oh hi everybody I am really loud thank you so much for coming tonight it is an
you so much for coming tonight it is an
you so much for coming tonight it is an honor to be sharing the stage so back
honor to be sharing the stage so back
honor to be sharing the stage so back when I was a kid
when I was a kid
when I was a kid my mom she sort of had a certain set of
my mom she sort of had a certain set of
my mom she sort of had a certain set of advice that she gave to me and my
advice that she gave to me and my
advice that she gave to me and my brother on a repetitive basis eat your
brother on a repetitive basis eat your
brother on a repetitive basis eat your vegetables stand up straight
vegetables stand up straight
vegetables stand up straight go to bed early and turn out your light
go to bed early and turn out your light
go to bed early and turn out your light I was a problem reader when I was a kid
I was a problem reader when I was a kid
I was a problem reader when I was a kid she also told us to go outside and play
she also told us to go outside and play
she also told us to go outside and play well it turns out that my mom might have
well it turns out that my mom might have
well it turns out that my mom might have been right about all of those things go
been right about all of those things go
been right about all of those things go figure
figure
figure so I have a theory my theory is that
so I have a theory my theory is that
so I have a theory my theory is that somewhere in middle school we begin to
somewhere in middle school we begin to
somewhere in middle school we begin to disconnect from nature I believe that as
disconnect from nature I believe that as
disconnect from nature I believe that as humans we are designed to be connected
humans we are designed to be connected
humans we are designed to be connected with nature its intuitive for us but
with nature its intuitive for us but
with nature its intuitive for us but somehow in middle school it’s maybe just
somehow in middle school it’s maybe just
somehow in middle school it’s maybe just not that cool to go outside to play
not that cool to go outside to play
not that cool to go outside to play actually most of middle school isn’t
actually most of middle school isn’t
actually most of middle school isn’t that cool
that cool
that cool it’s kind of what it’s about but also I
it’s kind of what it’s about but also I
it’s kind of what it’s about but also I think that in middle school is when we
think that in middle school is when we
think that in middle school is when we begin to strive as parents we push our
begin to strive as parents we push our
begin to strive as parents we push our kids to do more to be more to try for
kids to do more to be more to try for
kids to do more to be more to try for more to be better than we were to be
more to be better than we were to be
more to be better than we were to be better than everyone else we push
better than everyone else we push
better than everyone else we push ourselves to do that to do that as well
ourselves to do that to do that as well
ourselves to do that to do that as well it’s the American dream right to make
it’s the American dream right to make
it’s the American dream right to make the best better it’s a great dream but I
the best better it’s a great dream but I
the best better it’s a great dream but I believe that without balance we can’t
believe that without balance we can’t
believe that without balance we can’t succeed in reaching that dream the
succeed in reaching that dream the
succeed in reaching that dream the balance that we need to have is a
balance that we need to have is a
balance that we need to have is a balance of self-care and striving for
balance of self-care and striving for
balance of self-care and striving for more so it turns out my mom was right
more so it turns out my mom was right
more so it turns out my mom was right funny research actually supports her
funny research actually supports her
funny research actually supports her there’s a growing body of research that
there’s a growing body of research that
there’s a growing body of research that tells us that connecting with nature
tells us that connecting with nature
tells us that connecting with nature actually helps us so what do we need
actually helps us so what do we need
actually helps us so what do we need help with well how many of you have some
help with well how many of you have some
help with well how many of you have some stress in your lives anybody
stress in your lives anybody
stress in your lives anybody how many people got stressed out about
how many people got stressed out about
how many people got stressed out about coming here you got like 28 other things
coming here you got like 28 other things
coming here you got like 28 other things that you’re supposed to be doing right
that you’re supposed to be doing right
that you’re supposed to be doing right or places to be a little bit of stress
or places to be a little bit of stress
or places to be a little bit of stress is great it helps us in our striving it
is great it helps us in our striving it
is great it helps us in our striving it helps us to reach for our dreams but too
helps us to reach for our dreams but too
helps us to reach for our dreams but too much stress is not good for us our
much stress is not good for us our
much stress is not good for us our bodies are designed for stress to happen
bodies are designed for stress to happen
bodies are designed for stress to happen fast a release of cortisol a release of
fast a release of cortisol a release of
fast a release of cortisol a release of adrenaline that helps us run away from
adrenaline that helps us run away from
