[Music] hi Padre sorry English is not my first
hi Padre sorry English is not my first
hi Padre sorry English is not my first language so if I say things that do not
language so if I say things that do not
language so if I say things that do not make sense I’m sorry I speak French so
make sense I’m sorry I speak French so
make sense I’m sorry I speak French so here I am I’m miles away from the coast
here I am I’m miles away from the coast
here I am I’m miles away from the coast of Florida I’m underwater and I’m
of Florida I’m underwater and I’m
of Florida I’m underwater and I’m holding this little hogfish that I just
holding this little hogfish that I just
holding this little hogfish that I just got I’m already thinking how am I gonna
got I’m already thinking how am I gonna
got I’m already thinking how am I gonna cook this fish tonight and all of a
cook this fish tonight and all of a
cook this fish tonight and all of a sudden there was an eight-foot tiger
sudden there was an eight-foot tiger
sudden there was an eight-foot tiger shark that appears in front of me it
shark that appears in front of me it
shark that appears in front of me it does not look happy and I can tell that
does not look happy and I can tell that
does not look happy and I can tell that he’s having the same thought I was
he’s having the same thought I was
he’s having the same thought I was having about little fish just a moment
having about little fish just a moment
having about little fish just a moment to go my heart is pounding in my chest
to go my heart is pounding in my chest
to go my heart is pounding in my chest and I can see that the shark insensate
and I can see that the shark insensate
and I can see that the shark insensate right now I’m thinking why am I not in
right now I’m thinking why am I not in
right now I’m thinking why am I not in front of my TV right now why did I pick
front of my TV right now why did I pick
front of my TV right now why did I pick this lifestyle what is wrong with me and
this lifestyle what is wrong with me and
this lifestyle what is wrong with me and then my next thought is hey this is the
then my next thought is hey this is the
then my next thought is hey this is the food chain the little fish just learned
food chain the little fish just learned
food chain the little fish just learned he was not at the top of it and Here I
he was not at the top of it and Here I
he was not at the top of it and Here I am learning the about the exact same
am learning the about the exact same
am learning the about the exact same blessin you don’t really know the kind
blessin you don’t really know the kind
blessin you don’t really know the kind of person you are until you faced with a
of person you are until you faced with a
of person you are until you faced with a life-or-death situation just by a race
life-or-death situation just by a race
life-or-death situation just by a race of hand who thinks that they would panic
of hand who thinks that they would panic
of hand who thinks that they would panic completely who think that he would
completely who think that he would
completely who think that he would remain completely calm who would
remain completely calm who would
remain completely calm who would probably push their diving in front of
probably push their diving in front of
probably push their diving in front of them hoping at a shahi exam instead
there’s a difference between the person
there’s a difference between the person you you think you are and the person you
you you think you are and the person you
you you think you are and the person you actually are and sometimes in certain
actually are and sometimes in certain
actually are and sometimes in certain situations like this one it doesn’t even
situations like this one it doesn’t even
situations like this one it doesn’t even matter
matter
matter the type of person you are so my name is
the type of person you are so my name is
the type of person you are so my name is Valentine Thomas I’m 30 years old and I
Valentine Thomas I’m 30 years old and I
Valentine Thomas I’m 30 years old and I quit everything I had in life to become
quit everything I had in life to become
quit everything I had in life to become a spiritual woman I now travel the world
a spiritual woman I now travel the world
a spiritual woman I now travel the world to catch my own food
to catch my own food
to catch my own food ralphie diving most people that I come
ralphie diving most people that I come
ralphie diving most people that I come across think that I’ve been tearing my
across think that I’ve been tearing my
across think that I’ve been tearing my entire life they think that oh this girl
entire life they think that oh this girl
entire life they think that oh this girl she must be so courageous to do
she must be so courageous to do
she must be so courageous to do something uh it’s actually very far
something uh it’s actually very far
something uh it’s actually very far reality I’m actually a big wuss but that
reality I’m actually a big wuss but that
reality I’m actually a big wuss but that never stopped me from pursuing what I
