I was fortunate to attend the TEDx Tampa Bay event yesterday and hear from a lineup of incredible speakers. Motivational speakers. The theme was, "The Future of Storytelling." As you may know, TED is a not for profit organization dedicated to "ideas worth spreading." I cleared my schedule at the last minute and signed up for the event without expectations but with an open mind.
Speakers ranged from artists to writers, entrepreneurs to scientists, and explorers to professionals of play (like me). The event schedule said 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. I pulled into my parking spot at 8:05, and when I walked inside, I was thrilled to discover that there was a one-hour "meet and greet" factored in, with coffee. Speakers didn't come on until 9. So, I met a young woman named Kelly. We talked about our reasons for being there, and I learned that she recently moved to St. Pete and wants to start her own not-for-profit someday. I told her about my business and my writing, and we chatted up until the time doors opened. A few friends showed up too: Vinny (who I knew would be there), Tracey (one of my hoop dance students who I ran into unexpectedly) and George (a former colleague who I haven't seen in 9 years! Turns out, he's friends with Vinny, too).
The announcer was energetic and funny, and as the first speaker approached the stage, I had a feeling that it was going to be a powerful day. I was right. I don't remember the last time I've been this excited about learning.
All of the presenters were incredible, but I think I connected most with Kathleen Taylor, Nora Gaunt & Ryan Mitchell, Sharon Britton, Michael Kruse, Mark Gordon and Reuben Pressman & Hunter Payne. You can read bios here.
Kathleen is a licensed mental health counselor who spoke about her years working for Hospice. She said that people often ask her why she enjoys working with terminally ill patients. I loved her response. "It's because they are incapable of bullshit," she said. She explained that when people approach death, they speak truth. They make amends with family members who they haven't spoken to in years. They reflect on their lives, and as they prepare for death, they wake up to the preciousness of time.
"Do you know the number one regret people have, when they look back on their lives?" she asked. "It's wishing that they had lived their truth."
I learned from her talk that, in the end, it doesn't matter who's right or wrong. And it doesn't matter if you follow the norms that society has set out for you. What matters is living to your true, authentic potential. There is only one you, and it's never too soon to take action and make positive change. When we tap into our true, authentic beings, we increase understanding and decrease fear. This results in joy.
There were more talks with the "happiness" theme. I loved Nora and Ryan's take on it: Wealth is not measured by possessions, they told us. Wealth is measured by happiness. After traveling halfway around the world, this duo had wise words to share about wealth in experiences. They found themselves in far away countries, where language barriers were broken with smiles and hard work. They choose to invest in experience and personal connections verses worldly possessions.
It was a talk that I really enjoyed. I'll admit that I'm sometimes guilty of "retail therapy." You know... shopping for the sake of shopping just because it makes you feel better, when really the root of the problem is something else. Most of the things I buy when I feel this way are things that I don't really need. But when I turn off the TV, put down the cell phone, and truly take the time to connect with people, I have the most amazing experiences. For these reasons, I go to hoop dance & yoga retreats and spend time on the water with people I care about. I make it a point to pick up the phone and call old friends, and I'm going to make a conscious effort to do an even better job of this moving forward.
Then there was Sharon Britton - a high powered New York City attorney who left it all to become a painter. She practices yoga and talks about replacing fear with love. She discussed higher vibrations and how we should move away from 'anti' campaigns and move towards 'love' campaigns. Sharon calls herself a neurotic hippie.
Michael Kruse was one of my favorite speakers of the day. There was no power point presentation, and he organized his speech much like I would imagine he organizes his columns for the Tampa Bay Times. The man is an artist of words and stories. He ended his discussion with a little nugget of inspiration that I especially loved, in relation to the event theme. He said that the future of stories was stories, and I agree. Throughout time, storytelling has been present. We live in a fast-paced world, with technological advances happening at an alarming pace. But we re-tell stories from those who came before us, and we can only imagine what stories are yet to come.
