What are TED TALKS?

 

Several years ago I discovered TED TALKS on the internet. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a non-profit organization whose slogan is “spreading ideas worth sharing.” They are short inspirational talks by experts in various fields, including psychology, ecology, communications, medicine, and human relations. 

I recently watched a talk by a woman who had some physical disabilities and needed a scooter to navigate. She spoke of some of her experiences and demonstrated how little we know of other peoples’ hidden handicaps or feelings. She realized she needed a good education since she would not be able to do jobs requiring physical mobility. She used her intelligence to acquire an advanced degree and her sense of humor to put people at ease.  Her main point was that it is not a weakness to ask for help. 

Pope Francis also did a TED TALK entitled “The Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone." He speaks of the need for each other, for solidarity, and for a revolution of tenderness. He uses the story of the Good Samaritan to show how necessary it is to care for the other, especially the sick, the poor, and the wounded. He says,“The future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a ‘you’ and themselves as part of an ‘us.’ We all need each other.”

I encourage you to listen to some TED TALKS. You will be inspired, you will laugh, and you will learn new ways of thinking.