Today is a special day.  A day that will be filled with ”Thank Yous” for woman all over the world who have taken the time in their lives to help mentor or nurture a child.  There is no greater gift than the gift of love and feeling significant.  Although at times they may drive you a little crazy with their concern or their worries, one thing is certain…the love is always there!  So today be sure to stop and take a moment to reach out and thank the women in your life.  The women who have helped to make you the person you are today.

To all of you who have made a difference in the life of a child…THANK YOU from TheDailyOWN!

Just in time for a little Spring planning of your schedule this weekend, here comes our OWN Don’t Miss list!  With Mother’s Day upon us, Oprah and team are showing the “mom love” this weekend.  Don’t miss the Saturday superwomen line-up with Iyanla: Fix My Life, Life with LaToya and Raising Whitley.  Then, sleep in on Sunday and wake up with Oprah and Dr. Maya Angelou on a soulful Super Soul Sunday and finish up your day with an Oprah Lifeclass with Iyanla and an audience of single moms and a lot of mom lessons.   Here we go…for OWN and for YOU!

• 9pm Saturday – Fix My Life 9/8c
• 10pm Saturday – Raising Whitley (one of our favorite new shows!) 10/9c
• 10:30pm Saturday – Life with LaToya.  10:30/9:30c
• 11am Mother’s Day Sunday– Blessed are we this Super Soul Sunday to have Oprah sitting down with Dr. Maya Angelou in part one of a not to be missed SSS episode!  So, spend your Sunday filling up your soul!  This - like all of the other episodes – is sure to be an AHA exercise for the soul and spirit.
• 7pm Sunday Night -  An encore of Oprah’s Lifeclass: Fatherless Sons will be replayed for those who didn’t catch last weeks airing.  Amazing discussions to open hearts and heal old wounds.  7/6c
• 9pm Sunday Night -  ALL NEWS Oprah’s Lifeclass – Oprah & Iyanla Vanzant/The Secret Pain of Single Mothers …it’s not easy being a single mom… there is sure to be some love and lessons in this hour.  9/8c

And for this very special Mother’s Day weekend…stop, take a deep breath in and make sure that you put on your list all of the amazing women who have been mothers or like a mother to you.  While they should be celebrated everyday…this is your reminder to tell them how much you love them… Here’s an even better idea.  Sit down with them and watch OWN this Sunday!  We know that we will be doing this!  Happy Mother’s Day weekend everyone!  Let the celebration begin!

I have BAITERs.  I didn’t know they had a name until Dr. Phil told me.  I have known them, loved them, and encouraged them with my actions. I have supported them, ran to them in a moments notice and in retrospect, I may have even been one with my choice of words or in the midst of a storm.  I have and have had BAITERs in my life.  NOW…what am I supposed to do with this information?

Last night on Oprah’s Lifeclass, Dr. Phil sat down with Lifeclass students to start talking about life and the lessons he lays out in his new book, “Life Code”…In the hour, he opened the conversation to start talking about different toxic people that show up in our lives that may go unnoticed.  Giving them the acronym of “BAITER,” Dr. Phil spells it out clearly what these people are set out to do to your life…take it over.  A BAITER stands for the following kinds of people that show up in your life – Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters, and those who are Reckless with your life and with theirs.

From the live taping of the show on Monday to the network airing on Sunday night, I’ve been walking around with all of this information and with questions - I have had BAITERs in my life.  Some are still lingering around. Am I something of a BAITER magnet?  And if I am, how do I stop the pull…and an even bigger question, can you love a BAITER without letting them wreak havoc on your life?

Throughout my life, friends, family and even a fiancée have shown up as regular people only to creep over and cross the BAITER line somewhere in the process.  And while they may have slipped into destructive behavior, here’s my role in all of this…I didn’t do anything about it…at first.  I allowed for people to use me, take advantage of me, and be reckless with my open heart, my generosity and my forgiveness.  The man I was going to marry once said to me, “Well, I know I can screw you over and win you back.  I’ll just keep trying really hard and sooner or later, I know you’ll take me back.”  Today that declaration would receive a raised eyebrow, a sarcastic “Reaaaaallllly?” and then me walking out the door.  Done.  Back then, when I was amidst my BAITER lessons, I think I laughed it off…but only on the outside.  Inside, I raised an eyebrow, thought “Reaaaallllly?” and my heart started walking out the door.

Once I stopped minimizing the actions and I started recognizing and trying to stop letting this behavior creep into my life, the consequence of learning the lessons became the closing off of my heart.  Protected…but tucked away in darkness…this is how I handled the BAITERs in my life.  That was until recently…when I realized that closing off my heart only takes away the sunlight that it needs in order to grow…and that I am strong enough to see bad behavior, realized I cannot change it, and turn the corner and keep on walking and moving forward in life.

So while Lifeclass and Dr. Phil give me more to think about and more labels to attach to my life experiences, this I know for sure…BAITERs will show up in your life.  Everything in life is drawn to the love and light that you put off into the world…just like the plant leans towards the window with a yearning for the sun to grow and be strong.  Love and light are natural magnets for everything.  But with your love and light, open your eyes and when you see a BAITER show up in your life, raise an eyebrow….and take your light and your life towards a different direction.  Really.