Mark Gordon was fascinated by the ocean for as long as he can remember. He talked about walks on the beach and staring out into the water, as he daydreamed about treasures under the sea. Today, Mark owns a company called Odyssey, and he's a professional treasure hunter. His company uncovered more than 40 tons of silver from a World War II shipwreck, which was located 4,700 meters below sea level (this is deeper than the Titanic).
Next up... Reuben and Hunter. I've been connected with these guys for a while now. Our paths keep crossing (St. Pete becomes a small town when you surround yourself with like-minded people). Our businesses are very similar, in the sense that we promote joy, laughter and personal connections through play. Reuben and Hunter are the founders of Swings Tampa Bay - a spontaneous community building organization that hangs hand-painted swings (created by regular members of our community) all over Tampa. We've run into each other at professional networking events, the Saturday Morning Market and through mutual friends. These guys rock, and their energy on stage was contagious.
The day was filled with "delicious listening," as one of the presenters so creatively referred to it. I left yesterday's event feeling thoroughly inspired and also eager to keep learning. This morning, I watched more inspirational TED talks online, and I think that I'm officially a TED junkie now. I'm going to make it to that national conference someday. And who knows? Maybe it will be me speaking on that stage. The sky is the limit, baby!
Next week, I'm packing my bags for a Buddhist Retreat Center in Santa Cruz, CA. I'm so honored to be teaching at Hoop Camp, the largest hoop dance gathering in the country. I can't wait to share, learn, connect, re-connect and meditate in this beautiful, serene place. I have a feeling that I'll be doing a lot of writing on my trip also. More to stories to come...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Affirmations
Do you believe in affirmations? There's purpose to our existence, and if we take the time to recognize Universal signs, then we wind up exactly where we are supposed to be. It's not a new thought: being in tune with the world around us, that is. And recognizing when we're on the right path becomes an important part of the journey.
Writing this book is straight up freaking me out... for so many reasons. Obviously, the content itself is scary. I'm writing about the things that I've spent my entire life trying to hide. I'm taking a big magnifying glass, and I'm looking closely at the scary stuff, in an effort to heal myself and to provide a message of inspiration for those who relate to my story and are open to change.
As I reflect on my old journals, sometimes the words don't even feel like my own. Remember that scene in the "Neverending Story" where Bastian doesn't realize that he's the one the book is about, until the very end? It's kind of like that dejavu feeling... like my former self is a shadow of who I am today, and like I'm reading someone else's story. Our experiences make us who we are, but we can transform our lives in ways that we never imagined were possible.
The affirmations... they come when you are connected to your soul's purpose. I feel really good today. I started my morning with yoga, and then I had a meeting with my business partner. I know that big things are on the horizon for my company, and I feel mentally strong and capable. I need to feel like this when I tackle the hardest parts of my book. So, I returned home after my meeting and worked on the "Rock Bottom" section of my book... the time in my life where the depression almost sucked me into a big, black hole. Months ago, I placed paper clips in my journal so I would know exactly where to find the "rock bottom" journal entries.
Today, I flipped to a journal entry that was especially hard for me to read, much less re-write in book form. I was 25 years old, depressed, and having trouble making sense of the world around me. I had recently received a phone call in the middle of the night and learned that a dear friend, Aaron, had passed away unexpectedly in a car crash. Aaron was Brad's best friend.
This is what I wrote in my journal:
These are some of the scariest emotions that I've ever dealt with. Today, I wrote feverishly and bulldozed through the hardest pages. And as I reflected on the words of my former self, I thought about how much I have changed and evolved. I thought about my friends and family who are still here, on this Earth. I thought about the people who love me and who I love in return. I thought about beauty in nature and about the importance of doing the things we are most passionate about. I thought about my dog and how she makes me smile every day. And I thought about how much I've changed and how beautiful life can be. Just as I prepared to close my hand-written book, I flipped back to the beginning of that journal entry and noticed the date: September 20, 2004. Today's date.
Sure, you could call it a coincidence. I prefer to call it an affirmation.
Writing this book is straight up freaking me out... for so many reasons. Obviously, the content itself is scary. I'm writing about the things that I've spent my entire life trying to hide. I'm taking a big magnifying glass, and I'm looking closely at the scary stuff, in an effort to heal myself and to provide a message of inspiration for those who relate to my story and are open to change.
