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The danger of distraction | Nichana Miller | TEDxYouth@GrandBahama


thank you for proving my point

thank you for proving my point today we live in a world where having a

today we live in a world where having a

today we live in a world where having a moment of silence is impossible without

moment of silence is impossible without

moment of silence is impossible without someone cell phone ringing off someone

someone cell phone ringing off someone

someone cell phone ringing off someone entering or exiting the room or some

entering or exiting the room or some

entering or exiting the room or some other small movements or sound

other small movements or sound

other small movements or sound transpiring that is powerful enough to

transpiring that is powerful enough to

transpiring that is powerful enough to distract over 50% of an audience today

distract over 50% of an audience today

distract over 50% of an audience today we live in a world where reading an

we live in a world where reading an

we live in a world where reading an article entirely on our phone without

article entirely on our phone without

article entirely on our phone without pause is almost unthinkable because of

pause is almost unthinkable because of

pause is almost unthinkable because of short vibrations that steal our focus

short vibrations that steal our focus

short vibrations that steal our focus each time we get a new notification

each time we get a new notification

each time we get a new notification today we live in a world where what was

today we live in a world where what was

today we live in a world where what was I doing again has become a cliche

I doing again has become a cliche

I doing again has become a cliche because we’ve asked ourselves this

because we’ve asked ourselves this

because we’ve asked ourselves this question countless times today we live

question countless times today we live

question countless times today we live in a world where completing a homework

in a world where completing a homework

in a world where completing a homework assignment in school during snack or

assignment in school during snack or

assignment in school during snack or lunch times is relatively hopeless

lunch times is relatively hopeless

lunch times is relatively hopeless because of some noisy group of

because of some noisy group of

because of some noisy group of disruptive students or a loud private

disruptive students or a loud private

disruptive students or a loud private conversation between two teachers in the

conversation between two teachers in the

conversation between two teachers in the room next door where the walls are thin

room next door where the walls are thin

room next door where the walls are thin enough to hear every word that is being

enough to hear every word that is being

enough to hear every word that is being said today we live in a world where

said today we live in a world where

said today we live in a world where approximately 1.6 million terrible car

approximately 1.6 million terrible car

approximately 1.6 million terrible car accidents occur each year due to drivers

accidents occur each year due to drivers

accidents occur each year due to drivers being distracted by their smartphones

being distracted by their smartphones

being distracted by their smartphones while driving today we live in a world

while driving today we live in a world

while driving today we live in a world where some no wait most teenagers like

where some no wait most teenagers like

where some no wait most teenagers like you and I can’t go an hour without

you and I can’t go an hour without

you and I can’t go an hour without checking our notifications and social

checking our notifications and social

checking our notifications and social profiles a world where traditionally

profiles a world where traditionally

profiles a world where traditionally intimate family dinners have changed

intimate family dinners have changed

intimate family dinners have changed profoundly into tech driven mealtime

profoundly into tech driven mealtime

profoundly into tech driven mealtime where parents and children are

where parents and children are

where parents and children are distracted by their devices and

distracted by their devices and

distracted by their devices and overlooked opportunities to connect with

overlooked opportunities to connect with

overlooked opportunities to connect with one another we live in a world where the

