Mine is a hummingbird. I feel a deep connection to this creature that is constantly flitting, whether in movement or ideas. OK, sounds woo woo, cray cray, OKurrr, I get it.

I love them so much, I got a 5-inch origami hummingbird tattoo on my forearm, y’all. That was way back in the day. It reminds me to be free and never stop being creative.

I have to admit, I would joke around with friends about animals and people being my spirit animal (summoning Oprah…). I remember talking with my friend Juju Chang, ABC News anchor for “Nightline,” about her interview with Oprah. She mentioned, “I love Oprah, she’s my spirit animal.”

I told her, “Me too” (and, of course, a billion other people would say the same, LOL).

Then, there were the many times that hummingbirds showed up unexpectedly — like when I was playing tour guide to Fiona Pattison, a spiritual friend from the United Kingdom. She asked me, “What’s your spirit animal?” I told her it was a hummingbird. “Mine is a deer,” she replied.

Later that day, we sauntered into a New York boutique and there were spirit animal cards. We flipped them over and, voila, on top was a hummingbird and on the bottom, a deer.

This morning, I listened to spiritual teacher Thich Nhat Hanh’s guided meditation on “Joy and Ease.” I never do this, but I STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEDITATION and was drawn to open my window and stare outside. Shortly thereafter, a hummingbird sat on the laundry wire for two-and-a-half minutes. It flitted away, then came back and sat for another two-and-a-half minutes.

I sent the photo to a few spiritual friends and one of them messaged back, “I especially love the heart on the beak.” I zoomed into the photo and wow, I saw a white heart, y’all.

Was the hummingbird sending me a message of love from above? I believe so.

This made me think about a conversation I had with my spiritual mentor, comedian and humanitarian Michael Pritchard. “Pritch” was Robin Williams’ best friend from way back before both were well-known.

He shared about the special connection hummingbirds had with Robin and his daughter as their spirit animal, and that right after Pritch heard out about Robin’s suicide, a hummingbird magically appeared at his home, flitting in front of his face for several minutes to bring comfort. Coincidence?

While writing this blog, I decided to text Michael Pritchard to ask for permission to use photos of Robin Williams and him. He FaceTimed me and we had a long soul-to-spirit chat.

I mentioned in the video that Pritch has a way of connecting to divine wisdom, but I did not expect some of the download he shared with me.

Though not knowing about my morning meditation, he brought up quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh and Native Americans — woo woo — wow!

He referenced another time after Robin Williams’ death that I wanted to share. Pritch said that he was with Robin’s wife and some beloved friends when a hummingbird pecked him in the head when he mentioned Robin’s name. He knew it was Robin, and, in a weird way, Pritch knew a lot of the content I wrote in this blog even before I shared it with him.

He mentioned that I was a professor for the next generation both on-air and on the ground. I told him that I am getting ready to launch my talk show soon and that I’m creating an academy to teach youth the fundamentals of being good people — stay tuned, y’all.

Some things just aren’t meant for us humans to understand — perhaps we have to keep flitting our energies like the hummingbird to the vibration that makes our heart soar.

Here’s what today’s hummingbird-heart-song message meant to me. I hope it brings you calm, peace, light and love during these dark times.

I was inspired to look up the meaning of “spirit animal.” Here’s a fun definition from HowStuffWorks.com:

The idea of a spirit animal comes from a Native American tradition, though it is not common to all Native American faiths and cultures (as there are many, and they are far from homogeneous). It has appeared throughout mythology and even pops up today in pop culture, for example in the “daemon” that is the manifestation of a person’s soul in Phillip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy. Indeed, the idea of a Patronus in Harry Potter — a protective force that appears as an animal and correlates to a person’s inner character — is a direct nod to the concept of the spirit animal.

How do you know what your spirit animal is? It’s not just an animal that you like, or with which you feel some kinship because it has a gesture or a feature that looks like you. It goes much deeper than that. A spirit animal is a creature who faces the world the same way you do: who is social or antisocial, fearful or bold, playful or serene just as you are. It’s the animal species whose Platonic ideal would be most likely to choose the way you do in any given situation.

