I’m wondering what you all are thinking I’m wondering if I’m gonna get emotional
I’m wondering if I’m gonna get emotional
I’m wondering if I’m gonna get emotional during this talk I might and I wonder
during this talk I might and I wonder
during this talk I might and I wonder what you guys are gonna think about that
what you guys are gonna think about that
what you guys are gonna think about that but I know it’s just my mind doing its
but I know it’s just my mind doing its
but I know it’s just my mind doing its thing so I’m pleasantly freaking out
thing so I’m pleasantly freaking out
thing so I’m pleasantly freaking out that’s what I started talking calling my
that’s what I started talking calling my
that’s what I started talking calling my fears this year in January 2017 I
fears this year in January 2017 I
fears this year in January 2017 I started a project to fold paper cranes
started a project to fold paper cranes
started a project to fold paper cranes there’s a lot of drama going on in the
there’s a lot of drama going on in the
there’s a lot of drama going on in the world at that time and I just didn’t
world at that time and I just didn’t
world at that time and I just didn’t want to sit around and complain and
want to sit around and complain and
want to sit around and complain and complain and complain but I was
complain and complain but I was
complain and complain but I was frustrated finding a place for my voice
so I read the book Sadako and the
so I read the book Sadako and the thousand paper cranes
thousand paper cranes
thousand paper cranes it’s a story based on the life of a
it’s a story based on the life of a
it’s a story based on the life of a young Japanese girl who whose family
young Japanese girl who whose family
young Japanese girl who whose family survived the hiroshima bomb and when she
survived the hiroshima bomb and when she
survived the hiroshima bomb and when she was growing up she was diagnosed with
was growing up she was diagnosed with
was growing up she was diagnosed with what they were calling the atomic bomb
what they were calling the atomic bomb
what they were calling the atomic bomb disease leukemia and she was given less
disease leukemia and she was given less
disease leukemia and she was given less than a year to live and when she was in
than a year to live and when she was in
than a year to live and when she was in the hospital she was reminded of the
the hospital she was reminded of the
the hospital she was reminded of the Japanese tradition of folding a thousand
Japanese tradition of folding a thousand
Japanese tradition of folding a thousand paper cranes to get your wish for health
paper cranes to get your wish for health
paper cranes to get your wish for health and for life and so she started folding
and for life and so she started folding
and for life and so she started folding and as I read more about her family and
and as I read more about her family and
and as I read more about her family and the people of Hiroshima I got further
the people of Hiroshima I got further
the people of Hiroshima I got further inspired because the people of Hiroshima
inspired because the people of Hiroshima
inspired because the people of Hiroshima could have a reason or two to be angry
could have a reason or two to be angry
could have a reason or two to be angry but they’re focused on having different
but they’re focused on having different
but they’re focused on having different conversations conversations for peace
conversations conversations for peace
conversations conversations for peace and education and that got me shifting
and education and that got me shifting
and education and that got me shifting my thinking about my world what if I
my thinking about my world what if I
my thinking about my world what if I started having different conversations
started having different conversations
started having different conversations instead of being drawn into complaining
instead of being drawn into complaining
instead of being drawn into complaining and into that realm of I’m not going to
and into that realm of I’m not going to
and into that realm of I’m not going to talk to you because you’re one of them
talk to you because you’re one of them
talk to you because you’re one of them whatever them is for you or for me and
whatever them is for you or for me and
whatever them is for you or for me and I’m embarrassed to say I have a couple
I’m embarrassed to say I have a couple
I’m embarrassed to say I have a couple of themes
but what if I was started asking people
but what if I was started asking people what they want to create in the world
what they want to create in the world
what they want to create in the world what they want for their families in
what they want for their families in
what they want for their families in their communities and for the world
their communities and for the world
their communities and for the world I might actually find out we have more
I might actually find out we have more
I might actually find out we have more in common than I initially realized