one another we live in a world where the

one another we live in a world where the average attention span has decreased by

average attention span has decreased by

average attention span has decreased by 50% in the last 10 years a world where

50% in the last 10 years a world where

50% in the last 10 years a world where we are encouraged to multitask without

we are encouraged to multitask without

we are encouraged to multitask without ever considering the effects

ever considering the effects

ever considering the effects multitasking can have on our brain

multitasking can have on our brain

multitasking can have on our brain capacity today we live in a world where

capacity today we live in a world where

capacity today we live in a world where distractions and disruptions are natural

distractions and disruptions are natural

distractions and disruptions are natural elements in our everyday lives that are

elements in our everyday lives that are

elements in our everyday lives that are unfortunately on

unfortunately on

unfortunately on we are a culture and a generation that

we are a culture and a generation that

we are a culture and a generation that has been subjected to a flood of deadly

has been subjected to a flood of deadly

has been subjected to a flood of deadly destructive distractions I don’t need to

destructive distractions I don’t need to

destructive distractions I don’t need to reintroduce myself but I must clarify a

reintroduce myself but I must clarify a

reintroduce myself but I must clarify a few things I’m not here to provide the

few things I’m not here to provide the

few things I’m not here to provide the solution to this enduring global problem

solution to this enduring global problem

solution to this enduring global problem I’m not here to judge and to point

I’m not here to judge and to point

I’m not here to judge and to point fingers I’m here to open minds I’m here

fingers I’m here to open minds I’m here

fingers I’m here to open minds I’m here to help and I’m here to say it on

to help and I’m here to say it on

to help and I’m here to say it on November 12 2017 someone said to me

November 12 2017 someone said to me

November 12 2017 someone said to me information is not intelligence I then

information is not intelligence I then

information is not intelligence I then fully grasp the true meaning of this

fully grasp the true meaning of this

fully grasp the true meaning of this right away information isn’t

right away information isn’t

right away information isn’t intelligence when I finally understood

intelligence when I finally understood

intelligence when I finally understood what this meant I realized that

what this meant I realized that

what this meant I realized that contemporary society tells us that in

contemporary society tells us that in

contemporary society tells us that in order to be smart to the intelligence or

order to be smart to the intelligence or

order to be smart to the intelligence or to be brilliant

to be brilliant

to be brilliant we must fill our brains with information

we must fill our brains with information

we must fill our brains with information that is expected to provide worthy

that is expected to provide worthy

that is expected to provide worthy benefits information and technology has

benefits information and technology has

benefits information and technology has changed the way we learn the way we work

changed the way we learn the way we work

changed the way we learn the way we work even the way we create and achieve our

even the way we create and achieve our

even the way we create and achieve our goals we have been trained to overload

goals we have been trained to overload

goals we have been trained to overload our minds with information so that we

our minds with information so that we

our minds with information so that we can participate fully in work in school

can participate fully in work in school

can participate fully in work in school and in our communities during moments of

and in our communities during moments of

and in our communities during moments of exam preparation it’s like our whole

exam preparation it’s like our whole

exam preparation it’s like our whole lives are dedicated to school and

lives are dedicated to school and

lives are dedicated to school and studying for many students our

studying for many students our

studying for many students our dedication can lead us to abandoning

dedication can lead us to abandoning

dedication can lead us to abandoning basic needs like bathing or eating or

basic needs like bathing or eating or

basic needs like bathing or eating or sleeping in fact studies prove that only

sleeping in fact studies prove that only

sleeping in fact studies prove that only 30 percent of students actually get the

30 percent of students actually get the

30 percent of students actually get the amount of sleep they need this isn’t

amount of sleep they need this isn’t

amount of sleep they need this isn’t good we are distracted and we aren’t

good we are distracted and we aren’t

good we are distracted and we aren’t even aware of it but why do we feel so

even aware of it but why do we feel so

even aware of it but why do we feel so obligated to overwork our bodies like

obligated to overwork our bodies like

obligated to overwork our bodies like this is it because the world tells us to

this is it because the world tells us to

this is it because the world tells us to do so do we feel as if in order to be

do so do we feel as if in order to be

do so do we feel as if in order to be successful we must load our brains with

successful we must load our brains with

successful we must load our brains with information I think not information and

information I think not information and

information I think not information and technology is not a positive thing in

technology is not a positive thing in

technology is not a positive thing in our lives it can help us but it also has

our lives it can help us but it also has

our lives it can help us but it also has many downfalls a few weeks ago something

