September 27, 2012
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Favorite TEDs
Supercamp has made me exponentially a cooler person. Mainly by connecting me with amazing people who know amazing things. They told me about TED
I sum up TED as ”things done d*** good.” People have less than 20 minutes to share an idea that is worth listening to. Basically–take one thing–and do it well.
Here are my favs:
1. Sarah Kay http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html and http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/sarah_kay_how_many_lives_can_you_live.html
2. Goose pimples: http://www.ted.com/talks/imogen_heap_wait.html
3. Because he is rather immortal: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html
4. Vulnerability: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html, http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html
5. Because I have a crush on him and he is from Jamaica: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html
6. A good three minutes: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html and http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html
There are so many more. These are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. I like to go and search under “Beautiful.” Watching these not only inspires me, but makes me wonder what my “One thing” is.
I know my spiritual answer: To love God.
My professional answer: to give children opportunities.
My passionate answer: to find/tell stories.
Underneath it all I just want to be really, really d*** good at something. Anything, almost. I got a degree in general studies: a little bit of everything. A mile wide, an inch deep. I live for new projects, skills, hobbies that excite me until I realize that Malcolm Gladwell’s rule of 10,000 hours strikes again–and i don’t have 10,000 hours to invest to become great. And then I go back to finding my one thing–the one thing that really matters–that is worth investing my ONE life into.
And then I think about if I had my 20 minutes: what would I say? I’ve written a couple of “TED talks.” It is on my bucket list of things to do (#49). I dreamed I was invited to share about Living Stones. It sounded something like this:
First everyone has to close their eyes and visualize South America: looks like me, with my hand on my hip. And that’s me, in Brazil, on the elbow. I love it. Why? I just do. That is how love works.
The problem: over 41% live in deep poverty: no band aids. No toilet paper. No kitchen sink.
The solution: connect them to lasting community change: local churches that open their doors to the children during the week. Weekends–hear the preaching. Weekdays: see what it looks like.
LEND a HAND
Love: “All you need is…” (www.wribrazil.com/10forthem)
Education: 28% graduate from public school in Brazil. One in three are illiterate or far behind their grade level. (www.wribrazil.com/literacy)
Nutrition: They can’t listen to your preaching if their tummy is rumbling. (www.wribrazil.com/5for5)
Direction: Give the training and opportunities to end the cycle of poverty (www.wribrazil.com/foundationbuilder)
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Heart: Find your passion. Do it. Hopefully involving Living Stones.
Assist: Come to Brazil yourself (www.wribrazil.com)
Needs: Get to know them personally–the needs and the people (www.buildinglivingstones.blogspot.com)
Donate: visit any one of the above sites to do so. We try to make it easy.
