Right after the eventful 11-11-11, I attended an all day TEDxRainier 2011 independent and inspiring talks at Kane Hall (UW). Speaker topics ranged from 'culture rethink' to 'evolutionary change makers' to 'beyond frontiers.' These people are making a difference by pushing the edges of their personal boxes to shift the already always perspective of the reality they are born into.
I especially like Jim Sorenson's question to the audience " Is my perspective giving me the results that I want? " In some areas of my life, my answer to this is a resounding YES but in other areas ... well, its as dim as I can imagine an infinite darkness to be. Our notion about reality is in conflict when our present-need-to-embrace reality butt heads with our perceived reality. His top three lessons were (1) Embrace Reality, (2) Have a Context for the Reality and (3) Do the work! Its the last one that trips people up ... When it comes down to it. People actually don't do the work and not because they don't know how; but simply - they don't want to! Lots of Words and NO actions to back it up.
This same mantra was shared with speakers, Patti Dobrowolski and Amy Jo Martin. I loved Amy's visual image of an "integrity compass" and aligning ourselves with our truest self! Work, Family and Self. Patti then requested all of us to draw our dreams into reality. Well, I did mine! As she shared with us the story of Joe, I started drawing my current state of being in terms of relationships with myself, family, friends, and career and the future I want to live into. Lets just say that the picture I drew has a big heart on it with a family of my own :) Yes, I am loving it .... and I now need to rewire my brain to transform my initial perception that this life is not possible for me to a perspective that this LIFE is what makes MY LIFE worthy :) I can SEE IT, BELIEVE IT, and NOW ACT ON IT!
We had a surprise guest visit by Rick Steves as he was an amazing replacement for one of the confirmed speakers who couldn't make it. Such an inspiring talk indeed! He showed us pictures of his travels and his undying love of culture transcends through his words. As Mr. Steves said eloquently "Fear is for those people who doesn't travel" and the measure of a human being's experience on earth is how much he/she had traveled.
There were other speakers there who spoke about the future and how the designs of the present makes everything we dream of so tangible. From the Human Genome Project to cultivating bamboos, the paradigm is indeed shifting.
I truly appreciated Andy Himes' vulnerability as he shared the story of his mother.
I got choked up watching the 2 minute documentary video showed by Chris Jordan and the profound message on what is happening in the Gyre.
I want to high-five with the monkey and the shark in front of an explosion to express my awesomeness as shown by Joe Justice.
I admire Chrystie Hill's public confession for stealing a book during her childhood because she loved it too much to let go.
I can go on and on ...
These messages are my needed fuel to propel me forward.
Rest assured -
I am indeed taking on Paul Shoemaker's challenge to look in the "depths of my human passion and the breath of my connectedness."
AND I am declaring my chosen life mantra as shared by the Interfaith Amigos' (i.e., Pastor Don Mackenzie, Rabbi Ted Falcon and Imam Jamal Rahman) to be:
" The transcendent ONE awakens within each of us as our God. Its all ONE as I am as I am."
No comments:
Post a Comment