Last Friday, 20/20 did a show on forgiveness.  One of the segments featured a man who have been wrongly convicted of a murdering someone.  He spent 19 years in prison and was finally released because the real murderer came forward and confessed to the crime.  The man in prison said that the only way he was able to make it through prison during those 19 years was because he chose to forgive.  He forgave the prosecutor who prosecuted him for a crime he did not commit.  He even helped the prosecutor campaign for reelection after he was released from prison. 

He said that he had a choice to forgive or remain filled with hate.  He could either choose to believe that he was a victim while he was in prison or he could choose to forgive and free himself from his anger.  He chose to forgive. 

This takes incredible courage and strength to forgive something like this.  But this type of forgiveness really is not for the person who did the wrong.  It is for the person who chooses to forgive.  Forgiveness like this simply means to let go of a resentment.  The results are both practical and profound because in that moment of letting go of a resentment a person begins to heal themself on a conscious and unconscious level.

  Paulo Coelho’s book The Alchemist is going to be adapted into a movie.  Harvey Weinstein will be the producer and Laurence Fishburne is attached to star and direct.  Shooting starts a year from now. 

The Alchemist is an inspirational fable about a Spanish shepherd, Santiago, who sets out on a quixotic quest to find a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids.  Along the way he learns various spiritual lessons.  The lessons he learns include the importance of paying attention to the signs in our life and that it is our responsibility to follow our dreams because that is how we become in integrity with our soul. The most famous line in the book is:

“When you want something, all the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” 

 The book has sold more than 30 million copies and is currently number seven on the New York Times bestseller list for paperback fiction.  Coelho has been hesitant to adapt his book into a movie because the producers who have approached him have attempted to add violent war scenes to his book that have nothing to do with its message or plot.  However, Coelho agreed to allow Harvey Weinstein adapt his book because Weinstein will stay true to Coelho’s messages about simplicity and spirituality.

             Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB) is a for-profit company that uses personal development training as an economic engine to generate an ongoing humanitarian impact. Being a HUB member means that monthly contributions feed three, educate three, provide clean water for ten and fund pooled micro loans.  In return HUB provides members with personal, business and humanitarian training.  Additionally, members have access to HUB’s social networking site.  One feature of HUB’s social networking site is that it matches people based on similar passions to create mastermind groups called a Circle of Brilliance where people can network with others for their business, personal and humanitarian projects.   

            Charlie Gay is one of the founders of HUB.  Charlie has served as a rock and roll promoter and event producer for clients such as Pink Floyd, Pavarotti, Madonna and Fleetwood Mac, as well as the UK government of Margaret Thatcher.  He is the former Executive Director of The Mineseeker Foundation and Sole of Africa Campaign, whose patrons include Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, Sir Richard Branson, Brad Pitt, Queen Noor of Jordan and John Paul deJoria.  The Mineseeker Foundation’s mission is to eliminate land mines throughout Africa.  Mohammed Yunis, Nobel Prize winner for his Grameen Bank micro loan program, has met with Charlie Gay and supports HUB’s work as a perfect example of this new model of corporate philanthropy.  He said that for profit companies should get involved in helping fund social programs rather than leaving that task solely to non-profits.
You can learn more about HUB at: http://wearethechangeagents.hubhub.org/index.php

Below is a link to a 45 minute presentation that Joe Vitale gave.  Joe considers this Karmic Marketing because he is essentially giving this presentation away for free.  You can watch the presentation by visiting the link below:

http://blog.mrfire.com/prosperity/inside-attract-wealth/

According to Oprah.com

       The Invocation is a new film that asks how God has been active throughout our history of violence and separation.  The movie looks  to various religious leaders and peacemakers from across the globe for insights.  Many of them point that one universal belief from people across all religions is a belief and faith in something greater than the material world.  Dan Millman, author of The Peaceful Warrior, who is in the film says that having faith is believing that everything is happening for our best and highest good even if we do not understand.  The movie is set to be released in October

You can watch the trailor on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-tbQ8Lof7A

Tomorrow, May 8th, James Ray, author of Harmonic Wealth is hosting a teleseminar for his new book at 10 am PST.  The teleseminar will be replayed at 6 pm pst.  In this teleseminar you can ask James Ray questions before the call and he will answer them on the call.  If you would like to participate, you can ask a question before hand by visiting:

http://www.harmonicwealthbooktour.com/

The makers of The Secret have created a short four minute video clip of the planets and Earth.  The video clip shows beautiful scenery of planets, waterfalls, oceans and other gorgeous scenes from across the globe.  The video is accompanied by music from composer Jo Blankenburg.

This short video clip is great dose of inspiration and tranquility.  I received an email with a link to this video clip and it was a great way to start the day.  For about four minutes my focus was on appreciating nature and the universe.  This is the intention of the video.  The makers from The Secret believe that as people watch these video clips that their thoughts begin to shift to a state of gratitude and awe.  This shift caused by the video clip raises the vibration of who we are being.  As a result people are inspired to take actions consistent with thoughts of gratitude and appreciation.

You can watch the video at

http://www.thesecret.tv/planet-earth/

Daryn Kagan’s new book What’s Possible is a book about real people overcoming great odds and inspiring others.  She was recently interviewed on CNN.  She says that her favorite example is about a man who is a double amputee with two artificial legs who completed an Iron Man event which consists of running, swimming and biking.  This man is also interviewed by CNN.  The link to both of their interviews is below. 

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/book-of-inspiration-and-hope/4173750586

Three of the top five book on the May 3 New York Times Bestseller list all ask very spiritual questions such as why are we here, how do I live the life I deserve to live, and what actions can I take make the most of my life. 

Number one on the list is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow.  This book is written by a man who has terminal cancer and explains how he is making the most of his time left to live.  Number three is The Secret, the book written by Rhonda Byrne based on the hit movie, The Secret, which shows us that we are responsible for creating the experiences in our lives.  Number five is Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray with Linda Siversten.  James Ray is a star of The Secret and his new book talks about how to achieve harmonic wealth (which he distinguishes from just money) in our physical health, intellectual life, relationships, career and spiritual life.

This list shows that people are really searching for meaning, purpose and joy in all aspects of their life.  All of these books go beyond the material definations of success such as making a lot of money.  They ask us what is really important to us and inspire us to take responsiblity for living a life that is consistent with what we really value in our life.