It’s been awhile, but we are jumping back in and giving you our OWN don’t miss list.  When I was pouring a little coffee this morning…I realized there’s a few things that didn’t make the list…our wish for you is that you find something on here and jump into your own life and don’t miss a thing.  Here we go…for OWN and for YOU!

• Saturday – Home Made Simple starts your weekend off right with a little DIY tips at 9am EST
• Saturday – Fix My Life 9/8c
• Saturday – Raising Whitley (one of our favorite new shows!) 10/9c
• Saturday – Life with LaToya.  10:30/9:30c
• Sunday– Join one of our favorite show encores of  Super Soul Sunday with Oprah and Eckhart Tolle and Being in the Now at 10/9c.  Then a both SSS sessions with Nate Berkus on The Things That Matter and finished with Oprah’s talk with Don Miguel and The Four Agreements!  The is change your life TV.  Each and every Sunday like clockwork, our spirits wake up excited about Super Soul Sunday.  Join in with all the other Super Soul Sunday spirits and spend time nurturing your soul for the week!
• Sunday Night -  Oprah’s Lifeclass is back with Dr. Phil and giving us amazing lessons on How to Spot and STOP the Bad Guys in Your Life.  We watched the live taping and THIS is a Lifeclass NOT to miss!  Take your seats by 9p8c for a great class!

And on a personal note, DON’T MISS the amazing things and people happening in your life everyday.  Take the time to hug someone…long enough to feel their heart beating with yours.  Don’t miss the moments when smiles are offered and laughter shows up.  Stop and be in those moments…and don’t focus so much on the “other stuff” that fills up your life that you forget the most important things right in front of you – time with those you love…and time with yourself.  Don’t miss living your best life…all you have to do is pay attention!

On the OWN side, we hope this makes channel surfing a little easier.  Enjoy OWN and if you can, join us on Twitter during the shows!  We’d love to connect with you!

Tonight, Spring classes are back in session as Dr. Phil sits down with Oprah in Chicago for a filming of Oprah’s Lifeclass. Saying a little “thank you” prayer for the perfect timing of this event for us, Oprah and her OWN team are taping a two-hour session of Lifeclass at 7/6c tonight that will be live streamed around the world via Oprah.com and on Facebook.com/OWNTV. 

As Dr. Phil’s sits down for his first appearance on Oprah’s Lifeclass, we are sure to get some “tell us like it is” moments and some great life lessons to add to the notes that we’ve already taken on Lifeclass.  Like no other show on television, Oprah has opened up the stage to an interactive life course – master level for those searching to step up and into their best lives.

Join us and other Lifeclass alumni tonight as we virtually sit next to each other in class.  But if you can’t make it tonight, OWN will be airing the show in the network lineup in the near future.  Take in an extra deep breath and an extra dose of daily meditation because here comes Dr. Phil…and when he steps into class, who knows what might happen.

OWN is not your ordinary channel…and Raising Whitley looks like it’s not going to be just another reality show.  Comedian and new star of Raising Whitley, Kym Whitley, sat down with OWN Ambassador and A Spoonful of Paolo host, Paolo Presta, to talk about life and a little about her journey.  This will give you an insight to why we are Raising Whitley on OWN starting this Saturday…and why we are going to like her so much.  Thanks Paolo and Patrick for bringing us a side of Kym that we can share before the big premier.  We absolutely LOVE her!  And we abosolutely LOVE Paolo and Patrick.  For more of their videos, visit them at A Spoonful of Paolo.

It’s easy to see the extraordinary when there is so much love and light around a person.

Last week, our friend and fellow OWN Ambassador’s amazing painting created for the charity, Akshaya Patra, captured the hearts of many and a $50,000 donation from more than one bidder.  And in a roundabout way…all on a journey that included a lunch stop with Oprah, the attention of Deepak Chopra and tweets for OWN.

When we met artist and woman extraordinaire, Malika Garret, friendship came so easy and she seemed to be born with that extraordinary kind of light and energy around her that brought with it an instant connection.  So, when we heard of this latest story about her and her amazing artwork, it came as no surprise of the great kindness and gifts that she has to offer the world.  But what we did find interesting is that it all came with a little nudge from a great Oprah Lifeclass teacher and an eye opening experience of validation and service.

“In December,” Malika said, “When contacting Dr. Chopra about a different project, he mentioned that he would be traveling to Atlanta for an Akshaya Patra (AP) fundraiser event.” With the little nudge in this direction, he sent her the link to their website and there Malika says, “before I knew it I was firmly on board the AP train and my life changed forever.”  Malika offered to do an original painting as a donation to the AP Foundation Fundraiser and asked if Dr. Chopra would collaborate on this piece and sign it.  As Malika tells it, “His enthusiastic response was, “Of course.””

