Last Friday I was able to catch Rev. Michael Beckwith live on KPFK (every Friday at 1 p.m. PST). He had a guest, Patricia Sun and the show was excellent. I was definitely galvanized by listening.  After Beckwith's show ended, it was followed by a fund drive. The host of the show was playing rare recordings of Martin Luther King Jr. labor speeches. Listening to the fervor King created as he spoke I was both in awe of his communication skills and saddened that he was killed for possessing such skills and using them to create change that went against the status quo. I'm not going to say I think we need another leader like Martin Luther King, Jr. because I like Courtney Martin's sentiment in her video: Redefining feminism on TED: we need lots of leaders. What I also liked about Martin's TED speech is that part of redefining feminism is to admit that "aesthetics, beauty and fun do matter" and that redefined feminism can include fun and feminine things like fish net stockings. The other part of redefining feminism is to let go of the need to change the world or be the savior. Two of the paradoxes Martin proposes in her speech are "Sobering up about our smallness and maintaining faith in our greatness" and "Aiming to succeed wildly and being fulfilled by failing really well." She ended her speech by saying, "Embrace the paradox, act in the face of overwhelm and love people well." The message couldn't be more timely for me. I'm currently enrolled in a 40-hour Domestic Violence training and I finally have to admit to myself that the only reason I ever got into counseling and teaching is because on some level I thought, hoped and prayed I could change the world and I especially wanted to change the violence. What I realized after many years is that the only person I can change is myself which was initially frustrating but now extremely liberating. Speaking of liberating, this week I was able to see a private reading of a one-woman show in progress by Marilyn McLaughlin. The show is called 'Big M' because that's what McLaughlin's grade-school taunters called her, indicating that she was "too big". McLaughlin's show was autobiographical chronicling some of her personal journey and her sadness when she was told she couldn't stay in a dance program because she was "too fat". McLaughlin brought her fears of life on stage for dramatic effect and demonstrated the emotion of being afraid she was "too Jewish", "too loud", "too sensitive" and "too intense". Her show is going to be available to college audiences in the near future and will definitely be shocking to some. It was bold and daring, a little bit Eve Ensler "The Good Body" with the dramatic flair you would expect from someone who grew up in the dance and drama circles. McLaughlin's website is called All Bodies Can Dance which is such a powerful statement for me because I've always loved to dance but for many years I stopped dancing because of my poor body image and my fears like "what will people think?" It's only been within the past year or so that dancing has become a routine part of my life again. Dancing and music feed my soul.  I'm so happy I was able to heal my body image issues so I can have the joy back in my life again. Another way I cultivate happiness is by choosing gratitude and this has been a week where I realize how great life is. I'm grateful to live in Los Angeles where I can easily enjoy artistic, alternative programs like those mentioned in this post. I'm also grateful for the many wonderful people I have in my life. I am surrounded by people who love me regardless of and even because of the fact that I'm "too sensitive", "too big", "too loud" and don't always hold the most popular opinions. This week my friend Nick Pfenningwerth showed his appreciation for my work in a short video. Pfennigwerth said reading this blog helps him feel "galvanized" and I hope it does the same for you. I appreciate Nick Pfenningwerth for what he's taught me about thinking big and opening my mind to money. We recently co-facilitated a teleseminar about Money Magnetism that was a real eye-opener for me. I will be doing more work with him in the near future. If you want to release your old ideas about money or you want to learn the principles that will allow you to attract and keep more of your money, you might want to check out Nick Pfenningwerth at Creative Wealth Building.