The People Whisperer - My Video for Oprah!

Oprah has a contest for people to get their own television/talk show, and I thought the show Marcus and I have been developing around the work he does with his clients and students would be a natural fit. When the show gets made, I'll likely be the host and resident Hypnotherapist, but for this short submission, we centered things around Marcus. But getting this to Oprah depends on how many votes the video gets... So, all you have to do is go to Oprah's website by CLICKING HERE and voting by clicking the GREEN button below the video.

Share this with everyone you know. Voting closes July 3. YOU WANT TO SUPPORT The Video? CLICK HERE to now vote at Oprah's site. Remember, YOUR VOTING NOW Really Makes a Difference. We didn't do it alone though. We had a lot of help. As you can see, Marcus was on camera a majority of the filming, so that left a lot of the logistics to me... I did too many jobs to mention, including sound mixing, producing, and production manager, but I promise I'll hire out once we get funding. We had an amazing DP Allan Palmer, an amazing producer, and Jayme who gracious gave of his resources as well. Also, we could not have done this without Marcus' students, who graciously gave of their time and energy. All in all, it was amazing, and we got it all done in one week. Thank you everybody! One last reminder to VOTE!

P.S. If the links above don't work or if you want to forward the exact link, please use the full link here or try pasting this into your browser.

http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=19017&promo_id=1
__________________________________________________

If you miss my regular, writing blogs, they will start up again now that I'm done with this project. Stay tuned for more, though we must ROCK THE VOTE! until July 3rd!


If you received this from a friend and want to subscribe, click KatieStrandWorld, and enter your email address on the right column. Thanks!

Discovering my purpose

The other day I had the opportunity to help one of my friend/clients with some stuff that was coming up.

In the interest of maintaining confidentiality, and because this blog really isn't about the specifics about what was happening, I'll just say it was generally physical pain that had some connection to detoxing and, like most physical pain, there was an emotional component.

If you haven't read books by Dr. John Sarno, you really should. Everyone should. But alas, this blog isn't about Sarno either. I'll just say generally that he writes about the emotional component in chronic pain, and I would say his findings are as important as penicillin.

This blog, though teased to be about other things, is about finding purpose. Sometimes in seemingly every-day events.

For almost ten years now, Marcus has been helping people with their health. The easiest thing to call him is a health expert, but since most people don't know what that is, let's just say he has a gift for retaining information about how the body works, as well as an intuitive gift to tap into what people are experiencing so he can help them to release - through body work or nutrition or herbs or exercise or meditation or assigned exercises/tasks - whatever stands in the way of their highest good.

He's good at it. Really good. I've been around and seen a few healer-types and he's one of the best I've ever seen.

The other day when our friend/client was over, I was a part of the process. Since he's wildly more experienced in this than me, I am sort of his wing-woman. But I will say that I think we compliment each other well. I tend to have a softer touch, and I'm also quite good at taping into my intuition about what someone needs to hear, do or release. Though I also know a vital thing that every wing-man and apprentice should know; that everyone should know, in fact: when to shut the fuck up.

A take-charge person by nature, it's also good for me to be a wing-woman. I'm no slouch, for certain. The spiritual psychology and hypnosis training have served me well; also I have years of helping friends and myself through the trials and tribulations of life. No small feat.

Here I think it's worth mentioning that I have discovered something; something I continue to grow and expand within myself, even though it goes against something I was raised to believe in:

You can sometimes help people by telling them what they want to hear, but you cannot always help someone by telling them what they want to hear. In other words, being a people-pleaser, or someone people like will not always work if your aim is to help people. If your aim is to always be liked (a fruitless aim in my experience and estimation), you've actually got a tougher road than to help people and my advise is to let that one go. People are too fickle, too unpredictable, and their responses to others are too rooted in past experiences to ever predict how they'll respond to you. Also, it's exhausting. I worry less what people think of me, but I still carry the concern. Less though, much less than when I was younger. Thank goodness.


That's one thing Marcus excels at and he expresses it to his clients so I know the speech: My biggest concern is your health; not whether or not you like me. I am a pit-bull advocate for your health and healing and sometimes that means you won't like me. Guess what? I don't care. My biggest concern is to get you well. 

I must admit. I sort of like that speech. It gives me the tingles. In part because he's my man and in part because I think it's a really powerful thing to fight for someone's health and healing once they've hired you to do so. Also, I think it's one of the biggest acts of love I've ever seen. Marcus loves all of his clients, but with a sort of detached sentiment; he doesn't care if they love him back, only that they release what blocks them from experiencing happiness and connection.

But here's where my realization comes in. The next morning, as soon as I awoke, I realized something about myself.

You see, for many years, most of my life really, I thought my purpose was music. It's understandable. I started singing at age 3, or so my parents say - I don't recall when, I just don't remember a time I didn't sing. I started playing piano at age 5, and composing songs soon thereafter. As a teenager, I went to an arts school for music and have recorded 3+ albums. Also, it's one of the things I feel most at home doing. I love it.

