Day 337; The Space Between; My TEDx Experience

The Space Between; My TEDx Experience

Yesterday, I had the golden opportunity (okay, now that think about it, it was probably platinum) to participate in a TEDx in Centennial Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was a part of an international TED talk celebrating the ideas of women.

It was tapped and will be shared with other participants around the globe.

The theme was The Space Between. I spoke about the space between life and laughter and WNBA star, Lindsey Harding spoke about the space between reaching your goals, which she had to do by pushing past a major injury and enjoying the journey, which she has been on all over the globe.

John Brock, The CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises shared the about space between the middle and the top. He said that his greatest leadership role model has been his mother. She taught him dedication, commitment and compassion. He makes sure that the people around him exemplify these qualities and he makes certain that there are women at the table to teach others the same.

Kristin Neff blew me away with the space between self-esteem and self-compassion by pointing out that self-esteem is based on being better than someone else, while self-compassion requires that we love our self without comparison.

Jessica Sherer shared the space between seeing and really seeing. She is accomplished beyond her young years, but she moved from the space of status as a concert flautist to her new role as guide to young stars in the Atlantic Music project. She realized that she had seen a good life but wanted to really see, so she decided to start a project for kids and said that when she got to Atlanta, she found that what she wanted to create already existed so she just joined in.

I thought about that line for some time and the fact that we often lead with ego when we want to be the first and best of whatever, when it’s so much better to join with what already exist.

There were more brilliant presentations, a powerful dance, music and laughter. The space between my head and my heart was filled with new ideas and feelings that could take me a lifetime.

Still, I must admit that what enabled me to move beyond the clouds was the energy of the team that worked in the background, and the beautiful audience that came together early on a Saturday morning.

The team was energetic, smart, kind, and beautiful and they were joyful. They spoke to one another as if they were a chorus and everyone was singing the same song. They knew and did their jobs well and they did so with laughter.

I was moved by the synchronicity of their actions and the fact that nothing was beneath or above the skills of anyone. It was hard to believe that they were volunteers for this event, and had different powerful roles during the week.

Henna, the choir director led with purpose and Rita, her organist played and served from her belief that there is power in diversity of thought but in our heart, we are one.

The audience was filled with some of the smartest women in the country and they were also beautiful and kind, and girl could they laugh.

The TEDx experience is one that everyone should have. Anything you’d like to think about or learn about has been or will be discussed at a TEDx event. The Technology, Entertainment and Design of our lives can be heard at TED long before anyone else knows about it.

Get on line, look for one you might be interested in and then keep looking.

Be you, be well, and fill the space between knowing and not, feeling and not and of being and doing nothing.

Bertice Berry, PhD.

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