Take Action

1. What is the point of this vlog? I don’t know, to be quite honest. I wanted to share this magical, mystical, mysterious moment with you in hopes that you’d share a fun story with me. We are all in this quarantine together, y’all. I never thought I would be vlogging about spirit animals.
2. For a moment, this brought a sense of creativity, play, flow, ease — perhaps it was the message from my morning meditation?
3. Take some time today to have fun, be free, let go, let it flow, laugh, create and SHARE THAT VIBRATION OF LIGHTNESS with someone.

Extra Extra

During my morning meditation, I had an overwhelming surge of energy contrasted with a calm that I have not felt since this pandemic began nearly a month ago. I will try to tap into this feeling whenever I feel panic, worry or sadness.

In his “Joy and Ease” meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh talked about opposites. I call it contrast. He said where there is light, there is no darkness. Where there is wisdom, there is no ignorance. And today, I say, where there is gratitude, there is no fear. You, me, we can choose which side to be on.

Love, peace and light to you, my friends!

Xx
Toan

The post What Do YOU, ME, WE Have to Do with Hummingbirds and Robin Williams? appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

I need a detox.

My social media feed, personal conversations and exchanges on the streets echo the same sentiments. We’re tired. Sick and tired. We’re terrified. I get it. The day after the election, I went to my Facebook feed to find solace, but as I got sucked into all the negativity, anxious feelings seeped in again.

Tears flowed as I saw images of swastikas and heard stories of hate crimes on the rise (post election) and kids telling parents they’re scared they might have to pack up and leave the comforts of their home. One openly gay millennial posted on FB that he is scared for his safety and his rights to love openly. He asked for some words of comfort to calm his anxiety.

In the face of this, we have two options:
1. Be part of the change and spread light in the world.
2. Be part of the problem and fester in the dark.

I choose to move forward.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Here are several things I did to get myself out of what I call the #PostElectionPTSD:

1. Be of service: Many folks tell me they feel helpless. We all have the power to shift that energy.

I reached out to a few people I mentor who felt mired in depression. We spent time simply talking about their feelings and mine. It turns out trying to help them has helped me even more!

Still at a loss at what you can do? Put your money where your mouth is. Donations to organizations like the ACLU and Planned Parenthood have spiked since the election, so donate to causes you care about!

2. Spend time doing more of what you love. What brings you joy? Reading? Exercising? Binge watching a Netflix flick? Do it!

I love cooking, writing, designing (see flowers on right), spending time with loved ones and yoga. Actually, I’m going to yoga tonight at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco — yes, yoga in church! It’s a special session taught by renowned instructor Darren Main and the benefits go to Yoga for Change to benefit at-risk youth! All we have to do is show up with a mat and donate $20. Double yeah!

3. Gratitude. Counting and writing down the things you’re grateful for rewires your brain to look for them and brings awareness to all the awesomeness in your life.

4. Sing, laugh & dance. No explanation needed. My guilty pleasure is Googling “Adele news” to see what’s up with my favorite chanteuse. Sounds creepy, I know, but HELLO, how can you not love her?

5. Share kindness/kind news. The first thing I did after the election was write this bloggity: “The KIND of America I see.”

Now it’s your turn — let’s flood people’s social media feeds with positivity.

I started to feel better when I saw this Instagram post:

Calling all creatives: get creating! I had an idea and a challenge as I deal with this #PostElectionPTSD. I’m a creator. If I’m not creating, arranging, writing or doing something creative, I feel stifled. It also helps me relieve stress.

So write, design or create something that brings light into the world and share it with your network and me! Alternatively, I urge you to share something positive you’ve experienced or heard on your social feed or in real life. Would love to spread the kindness y’all are seeing: Tag me: #PostElectionPTSD @toanlamtv @goinspirego

If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, let’s change what we see, say and think. According to a study by the University of British Columbia, good news results in better people.

