I was having a magnificent year the company I’ve started just three years
company I’ve started just three years
company I’ve started just three years ago was winning all sorts of awards we
ago was winning all sorts of awards we
ago was winning all sorts of awards we were on top of the world so we decided
were on top of the world so we decided
were on top of the world so we decided to take a couple of well-earned holidays
to take a couple of well-earned holidays
to take a couple of well-earned holidays we learnt to dive in a local dive center
we learnt to dive in a local dive center
we learnt to dive in a local dive center and we found ourselves in some exotic
and we found ourselves in some exotic
and we found ourselves in some exotic places like the Maldives then we took
places like the Maldives then we took
places like the Maldives then we took our first Christmas away from the family
our first Christmas away from the family
our first Christmas away from the family ever
ever
ever we’re in Sri Lanka we had had a
we’re in Sri Lanka we had had a
we’re in Sri Lanka we had had a fantastic Christmas party the night
fantastic Christmas party the night
fantastic Christmas party the night before put on by the people that owned
before put on by the people that owned
before put on by the people that owned the dive center and we’d stumbled up to
the dive center and we’d stumbled up to
the dive center and we’d stumbled up to bed in the early hours of the morning
bed in the early hours of the morning
bed in the early hours of the morning promising that we’d meet everyone for a
promising that we’d meet everyone for a
promising that we’d meet everyone for a nine o’clock dive well we made it to
nine o’clock dive well we made it to
nine o’clock dive well we made it to breakfast then we decided to go back to
breakfast then we decided to go back to
breakfast then we decided to go back to bed and nurse our hangover later on we
bed and nurse our hangover later on we
bed and nurse our hangover later on we heard this pudding and I thought great
heard this pudding and I thought great
heard this pudding and I thought great we picked a hotel that’s doing building
we picked a hotel that’s doing building
we picked a hotel that’s doing building work and we then could hear all this
work and we then could hear all this
work and we then could hear all this swishing like water when you it was a
swishing like water when you it was a
swishing like water when you it was a beautiful day so Stuart went to the
beautiful day so Stuart went to the
beautiful day so Stuart went to the window and he pulled back the curtain
window and he pulled back the curtain
window and he pulled back the curtain and he said um I think you’d better come
and he said um I think you’d better come
and he said um I think you’d better come and look at this I knew by the voice the
and look at this I knew by the voice the
and look at this I knew by the voice the tone that he used that something was up
tone that he used that something was up
tone that he used that something was up so I shot out a bed and looked out the
so I shot out a bed and looked out the
so I shot out a bed and looked out the window and from our third-floor hotel
window and from our third-floor hotel
window and from our third-floor hotel room I looked down see everywhere the
room I looked down see everywhere the
room I looked down see everywhere the dive centre next door it’s a roof was
dive centre next door it’s a roof was
dive centre next door it’s a roof was being lifted up by the waves and carried
being lifted up by the waves and carried
being lifted up by the waves and carried away I couldn’t believe it I couldn’t
away I couldn’t believe it I couldn’t
away I couldn’t believe it I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing the
comprehend what I was seeing the
comprehend what I was seeing the violation I felt was incredible
violation I felt was incredible
violation I felt was incredible everything I knew and had learnt about
everything I knew and had learnt about
everything I knew and had learnt about the seaside was wrong
the seaside was wrong
the seaside was wrong there was no sloping Beach down to the
there was no sloping Beach down to the
there was no sloping Beach down to the rippling waves all of a sudden it was
rippling waves all of a sudden it was
rippling waves all of a sudden it was all around us as far as the eye could
all around us as far as the eye could
all around us as far as the eye could see we looked around
see we looked around
see we looked around Hotel and inland and just water carrying
Hotel and inland and just water carrying
Hotel and inland and just water carrying buses and everything just down the gall
buses and everything just down the gall
buses and everything just down the gall road like it was a river
road like it was a river
road like it was a river it’s incredible what your body does in
it’s incredible what your body does in
it’s incredible what your body does in that situation immediately always sick
that situation immediately always sick
that situation immediately always sick and the smell of this water was just
and the smell of this water was just
and the smell of this water was just incredible
incredible
incredible sewage oil diesel death was vile that
sewage oil diesel death was vile that
sewage oil diesel death was vile that relentless banging that we heard was a
relentless banging that we heard was a
relentless banging that we heard was a ship being banged into the side of the
ship being banged into the side of the
ship being banged into the side of the hotel all of this swishing was the palm
hotel all of this swishing was the palm
hotel all of this swishing was the palm trees in the water it was just too much
trees in the water it was just too much
trees in the water it was just too much to comprehend and there was a lot a
to comprehend and there was a lot a
to comprehend and there was a lot a single person in sight there’s like the
single person in sight there’s like the
