While I was traveling in Southern Africa in February, I experienced ubuntu ... a beautiful ethic/humanist concept of people coming together to help each other out... Read more about ubuntu philosophy (Wikipedia).
I learned about ubuntu when our van broke down in Botswana... we spent 4 1/2 hours by the side of the road waiting for help-- the help that came was abundant! From the South, the manager from Elephant Sands Lodge heard about our situation and built a tow then came with a truck to tow our broken van... At the same time from the North, the lodge in Chobe, where we would spend the night, sent a van for the passengers to ride in. Another lodge sent a van and guide to assist us in crossing the border, while our guide stayed behind to look after the vehicle. A few days later when we had a long drive back to Johannesburg, a couple of guides delayed their return home for a week's vacation to take us, because they thought it would be nicer and safer for us to ride in their van. They explained ubuntu as the reason that they helped out our guide who had encountered a "matata" (a problem). Matata are fairly common, and mostly people approach them with a smile and say with determined ease, "we'll make a plan."
Recently, I experienced ubuntu personally while preparing for my first TEDx talk for TEDxBarcelonaChange: Positive Disruption in Global Health, part of TEDxChange sponsored by the Gates Foundation.
I received incredible insight, wisdom, and tips from from my community. Under the attentive eye of the magnificent event organizer and social innovation catalyst Aurelie Salvarie among other dedicated readers, 20 drafts of the script and many practice sessions later, I had a masters-level crash course in storytelling and public speaking.
People shared their talent and time to assist in crafting an effective message. From TED worth presentation guru Brooke Estin on visuals to Florian Mueck of the 7 Minute Talk as speaker coach, I was immersed in awesomeness with one single aim: to make a message that would touch and inspire people. Less than 36 hours before, I had a raging fever and no voice. Ironically, it was April Fools Day (April 1) and I thought if I call Aurelie to tell her, she will think it is a mean joke. It was the participation of so many people in getting to that moment that buoyed my recovery. When it was game time, I gave it my all.
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept about perfection in imperfection. This TEDx is raw rather than polished. I barely had my voice back and was desperately trying not to cough. Wabi-sabi also underpins the idea. Sometimes we have to step out, before we are fully prepared with all of the rehearsals that we need. We have to experiment and improvise. We go forward before perhaps things are perfect. Perhaps we don't feel ''ready.' Yet we step out into life anyway, imperfect, unpolished. We are open to learning. We are vulnerable and honest. it's that authenticity that makes the beauty that is wabi-sabi.
I received incredible insight, wisdom, and tips from from my community. Under the attentive eye of the magnificent event organizer and social innovation catalyst Aurelie Salvarie among other dedicated readers, 20 drafts of the script and many practice sessions later, I had a masters-level crash course in storytelling and public speaking.
People shared their talent and time to assist in crafting an effective message. From TED worth presentation guru Brooke Estin on visuals to Florian Mueck of the 7 Minute Talk as speaker coach, I was immersed in awesomeness with one single aim: to make a message that would touch and inspire people. Less than 36 hours before, I had a raging fever and no voice. Ironically, it was April Fools Day (April 1) and I thought if I call Aurelie to tell her, she will think it is a mean joke. It was the participation of so many people in getting to that moment that buoyed my recovery. When it was game time, I gave it my all.
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept about perfection in imperfection. This TEDx is raw rather than polished. I barely had my voice back and was desperately trying not to cough. Wabi-sabi also underpins the idea. Sometimes we have to step out, before we are fully prepared with all of the rehearsals that we need. We have to experiment and improvise. We go forward before perhaps things are perfect. Perhaps we don't feel ''ready.' Yet we step out into life anyway, imperfect, unpolished. We are open to learning. We are vulnerable and honest. it's that authenticity that makes the beauty that is wabi-sabi.
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