Healthy Minds and Healthy Living – TEDxHouston
This past Saturday, I had the fortune to attend the curated event TEDxHouston. If you are not familiar, this is the independently held local version of TED. The days events were about expanding perceptions by speakers from varied backgrounds in Technology, Entertainment and Design. TED.
To describe the entire day could take several posts, but I can reflect on two themes that have settled in to my mind and body since the event. Oh and yes, they are both unsettling and invigorating at the same time. I am energized.
Storytelling:
The outstanding selection of speakers were all great storytellers, with even a few like Chef Monica Pope admitting we need to find our stories again. But, Dr. Brene Brown opened the session by letting us in for a moment to see a portion of her research regarding shame and worthiness. She provided insight based on her years of research that “stories are just data with soul.” How beautiful. Thank you Brene. Through her sharing her own stories and what she learned from them, we all felt a bit more connected and empathic to the day ahead. She set the stage for us to walk into our own story.
Monica and Gracie Cavnar of Recipe 4 Success both spoke about the need to focus on sustainable and healthy lifestyles for family, communities and especially our children. Mark Johnson of Hometta and Dan Phillips of Phoenix Commotion let us think about sustainable ways of building and living including how to preserve the story in homes and honesty of materials. David Crossley of Houston Tomorrow showed us the fruits of his farming plans and shared a vision of a Houston with small sustainable neighborhoods to manage our growth. Stephen Klineberg had already made it clear from his consistent years of data analysis, Houston is growing and the demographics are changing to a minority majority for new experiences. We will need to make use of the opportunities presented as the world will be watching. I love Houston.
Authenticity
This may be the most clear and difficult theme to walk away with and continue to carry. Authenticity from the speakers, telling stories about real life events, and how to measure yourself by your own beliefs and values instead of perceptions by others. We heard Dan talk about contractors and builders laughing at his ideas, and Cristal Montanez Baylo of Hashoo Foundation talk about engaging women and giving them to the financial ability to educate their children in a man’s world. These were strong and inspiring stories that have depth and are the kind that keep bumping around your head for days after. The kind just challenging you to look them in the eyes. I am still trying to answer, and find more of my authenticity, but I am proud of the badge I wore around for the day. We were not labeled by company brands or titles as at other conferences, but by three words chosen from our applications for attendance. Almost like a mini-wordle.
Simple. Living. Technology. Those were my three words. They ring true in my heart. This balance between my love of the gifts of technology with the near sacredness of Simple Living. I take simple living to include such random things as sustainability, authentic materials for building, cooking with local grown foods, being prepared for the unseen and honest work of the body to keep it healthy and long living. Somehow, technology for business and near Luddite simplicity of daily life work together in my brain. Go figure. My goal is to be able to share how I work on the balance for others who may find it more difficult.
In addition to the above, the entertainment of dance and music perfectly melded into the connected parts of my brain. I was inspired to learn about creation and execution of responsible medical equipment for underserved countries and entrepreneurs who look at doing more with less. To bring us around full circle to our own neurons, Dr. David Eagleman let us realize we know what we don’t know, and we don’t know even more.
My brain is still connecting my own dots and how this will influence my future. But, the main phrase we walked away at the end of the TEDxHouston day was, the Challenge:
Who am I being, that that is that way?
Had to go find where I read this from all the great posts after the event, Edited to add the above thought challenge from Karen’s blog at www.chookoolonks.com
Thank you to the many who were involved in the planning, organization and execution of such a memorable day including Culture Pilot and so many more.
Category: Featured, Storytelling, Technology
