There are sparks of light all around us; all we need do is be present, turn our attention to them, and tune in. A few weeks ago, I was invited to a Town Hall Meeting and Panel Discussion that Presidential Candidate 2020, Marianne Williamson, was speaking at. Talk about sparks of inspiration. Marianne Williamson has been a guide to me since the age of 21. I began attending her talks in small churches when I lived in Los Angeles in the early ‘90s. It was Marianne who taught me that I could reprogram everything unwanted from my early life. I was excited to speak with her again and see how we could help. The panel discussion on “assisting youth with trauma” was hosted by NOW, the National Organization of Women. I was deeply moved and ignited by these women to awaken deeper. I reveled to hear that teaching emotional literacy to our teens, work I began doing this past year, was identified as the primary focus needed to improve the lives of youth nationwide.
Another profound spark of light at that Town Hall Meeting was Helice “Sparky” Bridges. This is one of those stories that makes you believe in magic. I first met Helice “Sparky” Bridges when I was 13 years old. She did an assembly at my jr. high school. She taught us to appreciate ourselves, that who we are makes a difference, and acknowledged us for being the marvelous young people we were. She invited us up on stage and led us through a Blue Ribbon Ceremony. She looked each one of us in the eye, which made me feel like I was receiving a lifetime achievement award, and taped a blue ribbon above my heart that said, “Who I am makes a difference.” Essentially, she was acknowledging us for being, which no one had ever done. She also told us we could achieve our dreams. I followed Helice Bridges after that, I was fascinated and enthralled with what she was doing, I knew it hit the mark. Shortly thereafter, she seemed to disappear.
Flash forward 35 years. I was at lunch brainstorming with my friend Amanda. As we sat eating and chatting she turned and took something from her purse, and said I have something to give you. Next thing I saw was a blue ribbon with gold lettering on it. My youth flashed before me, my mouth open, she said, “do you know what this is?” And I said, “oh my gosh, what is happening?” My eyes welled up with tears. She said, Stefanie Dumont, I want to honor you for the profound work you are doing with Conscious and Carefree, helping people to live their best selves in their best life, and tell you that you make a difference. My head shook from side to side in disbelief, as I began to cry and tell her the story about the blue ribbon when I was a teen. To my amazement, Amanda had a similar story. And guess who she is close friends with? You got it, the same woman who inspired the daylights out of me when I was 13, Helice “Sparky” Bridges!
Then boom, I’m sitting at Amanda’s birthday brunch next to Sparky! I got to hold her hands, look in her eyes and tell her my powerful story. I am proud to say we are now friends. She agreed we have much to learn from each other, and honestly, I can’t wait. Out of sheer magic, Sparky was the one presenting Marianne Williamson to the audience at the Town Hall. She honored Marianne with a blue ribbon for courage and determination in running for president; and initiating a new paradigm of thinking for our country. Sparky then led the entire audience through a Blue Ribbon Ceremony. What were the odds I was witnessing this moment?
You never know where you’ll find yourself. The only thing I have done consistently in my life is follow my heart. If I had a question about where I am today, I consider it answered. And now I pass the torch to you, dear reader. What you are giving, and who you are being, makes a difference.
We are each sparks of light. We can inspire each other to be more and do more. We can model success for one another, heck we can even model failure. We can create things and ways of being that have not been in existence before. We can lift each other up, point out each other’s strengths and gifts, and help spread the light. We can share ideas, talk about what we would like to create and what we wish would happen, until that moment… that spark, when we engage someone in a conversation at the right time who shares our vision for a better world; then suddenly the pieces of the puzzle connect. We can build the kind of world we want to live in; one Town Hall, one blog post, one meaningful discussion, and one blue ribbon at a time… and the next thing you know, we are there.
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