adrenaline that helps us run away from the bear that helps us when we’re in
the bear that helps us when we’re in
the bear that helps us when we’re in danger but most of us don’t have that
danger but most of us don’t have that
danger but most of us don’t have that type of stress on a regular basis
type of stress on a regular basis
type of stress on a regular basis anymore right instead what Americans
anymore right instead what Americans
anymore right instead what Americans have is a 60 year trend of increasing
have is a 60 year trend of increasing
have is a 60 year trend of increasing stress stress from 1950 to 1980 went
stress stress from 1950 to 1980 went
stress stress from 1950 to 1980 went from what was a clinical stress in the
from what was a clinical stress in the
from what was a clinical stress in the 50s by the 80s became the norm and guess
50s by the 80s became the norm and guess
50s by the 80s became the norm and guess what 30 years later we still haven’t
what 30 years later we still haven’t
what 30 years later we still haven’t learned anything or changed anything now
learned anything or changed anything now
learned anything or changed anything now 60 years later what was clinical in the
60 years later what was clinical in the
60 years later what was clinical in the 80s is now the norm and I’m not just
80s is now the norm and I’m not just
80s is now the norm and I’m not just talking about adults teenagers children
talking about adults teenagers children
talking about adults teenagers children and adults all suffer from stress not a
and adults all suffer from stress not a
and adults all suffer from stress not a little bit of stress not the good kind
little bit of stress not the good kind
little bit of stress not the good kind of stress what else you may have
of stress what else you may have
of stress what else you may have recently seen the news or heard in the
recently seen the news or heard in the
recently seen the news or heard in the news information about obesity we all
news information about obesity we all
news information about obesity we all know that’s no good right yep 36% of
know that’s no good right yep 36% of
know that’s no good right yep 36% of Americans struggle with obesity folks
Americans struggle with obesity folks
Americans struggle with obesity folks what’s that about
what’s that about
what’s that about we know what we should be doing we
we know what we should be doing we
we know what we should be doing we should be doing what my mom said and I’m
should be doing what my mom said and I’m
should be doing what my mom said and I’m pretty sure that your mom might have
pretty sure that your mom might have
pretty sure that your mom might have told you something similar right we kind
told you something similar right we kind
told you something similar right we kind of know what we’re supposed to be doing
of know what we’re supposed to be doing
of know what we’re supposed to be doing but we aren’t doing it that obesity
but we aren’t doing it that obesity
but we aren’t doing it that obesity issue isn’t just adults did you know
issue isn’t just adults did you know
issue isn’t just adults did you know that childhood obesity has doubled in
that childhood obesity has doubled in
that childhood obesity has doubled in the last 20 years and appallingly
the last 20 years and appallingly
the last 20 years and appallingly adolescent obesity has quadrupled we are
adolescent obesity has quadrupled we are
adolescent obesity has quadrupled we are not moving our bodies we’re not eating
not moving our bodies we’re not eating
not moving our bodies we’re not eating our vegetables right and what are the
our vegetables right and what are the
our vegetables right and what are the problems with both stress and obese
problems with both stress and obese
problems with both stress and obese obesity they both connect to and lead to
obesity they both connect to and lead to
obesity they both connect to and lead to chronic and persistent illness it
chronic and persistent illness it
chronic and persistent illness it damages our cork self-concept
damages our cork self-concept
damages our cork self-concept we don’t feel good about ourselves we
we don’t feel good about ourselves we
we don’t feel good about ourselves we feel like we’re not good in
feel like we’re not good in
feel like we’re not good in we feel like we should be more we should
we feel like we should be more we should
we feel like we should be more we should do more we should reach for more but we
do more we should reach for more but we
do more we should reach for more but we can’t because stress leads to anxiety
can’t because stress leads to anxiety
can’t because stress leads to anxiety and depression obesity ditto right your
and depression obesity ditto right your
and depression obesity ditto right your body hurts your brain hurts we’re
body hurts your brain hurts we’re
body hurts your brain hurts we’re not–we’re not where we need to be we
not–we’re not where we need to be we
not–we’re not where we need to be we aren’t doing what we know we should do
aren’t doing what we know we should do
aren’t doing what we know we should do so I feel so strongly about this
so I feel so strongly about this
so I feel so strongly about this research and it turns out to be what my
research and it turns out to be what my
research and it turns out to be what my mom said I’m a little pained but I do
mom said I’m a little pained but I do
mom said I’m a little pained but I do have to say right here on stage in front
have to say right here on stage in front
have to say right here on stage in front of my mom you were right thanks for
of my mom you were right thanks for
of my mom you were right thanks for telling me so years later Here I am to