single person in sight there’s like the end of the world I didn’t understand
end of the world I didn’t understand
end of the world I didn’t understand what had happened was this a nuclear
what had happened was this a nuclear
what had happened was this a nuclear bomb that had gone off back in old
bomb that had gone off back in old
bomb that had gone off back in old Blighty was this the butterfly effect of
Blighty was this the butterfly effect of
Blighty was this the butterfly effect of that I managed to get one text message
that I managed to get one text message
that I managed to get one text message out to my sister and her Stewart sister
out to my sister and her Stewart sister
out to my sister and her Stewart sister and it said there’s been a bit of a
and it said there’s been a bit of a
and it said there’s been a bit of a flood but we’re okay because I just
flood but we’re okay because I just
flood but we’re okay because I just couldn’t comprehend what it was so it
couldn’t comprehend what it was so it
couldn’t comprehend what it was so it was the tsunami I just want to put
was the tsunami I just want to put
was the tsunami I just want to put things into context for you so I’ll know
things into context for you so I’ll know
things into context for you so I’ll know what this is let’s imagine that the
what this is let’s imagine that the
what this is let’s imagine that the earthquake that released energy from the
earthquake that released energy from the
earthquake that released energy from the earth was measured in the equivalent of
earth was measured in the equivalent of
earth was measured in the equivalent of atomic bombs
atomic bombs
atomic bombs how many atomic bombs do you think it
how many atomic bombs do you think it
how many atomic bombs do you think it might have been equivalent to normally
might have been equivalent to normally
might have been equivalent to normally people say two and I say more they say
people say two and I say more they say
people say two and I say more they say ten say more they say 20 and I go keep
ten say more they say 20 and I go keep
ten say more they say 20 and I go keep going so I’ll put you out of your misery
going so I’ll put you out of your misery
going so I’ll put you out of your misery the energy that was released from the
the energy that was released from the
the energy that was released from the Earth’s crust that caused that
Earth’s crust that caused that
Earth’s crust that caused that earthquake was the equivalent to 28,000
earthquake was the equivalent to 28,000
earthquake was the equivalent to 28,000 Hiroshima bombs can you imagine that
Hiroshima bombs can you imagine that
Hiroshima bombs can you imagine that here’s some stats
here’s some stats
here’s some stats 30 kilometers underneath the seafloor
30 kilometers underneath the seafloor
30 kilometers underneath the seafloor that’s when a distance of 1,200
that’s when a distance of 1,200
that’s when a distance of 1,200 kilometers was shifted 20 meters 20
kilometers was shifted 20 meters 20
kilometers was shifted 20 meters 20 meters that’s how much of the earth
meters that’s how much of the earth
meters that’s how much of the earth shifted and it created the biggest
shifted and it created the biggest
shifted and it created the biggest natural disaster in our history almost
natural disaster in our history almost
natural disaster in our history almost 250,000 people lost their lives
250,000 people lost their lives
250,000 people lost their lives immediately almost 500,000 in total when
immediately almost 500,000 in total when
immediately almost 500,000 in total when you think about the related diseases and
you think about the related diseases and
you think about the related diseases and the worst thing of it all a third of
the worst thing of it all a third of
the worst thing of it all a third of them were children
that was our hotel room the one in the
that was our hotel room the one in the top corner
top corner
top corner can you imagine looking down and seeing
can you imagine looking down and seeing
can you imagine looking down and seeing nothing but see you see the dice Center
nothing but see you see the dice Center
nothing but see you see the dice Center roof here that was being ripped off and
roof here that was being ripped off and
roof here that was being ripped off and carried away it was just too much to
carried away it was just too much to
carried away it was just too much to understand I don’t know how long it was
understand I don’t know how long it was
understand I don’t know how long it was before we made it out of the hotel we
before we made it out of the hotel we
before we made it out of the hotel we were half waiting half swimming we were
were half waiting half swimming we were
were half waiting half swimming we were wearing the most sensible things we can
wearing the most sensible things we can
wearing the most sensible things we can find everything all the trappings of the
find everything all the trappings of the
find everything all the trappings of the Western world we left behind in our
Western world we left behind in our
Western world we left behind in our hotel room it just had no currency
hotel room it just had no currency
hotel room it just had no currency anymore
anymore
anymore the things that are important the things
the things that are important the things
the things that are important the things we could barter with we had no idea what
we could barter with we had no idea what
we could barter with we had no idea what was going on we just knew that we needed
was going on we just knew that we needed
was going on we just knew that we needed to be clever about this and then again
to be clever about this and then again
to be clever about this and then again some hours later one of the dice center
some hours later one of the dice center
some hours later one of the dice center managers boys found us and forced march
managers boys found us and forced march
managers boys found us and forced march us to Jimmy’s house Jimmy was a village