Well, the other day forced me to realize the following:

Music is my gift; helping people is my purpose.

Honestly, it was a relief to realize this.

Here's why: I was confused a little about the music thing. I love it and I'm good at it. But other musicians, remarkably less talented musicians, seemed to be getting more than their share of success because of their music while I remain largely unknown (besides to my few hundred fans, friends, and family - thanks, guys!). But that didn't change the unpredictability of my gigs. Sometimes I'd have a full houses for performances, which could be anywhere from 40-500 people, depending on the venue, to crickets chirping along with the 4-5 people that are there for me or just randomly at the venue. It's worth noting the 500 people was at UCSD when I sang and performed in The Vagina Monologues - it wasn't my biggest audience as I had a solo years ago in front of 2000+, but they weren't all there to see me. This is not to make you feel confused or sorry for me (hope that didn't happen), but to illustrate part of my confusion. Not only do I not have top 20 hit singles, I also have unpredictable fan following. Most likely a marketing issue, it still has confounded me. Until recently.

It's worth noting that I've had hints of this before, though this time seems stronger. A few years back during a meditation, I had a ringing voice of clarity wash over me so I asked this thing, this higher wisdom of sorts, if my life's purpose was music (I would've bet the bank that it would have said yes, so certain was I of the music-purpose correlation in my life). The response was almost jovial and hilarious in it's simplicity: think bigger. That's all that came forward. Think bigger.

You see, this realization, that music is my gift; helping people is my purpose has liberated me from that confusion and I feel more free than ever to share my gifts, which include but are not limited to music, while embracing a larger purpose of helping people. I'm not sure exactly how that will look or unfold, but I intend to proceed with an open heart and mind.

What are your gifts? What is your purpose?

More Interesting Katie Strand World Post

• Avatar Characters - from Human to Nav'i
• All About Steve
• "David! Paul! Strand!" - The Power of Purpose & Dedication
• The Fountain of Youth
• Think about your whoo-whoo (Driftwood, part 2)
• Driftwood
• These books are made for laughing
• Laughter every day keeps the doctor away
• Worry vs Choice
• A New Homeostasis, the third installment
• Memorial Day Dreams
• A New Homeostasis, part deux
• A New Homeostasis
• Boobies & Kittens...especially for overcast days
• The One-Minute Happiness Quiz
• Qi Pao! My hips in China.
• Raw Milk has been pulled from Whole Foods shelves
• How Betty White deals with the Census
• Anxious or calm?
• Sunscreen may increase the risk of skin cancer!
• What happened to Kathleen Turner?
• Hairiosity!
• And All the Cows Said Moo, TWO!
• A Luke-warm Mess
• Let Go! Your Children Know More Than You Think
• Are you hungry for change? So is Food, Inc.
• Liberating yourself from your own fears
• The smallest non-child, non-midget person I've ever seen
• Stupid trumps hot
• The 15 Things that Pasteurization Kills
• A hugging, laughing, happy mess
• The HPV vaccination could be more dangerous than what it "prevents"
• Is Jake Pavelka a douche bag?
• It's all about interpretation
• Have you forgotten how glorious you are?
• The best reason for DONUTS
• Dr. Mercola recommends raw milk!
• We'd all be pillars of salt
• James Cameron was robbed!
• What do you want?
• The Real British Invasion or...Hey there Brit, how's your American accent?
• Andre Agassi is now Open
• Farts
• Love & Hate. Drugs & Rebellion.
• Occam's Razor - It's a Life & Faith Principle
• If Richard Pryor had a period...
• If you're prone to nudeness...
• Hello, my name is Temple Grandin.
• Blog tease, yelling to no one & the secret to long...
• My Addendum to "Choose a Job You Love..."
• The Primal Diet & Running
• Chop Wood, Carry Water, Do Taxes
• The male member revealed
• Play with the Girls
• How to tame the psycho hose beast
• Oh boy, that's a good question! or How to Deal with the Census
• These boots were made for walking
• If I were a Ninja, I'd wear these shoes
• How my friend Sally became the new First Lady
• My Boyfriend has Autism...Maybe
• Raw Primal Papaya Custard - The Nectar of the Gods
  
• And All the Cows Said Moo!
• If you were John Mayer, you would too
• Tiredness - Varieties of and unforeseen side-effects
• Foreplay is overrated
• Food should be As God Intended or Why isn't everything we eat organic?
• Yelling - One of the Highest Forms of Compassion
  