As I reflect on my old journals, sometimes the words don't even feel like my own. Remember that scene in the "Neverending Story" where Bastian doesn't realize that he's the one the book is about, until the very end? It's kind of like that dejavu feeling... like my former self is a shadow of who I am today, and like I'm reading someone else's story. Our experiences make us who we are, but we can transform our lives in ways that we never imagined were possible.
The affirmations... they come when you are connected to your soul's purpose. I feel really good today. I started my morning with yoga, and then I had a meeting with my business partner. I know that big things are on the horizon for my company, and I feel mentally strong and capable. I need to feel like this when I tackle the hardest parts of my book. So, I returned home after my meeting and worked on the "Rock Bottom" section of my book... the time in my life where the depression almost sucked me into a big, black hole. Months ago, I placed paper clips in my journal so I would know exactly where to find the "rock bottom" journal entries.
Today, I flipped to a journal entry that was especially hard for me to read, much less re-write in book form. I was 25 years old, depressed, and having trouble making sense of the world around me. I had recently received a phone call in the middle of the night and learned that a dear friend, Aaron, had passed away unexpectedly in a car crash. Aaron was Brad's best friend.
This is what I wrote in my journal:
This world is such a cruel place. Sometimes, I feel like I've lost faith in everyone and everything. I don’t know how God
could have taken Aaron away from us too.
I don’t know anything anymore. I think that God had it all wrong, and it should have been me who died
– not Brad or Aaron.
These are some of the scariest emotions that I've ever dealt with. Today, I wrote feverishly and bulldozed through the hardest pages. And as I reflected on the words of my former self, I thought about how much I have changed and evolved. I thought about my friends and family who are still here, on this Earth. I thought about the people who love me and who I love in return. I thought about beauty in nature and about the importance of doing the things we are most passionate about. I thought about my dog and how she makes me smile every day. And I thought about how much I've changed and how beautiful life can be. Just as I prepared to close my hand-written book, I flipped back to the beginning of that journal entry and noticed the date: September 20, 2004. Today's date.
Sure, you could call it a coincidence. I prefer to call it an affirmation.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Reflecting on 9/11...
I've never shared my journals publicly, but considering I'm writing a book based on them, I thought that now was as good a time as any...
Today is Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Eleven years ago to the day, I was a young executive who had just landed her dream job in New York City. I had competed with more than 300 applicants for a summer internship at a global PR firm on 42nd Ave. When the internship came to an end, there was one full-time position available, and I was thrilled to receive the offer. My start date was September 4, 2001. I was a fresh-faced young executive who was adjusting to a new life in the big city.
I've been keeping journals since the age of 5. This is my journal entry from September 11, 2001:
September 11, 2001
TERRORISM HITS AMERICA: New York City
5:30 a.m. - Wake up and go to kickboxing class
8 a.m. - Walk to bus stop to catch bus to Port Authority
8:45 a.m. - Arrive at Port Authority. While standing in line for the subway to Grand Central Station, a hysterical man ran by me. He was yelling about the World Trade Center being on fire. "A plane hit the tower," he said. "It's on fire." Some people seemed concerned. Others, like me, just thought he was another crazy bum talking nonsense.
9 a.m. - Arrive at Grand Central Station and walk to work
9:05 a.m. - Arrive at my office building, 220 42nd Ave. I thought it was strange that security people were guarding the building and checking ID.
9:10 a.m. - I make my way to the 8th floor. I enter the office and this is when I realize that the World Trade Center is actually on fire. My co-workers are watching the live broadcast, and I join them.
BREAKING NEWS: Two commercial airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Terrorist attacks, they say.
9:25 a.m. - I go to my office and shut the door. I check my email because I don't know what else to do. At this point, I don't realize the seriousness of the situation.
9:45 a.m. - I go to a conference room where my co-workers were gathered with the TV on. At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed and everyone was crying.
10:15 a.m. - The human resources manager speaks to us. She says that if we decide to leave the building, we must sign out so that everyone is accounted for. I went back to my office and called dad. Phone lines are working in the office. No one can call in, but we can call out. Dad is thankful to hear from me. The news is being broadcast worldwide.