us to Jimmy’s house Jimmy was a village
us to Jimmy’s house Jimmy was a village elder and he lived really high up on the
elder and he lived really high up on the
elder and he lived really high up on the hill and we were reunited with some of
hill and we were reunited with some of
hill and we were reunited with some of our friends in his garden so there are
our friends in his garden so there are
our friends in his garden so there are about a hundred and fifty hundred and
about a hundred and fifty hundred and
about a hundred and fifty hundred and twenty hundred and fifty of us in that
twenty hundred and fifty of us in that
twenty hundred and fifty of us in that garden and that is where I spent the
garden and that is where I spent the
garden and that is where I spent the most valuable week of my life the first
most valuable week of my life the first
most valuable week of my life the first thing that we did even though we all
thing that we did even though we all
thing that we did even though we all spoke different languages and came from
spoke different languages and came from
spoke different languages and came from different cultures is we came together I
different cultures is we came together I
different cultures is we came together I remember we had one mobile phone another
remember we had one mobile phone another
remember we had one mobile phone another mobile phone another none of them worked
mobile phone another none of them worked
mobile phone another none of them worked we entered at patching together one
we entered at patching together one
we entered at patching together one phone somebody else’s SIM card somebody
phone somebody else’s SIM card somebody
phone somebody else’s SIM card somebody else’s battery somebody else’s power
else’s battery somebody else’s power
else’s battery somebody else’s power supply and all of a sudden we had one
supply and all of a sudden we had one
supply and all of a sudden we had one working mobile phone I then made sure
working mobile phone I then made sure
working mobile phone I then made sure that every single person in that garden
that every single person in that garden
that every single person in that garden got one phone call home to tell their
got one phone call home to tell their
got one phone call home to tell their loved ones that they were safe in that
loved ones that they were safe in that
loved ones that they were safe in that garden during that week I saw some
garden during that week I saw some
garden during that week I saw some incredible things and what I learned
incredible things and what I learned
incredible things and what I learned about humans is that in the face of
about humans is that in the face of
about humans is that in the face of adversity that’s when we are at our
adversity that’s when we are at our
adversity that’s when we are at our greatest things that you don’t realize
greatest things that you don’t realize
greatest things that you don’t realize are useful coming to play people became
are useful coming to play people became
are useful coming to play people became nurses doctors forages counselors
nurses doctors forages counselors
nurses doctors forages counselors entertainers and you might not realize
entertainers and you might not realize
entertainers and you might not realize how important it
how important it
how important it to keep your spirits up in that
to keep your spirits up in that
to keep your spirits up in that situation but that role was as valuable
situation but that role was as valuable
situation but that role was as valuable as any other every single person had
as any other every single person had
as any other every single person had something valuable to bring to the party
something valuable to bring to the party
something valuable to bring to the party I think one of the most important things
I think one of the most important things
I think one of the most important things that I remember is that it is when you
that I remember is that it is when you
that I remember is that it is when you put all of that talent together that you
put all of that talent together that you
put all of that talent together that you suddenly create true magnificence and
suddenly create true magnificence and
suddenly create true magnificence and that’s the most important thing there’s
that’s the most important thing there’s
that’s the most important thing there’s one particular story that I remember and
one particular story that I remember and
one particular story that I remember and it was when the Sri Lankan people one
it was when the Sri Lankan people one
it was when the Sri Lankan people one magnificent afternoon
magnificent afternoon
magnificent afternoon these sri lanka men came back with a bag
these sri lanka men came back with a bag
these sri lanka men came back with a bag full of fish they had a carrier bag full
full of fish they had a carrier bag full
full of fish they had a carrier bag full of fish that had been washed up and they
of fish that had been washed up and they
of fish that had been washed up and they were cheering and everything carried
were cheering and everything carried
were cheering and everything carried back for the fish and you look at this
back for the fish and you look at this
back for the fish and you look at this garden full of 120 150 people and you’re
garden full of 120 150 people and you’re
garden full of 120 150 people and you’re thinking that’s great around but you
thinking that’s great around but you
thinking that’s great around but you know what it did we cooked it up and we
know what it did we cooked it up and we
know what it did we cooked it up and we had these fish and we had a handful of
had these fish and we had a handful of
had these fish and we had a handful of rice so every single person in that
rice so every single person in that
rice so every single person in that garden was sated with a morsel of fish
garden was sated with a morsel of fish
garden was sated with a morsel of fish and a handful of rice now there is