• The Cove - Louie Psihoyos' Oscar speech & a guide on how to create change...
• My Favorite Things...Arrabiata Recipe - Fresh, Organic, Vegan or Primal
• My Favorite Shows on Television...or how David Duchovney & Jesus are likely Good in Bed
• The Hawaiian Islands and Washington D.C.’s sand-paper circle-jerk about Health Care
• My Buddha has Termites...A Lesson in Infinite Joy
• The One-Date-Wonders!
• I had to learn SIGN LANGUAGE when I moved to Los Angeles
• Guys can make a game out of anything
• Hello? The power of CONNECTING and how technology has changed things
• Popping the question is better than porn!
• Bravo, Stephen Colbert & Co! and your Olympic Vancouverage
• Songwriting is like SEX
• Born To Run by Christopher McDougall - Inspiring a inspiring all of us to be more in the FLOW
• A moment of silence for all the plastic surgery casualties
• Ricky Gervais should be the new Simon on American Idol
• Muscle SURPRISE! The key to physical, mental & emotional fitness
• I think my boyfriend's a snake...
• Release... Sweat & Power
• MY FAVORITE THINGS! - Vibram's Five Fingers
• Dick Morris... How do you sleep at night?
• Rusty DePass, Gorillas, and Obama, oh my!
• Michael Jackson - Troubled Genius

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"David! Paul! Strand!" - The Power of Purpose & Dedication

 

One of my favorite familial stories is from the first week of my little brother Dave's life. 

A little background to provide context for the story:

I am 3rd of four children. My older brother and sister were adopted as infants, as my parents (for whatever reason) weren't getting pregnant. True to form, my parents weren't necessarily worried about getting pregnant, but knew they wanted a family, so they applied to adopt and adopt they did, twice. A few years later, they got pregnant with me, another five years later, with David. At this point my Mom was a stay-at-home Mom (she taught high school and adult education before we were born and once we were school-age; she also taught piano lessons and made profits buying and selling furniture while she was home with us). My father was a high school gym teacher and football coach. His teaching tenure ended at Central where he retired in the 90s. Did I mention both were well liked and respected teachers? My Dad was particularly beloved as a high school football coach.

Well, sometime in the early eighties, during September in Minnesota, my Mother went into early labor. It was a Sunday night, around 11pm. My parents went to the hospital, and at 1:15am she gave birth to David Paul Strand, 2 months premature; 4 pounds, 2 ounces. My Dad held David briefly before the nurses came to put him in an incubator because he was so small (David, not my Dad). My Dad distinctly remembers thinking David was the size of a nice walleye (being an avid fisherman, the weight of things often relates to fish - I imagine many men from Minnesota can relate). David was so small, he fit completely in my Dad's large hands.

Though the walleye-weight didn't leave my Dad's mind, he also worried that David was too small and premature. My Mom was (and still is) a big advocate of breast feeding, so she tried to breast feed David immediately, but he wouldn't eat, so they started pumping milk and feeding it to him via bottle.

My father skipped school that whole week, but went to football practice. I suppose football practice reinvigorated him. Also, I suspect he went because his team had a game against one of their biggest local rivals (a stronger, better team), Hibbing, and because my Dad loved coaching so much. So, he would take breaks from sitting with David and my Mom, who were still in the hospital, to coach football practice.

But still, he had no idea what the players were talking about or planning regarding his newborn son. You see, everybody knew about David and how worried my Dad was that he was going to be okay because he was so small and premature.

Friday night was game night and Central was playing Hibbing (the better-ranked team), at the big, outdoor, city-wide high school stadium. My Dad's team, Central, won the coin toss, so they received and scored within the first three minutes. After scoring, senior Jay Weiderman came to the sideline and told my Dad, "That one was for little David." Throughout the game, players would come to my Dad on the sideline with words of dedication and encouragement: Rocky Erickson said, "Relax, Coach, we're having a good time out there." During the third quarter, defensive end Bobby Storm said, "Don't worry Coach, they're not coming around my end."

Central won sixteen to nothing. Sixteen to ZERO!

At the end of the games, the players hang out a little, then pile onto the bus to go back to their home school. The coaches are typically last on the bus, as they make sure all the equipment got loaded and nothing's left behind.

As my Dad walked to the bus with his offensive coach Kestler, he noticed the bus was sort of rocking. He hears three rhythmic words in conjunction with the guys stomping their feet and pounding their fists against the bus seats. It takes him a moment and a few feet to realize what his players are chanting...


"David! Paul! Strand!"

"David! Paul! Strand!"

"David! Paul! Strand!"

My dad slowly stepped onto the bus, realizing all those players were chanting his newborn son's name; dedicating their victorious game to his son...  tears streamed down his face.

Afterward, he drove to the hospital to see David. By this time, David was strong enough that my Dad could hold him. He held little David in his arms and told him the whole story of the game and how the players dedicated the game to him. For three weeks David was in the hospital, and my Dad would go there several times a day to bring him breast-milk, and to hold and see him. (My Mom did too, but this is really a story about a father, his son and his team.) Every Friday my father would visit David after his football games to tell him about the games.

