Motherhood is filled with great joy. But often, especially when you have small children, it also feels a little like the movie Groundhog Day. A little, well, monotonous day after day.
mo not o nous
adjective
tedious and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
Sometimes, we need a little inspiration to remind us of the bigger picture. I’ve recently started listening and watching TED Talks, and I can’t get enough! According to the TED website, “TED is a nonprofit devoted to ‘ideas worth spreading’, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers most all topics – from science to business to global issues – in more than 100 languages.” Here are a few of the many reasons that I’m loving all things TED:
- They’re perfectly “mom-sized.” At 18 minutes or fewer, TED Talks are the perfect length for moms. I can listen in the car, while getting ready for work, or while working out (hahaha, right…).
- They allow me to learn about subjects I wouldn’t have otherwise explored. When they say there are TED Talks that cover most all topics, they aren’t kidding. If you can think it up, there is probably a TED Talk about it. I consider myself to be a perpetual learner, and TED Talks are perfectly pre-packaged opportunities to learn and grow.
- They expose me to many cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles. Like many of us, I unintentionally live in my own little bubble. Listening and learning from others who aren’t anything “like me” but who are simultaneously exactly “like me” forces me to stretch my mind, biases, and reminds me of how small the world really is.
- They’re inspirational. The news and social media are often filled with stories of sadness and tragedy. The TED speakers are often people who have done incredible things, overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, or who have ideas that are worth spreading. They remind me that there’s still a lot of good in the world and inspire me to be and do more.
So, how can you listen to and watch TED Talks? Luckily, there are plenty of options. Best of all, they’re free!:
- Television: Netflix, AppleTV
- Computer: TED website, TED YouTube channel
- Phone: Of course, there’s an app for that! Dedicated TED apps for Android and iPhone and well as the Podcast app on iPhone make accessing TED Talks a breeze
- Radio: Ted Radio Hour on NPR
- In Person: TED Conferences (require membership and ain’t cheap) are one way, but your best bet is a TEDx event which are TED style events held independently on the local level. In fact, there is even a TEDxLSU!
I find myself wanting to share almost every Ted Talk I listen to, but here are a few of my very favorites. Check it out. Before long, you’ll be a “TED-a-holic”, too!
- When Online Shaming Spirals Out of Control -Jon Ronson (This one is especially appropriate for a mom’s blog)
- Do Schools Kill Creativity? -Ken Robinson
- The Best Kindergarten You’ve Ever Seen -Takaharu Tezuka
- Why We Need to Rethink Capitalism -Paul Tudor Jones II
