Here’s to friendship, fun and laughter. Please join me on Sunday, April 29th at Talbots, Yorkdale, from 10:00 am until Noon and have a piece of birthday cake with me. Please bring your funniest joke.

ON April 16TH, Oprah Winfrey brought her popular series, Oprah’s Lifeclass: the Tour to Toronto for a live show which aired Monday, April 16 (8 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET) on OWN.  Yes, I was one of the 9,500 people in line to be part of the Oprah Show live from Toronto. She was joined on stage alongside hand-picked experts including life and business catalyst Tony Robbins, spiritualist Deepak Chopra, Bishop T.D. Jakes and inspirational author Iyanla Vanzant. The topic was Forgiveness.

My “AHA” moment…. A young man, 16 years of age, was on stage telling his story of  how he would like to reconnect with his dad, whom he has not seen in three years. He told the audience about the emotional stages he has gone through since his dad divorced his mom. “What do I do now?” was his question. Iyanla went through an exercise that he could do. But it wasn’t until Tony Robbins was on stage and a couple on Skype presented him with the same issue but with a different twist, that the audience went “AHA”.  The man on the screen related that he wished that the young boy was his son,  because his son has not wanted to connect with him at all. He asked Tony ”What do I do now?”.

Tony related his own story but most importantly gave the following advice to the man on the screen.

First,  keep communication going once a week to your children, reminding them how much you love them. Be persistent. Don’t give up.

Secondly, make peace with your children’s mother. Ask how you can make her life easier!!!!!!

Tony Robbins Guides a Father Through Healing His Family – Oprah’s Lifeclass – Oprah Winfrey

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-p9oON1XOk&feature=relmfu

I related this story to all my students this week. I received four e-mails thanking me. I learn, I teach and all I ask is that you Pay It Forward. Common Sense is UnCommon!

I had a great time watching the show, learning and meeting incredibly positive people. I like Positive Psychology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhg922FAX9Y&NR=1&feature=endscreen   To all my students, I am the dot in blue..try to find me!!! Kidding!!!

Watch  Oprah’s Lifeclass on April 16th at 8 pm on OWN . Yes, I will be there (together with over 5000 guests) and I cannot wait.

Pictures:  #1 Habitat For Humanity  #2 YMSAC Alumni dinner #3 Team Binstock/Reader Olympic Fundraiser www.road2london.com

This is one of the best interviews I’ve ever experienced…..please make the time to watch it. Thank you Anthony Robbins for bringing her story to all of us…what an inspiration!!!

 http://www.youtube.com/embed/g0l896lqgM8

108 year old woman, living in London, still plays the piano everyday!

Inspirational #2

Subject: kitty Cohen- 99 in negril!

 

Kitty Cohen -99 years old dancing in Jamaica. She lives in Toronto, Ontario. Canada.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASLuiEjL4Dw&feature=youtu.be

I was complaing about my upcoming birthday at the YMSAC alumni dinner and the Mackenzie Girls dinner when it was adviced that I read CommonSense is UnCommon again and listen to the 99 and 108 years young women.

What inspirations!!!! I am quiet now. I will be spending my birthday with Oprah Winfrey and Anthony Robbins at the Metro Convention Centre…. so there!!!

Nacho Cartagena, Josephine Latorre, Marta Alvarez, the artists, and Jorge Podgaiz, the pianist, all helped to make this art show a wonderful success. As the speaker, it was truly an honour to be among these exceptionally talented and generous people.

The video of the introductions of the three amazing artists:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX3PLL3LVxY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSsZg-9ZvZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2EJKb5AHKY

 I’m A Believer, Last Train To Clarksville, I Wanna Be Free, Steppin’ Stone, (I’m Not Your), Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You, The Girl I Knew Somewhere, Pleasant Valley Sunday, Words, and Daydream Believer…..yes I was a fan!!!!

Yesterday, news of Davy Jones’ death brought on many emotions. Wonderful nostalgic remembrances of certain childhood songs and memories.  At 66 years young he died of a massive heart attack, according to today’s autopsy results, now that sent chills up my spine. If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s, the news of how Jones died might also have given you pause as it did me. A heart attack at 66? How likely is that? Could it happen to me?
Just another reminder to live your best life everyday.

As far as the Oscar predictions, I was wrong fifty percent of the time. The lectures were great and I am scheduled to review The Artist and Hugo in the coming months. Now that is fun!!!!