I believe this so much, I left my successful TV news career seven years ago to discover and share positive stories — and their impacts have been more uplifting than any storybook out there. We all have the power to spread light.

Please take a moment to share your light with me. Together, let’s set the internet on fire with kindness, compassion and love. Don’t forget to share the good you’re seeing in the world with me! #PostElectionPTSD @toanlamtv @goinspirego

Onward and upward,
Toan

Follow us: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.

The post A Call for Creative Lights in Wake of Post-Election PTSD appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

It seems nearly every week the news is smattered with yet another shooting. No matter what it looks like — an isolated incident, terrorism, (fill in the blank) — it is an attack on humanity at large.

I was sitting peacefully on a dock along the Caloosahatchee River in Florida, watching the sunset while on vacation with Barbara Ocampo, my good friend and Go Inspire Go videographer, when we heard about the shooting in her hometown of Paris. I had been thinking about how peaceful the water looked against the backdrop of the peachy sky. The white cloud wisps seemed almost like a painting changing before our eyes, the sun’s rays sparkling like diamonds on the water.

Barbara’s phone started buzzing wildly. Barbara told me, “Sorry for looking down at my phone, I got a text from my brother in Paris.”

“There was a mass shooting in Paris and people are being held hostage at a concert hall,” she explained with horror in her wide eyes.

We watched the terror unfold through social media and news outlets online. She was checking Facebook and text messages to see if her loved ones were OK. Thankfully, her family was safe. A quick check showed that my friends were OK, too.

I felt helpless, but learned that I could do something to change that feeling… and to change the life or lives of others around me. And so can you (keep reading for the challenge).

Before bed, I went to check in on her. Her eyes were red from crying. My heart hurt and mind went wild, thinking about the horror the concertgoers and other victims in Paris endured — each one with a story, family, friends, careers — their lives abruptly ended as they were going about their everyday routines. Then, more bad news about the violence that unfolded about Lebanon.

As I said good night, Barbara said, “Toan, the world needs you!” I chuckled. She didn’t. Her voice was as serious as a heart attack. I knew she wasn’t kidding.

Barbara, a professional videographer and documentarian, has volunteered her time and talents for several years, producing, shooting and editing videos for GIG. She told me that she’s been volunteering for me because she believes in me and has seen the changes in people I connect to and share my stories with.

For the past six years, Barbara and more than 150 volunteers have helped me spread stories of everyday heroes and good deeds via my nonprofit, Go Inspire Go (GIG). I honestly didn’t realize I had that big of a power to inspire people to do better and be better for themselves and others. I got the chills.

I left the world of TV news because people told me they wanted to see more positive stories. I paid attention and with story after story, we’ve inspired people on big and small scales. Barbara, a professional videographer and documentarian, has volunteered her time and talents for several years, producing, shooting and editing videos for GIG. She reminded me that the world needs more stories of inspiration, heroism and hope — the threads woven into all of our Go Inspire Go stories.

With the mayhem that is breaking loose this week, we need to see more positive stories.

• According to a University of British Columbia study, ‘Good news begets better people’
• By the age of 18, a young adult will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence. (American Psychiatric Association)

One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood:

“As a little boy, anytime there was a catastrophe, my mother would tell me, look for the helpers. If you look for the helpers you’ll know that there’s hope.”

As an intern at local TV stations in San Francisco, I would want to stick around and talk to the victims and look for the helpers. I would push for some sort of way we could relay information to the viewers on how they could help. This kept me going.

Here are two stories to get you going:

Barbara and I recently produced this soul-to-soul chat with Dr. Michael Pritchard, an actor, comedian and humanitarian who has dedicated his life to using comedy to inspire laughter, love and kindness to audiences young and old. His whisper to me: “You are the teacher-preacher-professor for the next generation. You’re the Asian male Oprah,” he constantly says.

