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.

Lucy’s Ladies reach the summit! Lorrie Sullenberger ABC-7’s fitness expert recently led a group of Danville women to the North Peak on Mt Diablo in Mt Diablo State Park. The group had won a women’s outdoor adventure at a recent fundraiser where Isaac Mizrahi was the guest for the event. While I have given fitness donations before, sometimes women think it is something like getting the short straw. But not these gals! We started early one Sunday morning at Devils Elbow on Mt Diablo. The trail can be a bit deceiving as it is mostly downhill as you start the trail and the sweeping vistas can take your mind off of almost anything. As the rugged single track wraps around the mountain and views of Clayton and the valleys beyond come into view you start to head up a steep fire road to the summit of North Peak. From here you feel like you are on top of the world. It really is the best part of hiking, whether your peak is a few thousand feet to tens of thousand of feet the feeling of achievement is the same. We called ourselves Lucy’s Ladies as Lucy Activewear which supplies my wardrobe for ABC-7″s ‘View From The Bay’ www.viewfromthebay.com also provided the best goodie bags for the day. All of the ladies loved the hats, (great fabric). We thought this just proves Lucy Activewear is not just for looking good at the grocery store! Go see at www.lucy.com

To Your Peak!!! Lorrie

Have you noticed a trend in these monthly articles? No, not the occasional dangling participle. Active lifestyle fitness. Precious quality time bonding with your family in a relaxed unstructured way has gotten squeezed out by the hectic pace we all lead. But outdoor recreation fitness gives you the chance to get your exercise in and spend that time with the family. Just because it is fun, doesn’t mean you burn fewer calories! Quite the contrary, scientific research shows the more we reduce our overall stress the more efficiently our bodies burn calories. Read the rest of this entry »

I have never been one of those people who reads the obituaries. Kind of thought that was weird. But recently while reading a local newspaper I caught the age of a gentleman who had passed. His age was 62. As a matter of fact there were two gentlemen of that age listed. That’s old I thought, until it hit me, those of us 40 somethings closer now to 50 are skidding head long into our 60’s. Having had my children later in life, I will have children in college while in my 60’s. Isn’t 60 the new 40, or at least 50? I have been saying for years that my daily exercise is more about mental health than a dress size. So it is no surprise that I began to ponder this thought in depth more recently on my daily walks. Read the rest of this entry »

Within a few days of this writing I will turn the big 5…0… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t feel 50 and frankly don’t think I look it (with the help of a little Clairol). But, it is a weird thought. What is 50 supposed to feel and look like these days? I thought at this magic age the wisdom of the ages was supposed to be bestowed upon me somehow. Life’s questions and uncertainties about relationships and ourselves would just slip away. Apparently not! And so in honor of my birthday, I am going to write the fitness article I have been saving for this very special occasion. Read the rest of this entry »