The story behind the video.
I am utterly overwhelmed and humbled by the response to this video. At the time I am writing this, it has amassed over 2 million views on Facebook with thousands of comments, messages, and emails to go along with it. I think it’s time to share the story behind this viral video for those who are interested.
***The video has since garnered nearly 100 million view***
I recently was honored with YouTube Next Up. As part of the award I was invited to YouTube Space LA to a one week film school boot camp. We were to film a video there, but no kitchen was available. I was at a loss for what I could possibly film without a kitchen. And that is when the comment happened. It didn’t hurt my feelings and it didn’t surprise me either. Lots of people have commented about my gray hair over the years and I have never been ashamed to share my reasons. I decided to answer the nasty commenter and then share the comment and answer on my personal Facebook page. The response from my friends and family there was overwhelming. At that moment, I knew what my video project would be.
The video was filmed at YouTube Space LA with the assistance of four amazing people (Jay, James, Jerry, and my mentor Julie). I wasn’t sure that I would ever post it anywhere, but used it as an opportunity to experiment with filmmaking and storytelling. I had a script and tried filming that. My amazing friend Jerry told me I needed to do a take where I just spoke from the heart. There I was in a dark room with lights glaring in my eyes. I couldn’t see anyone, just a glint of reflection from the camera lens. I spoke to the camera, to an unknown audience, but mostly to myself. And that’s what you see above.
At the end of the week we screened our projects on a movie theater screen with about 35 people as an audience. I held my breath as mine came on screen, wondering what everyone’s response would be. I felt so naked and vulnerable. It was all so raw. I had no idea I could hold my breath for three and a half minutes! The response from my fellow YouTube creators was overwhelming. They were so encouraging and demanded that I post it. It took me a number of days to actually share it on my YouTube channel. I ended up deciding to share it on Facebook as well at the last minute. I was doing a fundraiser for some friends who are adopting a baby and all the traffic to my blog was being donated to them. I thought the video might generate some more traffic for them. I had no idea that the video would end up being viewed by millions.
The response is humbling. I get comments, messages, and emails of support every few seconds. I am making it a point to read every single one simply because I want to make sure each and every story is heard. I don’t know that I will ever be able to respond to them all and I apologize. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day. I have spent the last several days at my kitchen table reading all of your words. I have wept with you. I have laughed with you. And I have been deeply enriched by the entire experience.
People have created a hashtag (#bethatperson) and the message of self love is spreading. BBC has written an article about the video, and people are campaigning to reach The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I don’t even know what to say. I am at a loss for words. How do you respond to accidentally creating a movement like that? I surely don’t know! What I do know is that I am deeply touched and forever changed by this experience. Thank you. That is all I know how to say.
A small note: To the many sincere desires to help my medical condition: Thank you for your concern. I am currently very happy with my current treatment and am not interested in the many offers I am receiving for medical advice.
People can sure be mean these days and even when we know their hate reflects their own insecurities, it still hurts. It is truly sad that our culture fears aging instead of embracing it. It is even worse when someone as successful and beautiful as yourself has to suffer from a cultural flaw you don’t even take part in. Your strength in this video is what I admire. Your conviction of truths is what I relate to and your beautiful energy is what makes this a beautiful message. Thank you for bringing your perspective back to my reality I struggle with every day. Thank you for reminding me what’s important and thank you for showing us kindness instead of retaliation. At the end of the day it’s not about what we have owned, wore or looked like…. it’s about the relationship we have made and the people we have helped. Cheers girls!
i have always wanted to be a blogger and wondered since i went to culinary school, how i could use my background. i was laid off a few years back, took courses while my grandmother who really taught me to cook as a kid, was getting Alzheimer and i wanted to take care of her. them then my dad got sick,then my dog passed, and i was a personal chef so i could juggle taking care of things that were falling apart. i never learned how to blog, never encouraged to do so,and i have family members who pick on me, so i gave up. your video made me cry, i never think i have anything to offer the world, i feel alone most of the time. Thank you for your inspiration. I want to be that person, too. I wonder if you could help me get started on my blog?
Love the grey in your hair and your menschlichkeit !
I seen your video regarding to the response of you having gray hair. I have a lot too. That’s the problem we are having now a days. We are good in criticizing other people of how they look, how they parenting, how women should look, how women shounldn’t be breastfeeding in the public but we are not good in doing what is matter. Society and magazine told us that we should look like this. I get you because when I was young and even when I got a little bit older that I never love myself. I have a big eyes that I was getting bullied about. So I thought that I am ugly. Not only that I have a big eyes but I was so skinny like a toothpick when I was young. Not until God showed me how He loves me and how He created me in His own imaged. just then that I learned to love myself and I feel look good about myself. I could care less when people think I look old without make up. With my gray hair, with my dark circles in my eyes, with my big eyes, skinny and having double chin. People will judge me all they want I don’t care. I know how I am and how I am with my savior. Good for you standing up about yourself. You are beautiful. I have more gray hair that you are 🙂
Rachel, if you touch just ONE person with your words you’ve succeeded in what you set out to do. So congrats because you touched me! ❤️
Being raw and open and vulnerable are things that make us more real and give others hope when we share what we struggle with. So good job!
And thank you for making me laugh out loud with your comments about raisins on your cinnamon roll recipe. I needed that today! God bless you.
You are beautiful the way you are. Don’t ever change for someone else.
dear rachel! normally i skip videos like yours posted on facebook. no idea why i didn’t this time… i don’t know you and i’ve never before knew about your website. however, i found your video very touching. sweetie, you ARE beautiful! i’m absolutely convinced you have always been beautiful inside, outside, whatever side! and you’ll always be! if anybody dares to make stupid comments on your appearance or on whatever related to your life, it says more about that particular person than about you. my husband is just like yours – he’s so proud about and happy with our wonderful relationship (not always easy going, but that’s life! and our relationship is always based on love and genuine interest in our mutual wellbeing), he asked me also to never dye my hair, he loves the color it has (light brown? dark blonde? i have no idea :D) and every single grey hair showing… we are getting old together (i’m 52, he’s 56 and we met 26 years ago) , whatever this “old” means! we don’t know what our lifespan is – we can drop dead from one second to another! don’t waste your time feeling bad because of others who don’t appreciate you. you’re perfect as you are. thank you for your video, i’ll gladfully share it hoping it inspires lots of people as it touched my heart. wish you all the best! claudia
What gray hair? Frankly, from reading your blog, you have more talent than the nasty witch that write about yuh! She’s just jealous!
Thank You! You are Brave & Beautiful!
OLD HAG???? You have got to be kidding? 35 years ago when I was a young pup of 21 I was smitten with love for a woman of about the same age in the store we both worked at. She had the very same hair you had, very dark and long with many strands of gray hair, actually more gray than you have. She was a hottie! I spent every day trying to get her to pay attention to me but without success! I usually had no major trouble getting dates. But this woman, with the unique and beautiful dark hair with the gray strands, would not give me the time of day….so she became my forbidden fruit! But I was no Eve and never able to convince her to date me! I was jilted and in despair! So you see, to me and probably to many other men, that hair is the hair of the unattainable one! It represents the pinnacle of beauty and perfection in one elusive fair maiden! You are a GODDESS, who also happens to cook really well. 😉 Kudos to you for wearing your heart on your sleeve and living life to its fullest.