As much as I chuckle over this comparison to Ms. Winfrey, about a dozen people have told me this in the last couple of years. Check out the video we produced…. Teaser: During the chat, we believe his best friend, the late actor Robin Williams, whispered something by way of a real-life “tweet, tweet, tweet”:

On the day of the Paris shooting, I got a private message from yet another friend, Oli Cohen. Oli is also a talented photographer, videographer and sound recordist who criss-crosses the world for his work. He sent me this direct message:

“I just wrote this on a FB discussion and thought of you: ‘Over half a million people die every year because of malaria. This is so crazy considering that it’s a preventable disease. Malaria doesn’t make great news or social media stories though. Even worse, in the world over three million people die of hunger ever year. Again this is completely unnecessary. It’s a shocking statistic but it doesn’t make a shocking news story. It’s so easy to feel detached from it too. On a positive note, the numbers dying from malaria are reducing and with some luck it will be eradicated in our lifetime. Similarly, extreme poverty has significantly reduced in the world. Fantastic work is being done and there are many positive stories out there but then they don’t make great news or social media stories either. Just saying.’ ”

Oli and I were brought together by another magical person, a dear friend and PR volunteer Fiona Pattison. I happened to be attending a wedding in Durham, England, and Fiona knew that she, Oli and I were connected on a higher level. It was also around the time of the 2011 London riots.

My intention was to produce a story about the aftermath of the riots — but only the goodness that came of it. However, I didn’t bring any gear and decided not to produce a story because of a foot injury just before my trip across the pond. I remember the news showing a lot of violence and anger, people rioting, looting and terrorizing the streets of London.

My intention was met with a miracle. Against all odds, injured foot, no equipment and not even a cell phone, at Fiona’s behest she convinced me and Oli to work with together and produce this video that tells the story of the positive things that came out of this senseless rioting. This is the video that inspired many of our British brothers and sisters to do good in the wake of the madness and looting that occurred:

I learned early on that we cannot control what happens to us, we can only control how we respond. That could mean changing your perspective, praying for peace and/or taking action to do what is in our power to serve our brothers and sisters in the community and around the world.

When I was a little boy, 5-years-old to be precise, I remember being super sad during recess. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Persinski, noticed that I wasn’t my perky, playful, positive self and knew something was majorly wrong with me. “How are you doing Toan?” she asked in a motherly tone.

“I’m sad because I saw on the news that another person was shot and killed in the apartments behind my house,” I explained. She was shocked, but had the best response that made me think deeply.

“Toan, you know that we have choices, right? You can choose to do good or choose to do bad. If you do good, good things happen. If you do bad, bad things happen. You can get in trouble and go to jail.”

This was one of the first profound life lessons I learned. The law of cause-and-effect. I vowed to always try to do good things for me and for other people. I wondered why anyone would intentionally hurt or even want to kill anybody. I was sad for the victims as much as I was sad for the perpetrators. I wondered what caused the so-called “bad people” on the news to do bad things. Someone must’ve done something bad to them. I tried to make sense of it all.

The truth is there are more good stories out there than bad stories. We just need a big ole platform to broadcast this. That’s why I created Go Inspire Go — so you can go to a place to be inspired and go do something and create change. I believe the more good you see, the more good we will do. What you pay attention to, more of it pops up into your reality.

My challenge to you…

Please send us:

Inspiring stories or quotes or kind acts. We may share them on our platform, social media channels or blog about them.

Help us take the whispers of people saying they want more good news and turn them into happy screams. Let’s get as many people sharing more good news as possible.

• Please tweet, Facebook, Instagram us. ­Make sure to use @goinspirego and #moregoodnews 
• Then pass the baton to a friend and let them know it’s their turn to share more good news. Tag them and ask them to share and then tag another friend. As I filter through the responses, I will share a blog and multiply their messages. Let’s create a good news movement!
• The truth is, you don’t have to feel helpless. You can help. You don’t have to be rich and famous. You don’t have to be Oprah. Be you and share if you care.

