I saw Mira's Ted Talk about "Why Not Me?" and I was instantly hooked. I'm so attracted to people who find a way to use everything that comes their way - everything - for their own healing, gratitude, and life.
I reached out to Mira because she lives by the Arabic word llhamdella, which means "I'm thankful for everything" and she means everything. Mira was born in Egypt and grew up during a war in Beirut, the capitol of Lebanon, where bombs were dropped. Her grandmother, who lived in Palestine, lost her home, yet they all continued to live by, and say, llhamdella.
What is the wisdom in radical gratitude? First, it keeps our biology healthy. Our physical bodies breathe deep, remain opened, and can transmute charge and stress quite easily through our bodies. This keeps the mind open, and it also keeps the body in a state of safety. Even when our outside world is very unsafe.
Mira is a beautiful example of how gratitude keeps us whole and allows us to be more abundant, generous, and open to life. She also reminds us how growing up with great co-regulators (parents in this case) make all the difference. This is why someone can see a scary movie when they're 4 and emerge with more trauma than Mira, who experienced actual violence.
There's so much wisdom and beauty in this episode. I'm very grateful for Mira sharing herself so that I can now share this with you.
Llhamdella.
BIO
Mira Kaddoura is founder of Red & Co., a female & minority owned boutique consultancy that helps brands make a larger, more meaningful impact on society. Red&Co. created “Made with Code,” one of Google’s most important initiatives to diversify the tech industry & Netflix’s lauded brand campaign, “Make Room,” that positioned Netflix as a champion of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Red & Co.'s clients also have included lululemon, New Belgium Brewing, adidas, Planned Parenthood, Diageo and most recently Babyganics.
Mira is an Egyptian-born Lebanese Palestinian fluent in Arabic, French and English. Her passions are her family, her mindful practices & learning to cook her mamas love-filled food. She sees nature as her greatest teacher. She’s most proud to be raising three multicultural, multiracial and multilingual daughters.
Her recent TEDx Talk “How women can change the world by asking ‘Why not me?’,” shares a lot of her thoughts on the world. In 2019, Mira was awarded Ad Age’s “Women to Watch" & Adweek’s “Creative 100” and Portland Advertising Federation’s “Ad Person of the Year”. Her work has also won Cannes Lions, TED’s Ads Worth Spreading, D&AD Pencils, Effies, Clios, Communications Arts and Webbys.
She is also known for her conceptual interactive art projects that challenge rigid cultural assumptions around feminism & biology as well as projects that highlight the media’s control on what we think is our individual Point of View. Her philanthropic efforts include, but are not limited to, sitting on the board of Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, Dubai Institute of Design & Innovation and 600 & Rising a non-profit & advocacy group whose mission is to dismantle systemic racism & advocate for Black talent in advertising and public relations.
You can follow her at @mirakaddoura on Instagram.
You can read more about, and register, for the upcoming retreat here: https://www.holisticlifenavigation.com/menla-retreat