That was almost thirty years ago now, and still, the memory is vivid for my Dad. Those players will always be remembered as being a part of dedicating their game to David Paul Strand. It didn't matter that Hibbing was the better team. That night, they weren't. Purpose has a powerful effect that way. So does dedication. Not the state of being dedicated, but having a purpose that is dedicated to something or someone figuratively bigger (since David was literally smaller than...well, everyone), than you, your desires, or even your whole entire football team. In that way purpose and dedication are limitless, timeless and powerful beyond measure.

David is getting married in August. I hope at least one of those players will be at the wedding.

I know I will be. And when I'm sitting in the congregation of the wedding, I'll be thinking...

"David! Paul! Strand!"

More Interesting Katie Strand World Post

• The Fountain of Youth
• Think about your whoo-whoo (Driftwood, part 2)
• Driftwood
• These books are made for laughing
• Laughter every day keeps the doctor away
• Worry vs Choice
• A New Homeostasis, the third installment
• Memorial Day Dreams
• A New Homeostasis, part deux
• A New Homeostasis
• Boobies & Kittens...especially for overcast days
• The One-Minute Happiness Quiz
• Qi Pao! My hips in China.
• Raw Milk has been pulled from Whole Foods shelves
• How Betty White deals with the Census
• Anxious or calm?
• Sunscreen may increase the risk of skin cancer!
• What happened to Kathleen Turner?
• Hairiosity!
• And All the Cows Said Moo, TWO!
• A Luke-warm Mess
• Let Go! Your Children Know More Than You Think
• Are you hungry for change? So is Food, Inc.
• Liberating yourself from your own fears
• The smallest non-child, non-midget person I've ever seen
• Stupid trumps hot
• The 15 Things that Pasteurization Kills
• A hugging, laughing, happy mess
• The HPV vaccination could be more dangerous than what it "prevents"
• Is Jake Pavelka a douche bag?
• It's all about interpretation
• Have you forgotten how glorious you are?
• The best reason for DONUTS
• Dr. Mercola recommends raw milk!
• We'd all be pillars of salt
• James Cameron was robbed!
• What do you want?
• The Real British Invasion or...Hey there Brit, how's your American accent?
• Andre Agassi is now Open
• Farts
• Love & Hate. Drugs & Rebellion.
• Occam's Razor - It's a Life & Faith Principle
• If Richard Pryor had a period...
• If you're prone to nudeness...
• Hello, my name is Temple Grandin.
• Blog tease, yelling to no one & the secret to long...
• My Addendum to "Choose a Job You Love..."
• The Primal Diet & Running
• Chop Wood, Carry Water, Do Taxes
• The male member revealed
• Play with the Girls
• How to tame the psycho hose beast
• Oh boy, that's a good question! or How to Deal with the Census
• These boots were made for walking
• If I were a Ninja, I'd wear these shoes
• How my friend Sally became the new First Lady
• My Boyfriend has Autism...Maybe
• Raw Primal Papaya Custard - The Nectar of the Gods
  
• And All the Cows Said Moo!
• If you were John Mayer, you would too
• Tiredness - Varieties of and unforeseen side-effects
• Foreplay is overrated
• Food should be As God Intended or Why isn't everything we eat organic?
• Yelling - One of the Highest Forms of Compassion
  
• The Cove - Louie Psihoyos' Oscar speech & a guide on how to create change...
• My Favorite Things...Arrabiata Recipe - Fresh, Organic, Vegan or Primal
• My Favorite Shows on Television...or how David Duchovney & Jesus are likely Good in Bed
• The Hawaiian Islands and Washington D.C.’s sand-paper circle-jerk about Health Care
• My Buddha has Termites...A Lesson in Infinite Joy
• The One-Date-Wonders!
• I had to learn SIGN LANGUAGE when I moved to Los Angeles
• Guys can make a game out of anything
• Hello? The power of CONNECTING and how technology has changed things
• Popping the question is better than porn!
• Bravo, Stephen Colbert & Co! and your Olympic Vancouverage
• Songwriting is like SEX
• Born To Run by Christopher McDougall - Inspiring a inspiring all of us to be more in the FLOW
• A moment of silence for all the plastic surgery casualties
• Ricky Gervais should be the new Simon on American Idol
• Muscle SURPRISE! The key to physical, mental & emotional fitness
• I think my boyfriend's a snake...
• Release... Sweat & Power
• MY FAVORITE THINGS! - Vibram's Five Fingers
• Dick Morris... How do you sleep at night?
• Rusty DePass, Gorillas, and Obama, oh my!
• Michael Jackson - Troubled Genius

New Music

&
Posts 

at
Katie Strand Music

• To Make You Feel My Love
• Please Don't Leave Me
• Going To California
• Come Back
• Home