and a handful of rice now there is
and a handful of rice now there is something amazing about what happens to
something amazing about what happens to
something amazing about what happens to your body it takes over in that
your body it takes over in that
your body it takes over in that situation you find you don’t need to
situation you find you don’t need to
situation you find you don’t need to sweat as much drink as much eat as much
sweat as much drink as much eat as much
sweat as much drink as much eat as much you actually survive on an awful lot
you actually survive on an awful lot
you actually survive on an awful lot less than you think you will but we were
less than you think you will but we were
less than you think you will but we were sated on that handful of fish and rice
sated on that handful of fish and rice
sated on that handful of fish and rice and that reminds me of a much more
and that reminds me of a much more
and that reminds me of a much more famous story what I realized is that
famous story what I realized is that
famous story what I realized is that human beings do have some brilliant
human beings do have some brilliant
human beings do have some brilliant things to bring to the party but when
things to bring to the party but when
things to bring to the party but when you put it together that’s when you
you put it together that’s when you
you put it together that’s when you realize that we can be truly magnificent
realize that we can be truly magnificent
realize that we can be truly magnificent and it is actually it feels like a
and it is actually it feels like a
and it is actually it feels like a vibration and I want you to remember
vibration and I want you to remember
vibration and I want you to remember something that happened to you where you
something that happened to you where you
something that happened to you where you would have felt this a vibration it
would have felt this a vibration it
would have felt this a vibration it feels incredible and it spreads and
feels incredible and it spreads and
feels incredible and it spreads and spreads and spreads and it didn’t stop
spreads and spreads and it didn’t stop
spreads and spreads and it didn’t stop there it was collaboration that got us
there it was collaboration that got us
there it was collaboration that got us home it wasn’t one government one person
home it wasn’t one government one person
home it wasn’t one government one person it was collaboration that’s what got us
it was collaboration that’s what got us
it was collaboration that’s what got us home it was collaboration that made us
home it was collaboration that made us
home it was collaboration that made us put together he could do
put together he could do
put together he could do finish fund and raise a hundred thousand
finish fund and raise a hundred thousand
finish fund and raise a hundred thousand pounds in just 6 months flat it wasn’t
pounds in just 6 months flat it wasn’t
pounds in just 6 months flat it wasn’t us it was the collaboration of everyone
us it was the collaboration of everyone
us it was the collaboration of everyone at home doing tabletop sales doing car
at home doing tabletop sales doing car
at home doing tabletop sales doing car boots putting our concerts doing coffee
boots putting our concerts doing coffee
boots putting our concerts doing coffee mornings there was this incredible
mornings there was this incredible
mornings there was this incredible collaborative compassion that just
collaborative compassion that just
collaborative compassion that just consumed me and vibrated me from the
consumed me and vibrated me from the
consumed me and vibrated me from the heart and I know that other people who
heart and I know that other people who
heart and I know that other people who felt that it didn’t stop there eight
felt that it didn’t stop there eight
felt that it didn’t stop there eight point six million billion pounds was
point six million billion pounds was
point six million billion pounds was raised now that is more than one pound
raised now that is more than one pound
raised now that is more than one pound per person living on this planet that’s
per person living on this planet that’s
per person living on this planet that’s incredible and that’s what happened
incredible and that’s what happened
incredible and that’s what happened because partly because no one was to
because partly because no one was to
because partly because no one was to blame for this natural disaster and it
blame for this natural disaster and it
blame for this natural disaster and it reached people it touched people but I
reached people it touched people but I
reached people it touched people but I want you to just consider what can
want you to just consider what can
want you to just consider what can happen if we all put our resources
happen if we all put our resources
happen if we all put our resources together what I saw in the core of
together what I saw in the core of
together what I saw in the core of humanity was empathy it was compassion
humanity was empathy it was compassion
humanity was empathy it was compassion it was love and forgiveness there are so
it was love and forgiveness there are so
it was love and forgiveness there are so many stories but I could fold out from
many stories but I could fold out from
many stories but I could fold out from here but I just don’t have the time
here but I just don’t have the time
here but I just don’t have the time today but it was amazing most of all it
today but it was amazing most of all it
today but it was amazing most of all it was actually this collaboration that
was actually this collaboration that
was actually this collaboration that made a difference collaboration has the
made a difference collaboration has the
made a difference collaboration has the power to overcome everything so why
power to overcome everything so why
power to overcome everything so why don’t we think big why don’t we stop
don’t we think big why don’t we stop
don’t we think big why don’t we stop sweating about the small stuff why don’t