Together, we don’t need to feel helpless. We have the power to uplift and shift those around us.

Peace be with you.

Onward,
Toan

The post A Call for Stories of Hope, Heroism and Inspiration appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

If there is only one thing you tell a younger person in your life, it should be “YOU MATTER.” Heck, you should tell that to anyone, at any age, in your life who matters — before it’s too late.

It seems like every week, I hear news via Facebook, the press or through a friend, that yet another young person committed suicide here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I recently asked a group of millennials to introduce themselves, tell us where they’re from and give us a snapshot of an experience that changed their lives forever. One by one, the kids mustered up the courage to tell us gut-wrenching stories of the heart.

One teen told me how depressed he was because his parents didn’t know his truth and how he finally came out as gay to them. Another teen talked about her battle with booze and another talked about the sudden loss of a parent and how she was nearly out in the streets with no family. Each story touched us all. I was shocked to several of them had tried to commit suicide.

Many of them admitted they didn’t feel that who they are, what they’ve been through and even their very existence mattered. I saw the brilliance and potential power of each of them. I wish they only saw themselves through my lens.

No matter what platform I’m on — as a teacher, mentor, motivational speaker, founder of Go Inspire Go – I spread the message that “you are all gems.” Some of you may be dustier than others. Some of you may have been dragged through the dirt and mud more than others, but everyone deserves to shine. It’s my job and every human being’s job to dust off these gems so they shine.

Likewise, every youngster should only surround themselves with people who make them shine. If only those kids who took their lives knew how much they matter, how bright their light really is – they — and the world would be a better place. One of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned as an adult is, when you let yourself shine, you reflect it onto others and they shimmer and sparkle too. We — YOU — are all dazzling beings. So let the light in!

My mentor — actor, comedian and humanitarian Michael Pritchard, whose life work is healing people through comedy — reminded me that the moon actually casts no light. Rather, it reflects the light from the sun. The unison and the yin and yang of this story gave me chills. What if we were the moon to all the sunshine we encounter in our daily lives? Wouldn’t the world and all its gems be a warmer, shinier, brighter place?

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Join our movement & Go Inspire Go…

The post Spreading the Message There’s a Gem Inside Us All appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

UPDATE: Since the taping of this Tea with Toan & Michael Pritchard interview, Michael suffered a massive heart attack and underwent bypass surgery last week. Thankfully, he’s on the mend. A small way to say thank you for all his inspiration and love is to contribute to his medical fund.

# # #

Have you ever met someone who touched you so deeply your soul shifted? For me and the millions who’ve been touched by the gentle giant known as Dr. Michael Pritchard, you know and you feel what I’m talking about.

Many folks know him as an actor, comedian, PBS host, Vietnam medic, life saver and humanitarian who along with his best friend, the late Robin Williams, spent many hours using his power of comedy to heal sick kids, bandage wounded spirits and hold hands with the dying as they crossed over to the other side through hospice. I gave him the name “Comedi-tarian.”

He left the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to heal hearts and wounded spirits. “Pritch” traveled near and far to motivate, facilitate and elevate the hearts and minds of many. Authenticity, kindness, friendship and anti-bullying were just some of the life lessons Pritch preached. I know him as my mentor of life… my spiritual teacher-preacher. Get ready to be inspired, entertained and uplifted.

Even Robin Williams spirit made his way through this interview — you’ll have to watch and be amazed!

I met Pritch through Kala Shah, my sister from another mister and co-conspirator of our Go Inspire Go Community Heroes program. She called me on the phone after meeting him for the first time and sounded like she had just won the lottery. “Oh my gawd, you have to meet Michael Pritchard, woo!” I get it now. She won the spiritual lottery and so did I. So did so many of you who’ve met him. And so will many of you who will meet him one day – but until then, you can feel this spiritual superstar through my Tea with Toan interview with Pritch.