never stopped me from pursuing what I
never stopped me from pursuing what I love spearfishing is a very weird sport
love spearfishing is a very weird sport
love spearfishing is a very weird sport but it became my deepest passion and my
but it became my deepest passion and my
but it became my deepest passion and my journey to finding this out was not an
journey to finding this out was not an
journey to finding this out was not an easy one
easy one
easy one I’m you would never imagined when you
I’m you would never imagined when you
I’m you would never imagined when you see a picture of me struggling to get
see a picture of me struggling to get
see a picture of me struggling to get food or in the middle of the ocean you
food or in the middle of the ocean you
food or in the middle of the ocean you would never think that ten years ago I
would never think that ten years ago I
would never think that ten years ago I was far far away from the ocean I’m born
was far far away from the ocean I’m born
was far far away from the ocean I’m born and raised in Montreal Canada where
and raised in Montreal Canada where
and raised in Montreal Canada where yesses lakes and rivers but I’ve never
yesses lakes and rivers but I’ve never
yesses lakes and rivers but I’ve never been really big underwater and to be
been really big underwater and to be
been really big underwater and to be honest the water is way too cool from
honest the water is way too cool from
honest the water is way too cool from you over there anyways and also when I
you over there anyways and also when I
you over there anyways and also when I was 14 years old I went on a holiday
was 14 years old I went on a holiday
was 14 years old I went on a holiday with my parents at the side of France
with my parents at the side of France
with my parents at the side of France and I almost drowned I passed out on the
and I almost drowned I passed out on the
and I almost drowned I passed out on the water I got caught in an undertow and
water I got caught in an undertow and
water I got caught in an undertow and the lifeguard had to come save me the
the lifeguard had to come save me the
the lifeguard had to come save me the helicopter came it was a horrible day
helicopter came it was a horrible day
helicopter came it was a horrible day like at the stage of my life the water
like at the stage of my life the water
like at the stage of my life the water and I were definitely not friends but
and I were definitely not friends but
and I were definitely not friends but the biggest thing that kept me from
the biggest thing that kept me from
the biggest thing that kept me from pursuing a lot of big things in life or
pursuing a lot of big things in life or
pursuing a lot of big things in life or kept me away from the ocean was that my
kept me away from the ocean was that my
kept me away from the ocean was that my daily struggle with anxiety I was
daily struggle with anxiety I was
daily struggle with anxiety I was prisoner of my own mind of my own body
prisoner of my own mind of my own body
prisoner of my own mind of my own body when I was a teenager I could rule
when I was a teenager I could rule
when I was a teenager I could rule asleep bullied in high school and that
asleep bullied in high school and that
asleep bullied in high school and that had a very big impact on me and he
had a very big impact on me and he
had a very big impact on me and he created a lot of insecurities when I was
created a lot of insecurities when I was
created a lot of insecurities when I was 19 years old I started suffering from
19 years old I started suffering from
19 years old I started suffering from severe panic attacks and doing little
severe panic attacks and doing little
severe panic attacks and doing little things such as going to school or going
things such as going to school or going
things such as going to school or going for a drink became a big challenge for
for a drink became a big challenge for
for a drink became a big challenge for me I didn’t want to take medication so
me I didn’t want to take medication so
me I didn’t want to take medication so with the help of my best friend
with the help of my best friend
with the help of my best friend Dominique and with a lot of work in
Dominique and with a lot of work in
Dominique and with a lot of work in therapy I managed to face those fears so
therapy I managed to face those fears so
therapy I managed to face those fears so I was able to not take the meds and do
I was able to not take the meds and do
I was able to not take the meds and do it one meter at the time facing my
it one meter at the time facing my
it one meter at the time facing my irrational fears and the process of
irrational fears and the process of
irrational fears and the process of doing that was to make the uncomfortable
doing that was to make the uncomfortable
doing that was to make the uncomfortable comfortable and that kind of became my
comfortable and that kind of became my
comfortable and that kind of became my way of living after that I was putting
way of living after that I was putting