sweating about the small stuff why don’t
sweating about the small stuff why don’t we stop bitching and moaning and talking
we stop bitching and moaning and talking
we stop bitching and moaning and talking about politics and think deep think big
about politics and think deep think big
about politics and think deep think big think big picture it is in the face of
think big picture it is in the face of
think big picture it is in the face of true adversity that we really see how
true adversity that we really see how
true adversity that we really see how far we will shine and I have great faith
far we will shine and I have great faith
far we will shine and I have great faith in humanity we’ve talked a lot about
in humanity we’ve talked a lot about
in humanity we’ve talked a lot about artificial intelligence and the future
artificial intelligence and the future
artificial intelligence and the future and are mainly some fear some people
and are mainly some fear some people
and are mainly some fear some people might fear what their place is in the
might fear what their place is in the
might fear what their place is in the future where is my place in humanity I
future where is my place in humanity I
future where is my place in humanity I have no such fear because I’ve seen a
have no such fear because I’ve seen a
have no such fear because I’ve seen a fraction of what we can do when we come
fraction of what we can do when we come
fraction of what we can do when we come together and it is just incredible we
together and it is just incredible we
together and it is just incredible we are far greater than the sum of our
are far greater than the sum of our
are far greater than the sum of our anyone here who has been through trauma
anyone here who has been through trauma
anyone here who has been through trauma will know what I’m talking about
will know what I’m talking about
will know what I’m talking about every time we hear a story about I don’t
every time we hear a story about I don’t
every time we hear a story about I don’t know some tragic incidents or some
know some tragic incidents or some
know some tragic incidents or some terrorist attack or something happening
terrorist attack or something happening
terrorist attack or something happening we hear these tiny little snippets of
we hear these tiny little snippets of
we hear these tiny little snippets of stories about human magnificence
stories about human magnificence
stories about human magnificence somebody doing heroic things somebody
somebody doing heroic things somebody
somebody doing heroic things somebody putting somebody else’s life before
putting somebody else’s life before
putting somebody else’s life before their own somebody going the extra mile
their own somebody going the extra mile
their own somebody going the extra mile when you put all of that together that’s
when you put all of that together that’s
when you put all of that together that’s when you get this crescendo this
when you get this crescendo this
when you get this crescendo this wonderful magnificence and I’ve touched
wonderful magnificence and I’ve touched
wonderful magnificence and I’ve touched it I’ve seen it I know it I know it
it I’ve seen it I know it I know it
it I’ve seen it I know it I know it exists but you know what we’ve never
exists but you know what we’ve never
exists but you know what we’ve never been tested nobody is ever tested
been tested nobody is ever tested
been tested nobody is ever tested humanity turn that extent but I know
humanity turn that extent but I know
humanity turn that extent but I know that if anything happens in the future
that if anything happens in the future
that if anything happens in the future and we have to come together as one race
and we have to come together as one race
and we have to come together as one race we would I don’t just feel it I don’t
we would I don’t just feel it I don’t
we would I don’t just feel it I don’t just think here I believe it I know it
just think here I believe it I know it
just think here I believe it I know it because I’ve seen a snippet of it and I
because I’ve seen a snippet of it and I
because I’ve seen a snippet of it and I guarantee that you have to this is what
guarantee that you have to this is what
guarantee that you have to this is what I want you to think about think about
I want you to think about think about
I want you to think about think about everything with her today think about
everything with her today think about
everything with her today think about how we are evolving as a human race if
how we are evolving as a human race if
how we are evolving as a human race if we’re talking about advancement if we’re
we’re talking about advancement if we’re
we’re talking about advancement if we’re talking about all of that kind of stuff
talking about all of that kind of stuff
talking about all of that kind of stuff then think about us the human race
then think about us the human race
then think about us the human race because we’re on a magnificent journey
because we’re on a magnificent journey
because we’re on a magnificent journey and there is so much that we can give
and there is so much that we can give
and there is so much that we can give and so much that we can do we don’t know
and so much that we can do we don’t know
and so much that we can do we don’t know how powerful we are but just imagine
how powerful we are but just imagine
how powerful we are but just imagine what if what if we put all of our stuff
what if what if we put all of our stuff
what if what if we put all of our stuff together what could we possibly achieve
together what could we possibly achieve
together what could we possibly achieve I can’t tell you what it is but a one
I can’t tell you what it is but a one
I can’t tell you what it is but a one thing I’m absolutely certain it’s going
thing I’m absolutely certain it’s going
thing I’m absolutely certain it’s going to be magnificent
”
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