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.
I watched your video and I cried, having felt the way you felt and I say this with all the truth and honesty in my heart. This song is for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk
I just watched your video and want to tell you that you are from head to toe beautiful. Thank you for your message, thank you for taking the time to create it and share it.
Thank you for your courage to be true to yourself and to be honest with the world. I know that it exposes you to undeserved criticism, as you have seen, but hopefully you consider that a small price to pay for the much larger benefit you put into the universe. I got my first gray hair at the age of 22. I’m now almost 56 and just within this last week made a decision to end the tyranny of perpetual dying and embrace the gray. It’s complicated at this point because my hair is long and a beautiful golden brown and I need to transition to semi-permanent color, shorten it, blend it, blah, blah, blah. My husband will freak if I cut it short and thinks that I will look older if I go gray, but I am convinced that I will just look better and he will probably be OK with it. Your video was a very timely encouragement to me. If you can do it at age 31, then I need to just stop whining about it. I’ve earned every one of those gray hairs and I’m going to display them proudly. The hair, however, is just a small part of the beautiful message you shared. You’ve had to deal with some difficult challenges and you are doing it graciously. May God bless you.
This gave me goosebumps! You are beautiful, both inside and out and I wish you all the growing old you can get!
You are a truly beautiful person, inside and outside. God doesn’t make mistakes and he made you wonderfully. God Bless You.
I saw your video on Facebook. It literally brought me to tears. What a beautiful person you are and your heart is huge. I have shared it with my friends because it a message so beautifully spoken that needs to be seen by people over and over. I applaud the way you handled the situation.
Thank you so much for sharing such an intimate part of your life with all of us. Who knows how many hearts you will touch? It’s a wonderful gift you have given.
I just watched this video on FB, as it was shared by a friend. I want to say thank you. I have always struggled with feeling much less than beautiful and the scars and pain inflicted through my youth and into my teens. I can relate to so many of the things you shared…and I too am embracing my kinky, unsubmissive gray hair…ha! I think you’re beautiful and I’m so thankful that you were willing to be vulnerable and share your heart with the world. God bless you and give you a full and abundant life…because after this one is over, there’s more on the other side.
Dear Stay at Home Chef,
Those things that some see as imperfections are actually what make you unigue. So be the best you you can be. Life is precios and enjoy everyday.
God Bless,
Bryan
We’ll all be there some day, some sooner than others. Thank you for being such a beautiful example for all young women,
You, along with each and every grey hair on your head, are beautiful!!!