way of living after that I was putting myself in uncomfortable situation until
myself in uncomfortable situation until
myself in uncomfortable situation until that became a source of comfort but
that became a source of comfort but
that became a source of comfort but before I linked all of that was pivoting
before I linked all of that was pivoting
before I linked all of that was pivoting let’s just start from the beginning so I
let’s just start from the beginning so I
let’s just start from the beginning so I always been a very very carrier
always been a very very carrier
always been a very very carrier orientated person I was dreaming of
orientated person I was dreaming of
orientated person I was dreaming of becoming the biggest criminal lawyer in
becoming the biggest criminal lawyer in
becoming the biggest criminal lawyer in the country my idea of success was to be
the country my idea of success was to be
the country my idea of success was to be in the top of my field should have a big
in the top of my field should have a big
in the top of my field should have a big house to have a fancy car I just wanted
house to have a fancy car I just wanted
house to have a fancy car I just wanted to be bigger I want to be bigger with
to be bigger I want to be bigger with
to be bigger I want to be bigger with those bullies I want to look at them and
those bullies I want to look at them and
those bullies I want to look at them and say you too loser and not me and when
say you too loser and not me and when
say you too loser and not me and when you look at this closer you realize that
you look at this closer you realize that
you look at this closer you realize that all I was doing is just giving them a to
all I was doing is just giving them a to
all I was doing is just giving them a to day games and taking the wrong patches
day games and taking the wrong patches
day games and taking the wrong patches by doing that my family is a group of
by doing that my family is a group of
by doing that my family is a group of intellectual my mom is a corporate
intellectual my mom is a corporate
intellectual my mom is a corporate lawyer and she spent many many nights in
lawyer and she spent many many nights in
lawyer and she spent many many nights in the office she actually still sends me
the office she actually still sends me
the office she actually still sends me university applications because she
university applications because she
university applications because she thinks I’m having a midlife crisis a
thinks I’m having a midlife crisis a
thinks I’m having a midlife crisis a little bit too early so I follow this
little bit too early so I follow this
little bit too early so I follow this path my parents thought that success was
path my parents thought that success was
path my parents thought that success was made on studying hard having a
made on studying hard having a
made on studying hard having a respectable and stable profession so I
respectable and stable profession so I
respectable and stable profession so I followed this path I went into my law
followed this path I went into my law
followed this path I went into my law degree and then I studied for my master
degree and then I studied for my master
degree and then I studied for my master but something was still wrong and I
but something was still wrong and I
but something was still wrong and I could have put my finger on it I just
could have put my finger on it I just
could have put my finger on it I just couldn’t take the plunge I couldn’t fake
couldn’t take the plunge I couldn’t fake
couldn’t take the plunge I couldn’t fake I couldn’t push myself to enter the
I couldn’t push myself to enter the
I couldn’t push myself to enter the system that I spend my entire life
system that I spend my entire life
system that I spend my entire life preparing for I know it’s not because
preparing for I know it’s not because
preparing for I know it’s not because I’m in Millennials it’s not because I’m
I’m in Millennials it’s not because I’m
I’m in Millennials it’s not because I’m lazy it’s actually just because I could
lazy it’s actually just because I could
lazy it’s actually just because I could not picturing myself doing the exact
not picturing myself doing the exact
not picturing myself doing the exact same thing for the next 40 years but why
same thing for the next 40 years but why
same thing for the next 40 years but why would I do instead that’s the only thing
would I do instead that’s the only thing
would I do instead that’s the only thing I’ve been told so I did what a lot of
I’ve been told so I did what a lot of
I’ve been told so I did what a lot of young insecure people would do I just
young insecure people would do I just
young insecure people would do I just ran away I grabbed my passport I moved
ran away I grabbed my passport I moved
ran away I grabbed my passport I moved to London and still not sure what I
to London and still not sure what I
to London and still not sure what I would do I subscribed to university
would do I subscribed to university
would do I subscribed to university again and I studied for two years to do
