TED: Ideas worth spreading
We don’t mean Big Ted or Paddington Bear (even if they could teach us a thing or two).
We’re talking TED talks, the non-profit conference of ideas that started in the mid-80s and stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design.
TED is the global community that welcomes people of most disciplines and cultures, seeking a deeper understanding of the world, to come together annually at TED (or TEDx independently). TED spreads ideas built from the knowledge of some of the world’s most inspired thinkers and aims to change attitudes, lives and the world.
With millions of views per video online and huge turnouts offline, they’ve got a lot of people talking, especially the twenty-something Gen Y’ers. But what can TED teach people like us?
Stop waiting, give what you have now
Mark Bezos, a volunteer firefighter, when at his first fire and his colleague was asked (instead of him) to go inside a burning house and save the dog, was stunned with jealousy.
He wanted to be the hero.
When the owner of the house wrote a letter to thank them for everything and saving a pair of her shoes, Bezos realised the following: all acts of kindness or grace matter to someone.
“Not every day is going to give us the chance to save somebody’s life, but everyday offers us the opportunity to affect one,” he says.
Get in the game. Give
what you have – even if it’s just time to serve food at a soup kitchen.
Watch his talk here: Mark Bezos
Take the time to contemplate and reflect on what really matters
By giving what we have now, we’re reminded that our time is limited, yet what we do now makes an impact on other people.
After artist Candy Chang lost someone she loved, she created the giantchalkboard wall that invites public communities to reflect on their lives and share what matters to them by filling in the blank question: “Before I die I want to___”.
Some of the responses she initially received looked like: “Before I die I want to plant a tree… eat more everything… be completely myself.”
By making neglected public spaces into constructive ones, Chang invites members of communities worldwide to use community spaces in powerful ways.
She also reminds us to maintain perspective, understand and engage with our neighbours, and think about death to clarify our lives.
Does your community have a public place for contemplation and reflection? Have you seen any of Chang’s walls in Australia?
What would you write?
Watch her talk here: Candy Chang
Rest, regroup and keep going
Taking time to rest is equally as important as taking time to reflect and contemplate what really matters, which seems more obvious than it often is.
After 35 years of rock climbing, Matthew Childs says, “The best climbers are the ones that in the most extreme situations can get their bodies into some position where they can rest, regroup, calm themselves, focus and keep going.”
Watch his talk here: Matthew Childs
Enjoy the climb of your life
Give what you have now, create the space for contemplation with your neighbours, come face to face with your immortality, and rest when the going gets tough.
We’re all on this rock climb together. So enjoy the ride!
What is one of the most important life lessons you have learnt?
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