Immediately, I Was in Awe

TEDxEvansville Executive Committee member Jenn Schultheis shares one of her favorite TED Talks.

While I can name a handful of favorite TED talks, one I find personally inspiring is Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude, which was filmed at TEDxSF in June 2011. I watched it for the first time in late December that year. Immediately, I was in awe; the way he weaves vibrant images along with simple narration spoke so deeply to me that I knew I needed to share the talk.

The next day, while having family over to celebrate the holidays, I showed it to a group of relatives ranging in age from 7 to 80. Having seen the talk many times in the previous 24 hours, I surreptitiously watched the reactions on my family members’ faces. As I looked around at them, it was apparent that they were, if not enjoying it, at least getting something out of it. And, I thought to myself: This is exactly what a good TED talk does… It allows each viewer to come away with a unique interpretation, a personal meaning… an idea, which is similarly expressed in Mr. Schwartzberg’s talk:

“Look at the faces of people whom you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face, a story that you could never fully fathom. Not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. We all go back so far, and in this present moment, on this day, all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world flows together and meets you here like a life- giving water. If you only open your heart and drink.”Quote from an elderly man in the video

It’s no coincidence that I’m involved with the TEDxEvansville curatorial team. My list of “talks to watch” on TED.com contains 65 talks. Like so many, I often share them with family and friends.

Here are two of those:

“…I will live every day as if there were a microphone tucked under my tongue, a stage on the underside of my inhibition. Because who has to have a soapbox when all you’ve ever needed is your voice?”Clint Smith: The danger of silenceWatch Video

“There are two most powerful days in your life: the day you’re born, and the day you discover why.”Boniface Mwangi: The day I stood up aloneWatch Video