I will be hosting four events tomorrow discussing the Oscars.
Who vote?
Here are my predictions:
Best Actor: Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Actresss: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, The Help
Best Picture: Hugo
Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Have fun everyone!
This weeks inspirations, check them out….http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LOdmka4_90
and http://youtu.be/ab9i0s4WEY0

I walked Barefoot on Red Hot Coals!!! Put simply, by changing your body’s physiology, you can change your emotional state, and by doing that, you change your behavior and therefore your life.This is my proof that I actually did this.
PS For me, having had the experience, it was exciting and exhilerating to watch Oprah, one of the worlds most successful women and role models, share in that experience.The firewalk challenge is used as a metaphor to illustrate what we can accomplish when we overcome our fears.

I love watching the Summer Olympics.  All sports are fun but my favourite is Beach volleyball. Why?  I am a mom of a volleyball player,  so when a mom of an adult player asked for my support, I said, “definitely yes”. 

JOSH BINSTOCK  and MARTIN READER: SUPPORTING OLYMPIC JOURNEY

Contact: Howard (2bimmers@sympatico.ca) Martin (martinjreader@gmail.com) Josh (j_binstock@hotmail.com)

 Friday, March 9th @ 7:00 PM The Spoke Club- 600 King Street West (www.thespokeclub.com) Tickets $100.00  or $150.00 per couple.

Secondly,

Larry Smith, of Smith Magazine, asked his readers to describe their lives in six words. I am asking everyone to do so in FOUR words.

My objective is to spark creativity, inspiration and fun in all of my students.  I always ask everyone to introduce themselves in four words… what would yours be?

Community efforts: EDUCATION IS TO THE MIND WHAT EXERCISE IS TO THE BODY

www.snapnorthyork.com/index.php?
High Tea at Mosaic Home Care & Community Resource Centre

Members of the North York community gathered at the Mosaic Home Care & Community Resource Centre for British High Tea. This elegant afternoon was filled with scones, jam, clotted cream, cookies and of course conversation. Kimberly Davies from Amica at Bayview helped build upon this social environment with an outstanding presentation on the history of tea. Throughout the presentation, members of the crowd marveled at several exotic tea samples and the many fun facts about them.  http://www.snapnorthyork.com/index.php?option=com_sngevents&id%5B%5D=210379

 http://www.snapnorthyork.com/index.php?option=com_sngevents&id%5B%5D=358078

I spoke at this event and met many inspirational people.
https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=21941677f7&view=audio&msgs=135030bcdf9a1627&attid=0.1&zw

‘The Simpsons’: Remembering 23 seasons http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-the-simpsons-20120219,0,5164788.story  Now that is success !!!!

I asked all of you at the conference yesterday what you wanted this blog to be… so here goes.
Pop Culture update from my perspective.

Tonight on OWN http://www.tonyrobbins.com/tony-robbins-on-oprahs-next-chapter

You’ll see Oprah conquer her fear and do the famous fire walk at an Unleash the Power Within Conference.
This was a life changer for me too!!! Yes, I actually met and was on stage with my mentor, Anthony Robbins, the best peak performance specialist in the world. I had to pinch myself hour after hour…..he actually has endless energy, passion and sincerity. He loves what he does and does what he says. I could not believe his genuine love for education. I was so very skeptical at first……..yes, I stepped out of my comfort zone (as I ,constantly, ask all of you to do)!

I volunteered for the Power Within organization, in Toronto, to be part of the Anthony Robins Team.  He is an incredible source of inspiration, and his methods have improved the quality of my life. Tony tapped into my soul and helped me see my life’s work more clearly.

Anthony Robbins communicates brilliantly and uses creative and psychological tools to engage people in personal transformation. This to me is “Psychology” at its best, he offers a positive, energetic, optimistic, and sensible way to live, learn, and transform. He is an observer of what works and then teaches these vital life skills.  This is my life’s goal.  As a teacher and mentor there is no one better than Tony Robbins.

 Being part of his team for a week was a dream come true, working with him would be heaven.

Please watch Oprah’s face as she accomplishes the fire walk. Her reaction was exactly as mine was. That is an “AHA” moment.

Today, as most of my students know, I carry a small bag, which looks like a flame, to remind me that if I can walk on fire, I can do anything.

 

 

 

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN ARTISTS:  NACHO CARTAGENA- MARTA ALVEREZ- JOSEPHINE LATORRE 

I have the privilege to speak at the reception on Sunday, March 4th at 2:00 PM

See you all there.