telling me so years later Here I am to
telling me so years later Here I am to say we need to go outside there’s a
say we need to go outside there’s a
say we need to go outside there’s a growing body of research that supports
growing body of research that supports
growing body of research that supports this research says that by going outside
this research says that by going outside
this research says that by going outside we can address stress anxiety and
we can address stress anxiety and
we can address stress anxiety and depression not just a little bit but it
depression not just a little bit but it
depression not just a little bit but it makes a significant difference it will
makes a significant difference it will
makes a significant difference it will change how we feel it will being bring
change how we feel it will being bring
change how we feel it will being bring balance to our striving I feel so
balance to our striving I feel so
balance to our striving I feel so strongly about that that three years ago
strongly about that that three years ago
strongly about that that three years ago I started a business called dirty girl
I started a business called dirty girl
I started a business called dirty girl adventures it’s changed my life the
adventures it’s changed my life the
adventures it’s changed my life the connections that I have made over the
connections that I have made over the
connections that I have made over the last three years have enriched my life
last three years have enriched my life
last three years have enriched my life beyond measure I’m a school social
beyond measure I’m a school social
beyond measure I’m a school social worker now I’ve been a social worker for
worker now I’ve been a social worker for
worker now I’ve been a social worker for a long time my business partner a woman
a long time my business partner a woman
a long time my business partner a woman Sean was right Jennifer is an
Sean was right Jennifer is an
Sean was right Jennifer is an occupational therapist together we
occupational therapist together we
occupational therapist together we created a vision for dirty girl
created a vision for dirty girl
created a vision for dirty girl adventures our vision is to empower and
adventures our vision is to empower and
adventures our vision is to empower and motivate people of all ages and
motivate people of all ages and
motivate people of all ages and abilities to reach their full potential
abilities to reach their full potential
abilities to reach their full potential through outdoor adventure and connection
through outdoor adventure and connection
through outdoor adventure and connection with a community that values whole
with a community that values whole
with a community that values whole health the balance right so with dirty
health the balance right so with dirty
health the balance right so with dirty girl adventures you’ve been seeing the
girl adventures you’ve been seeing the
girl adventures you’ve been seeing the pictures of all these people all ages
pictures of all these people all ages
pictures of all these people all ages and stages all different people we do
and stages all different people we do
and stages all different people we do mostly have women participants I’m
mostly have women participants I’m
mostly have women participants I’m pretty sure somebody else told you a
pretty sure somebody else told you a
pretty sure somebody else told you a statistic about that but what we find is
statistic about that but what we find is
statistic about that but what we find is that and I’m going to share a story that
that and I’m going to share a story that
that and I’m going to share a story that a dirty girl was brave enough to share
a dirty girl was brave enough to share
a dirty girl was brave enough to share with me what she said is that for most
with me what she said is that for most
with me what she said is that for most of her life after a difficult childhood
of her life after a difficult childhood
of her life after a difficult childhood she struggled to make friends the types
she struggled to make friends the types
she struggled to make friends the types of friendships that many of us are able
of friendships that many of us are able
of friendships that many of us are able to develop over our lives she often
to develop over our lives she often
to develop over our lives she often struggled with depression she felt
struggled with depression she felt
struggled with depression she felt disconnected isolated and lonely she
disconnected isolated and lonely she
disconnected isolated and lonely she always loved animals in nature and so
always loved animals in nature and so
always loved animals in nature and so when she found the dirty girl adventures
when she found the dirty girl adventures
when she found the dirty girl adventures Facebook page she started to watch the
Facebook page she started to watch the
Facebook page she started to watch the pictures she really wanted to go outside
pictures she really wanted to go outside
pictures she really wanted to go outside but self-doubt held her back she thought
but self-doubt held her back she thought
but self-doubt held her back she thought I’m too old I’m too fat I’m not strong
I’m too old I’m too fat I’m not strong
I’m too old I’m too fat I’m not strong enough took another she says almost a
enough took another she says almost a
enough took another she says almost a year before she actually came outside
year before she actually came outside
year before she actually came outside with us when she first came she was very
with us when she first came she was very
with us when she first came she was very guarded she’d had contact with other
guarded she’d had contact with other
