I’m trying an experiment in 2016. Maybe you’d like to try it with me.

Here’s where I am
I’m tired of the spin. I’m tired of ideas, news, and entertainment really being one long sales pitch for profit or power.

I’m longing for creativity, curiosity, and inspiration. I’m in search of passionate people willing to speak to the truth and complexity of living with a heart of hope. I want to hear from authentic humans who are in the trenches working for the greater good.

I think I’ve found them in the TED community.

“TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, we’re building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world’s most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long.”

TED’s been around for 30 years. I’ve heard about them and even watched a couple of talks, but I’ve never spent any concentrated time mining the good stuff. So….

Here’s the plan
Watch 5 enthusiastic, inspiring TED Talk presenters a week for a year.
Apply and share the goodness.

Here’s what I chose for week 1

How I’m Preparing to Get Alzheimer’s
Alanna Shaikh
TEDGlobal, June 2012
My dad has Alzheimer’s. I clicked this link via a Facebook post. The idea for the experiment came from the goodness and vulnerability of this speaker.

How to Stay Calm When You Know You’ll be Stressed
Daniel Levitin
TEDGlobal, September 2015
Ok talk. They won’t all rock my world.

Looks aren’t everything. Believe me, I’m a model.
Cameron Russell
TEDxMidAtlantic, October 2012
Where was this talk when I was a teenager! So much more than a talk on body image. Cameron Russell calls out the legacy of privilege.

How to Make Stress Your Friend
Kelly McGonigal
TEDGlobal, June 2013
Game changing talk for me. How you view stress changes everything and I had a destructive view. Will be watching this one again.

The Transformative Power of Classical Music
Benjamin Zander
TED2008, February 2008
Benjamin Zander’s enthusiasm and joy are infectious. His talk is a parable for so many other aspects of life, including leadership, perspective, and renewal efforts.