Checking my previous posts in the Web Scrapbook section, I noticed with surprise none of them includes TED videos. It is time to remedy to this omission!
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a set of conferences run by the private non-profit Foundation, Sapling. It was founded in 1984 as a one-off event; in 1990, annual conference series began. TED it is now a global event with talks, conferences, and videos taking place all over the world. Its slogan “Ideas Worth Spreading” summarises very accurately the purpose and success of the phenomenon. The emphasis is on entertainment as well as short length, each speaker being limited to less than 20 minutes.
TED entered my life about 5 years ago when I moved in a houseshare. Like Zeno, the character in my book Gatekeepers, one of my housemates was a big fan of the website (the similarity between the real and fictional character is not at all random). He was watching several videos a day and I sometimes sat with him. Some were challenging, enlightening, beautiful and/or funny. I have now moved home and browse the Ted website much too rarely, but I still discover a few gems there!
Below are some videos from their playlists ‘Talks to help you focus on what really matters‘.
Sit back, watch and enjoy.
Yours, Virginie
Brené Brown, ‘The power of vulnerability’
Louie Schwartzberg, ‘Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.’
David Steindl-Rast, ‘Want to be happy? Be grateful’
Isabel Allende, ‘How to live passionately—no matter your age’
Guy Winch, ‘Why we all need to practice emotional first aid’