again and I studied for two years to do
again and I studied for two years to do my conversion course to be a lawyer and
my conversion course to be a lawyer and
my conversion course to be a lawyer and the UK but to nobody’s surprise I was
the UK but to nobody’s surprise I was
the UK but to nobody’s surprise I was still unhappy I was in my early 20s at
still unhappy I was in my early 20s at
still unhappy I was in my early 20s at that stage so I just threw myself into
that stage so I just threw myself into
that stage so I just threw myself into your life of partying I went travelling
your life of partying I went travelling
your life of partying I went travelling all around Europe I was dancing as often
all around Europe I was dancing as often
all around Europe I was dancing as often as I could
as I could
as I could I was drinking myself to delusional
I was drinking myself to delusional
I was drinking myself to delusional happiness everybody seems so happy
happiness everybody seems so happy
happiness everybody seems so happy around me
around me
around me it should seem normal but to tell you
it should seem normal but to tell you
it should seem normal but to tell you the truth I’ve never felt more alone and
the truth I’ve never felt more alone and
the truth I’ve never felt more alone and disconnected and my entire life I needed
disconnected and my entire life I needed
disconnected and my entire life I needed a change of direction
a change of direction
a change of direction ASAP I started working in finance and I
ASAP I started working in finance and I
ASAP I started working in finance and I really liked it but then I learned that
really liked it but then I learned that
really liked it but then I learned that sometimes it’s not the decisions that
sometimes it’s not the decisions that
sometimes it’s not the decisions that you make that has the biggest impact on
you make that has the biggest impact on
you make that has the biggest impact on your life I met this guy named Eduardo
your life I met this guy named Eduardo
your life I met this guy named Eduardo and he taught me about this weird sport
and he taught me about this weird sport
and he taught me about this weird sport and I’ve never heard of before and it
and I’ve never heard of before and it
and I’ve never heard of before and it was called spearfishing
was called spearfishing
was called spearfishing so I’ve never pictured myself as an
so I’ve never pictured myself as an
so I’ve never pictured myself as an outdoorsy door as I never pictured
outdoorsy door as I never pictured
outdoorsy door as I never pictured myself an outdoorsy girl not in a
myself an outdoorsy girl not in a
myself an outdoorsy girl not in a million years but here I was ditching
million years but here I was ditching
million years but here I was ditching partying in Ibiza to go in Africa to
partying in Ibiza to go in Africa to
partying in Ibiza to go in Africa to live in the most basic conditions to
live in the most basic conditions to
live in the most basic conditions to catch my own food and share it with my
catch my own food and share it with my
catch my own food and share it with my friends and the local community and this
friends and the local community and this
friends and the local community and this was a world that I never imagined I
was a world that I never imagined I
was a world that I never imagined I would find my true calling in life
would find my true calling in life
would find my true calling in life definitely not so I was all of a sudden
definitely not so I was all of a sudden
definitely not so I was all of a sudden discovering a world where I was eating
discovering a world where I was eating
discovering a world where I was eating the best food I ever had in my life it
the best food I ever had in my life it
the best food I ever had in my life it was one where I was pushing my body to
was one where I was pushing my body to
was one where I was pushing my body to new limits that I’d never even knew
new limits that I’d never even knew
new limits that I’d never even knew existed it’s a world where I was sharing
existed it’s a world where I was sharing
existed it’s a world where I was sharing and living in helping different
and living in helping different
and living in helping different communities all around the world and
communities all around the world and
communities all around the world and it’s also one where mycological
it’s also one where mycological
it’s also one where mycological footprint was as its minimum and it’s
footprint was as its minimum and it’s
footprint was as its minimum and it’s also a world that I never thought was
also a world that I never thought was
also a world that I never thought was accessible to me especially considering
accessible to me especially considering
accessible to me especially considering how scared I was of the ocean especially
how scared I was of the ocean especially
how scared I was of the ocean especially after my accident when I was younger so
after my accident when I was younger so
after my accident when I was younger so when I was 28 years old I just decided
