I gave a presentation yesterday to a group of Campaign Associates for the United Way. They are preparing for the fall campaign and were spending the day learning about public speaking, how to tell their story and the United Way story. My presentation was all about awakening their creativity to allow themselves to speak in front of groups in engaging and inspiring ways that connected heart to heart to their audiences.

The Campaign Associates come from all walks of life. The majority, however, come from corporate Calgary. ‘On loan’ from corporations as part of their support of the campaign, their role is to engage companies and agencies in running their own internal campaigns. To get involved. Take action and Give. Whether it’s time, talents or treasures, to give their best to make Calgary a great city for everyone.

When I present, I use the story of falling in love with Prince Charming and waking up, five years later to the Prince of Darkness rampaging through my life. I use it to illustrate what it is that connects us as human beings — and one of those is — we all fall down in life. Some falls are just bigger than others. And, there are moments when we need help to get back up. And that’s what the United Way helps ensure. That no matter how or where people fall, there are agencies, programs and resources available to help them get back up.

Yesterday, after giving my presentation I rode down on the elevator with one of the participants in the group. “I really appreciated your presentation,” she told me and her voice clogged up with tears. “Your story really affected me,” she said. “I’m going through a divorce and you really helped me.”

I reached out and touched her arm. “I’m grateful I could,” I told her.

“You gave me hope,” she said. “And I really need it.”

“There is always hope,” I replied. “And it does get better. As long as you keep taking care of you. As long as you keep leaning into the miracle of you, your heart will mend, your spirits will lift and you will fly again.”

I began my presentation by sharing a story of the eagle who thinks he’s a chicken. No matter what a real eagle tells him, he will not listen. His chicken yard thinking keeps him stuck in believing, he cannot fly. And so, he doesn’t.

For this woman, for all of us, our limiting beliefs keep us from our truth. They keep us from embracing the essential essence of our humanity that lives deep within our souls, a truth we are born into and with and of —  we are truly magnificent beings of light, born to fly, to soar free above the daily grind, into the passion of living life in the rapture of now, acting out our vision for the future we imagine to be true, a vision that makes a world of difference for everyone.

There is always hope.

Flying free begins with the willingness to let go of limiting beliefs and the voices of doubt that would tell us, now is forever.

Now is not forever and the past is never more. It is gone. Flown away. Drifted off down the river of life into the ocean of Love that supports us, surrounds us, and fills up our every breath with life-giving energy to act out our dreams and fly as high as we possibly can.

I made a difference yesterday. I volunteered my time to inspire people to let go of believing they were chickens, that speaking in front of groups was scary, that letting their magnificence shine was wrong.

And I am grateful. For in their shining their light on me, my light grows stronger and in our collective light, we are magnificent.

When we shine together, we create a brilliant light that illuminates the path for all to see the possibilities and the promise of living as our most magnificent selves.

The world needs our light. It needs our best. It needs our magnificence to be bright stars of hope, love and joy shining for all the universe to see.

Make a difference today — let your light shine as bright as it can. In your light, others will be inspired to shine and together we will create a light of unbelievable magnificence!

Nameste