When we met, it was love at first hug. The synapses of our souls were felt deeply by both of us. His knack for connecting to a higher source and connecting to all he touches is magical.

“Hey brother, don’t work too hard,” or “Take care of your health, your gut is going through some problems,” he would spout out to people walking on the street. Pritch just knew.

He knew that I was, in his words, a “spiritual teacher of the next generation.” He knew that I was working on a TV pilot and had aspirations to do more motivational speaking, a TED talk, write a book and that I had a flair for compassion and fashion – all before I shared with him my soul’s desires. He knew my deep desire to spread my message of what he calls “mindfulness and kindfulness.”

The last few months have been a spiritual whimsical whirlwind of wisdom. His “Pritchardisms” include, “Don’t overstand, understand,” “When the student is ready the teacher arrives” and “Build a spiritual wall.”

He told me that he wanted to pass the baton to me and Kala because he was getting tired. “You are the enlightened reinforcers,” he said last week at his home in Marin, as we talked about the debut of our TV pilot and the folks to whom he wanted to connect us.

“Toan you know my soul more than most. Through your work and this show, you are carrying on Robin Williams’ legacy of compassion and joy,” he said excitedly.

Perhaps the most special (and there are so many things that make him special) is not what he says, but how he makes you feel. He makes everybody feel like they matter. They are special. And he is right. I matter. You matter. We all matter.

For some reason, I left his home that day feeling heavy after our light but deep conversation. Little did I know that my feeling of “something isn’t OK with him” was right. Last week, I got a call and found out he had suffered a heart attack. As he undergoes triple bypass surgery and heals, I ask all of you in the “unity of community” to pray for a speedy recovery.

It’s ironic that the man with the biggest heart is getting it repaired as I type. As I process what has happened, I thought, “What could I do to help? What can I do to show the gratitude of the biggest gift of all — his time and love?”

I wrote this poem, titled: BearClown for Pritch to read while he was in the ICU:

A big teddy bear. Oh where did you come from? Bigger than life. A happy clown who once drowned and frown thanks to the glitz, glare of fame and fortune. A heart that is the epitome of care and share and dare to find your authenticity. Synchronicity. A noble job he embarked on…using his life, power and many hours to heal with laughter, saving lives day by day, spending hour by hour helping soul brothers and sisters cross over, moreover seeing the love, laughter, light in all. Sending love to everyone he touches. My teacher-preacher bestows wisdom from above… he exhalts “don’t overstand, understand,” “when the student is ready the teacher arrives,” “build a spiritual wall.” Still sometimes I stall. Afraid of my power. But no more. The hour. My power is ready. So join me. Step up. Join the circus of love. Balancing act. Lots of work dropping the act we were taught. That falseness that we fought. Search for your real you. Robin and robins and hummingbirds teach us the legacy of happy. Who cares what haters say? Blessed be the day that me becomes we. That we see the gem in thee. The true community. Keep laughing and lets send our healing vibes to our bearclown…

Here are a few other ideas:

Reflect & Act…

1. I don’t know how else to repay him for his support and love but to use my power of connecting with people and storytelling to say, “I love you back and thank you for being you.” I called my editor and good friend Barbara Ocampo, videographer of my recent “Tea with Toan” segment, a conversation of the heart and soul with Pritch from his backyard. I asked her to meet with me ASAP to finalize this video as a gift to him and you. Again, please contribute to Michael’s medical fund.

2. Share this blog/video with loved ones and in the blog’s comments section, share how meeting Pritch changed you and/or your fave Pritch moment.

3. In the spirit of Pritch’s teachings, do a kind thing for someone and let us know about it using #PayItForwardPritchard and #GoInspireGo — we’ll share on our social media channels.

4. Laugh at a challenge you’re going through.

5. Make someone laugh today.

And don’t forget, be mindful and kindful.

Love you guys,
Toan

Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.

Join our movement & Go Inspire Go…

The post Comedi-tarian Michael Pritchard: Healing Through Humor appeared first on Go Inspire Go.