10:20 a.m. - I call mom. She's hysterical. She keeps saying that she's so glad to hear my voice. We both cry on the phone. She tells me the second tower is falling, after advising me to get water, food and a damp towel to cover my nose and mouth when I go outside. I tell her I love her before hanging up the phone.
10:30 a.m. - I go back into the conference room. I watch the TV screen as the North Tower crumbles. I see footage of the planes crashing into the buildings. My co-worker's husband was in the North Tower. She was standing near me when she fainted. She was then rushed out of the room by executives from human resources.
10:45 a.m. - I go back to my office and call Vanessa. I can't get a hold of her. The girl sitting in the office next to me is crying hysterically. Her boyfriend is supposed to be on a plane, and she hasn't heard from him. All airports are closed throughout the country.
Somewhere between 10:45 and 11 a.m.: News breaks about the Pentagon, and two more hijacked planes go down in Washington and in Pennsylvania.
11:10 a.m. - Someone knocks on my office door. He tells me to leave. The office is being evacuated.
*My office is next to the United Nations building, and near the Chrysler Building. All major monuments are under close watch and nearby offices must be evacuated, I learn.*
11:12 a.m. - I walk around aimlessly as people hurry out the door. I moved to Hoboken earlier in the week, and I know that I can't get back to my apartment. The subways are closed, and the city is in lock down. My co-worker Clayton lives in Hoboken. I see him and he tells me to come with him, and he'll help me get home later.
BREAKING NEWS: United Airlines & American Airlines planes were hijacked. Boston plane hits Trade Center. After plane hits, people jump from windows.
11:25 a.m. - I walk 20 blocks to safety. I see clouds of smoke and people covered in ashes.
11:45 - Noon: We arrive at a private club for aspiring actors. Clayton is a member, so we go inside and meet up with his wife and friends. Everyone is shaken up. I have a vodka and tonic to calm my nerves. I feel like a sitting duck. We can't leave the city. What if they bomb Manhattan next?
TVs are on everywhere and they keep playing the crashes over and over again.
1 p.m. - The club closes, and we find an open restaurant. I order a glass of wine.
2:30 p.m. - We try to make our way back to Hoboken. We walk to the ferry but there are thousands of people who are waiting in line, trying to get home to their families and friends. We are told that the wait could be up to 8 hours. Subways and buses are closed.
3 p.m. - We arrive at Penn Station, and we've walked about 50 blocks. Trains have finally started running, but the schedules are confusing. We finally get on a train to Newark. At Newark, we transfer to the Hoboken-bound train. Cell phones have been down all day.
*There was an eerie feeling on the streets of New York. Ambulances, police vehicles, fire trucks and helicopters occupied the city and were everywhere. We see where the World Trade Center stood hours earlier. A huge, dark cloud sweeps over the city of New York.*
6 p.m. - Finally! I have cell phone service. I get through to my mom and sister. Mom is crying again.
6:15 p.m. - Walking home, I see military officials and rescue squads. Helicopters swarm overhead, right above my apartment. The burning smell of debree, ashes and God-only knows what else, is powerful and scary.
6:45 p.m. - I was the last roommate home. Now, we are all safe. We go over the day's events, and there's more crying.
7 p.m. - I drink two beers and keep watching the news in disbelief. My voice mailbox is full, and I can't make calls anymore. At least my family knows I'm safe, and they can relay the information to everyone else.
8 p.m. - I'm huddled on the couch with all three of my roommates. We need to get out of the apartment. Down by the river, we see the huge, black smoke cloud over NYC. On the shore of the Hudson River, military and emergency vehicles are lined up.
9:30 p.m. - We return home and watch more news. President Bush says we will hunt down and attack those responsible for this tragedy. More fear washes over me. I think about John, Gavin, Nate, Steve and Nick... all of my friends who are in the military. Are we at war now?
12 a.m. - I close my eyes for a few hours, but it's hard to sleep with the helicopters flying overhead.