in common than I initially realized
in common than I initially realized that’s a place where my voice fits
unfortunately Sadako passed away but her
unfortunately Sadako passed away but her friends and classmates were inspired by
friends and classmates were inspired by
friends and classmates were inspired by her story and her courage and they
her story and her courage and they
her story and her courage and they raised funds to create a memorial to all
raised funds to create a memorial to all
raised funds to create a memorial to all the children that died of the effects of
the children that died of the effects of
the children that died of the effects of the atomic bomb and that statue stands
the atomic bomb and that statue stands
the atomic bomb and that statue stands in the more peace memorial park in
in the more peace memorial park in
in the more peace memorial park in Hiroshima and that Sadako on top
Hiroshima and that Sadako on top
Hiroshima and that Sadako on top releasing a crane so this is what I was
releasing a crane so this is what I was
releasing a crane so this is what I was going to do I was inspired by the book
going to do I was inspired by the book
going to do I was inspired by the book so I’m gonna fold a thousand paper
so I’m gonna fold a thousand paper
so I’m gonna fold a thousand paper cranes I’m gonna sneak over to Hiroshima
cranes I’m gonna sneak over to Hiroshima
cranes I’m gonna sneak over to Hiroshima I’m gonna fold him throw him under a
I’m gonna fold him throw him under a
I’m gonna fold him throw him under a tree then I’m gonna sneak back to
tree then I’m gonna sneak back to
tree then I’m gonna sneak back to America and I’m not going to tell
America and I’m not going to tell
America and I’m not going to tell anybody I’m going to keep it a secret
anybody I’m going to keep it a secret
anybody I’m going to keep it a secret because you know that way if I fail
because you know that way if I fail
because you know that way if I fail nobody’s going to know and I realized
nobody’s going to know and I realized
nobody’s going to know and I realized that that’s how all of my past ideas
that that’s how all of my past ideas
that that’s how all of my past ideas even the smallest passion just slowly
even the smallest passion just slowly
even the smallest passion just slowly died because I kept it to myself so I
died because I kept it to myself so I
died because I kept it to myself so I decided to have a conversation I called
decided to have a conversation I called
decided to have a conversation I called my friend Shannon and I invited her and
my friend Shannon and I invited her and
my friend Shannon and I invited her and her daughter to join me in this project
her daughter to join me in this project
her daughter to join me in this project and that’s when my first huge figure
and that’s when my first huge figure
and that’s when my first huge figure came up like are they gonna think it’s
came up like are they gonna think it’s
came up like are they gonna think it’s stupid or weird or silly and I got so
stupid or weird or silly and I got so
stupid or weird or silly and I got so emotional and it kind of freaked me out
emotional and it kind of freaked me out
emotional and it kind of freaked me out because I didn’t realize it was that
because I didn’t realize it was that
because I didn’t realize it was that emotional and I could barely get the
emotional and I could barely get the
emotional and I could barely get the invitation out but when I finally did
invitation out but when I finally did
invitation out but when I finally did they were like yeah let’s do this and so
they were like yeah let’s do this and so
they were like yeah let’s do this and so that’s when we became three friends
that’s when we became three friends
that’s when we became three friends folding a thousand paper cranes inviting
folding a thousand paper cranes inviting
folding a thousand paper cranes inviting others to fold another thousand paper
others to fold another thousand paper
others to fold another thousand paper cranes so that we could take two
cranes so that we could take two
cranes so that we could take two thousand paper cranes to peace day in
thousand paper cranes to peace day in
thousand paper cranes to peace day in Hiroshima on August 6 2017 and I was
Hiroshima on August 6 2017 and I was
Hiroshima on August 6 2017 and I was okay with that for about a week and then
okay with that for about a week and then
okay with that for about a week and then I realized 2,000 cranes that’s kind of
I realized 2,000 cranes that’s kind of
I realized 2,000 cranes that’s kind of easy
easy
easy I like we could do that ourselves what’s
I like we could do that ourselves what’s
I like we could do that ourselves what’s gonna stretch our comfort zone a little
gonna stretch our comfort zone a little
gonna stretch our comfort zone a little bit what’s going to really like push the
bit what’s going to really like push the
bit what’s going to really like push the like what’s that number it’s like five
like what’s that number it’s like five
