Welcome 2011! So far, things aren’t looking so pretty! Today’s paper had no less than 25 bad-news stories: shootings, bombings, extreme weather events, awful state budget cuts.  It’s hard to sidestep the cynicism. But here goes: just as the days are lengthening toward the spring solstice, people everywhere are waking up to the power we have to shape the world around us and create a brighter future. It’s happening, it can’t be stopped, I truly believe it.

So, to the potential of 2011, I honor some of my favorite sheroes who are taking a stand for health and life:

Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Diet: A beautiful, inspiring book! I urge you all to buy it right now. Kris Carr has survived cancer and come out the other side as her healthiest, happiest self — and she shows us how to get there too. “Are you ready to live like you mean it?” she asks. “Are you ready to get out of your slump, over your fear, and plug into your Crazy Sexy potential?” Yes, sign me up! (Also see the article by me on page 132 of Kris’ book).

Pink Skies: When Gulcin Gilbert asked to interview me  for her film about breast cancer prevention, I jumped at the chance, and ended up being in one of the most beautiful documentaries I’ve ever seen. This powerful and inspiring film follows “Jump for the Cause,” which brought together 181 women from 31 countries to create the World Record All Women’s Skydiving Formation — and raised nearly $1 million for breast cancer research.

The footage is incredible! The stories are so powerful. I can’t watch the trailer without crying. If you’re in the Bay Area, please join us in Berkeley on February 17 for a free private screening of Pink Skies.

There’s Lead in Your Lipstick, by Gillian Deacon: We know all about lead in lipstick! The research was pioneered by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and released the same week as my own book about toxic chemicals in cosmetics in 2007, then followed up by FDA. So what more is there to say? Gillian Deacon finds plenty. In her brave book, Gillian, an award-winning broadcast journalist in Canada, details her own struggle with cancer and her journey to find safer products, and presents in-depth research about what’s wrong with the way beauty products are made today. I learned a lot!

The Power of One Woman: I love it when the phone rings and on the other end is a kindred spirit who has awakened to her own power and the power women have to change the world. Betsy Hosp, who had a personal revolution when the doctors couldn’t tell her how to help her very sick young daughter (who is now the picture of health thanks to diet and lifestyle changes), is a source of big inspiration for me. Her story is another sign that an awakening is underway, and building momentum every single day.

Betsy is helping to build it with her wonderful website The Power of One Woman, which shares the stories of the many inspiring sheroes she is finding in her research. Kudos to Betsy and all the women out there who are  stepping up to the plate, raising their voices and showing the world what needs to be done.