Lorrie Sullenberger

That was the theme of this year’s Women’s Conference or more formally known as The Governor’s and First Lady’s Conference on Women. As in the past, I leave the conference with a hangover of inspiration, enthusiasm, and sheer awe. To be in the room with "A Beautiful Day" by U2 pulsating throughout the convention center and in a day where Maria Shriver sets a tone of openness and compassion is simply electric. More than a few women remarked how celebrities, entertainers, politicians, moms and career women alike shed the walls and barriers that society usually projects and we communicated simply as women one on one.

I volunteer every year as a VIP guest escort never knowing what the day might hold for me. This year I all I knew was I had the charge of escorting a woman who was going to need handicap access through the building and I was to make her day as easy and "doable" as possible. Now I have to admit with the likes of everyone from Rachel Ray to Dr. Oz to Warren Buffet...and well, with economics the way they are I was kind of hoping for Warren Buffett.

But as with most things in life the universe had a special treat in store for me. I was assigned a much more special guest than I could have imagined. My VIP was Dr. Barbara O’Connor who was traveling with Donna Lucas. As it turned out Barbara had had double hip replacements and one did not go well and she was in need of a walker. Turns out Barbara is a long time close family friend of Maria’s (Shriver that is) and Donna Lucas was the former Chief of Staff, first for the Governor’s office and then the First Lady’s office. Holy...! The next thing I know I am in a VIP event conversing with the Governor himself. Fortunately all went very well the next two days and I did not lose anyone and they had a great time.

All throughout the conference hall you see huge banners that have the words EMPOWER on them. And I know...I am supposed to be writing about fitness and exercise so I thought that was a fitting message because ultimately exercise and fitness are really about empowering your life. A strong and healthy body mentally and physically to walk you through the stressful times, make better choices personally and professionally, push ourselves to excel and to pass along our best selves to the world.

As in the last three years I have been at the conference I am awed by the breadth of speakers from Jennifer Lopez, to Warren Buffet, Condoleezza Rice, Gloria Steinem, Billy Jean King Louise Hay and little known heros like Betty Chinn and Ivelise Markovits who proved that one person can make a difference. But once again it was Maria’s lunch time speech that left a room of 14,000 women in tears, even the women at my table who know her well.

Maria’s speech which feels more like a conversation started with one of her favorite quotes from St Teresa’s Prayer that she keeps on her bed stand and reads every morning.

"May today there be peace within. May you trust god that you are exactly where you are meant to be."

She moved on to quote the poet Mary Oliver, "Tell me what it is you are going to do with your one wild and precious life." And then to the main theme of her conversation, FEAR. She spoke openly honestly and sometimes humorously about how fear had controlled most of her life. She offered us advice that fear keeps us frozen in old beliefs and convinces us we are not capable. Maria (she told us to call her that, she does not like the title of First Lady) has an amazing way of reaching out and touching your soul. Maybe because she is willing to expose hers that ours feel so vulnerable. What ever the reason suffice it to say that right about then as the room was silently sniffling I was hoping not to go into a wailing ugly cry. She went on to share that the biggest barrier for change for her, was fear and that feeling afraid isn’t weakness, it’s the beginning of courage.

Trail blazers and icons from CEOs to media celebrity alike gave the same message, BE WHO YOU ARE. Their success, how ever you measure that, came from being their authentic selves. Louise Hay, a self help pioneer with a very difficult life, did not find out who she was supposed to be until she was 50. Now in her 80’s she is one of the most vibrant engaging women I have ever met.

So in this season more than any in recent memory I want you to stop and listen to that inner voice. She speaks to all of us. Listen and... "Be Who You Are". And I will challenge you as Maria did us, "Tell me what it is you are going to do with your one wild and precious life?"

I encourage you to watch Maria’s speech and the other main stage speakers online at www.californiawomen.org. Go to video gallery, "relive the women’s conference", click on lunch speakers and/or click on Maria Shriver at the bottom of the page to watch all the conversations in their entirety.