I'm horrified. I just keep thinking, "What's happening to our world?" I watched as thousands of lives ended in a few, brief moments. Right now, United States officials are trying to save lives and find answers. A van was stopped at the George Washington Bridge armed with bombs. In Boston, FBI officials are trying to find out about the flights. There were four planes total - all headed West to California. One hit the Pentagon, two hit the Twin Towers and the last went down in Pennsylvania. Palestinian children and adults rejoice in the streets. It's a fucked-up situation. The government is most concerned with saving those still trapped in the World Trade Center. There were no survivors from the Pentagon crash. Reporters say there are more than 700 leads on the terrorist attacks but no concrete information.
In the days that followed, there were bomb scares all over Manhattan. The first day that I attempted to go back to the city, my train stopped and military officials ran through the subway cars. Apparently, someone had called in a bomb threat, and we waited underground for 20 minutes, in fear. The smells and sounds of September 11 lasted for months following the attack.
I'll never forget the post 9/11 commute. Those who lost loved ones had their photos all over the underground subway terminals, bus stations and community boards. I would cry every day, as I stopped to look at the pictures and read the stories of those who were missing. I prayed for those families every night.
What a tragic time for our country.
Today is Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Eleven years ago to the day, I was a young executive who had just landed her dream job in New York City. I had competed with more than 300 applicants for a summer internship at a global PR firm on 42nd Ave. When the internship came to an end, there was one full-time position available, and I was thrilled to receive the offer. My start date was September 4, 2001. I was a fresh-faced young executive who was adjusting to a new life in the big city.
I've been keeping journals since the age of 5. This is my journal entry from September 11, 2001:
September 11, 2001
TERRORISM HITS AMERICA: New York City
5:30 a.m. - Wake up and go to kickboxing class
8 a.m. - Walk to bus stop to catch bus to Port Authority
8:45 a.m. - Arrive at Port Authority. While standing in line for the subway to Grand Central Station, a hysterical man ran by me. He was yelling about the World Trade Center being on fire. "A plane hit the tower," he said. "It's on fire." Some people seemed concerned. Others, like me, just thought he was another crazy bum talking nonsense.
9 a.m. - Arrive at Grand Central Station and walk to work
9:05 a.m. - Arrive at my office building, 220 42nd Ave. I thought it was strange that security people were guarding the building and checking ID.
9:10 a.m. - I make my way to the 8th floor. I enter the office and this is when I realize that the World Trade Center is actually on fire. My co-workers are watching the live broadcast, and I join them.
BREAKING NEWS: Two commercial airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers. Terrorist attacks, they say.
9:25 a.m. - I go to my office and shut the door. I check my email because I don't know what else to do. At this point, I don't realize the seriousness of the situation.
9:45 a.m. - I go to a conference room where my co-workers were gathered with the TV on. At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed and everyone was crying.
10:15 a.m. - The human resources manager speaks to us. She says that if we decide to leave the building, we must sign out so that everyone is accounted for. I went back to my office and called dad. Phone lines are working in the office. No one can call in, but we can call out. Dad is thankful to hear from me. The news is being broadcast worldwide.
10:20 a.m. - I call mom. She's hysterical. She keeps saying that she's so glad to hear my voice. We both cry on the phone. She tells me the second tower is falling, after advising me to get water, food and a damp towel to cover my nose and mouth when I go outside. I tell her I love her before hanging up the phone.
10:30 a.m. - I go back into the conference room. I watch the TV screen as the North Tower crumbles. I see footage of the planes crashing into the buildings. My co-worker's husband was in the North Tower. She was standing near me when she fainted. She was then rushed out of the room by executives from human resources.
10:45 a.m. - I go back to my office and call Vanessa. I can't get a hold of her. The girl sitting in the office next to me is crying hysterically. Her boyfriend is supposed to be on a plane, and she hasn't heard from him. All airports are closed throughout the country.
Somewhere between 10:45 and 11 a.m.: News breaks about the Pentagon, and two more hijacked planes go down in Washington and in Pennsylvania.
11:10 a.m. - Someone knocks on my office door. He tells me to leave. The office is being evacuated.