like what’s that number it’s like five thousand a hundred thousand and then all
thousand a hundred thousand and then all
thousand a hundred thousand and then all of a sudden it popped in my head what
of a sudden it popped in my head what
of a sudden it popped in my head what about a thousand thousands and then it
about a thousand thousands and then it
about a thousand thousands and then it was like wait how many zeros is that I
was like wait how many zeros is that I
was like wait how many zeros is that I was like oh that’s a million and that
was like oh that’s a million and that
was like oh that’s a million and that got my heart beating again and so I knew
got my heart beating again and so I knew
got my heart beating again and so I knew that I was on to something so another
that I was on to something so another
that I was on to something so another conversation needs to be add okay
conversation needs to be add okay
conversation needs to be add okay Shannon let’s just do this that’s let’s
Shannon let’s just do this that’s let’s
Shannon let’s just do this that’s let’s throw it way out there and let’s just
throw it way out there and let’s just
throw it way out there and let’s just see where this adventure takes us it’s
see where this adventure takes us it’s
see where this adventure takes us it’s gonna make us have to talk to somebody
gonna make us have to talk to somebody
gonna make us have to talk to somebody and so we started so we started sharing
and so we started so we started sharing
and so we started so we started sharing with people little fears came up and the
with people little fears came up and the
with people little fears came up and the more we had conversations those fears
more we had conversations those fears
more we had conversations those fears disappeared and that’s when we started
disappeared and that’s when we started
disappeared and that’s when we started the project in the folds of peace 1
the project in the folds of peace 1
the project in the folds of peace 1 million cranes one crane one wish for
million cranes one crane one wish for
million cranes one crane one wish for peace and one conversation at a time and
peace and one conversation at a time and
peace and one conversation at a time and we started sharing we service people
we started sharing we service people
we started sharing we service people around us I folded cranes on planes
around us I folded cranes on planes
around us I folded cranes on planes especially if I was nervous about
especially if I was nervous about
especially if I was nervous about talking to the person next to me and I
talking to the person next to me and I
talking to the person next to me and I would just keep folding and folding and
would just keep folding and folding and
would just keep folding and folding and folding and folding and usually someone
folding and folding and usually someone
folding and folding and usually someone in the row would be like those are
in the row would be like those are
in the row would be like those are really beautiful is that for a project
really beautiful is that for a project
really beautiful is that for a project or something and I was like as a matter
or something and I was like as a matter
or something and I was like as a matter of fact it is you want to fold one and
of fact it is you want to fold one and
of fact it is you want to fold one and so I get to teach them how to fold a
so I get to teach them how to fold a
so I get to teach them how to fold a crane and we’d have conversations for
crane and we’d have conversations for
crane and we’d have conversations for about what we want in the world and like
about what we want in the world and like
about what we want in the world and like who would think these little guys these
who would think these little guys these
who would think these little guys these little pieces of paper would give me
little pieces of paper would give me
little pieces of paper would give me permission to talk to strangers and I
permission to talk to strangers and I
permission to talk to strangers and I get to have these conversations and I’d
get to have these conversations and I’d
get to have these conversations and I’d get to learn about what people want for
get to learn about what people want for
get to learn about what people want for their families like happiness and ease
their families like happiness and ease
their families like happiness and ease for their family in life or what people
for their family in life or what people
for their family in life or what people walk for the world like for everybody to
walk for the world like for everybody to
walk for the world like for everybody to go to bed with a full stomach or to go
go to bed with a full stomach or to go
go to bed with a full stomach or to go to have a bed to go to and to be able to
to have a bed to go to and to be able to
to have a bed to go to and to be able to support their families and then cranes
support their families and then cranes
support their families and then cranes would randomly arrive in the mail one
