a difference.

"The lessons that I learned from professional football were many: hard work, discipline, focus, the ability to analyze a problem and work through it. To accept that you don't always win and when you do win that doesn't change who you are." Alan C. Page, 2005