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A photo taken by the press for business news and fashion
magazines. It was very late in the evening when
I ended my long day at a photo shoot for an ad campaign for diamonds a few weeks
ago. As a model in this shoot, I was adorned with millions of dollars worth of
diamonds while photographed doing some of life's common everyday activities such
as getting ready in the morning, going to work, having fast food for lunch, and
meeting up with friends. The concept for this campaign was that diamonds could
be worn at anytime, on any day, and not only on so-called "special occasions".
After all, isn't everyday special if we live to meet another birthday?
Left: The women
arrived at the LAX wearing their Star pendants from my Penny Best Jewelry Collection.
Right: The 25-seater limo awaits… On
my way home, with the ad campaign still fresh on my mind, I couldn't help but
reminisce over one of my most memorable birthdays - the one I called a birthday
of giving. My idea for a birthday of giving was so that instead of
receiving gifts for my birthday, I would be giving them instead. Though that was
my intention, when it was all said and done, things didn't quite work out the
way I'd planned. Left: There's room for more in here.
Right: Cooling down with a bottle of Cristal with R&B Singer,
Govnor.
Left: Having
lunch with Model Sonja.
Right: Beaming with the sun at the
Mondrian Hotel in Hollywood I remember my brainstorming
process that helped me execute my birthday plans; I started by asking myself thought-provoking
questions. I've learned that when I strategically do this, I truly force myself
to search for more than appropriate answers that compel me to take action. As
my birthday was approaching, I asked myself, "How should I spend my birthday
giving? How could I use this opportunity to create unforgettable moments that
inspire and bring true meaning to the word friendship?" I didn't ponder
on these questions for too long before I found myself making phone calls.
Left: My birthday yacht,
Mercedes, arranged by Music Producer, Mike from Interscope Records.
Middle:
It's worth the seasick to get to Catalina Island.
Right:
Dancing with Playboy Hugh, and the Playmates, at Bliss in Hollywood.
Left: Back in the limo that never
ends…
Right: Checking out the crowd with singer, Brandi.
Left: Happy Birthday to me!
Middle: Celebrity
Event Producer, Jacque, at Crustaceans in Beverly Hills.
Right:Singer, Brian
McKnight, announces my birthday??? I started by
calling the people I'd helped in the past - business associates and personal friends
- to assist me with manifesting a magical four-day-week end for nine of my loyal
female supporters. I wanted to bring together this diverse group of women to meet
each other for the first time. And so, a few hours before they were flown away
for my birthday celebration, I introduced them to each other when they arrived
at the airport (at six o'clock in the morning). I also embraced them each with
a Star pendant from my Penny
Best Jewelry Collection to celebrate this unity of strangers. They were
then flown from Vancouver, BC, to Los Angeles, CA, to "play with the stars".
But most importantly, I wanted to remind them that they were stars too.
Left: Mike Tyson walks in fashionably
late.
Right: Natalie Cole (Nat King Cole's daughter).
With the help of many other loyal supporters, I was able to fulfill the four-day-celebration
with some of the most fabulous foods, drinks, transportation, celebrities, activities,
venues, and entertainment. On several occasions during the trip, the women were
also directed away from all the latter material abundance; they didn't even notice
this transition of event; they were too busy exchanging phone numbers.
Left: Natalie sings my way…
Right: Getting dragged up on stage. On
the last night before the end of the trip, the women gathered around me as they
expressed to me (with tears in their eyes) that they will always treasure the
Star pendants I've gifted them; they told me the Star pendants served
as a reminder of their deep meaningful friendships which were made possible because
of me. You can only imagine how touched I was to have been told this, especially
since I thought that I'd given them the Star pendants simply just to remind
them that they were stars! Nevertheless, I'm now honored that these nine women
have continued to celebrate their friendship anniversary on my birthday every
year. Left: Brian McKnight and Rob Grant
sing Happy Birthday.
Right: R&B Group, OMB, sang to us
all night long… Through this experience and
numerous other experiences in both my business and personal life, I've come to
learn that the principle of giving and receiving works in various ways while it
follows a fundamental spiritual law. This law affirms that in order to attain
the things we would like to receive - such as respect, joy, friendship, love,
and much more - we must sincerely make a point to share these things with others.
Just as if we wished to be successful, we must modestly help others to succeed.
Left: Here's to more Cristal!!
Right: Waiting for dinner.
Left: Waiting for dessert.
Right: Getting ready for some Sake at Koi's in Hollywood. My
birthday of giving gifted me with the priceless treasure of joy, inspiration,
strength, and wonderful lifetime memories. Till this day, the group of nine women
and I can still strongly agree the memories and friendships that evolved from
this birthday are truly the gifts that keep on giving.
Left: We have company…
Right: The birthday celebration ends, but the friendship continues…
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