would randomly arrive in the mail one
would randomly arrive in the mail one crane came in from a woman in Phoenix it
crane came in from a woman in Phoenix it
crane came in from a woman in Phoenix it had a simple wish it was folded by her
had a simple wish it was folded by her
had a simple wish it was folded by her son several years earlier and she said
son several years earlier and she said
son several years earlier and she said please take this crane to Hiroshima with
please take this crane to Hiroshima with
please take this crane to Hiroshima with a wish for my son to have peace with
a wish for my son to have peace with
a wish for my son to have peace with what he’s going through in life like
what he’s going through in life like
what he’s going through in life like those kind of things are like
those kind of things are like
those kind of things are like have been the priceless things in this
have been the priceless things in this
have been the priceless things in this project so I told my friend Yoshi Coe
project so I told my friend Yoshi Coe
project so I told my friend Yoshi Coe about the project she was born and
about the project she was born and
about the project she was born and raised in Japan and she said this is a
raised in Japan and she said this is a
raised in Japan and she said this is a really beautiful project I don’t think
really beautiful project I don’t think
really beautiful project I don’t think you get how big it’s going to get or
you get how big it’s going to get or
you get how big it’s going to get or what it means coming from the United
what it means coming from the United
what it means coming from the United States
States
States and going to Japan and that got my head
and going to Japan and that got my head
and going to Japan and that got my head going but not as much as when her
going but not as much as when her
going but not as much as when her parents came for a visit her dad found a
parents came for a visit her dad found a
parents came for a visit her dad found a box of cranes in my studio and brought
box of cranes in my studio and brought
box of cranes in my studio and brought it to the table and he said I heard a
it to the table and he said I heard a
it to the table and he said I heard a little bit about your your project but I
little bit about your your project but I
little bit about your your project but I want to hear from you what it’s about
want to hear from you what it’s about
want to hear from you what it’s about and why and so I explained how it
and why and so I explained how it
and why and so I explained how it started what we’re doing the
started what we’re doing the
started what we’re doing the conversations we wanted to have and he
conversations we wanted to have and he
conversations we wanted to have and he just nodded and he said as a Japanese
just nodded and he said as a Japanese
just nodded and he said as a Japanese person I thank you for doing this
person I thank you for doing this
person I thank you for doing this project and if you don’t think that got
project and if you don’t think that got
project and if you don’t think that got this framed going crazy after they left
this framed going crazy after they left
this framed going crazy after they left it was saying things like dude this is
it was saying things like dude this is
it was saying things like dude this is too big you can’t do this you’re gonna
too big you can’t do this you’re gonna
too big you can’t do this you’re gonna disappoint people in two countries now
you need to stop and I knew that that
you need to stop and I knew that that was just fear and I knew I just needed
was just fear and I knew I just needed
was just fear and I knew I just needed to have another conversation so I talked
to have another conversation so I talked
to have another conversation so I talked to my friends and just let the emotions
to my friends and just let the emotions
to my friends and just let the emotions come up and that fear just slowly faded
come up and that fear just slowly faded
come up and that fear just slowly faded away at the beginning of July 2017 we
away at the beginning of July 2017 we
away at the beginning of July 2017 we had about 2,000 cranes and then they
had about 2,000 cranes and then they
had about 2,000 cranes and then they started arriving they came from New
started arriving they came from New
started arriving they came from New Mexico they came from New Mexico
Mexico they came from New Mexico
Mexico they came from New Mexico Arizona California Washington Illinois
Arizona California Washington Illinois
Arizona California Washington Illinois upstate New York
my brain is prepared for 2,000 plates it
my brain is prepared for 2,000 plates it was not the conversation I was like
was not the conversation I was like
was not the conversation I was like Shannon I am so glad we didn’t get a
Shannon I am so glad we didn’t get a
Shannon I am so glad we didn’t get a million cranes this year I am freaking
million cranes this year I am freaking
million cranes this year I am freaking out so we figured out how to get them to
