Good friend and fellow health coach, Christy Pitari, gave me a beautiful gift last week. It was extra special because I’d been thinking about this idea so much lately after discovering Tom Shadyac’s amazing new documentary, “I Am.” Tom was a highly successful film director (“Ace Ventura,” “Bruce Almighty,” “Nutty Professor”) who turned his back on the cultural carrot of accumulating more and winning at all costs. Traded in his 17,000 sq ft palatial estate in Pasadena to live in a mobile home in Malibu. (I know, I know–it’s still Malibu, but a big change nevertheless.)

I’ve never been motivated by money and, in fact, find jobs I’ve had in my life that pay less consistently make me happier. The other correlation I notice is that if I feel I am helping someone else on their journey, saying something to make their life purpose more clear or just listening, I feel like I am living out my own life purpose. Making use of this space I take up on this planet.

So back to the gift. It’s a drinking cup (perfect for my white grape antioxidant drink, by the way) with one of my favorite sayings: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” by Mahatma Ghandi. Love that guy.

There are many things I’d like to see different in the world. One is the idea that a person feels he can be responsible for his own health and take steps to take that to an optimal level, even if he is overweight, diabetic–name your health issue. That a person feels empowered to educate herself and turn her back on the cultural idea that deprivation means not eating cookies during the holidays. Instead, I’d like that person to learn how the body feels when all parts are humming and performing at optimal level, leaving her energized and healthy–and that to give that up is the true deprivation.

Celebrate the season. Celebrate your health. Be the change.