when I was 28 years old I just decided
when I was 28 years old I just decided to go all-in i woman’d up and left my
to go all-in i woman’d up and left my
to go all-in i woman’d up and left my job I sold most of the things I had and
job I sold most of the things I had and
job I sold most of the things I had and I went spitting and of course I don’t
I went spitting and of course I don’t
I went spitting and of course I don’t have the stability of a full-time job
have the stability of a full-time job
have the stability of a full-time job but I’m a very decent money by doing
but I’m a very decent money by doing
but I’m a very decent money by doing something that I love I hosted a TV show
something that I love I hosted a TV show
something that I love I hosted a TV show last year I take people fishing and I’m
last year I take people fishing and I’m
last year I take people fishing and I’m just loving it and the ocean that was my
just loving it and the ocean that was my
just loving it and the ocean that was my biggest fear
biggest fear
biggest fear became my home and yes this is scary and
became my home and yes this is scary and
became my home and yes this is scary and they shouldn’t play sometimes and yes
they shouldn’t play sometimes and yes
they shouldn’t play sometimes and yes sometimes I do put my life on the line
sometimes I do put my life on the line
sometimes I do put my life on the line but I felt that facing an entire life of
but I felt that facing an entire life of
but I felt that facing an entire life of unhappiness would have been way more
unhappiness would have been way more
unhappiness would have been way more dangerous for me so you don’t really
dangerous for me so you don’t really
dangerous for me so you don’t really find out who you truly are and how to
find out who you truly are and how to
find out who you truly are and how to become a better person by staying inside
become a better person by staying inside
become a better person by staying inside of your comfort zone and it’s by putting
of your comfort zone and it’s by putting
of your comfort zone and it’s by putting myself and the least comfortable
myself and the least comfortable
myself and the least comfortable position that I manage to find it
position that I manage to find it
position that I manage to find it through milling in my life so here I was
through milling in my life so here I was
through milling in my life so here I was miles away from the miles away from the
miles away from the miles away from the
miles away from the miles away from the coastline of Florida I was holding this
coastline of Florida I was holding this
coastline of Florida I was holding this little fish on the water facing an 8
little fish on the water facing an 8
little fish on the water facing an 8 foot tiger shark I keep poking it
foot tiger shark I keep poking it
foot tiger shark I keep poking it normally that makes them go away and I
normally that makes them go away and I
normally that makes them go away and I was trying to make I was trying to
was trying to make I was trying to
was trying to make I was trying to remain calm as the shark was getting
remain calm as the shark was getting
remain calm as the shark was getting more and more aggressive
more and more aggressive
more and more aggressive he had his mouth open I could see steep
he had his mouth open I could see steep
he had his mouth open I could see steep he was rolling his eyes back
he was rolling his eyes back
he was rolling his eyes back I knew at that moment that the shark
I knew at that moment that the shark
I knew at that moment that the shark could have killed me at any second but I
could have killed me at any second but I
could have killed me at any second but I stood my ground I kept staring at it and
stood my ground I kept staring at it and
stood my ground I kept staring at it and I kept poking it away and at some point
I kept poking it away and at some point
I kept poking it away and at some point they like turn around and swam away and
they like turn around and swam away and
they like turn around and swam away and this is what I want to share with you
this is what I want to share with you
this is what I want to share with you today is when you’re facing your own
today is when you’re facing your own
today is when you’re facing your own shark you’re gonna be surprised about
shark you’re gonna be surprised about
shark you’re gonna be surprised about how strong you are you’re gonna be
how strong you are you’re gonna be
how strong you are you’re gonna be surprised about the person you actually
surprised about the person you actually
surprised about the person you actually are and just keep poking it and you’re
are and just keep poking it and you’re
are and just keep poking it and you’re gonna see you are gonna be able to
gonna see you are gonna be able to
gonna see you are gonna be able to confront your deepest fear by doing that
confront your deepest fear by doing that
confront your deepest fear by doing that thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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