out so we figured out how to get them to
out so we figured out how to get them to lie flat got them in a box in a duffel
lie flat got them in a box in a duffel
lie flat got them in a box in a duffel bag and the rest of my luggage and on
bag and the rest of my luggage and on
bag and the rest of my luggage and on August 6th 2017 we took 10,000 228 paper
August 6th 2017 we took 10,000 228 paper
August 6th 2017 we took 10,000 228 paper cranes to Hershey Hiroshima Japan for a
cranes to Hershey Hiroshima Japan for a
cranes to Hershey Hiroshima Japan for a peace day it was a really beautiful
peace day it was a really beautiful
peace day it was a really beautiful experience many little miracles that day
experience many little miracles that day
experience many little miracles that day Yoshi goes friend flew down from Tokyo
Yoshi goes friend flew down from Tokyo
Yoshi goes friend flew down from Tokyo to escort us around make sure our first
to escort us around make sure our first
to escort us around make sure our first trip went well he got us to the peace
trip went well he got us to the peace
trip went well he got us to the peace ceremony where we were interviewed by a
ceremony where we were interviewed by a
ceremony where we were interviewed by a local documentary crew we dropped off
local documentary crew we dropped off
local documentary crew we dropped off some grains we were even stopped by a
some grains we were even stopped by a
some grains we were even stopped by a local high school kids asking us how
local high school kids asking us how
local high school kids asking us how they could continue spreading the
they could continue spreading the
they could continue spreading the message of peace in the world and we
message of peace in the world and we
message of peace in the world and we talked about our project and about
talked about our project and about
talked about our project and about continuing to have conversations with
continuing to have conversations with
continuing to have conversations with each other so it’s only been a month
each other so it’s only been a month
each other so it’s only been a month since our trip and we already have 2,000
since our trip and we already have 2,000
since our trip and we already have 2,000 cranes that have arrived never prepared
cranes that have arrived never prepared
cranes that have arrived never prepared we’re prepared to have a million bye
we’re prepared to have a million bye
we’re prepared to have a million bye peace day August 6 2018 and we say that
peace day August 6 2018 and we say that
peace day August 6 2018 and we say that the project is going to end when we
the project is going to end when we
the project is going to end when we reach a million cranes but that’s not
reach a million cranes but that’s not
reach a million cranes but that’s not true when I read Sadako and the thousand
true when I read Sadako and the thousand
true when I read Sadako and the thousand paper cranes and I folded my first paper
paper cranes and I folded my first paper
paper cranes and I folded my first paper crane I never thought I’d be standing
crane I never thought I’d be standing
crane I never thought I’d be standing talking about taking ten thousand paper
talking about taking ten thousand paper
talking about taking ten thousand paper cranes and then moving towards a million
cranes and then moving towards a million
cranes and then moving towards a million so who knows where this projects going
so who knows where this projects going
so who knows where this projects going to evolve by the time that millionth
to evolve by the time that millionth
to evolve by the time that millionth crane arrives so we invite you to join
crane arrives so we invite you to join
crane arrives so we invite you to join us
us
us fold a paper crane or to talk to each
fold a paper crane or to talk to each
fold a paper crane or to talk to each other about what we want to create in
other about what we want to create in
other about what we want to create in the world but more than that find
the world but more than that find
the world but more than that find something that interests you and step
something that interests you and step
something that interests you and step towards it and when fear starts
towards it and when fear starts
towards it and when fear starts your mind freaking out just know it’s
your mind freaking out just know it’s
your mind freaking out just know it’s not gonna kill you
not gonna kill you
not gonna kill you you’re just pleasantly freaking out and
you’re just pleasantly freaking out and
you’re just pleasantly freaking out and have that next conversation that needs
have that next conversation that needs
have that next conversation that needs to be had and most of all if you need to
to be had and most of all if you need to
to be had and most of all if you need to fold one of these little guys and let it
fold one of these little guys and let it
fold one of these little guys and let it help you talk to strangers
”
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