*My office is next to the United Nations building, and near the Chrysler Building. All major monuments are under close watch and nearby offices must be evacuated, I learn.*
11:12 a.m. - I walk around aimlessly as people hurry out the door. I moved to Hoboken earlier in the week, and I know that I can't get back to my apartment. The subways are closed, and the city is in lock down. My co-worker Clayton lives in Hoboken. I see him and he tells me to come with him, and he'll help me get home later.
BREAKING NEWS: United Airlines & American Airlines planes were hijacked. Boston plane hits Trade Center. After plane hits, people jump from windows.
11:25 a.m. - I walk 20 blocks to safety. I see clouds of smoke and people covered in ashes.
11:45 - Noon: We arrive at a private club for aspiring actors. Clayton is a member, so we go inside and meet up with his wife and friends. Everyone is shaken up. I have a vodka and tonic to calm my nerves. I feel like a sitting duck. We can't leave the city. What if they bomb Manhattan next?
TVs are on everywhere and they keep playing the crashes over and over again.
1 p.m. - The club closes, and we find an open restaurant. I order a glass of wine.
2:30 p.m. - We try to make our way back to Hoboken. We walk to the ferry but there are thousands of people who are waiting in line, trying to get home to their families and friends. We are told that the wait could be up to 8 hours. Subways and buses are closed.
3 p.m. - We arrive at Penn Station, and we've walked about 50 blocks. Trains have finally started running, but the schedules are confusing. We finally get on a train to Newark. At Newark, we transfer to the Hoboken-bound train. Cell phones have been down all day.
*There was an eerie feeling on the streets of New York. Ambulances, police vehicles, fire trucks and helicopters occupied the city and were everywhere. We see where the World Trade Center stood hours earlier. A huge, dark cloud sweeps over the city of New York.*
6 p.m. - Finally! I have cell phone service. I get through to my mom and sister. Mom is crying again.
6:15 p.m. - Walking home, I see military officials and rescue squads. Helicopters swarm overhead, right above my apartment. The burning smell of debree, ashes and God-only knows what else, is powerful and scary.
6:45 p.m. - I was the last roommate home. Now, we are all safe. We go over the day's events, and there's more crying.
7 p.m. - I drink two beers and keep watching the news in disbelief. My voice mailbox is full, and I can't make calls anymore. At least my family knows I'm safe, and they can relay the information to everyone else.
8 p.m. - I'm huddled on the couch with all three of my roommates. We need to get out of the apartment. Down by the river, we see the huge, black smoke cloud over NYC. On the shore of the Hudson River, military and emergency vehicles are lined up.
9:30 p.m. - We return home and watch more news. President Bush says we will hunt down and attack those responsible for this tragedy. More fear washes over me. I think about John, Gavin, Nate, Steve and Nick... all of my friends who are in the military. Are we at war now?
12 a.m. - I close my eyes for a few hours, but it's hard to sleep with the helicopters flying overhead.
I'm horrified. I just keep thinking, "What's happening to our world?" I watched as thousands of lives ended in a few, brief moments. Right now, United States officials are trying to save lives and find answers. A van was stopped at the George Washington Bridge armed with bombs. In Boston, FBI officials are trying to find out about the flights. There were four planes total - all headed West to California. One hit the Pentagon, two hit the Twin Towers and the last went down in Pennsylvania. Palestinian children and adults rejoice in the streets. It's a fucked-up situation. The government is most concerned with saving those still trapped in the World Trade Center. There were no survivors from the Pentagon crash. Reporters say there are more than 700 leads on the terrorist attacks but no concrete information.
In the days that followed, there were bomb scares all over Manhattan. The first day that I attempted to go back to the city, my train stopped and military officials ran through the subway cars. Apparently, someone had called in a bomb threat, and we waited underground for 20 minutes, in fear. The smells and sounds of September 11 lasted for months following the attack.
I'll never forget the post 9/11 commute. Those who lost loved ones had their photos all over the underground subway terminals, bus stations and community boards. I would cry every day, as I stopped to look at the pictures and read the stories of those who were missing. I prayed for those families every night.
What a tragic time for our country.
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