guarded she’d had contact with other social groups and not had success she
social groups and not had success she
social groups and not had success she felt pressured there was drama but when
felt pressured there was drama but when
felt pressured there was drama but when she came with us what she found was that
she came with us what she found was that
she came with us what she found was that she was welcomed she was encouraged not
she was welcomed she was encouraged not
she was welcomed she was encouraged not pushed she was supported she felt part
pushed she was supported she felt part
pushed she was supported she felt part of a group there was a kinship there
of a group there was a kinship there
of a group there was a kinship there she felt like she belonged she’s still
she felt like she belonged she’s still
she felt like she belonged she’s still sometimes struggles with depression but
sometimes struggles with depression but
sometimes struggles with depression but she knows that the dirty girls are there
she knows that the dirty girls are there
she knows that the dirty girls are there for her because she is part of our tribe
for her because she is part of our tribe
for her because she is part of our tribe right so what do you need to do what can
right so what do you need to do what can
right so what do you need to do what can you do you can’t all come outside with
you do you can’t all come outside with
you do you can’t all come outside with dirty girl adventures and quite frankly
dirty girl adventures and quite frankly
dirty girl adventures and quite frankly as much as I would like to say that
as much as I would like to say that
as much as I would like to say that Jennifer and I are amazing it’s really
Jennifer and I are amazing it’s really
Jennifer and I are amazing it’s really not about that it’s about you taking
not about that it’s about you taking
not about that it’s about you taking yourself outside to connect with nature
yourself outside to connect with nature
yourself outside to connect with nature to reestablish the intuitive connection
to reestablish the intuitive connection
to reestablish the intuitive connection that was lost for you maybe hopefully
that was lost for you maybe hopefully
that was lost for you maybe hopefully not somewhere back in middle school take
not somewhere back in middle school take
not somewhere back in middle school take a friend take your dog take your grandma
a friend take your dog take your grandma
a friend take your dog take your grandma take your kids and go outside you’ll
take your kids and go outside you’ll
take your kids and go outside you’ll have to practice it first even though
have to practice it first even though
have to practice it first even though humans are designed to connect with
humans are designed to connect with
humans are designed to connect with nature when you’re out of practice it’s
nature when you’re out of practice it’s
nature when you’re out of practice it’s hard to do certain things so it might
hard to do certain things so it might
hard to do certain things so it might feel weird to not be doing something
feel weird to not be doing something
feel weird to not be doing something might feel weird to not have your phone
might feel weird to not have your phone
might feel weird to not have your phone in your hand your tablet in your hand
in your hand your tablet in your hand
in your hand your tablet in your hand while you’re out there you can take your
while you’re out there you can take your
while you’re out there you can take your phone
phone
phone on airplane mode and you can take
on airplane mode and you can take
on airplane mode and you can take pictures but not have to interface with
pictures but not have to interface with
pictures but not have to interface with everyone leave your Fitbit at home on
everyone leave your Fitbit at home on
everyone leave your Fitbit at home on the counter
the counter
the counter this isn’t about distance it’s not about
this isn’t about distance it’s not about
this isn’t about distance it’s not about speed once you’ve practiced awhile you
speed once you’ve practiced awhile you
speed once you’ve practiced awhile you can go back to that what this is about
can go back to that what this is about
can go back to that what this is about is going outside to help you balance to
is going outside to help you balance to
is going outside to help you balance to help your family balance to help our
help your family balance to help our
help your family balance to help our whole society balance by reconnecting
whole society balance by reconnecting
whole society balance by reconnecting with what is intuitive to us to strive
with what is intuitive to us to strive
with what is intuitive to us to strive for the American Dream requires a
for the American Dream requires a
for the American Dream requires a balance if we don’t take care of
balance if we don’t take care of
balance if we don’t take care of ourselves we won’t succeed in any of our
ourselves we won’t succeed in any of our
ourselves we won’t succeed in any of our striving we’ll be stressed depressed
striving we’ll be stressed depressed
striving we’ll be stressed depressed anxious obese and not very healthy
anxious obese and not very healthy
anxious obese and not very healthy that’s the kind of society we’ve lived
that’s the kind of society we’ve lived
that’s the kind of society we’ve lived in for 60 years we let it get worse it’s
in for 60 years we let it get worse it’s
in for 60 years we let it get worse it’s time to make a change go outside Thanks
time to make a change go outside Thanks
time to make a change go outside Thanks [Applause]
”
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