As it so happens, during this journey, Malika traveled to India for a scheduled family visit and was able to experience firsthand the difference that the work of the charity was doing.   After spending a day with those who prepared the meals and then handing them out at a nearby school, Malika took in the lessons.  “What struck me most besides the pristine cleanliness of the facilities was the unspoken discipline and grace of the whole process,” Malika shared.  “Everything operated like clockwork and each volunteer and worker approached their duties with a sense of deep reverence and offering.”  Malika said that what she realized during her visit was that AP was doing more than just providing daily hot meals, they were shaping and changing the lives of these children by making sure that they knew that they mattered and that they were worthy of a hot meal.

Her journey and visit came through on the canvas, as she created a piece of artwork for the fundraiser.  As Malika said eloquently, the “visit captured my consciousness and filled my heart with indelible images that inspired the painting I created.”  But her work does a little more than that…it offers lessons to all of us as we move through our lives.  Here are the ones that I encourage you all to look out for.

-       You never know when and where your life will change. Be open to the little nudges that may push you in different directions.  It just may take you exactly where you need to travel.

-       The world speaks to us all to validate our gifts.  Malika is an amazing artist. Embrace your talents – whatever they are.  They are there for a reason. Don’t ask why they are your talents; ask what you can do with them to make the world a better place.

-       When you don’t know what you have to give, know that YOU are the most valuable thing you have to offer.  You are enough.

-       Open your heart and let the love and energy from the world fill you up. Because it’s when your own open heart overflows that you realize how capable you are of changing the world and making it better because you are here.

Malika is one of the kindest, most genuine people that we have met on this journey. Her artwork captures this beauty of her spirit and through the vision of her heart, what she sees in the world.  It is no wonder that Deepak Chopra connected with her and her spirit or that her painting donation will help AP change the lives of so many.  She is love and light and it shows up radiantly on canvas.

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For more information on Malika’s art, visit her website.

For more information on Akshaya Patra, visit their website.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to view Iyanla Fix My Life with multiplatinum hip-hop artist  DMX, airing this Saturday night on OWN.  Throughout the entire hour, we were riveted and watching and we know you will be too.  Iyanla is back and powerful with an open heart and a deep desire to move people to fix their lives.   There is no pretense.  This isn’t the fake reality that you see all around you…or the explosive reality of the 1990′s talk show circuit.  This is showing up…to real lives with real issues and having an amazing team that help to shine light on the lessons and the humanity in the moment.  

Iyanla Fix My Life – this episode will make you realize that there is more to fixing your life than you think.  Tune in and don’t miss it!  Here’s a preview of the premier airing this Saturday night on OWN at 9pm, 8pm central.

Today, OWN released a new commercial.  If people didn’t sit up and notice OWN yet, then Ms. Sophia and Madea might just do the trick…and what we know for sure is that this is just a little insight at what OWN’s relationship with Tyler Perry Studios may have in store for us! 

I’ve started the process of meditation so many times but when life gets crazy I fail to make the time for myself.  But recently I got sick.  Well, in truth I have been sick for a little while but never made the time to see a doctor about it.  I was just too busy.  Now I don’t have a choice.  As the doctors poke at me, drain me of my blood and hint at things I can’t wrap my head around, I finally started to re-look at my life and the choices I’ve been making.  Now more than ever I need mediation in my life.  It is so more than just about me time.  So in my journey to find a little more peace in my life, I realize everyone doesn’t get loud wakeup calls like I am receiving.   So here are a few reasons that meditation is great for anyone!

• Discover your purpose.  Often we look to find happiness through other people and external events in our lives.  However, through meditation we can gain a better understanding of life by knowing who we truly are.
• Battle the bulge. Meditation helps with weight loss and our ability to normalize to our ideal weights.
• Defy your age. Through the practice of meditation, our minds age at slower rate and it is believed that it can even decrease the body’s aging process.
• Improve relationships.  Through meditation we increase serotonin levels which have a positive influence on our moods and behaviors.  Not only that, meditation creates a deeper capacity for love and forgiveness strengthening our relationships.
• Get smart.  With a little time each day we can increase our ability to solve complex problems or issues & even enhance our intelligence growth rates. I know!!!  Time to pull out the Mensa puzzles.
• Improve work. Meditation helps to increase job satisfaction and it strengthens our abilities to ignore the little irritating things that often tense us up…including co-workers who just seem to be bouncing on our nerves.
• Get creative. So often our minds are filled with memories and thoughts that we fail to find the quiet. It is in the silence that we learn to live in the moment enabling us to tap into a level of creativity than we never knew was possible.
• Kick the habit.  Through meditation, we can find the strength and focus to finally stop those annoying bad habits that continue to weigh us down.
• Be happy.  Everyone looks for it, yet often happiness is submerged in our negative thoughts.  Happiness comes with finding peace of mind…something meditation can give each of us.
• Sleep easy.  According to the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research, about 30-40% of adults have some symptoms of insomnia.  I actually think that sounds low.  With the mounting stress that families are under, it can be hard to get a good night’s sleep.  Meditation helps with sleep deprivation by allowing us to fall asleep faster and recover quicker with less sleep.

After doing a little research, I realized how much more I have to gain by adding a little quiet, mindful meditation into my life.   The stronger my mind is…the stronger my body will be.   It is important to find that inner peace before your body forces you to stop and search for it.  Don’t wait.  You matter.