I won a dinner with Joel Bess. Joel used to be a palm reader. He loves life. His mood is beyond playful. "Fold a piece of paper twice," he tells me, "and I will give you a map to your dreams." I'm hooked. "Write down where you are in your life on one side, and then write down where you want to be in your life in ten years from now on the other side. Now, open up the paper...That blank part is how you're going to get there."

With everyone seated, his family and guests, before we started eating, he charmed everyone into doing his ritual to speak about something you're grateful for.