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.

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.

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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

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The truth is, I’ve never met Robin Williams. The only encounter I had was seeing him at a sushi bar in the Richmond District of San Francisco. I vividly remember people around him laughing out loud and enjoying themselves. Maybe through his humor, through “Mork & Mindy,” “Mrs. Doubtfire, “Birdcage” and other movies and interviews, I felt a deeper connection to him. It seems everyone I have spoken to since his passing had a story of when the comic genius brought light into their lives. I may not have known him personally, but I will always remember how he made me feel.

A quote by the late author and poet Maya Angelou comes to mind. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

I’ve been obsessed with the reports that ensued. Comments flooded my social media accounts. People recounted their memories with him. Pictures, short stories and links to articles of depression filter in. I try to think of something positive — perhaps this is opening up a dialogue about mental illness and depression. But my heart remains heavy.

It seemed that he was not only a funny man in public, he lived this out in his interactions with others. My friend Michelle Kennedy wrote about her encounter with him on her Facebook feed:

“Is it weird if I ask you to take a picture with us?” she asked.

“Only if you don’t have a camera,” he said. Robin Williams R.I.P.

Jim Norton wrote this poignant article about his encounter with Williams — how he made him feel in the crazy competitive world of comedy.

It seems like there are more questions than answers. Maybe the answers won’t all be answered.

It seems that Robin Williams has publicly talked about his addiction to drugs and alcohol, but didn’t talk much about his depression.

I immediately thought, “How does such a happy-go-lucky person so beloved and adored by fans do the unfathomable and end his own life?”

It seemed he didn’t know how much people loved him. Perhaps he didn’t know how much joy he brought to people’s lives. Perhaps that wasn’t enough.

It’s been a difficult month for me. My close family friend’s mother passed away from cancer, other friends of friends lost loved ones from suicide, sudden death during sleep and other accidents. Having lost four family members in about a year’s time, I know that unfortunately (and fortunately) death brings people together.

It’s inspiring to have witnessed people mobilize in person and online to make donations, help family and friends cope, and set up funds for surviving children. Likewise, it’s moving to see the outpouring of support, people sharing stories about Williams’ warmth, charm and pizzaz. While we don’t know what happens when our spirit leaves our bodies, I know that what connects us all are the stories that people keep in their hearts. This is their legacy. What do you want your legacy to be?

I invite you to share how you’re healing and how you’re honoring his life.

This made me think — life is too short and I too, need to make a concerted effort with the following:

1. I wonder if Robin Williams ever knew the magnitude of the impact he had on others. Did he know and FEEL the love that loved ones, colleagues and strangers had for him? I realize I need to tell more people I love that I love them and better yet, share stories with people about how they make me feel. (Why wait till someone is gone to share?) We’d love to hear, just #GoInspireGo so we can share.

2. We as humans need to do a better job at understanding and helping those with mental illnesses. Write a check, donate your time and talents and/or share information about mental illness and depression. To start, here’s an interesting article from Time.

3. We should laugh more. Tell a joke, rent a funny movie, don’t take life too seriously. Life is too short!

* Please share this blog and tag a friend, telling them a quick story about how and why they make you feel good/happy/joyful.

To Robin Williams, rest in peace amongst the stars. You were a star, a spark and class act. #oneofakind #depression #suicide #mentalillness

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