many downfalls a few weeks ago something

many downfalls a few weeks ago something special happened to me I fell in love

I fell in love with an all-black Range

I fell in love with an all-black Range Rover that passed me on the road while I

Rover that passed me on the road while I

Rover that passed me on the road while I was driving what seemed like only a

was driving what seemed like only a

was driving what seemed like only a second was apparently much longer

second was apparently much longer

second was apparently much longer because for that moment my head was

because for that moment my head was

because for that moment my head was turned and my eyes been no longer

turned and my eyes been no longer

turned and my eyes been no longer focused on the road at that moment I was

focused on the road at that moment I was

focused on the road at that moment I was distracted from something very serious

distracted from something very serious

distracted from something very serious driving safely with my ten-year-old

driving safely with my ten-year-old

driving safely with my ten-year-old brother in the vehicle when I turned my

brother in the vehicle when I turned my

brother in the vehicle when I turned my head back to continue driving I had

head back to continue driving I had

head back to continue driving I had noticed that the vehicle in front of me

noticed that the vehicle in front of me

noticed that the vehicle in front of me was braking and I wasn’t sure if I would

was braking and I wasn’t sure if I would

was braking and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to slow down in time I think we

be able to slow down in time I think we

be able to slow down in time I think we can all imagine where this story goes

can all imagine where this story goes

can all imagine where this story goes from here finish it for me I got in and

from here finish it for me I got in and

from here finish it for me I got in and Wow so nice to know that you guys are

Wow so nice to know that you guys are

Wow so nice to know that you guys are actually paying attention to me but no I

actually paying attention to me but no I

actually paying attention to me but no I did it and thanks to God the alcohol of

did it and thanks to God the alcohol of

did it and thanks to God the alcohol of that situation could have been much

that situation could have been much

that situation could have been much worse all because I was distracted

worse all because I was distracted

worse all because I was distracted a metal vehicle painted black and

a metal vehicle painted black and

a metal vehicle painted black and hoisted up but what’s on what seems to

hoisted up but what’s on what seems to

hoisted up but what’s on what seems to be 20 inch wheels do not actually how I

be 20 inch wheels do not actually how I

be 20 inch wheels do not actually how I noticed all of that stole my focus and

noticed all of that stole my focus and

noticed all of that stole my focus and had the potential to steal my life this

had the potential to steal my life this

had the potential to steal my life this is what I mean when I say we allow small

is what I mean when I say we allow small

is what I mean when I say we allow small things to steal our focus in moments

things to steal our focus in moments

things to steal our focus in moments when our concentration is vital for our

when our concentration is vital for our

when our concentration is vital for our safety our improvements in our success

safety our improvements in our success

safety our improvements in our success it is stolen by small burglars that

it is stolen by small burglars that

it is stolen by small burglars that aren’t even aware of the damage they

aren’t even aware of the damage they

aren’t even aware of the damage they inflict I want to make one more example

inflict I want to make one more example

inflict I want to make one more example before I wrap this up now I know that we

before I wrap this up now I know that we

before I wrap this up now I know that we are not all sports fans but most of us

are not all sports fans but most of us

are not all sports fans but most of us can probably relate to this my dad is a

can probably relate to this my dad is a

can probably relate to this my dad is a huge Miami Dolphins fan and

huge Miami Dolphins fan and

huge Miami Dolphins fan and unfortunately or maybe not he has two

unfortunately or maybe not he has two

unfortunately or maybe not he has two kids that love to talk and import and

kids that love to talk and import and

kids that love to talk and import and one thing I hate doing is repeating

one thing I hate doing is repeating

one thing I hate doing is repeating myself so over the years I’ve learned

myself so over the years I’ve learned

myself so over the years I’ve learned that a football game and talkative

that a football game and talkative

that a football game and talkative children do not mix when a football game

children do not mix when a football game

children do not mix when a football game is on speaking to my dad is like

is on speaking to my dad is like

is on speaking to my dad is like speaking to a brick wall

speaking to a brick wall

speaking to a brick wall I cannot something as simple as died can

I cannot something as simple as died can

I cannot something as simple as died can you take me to get something to eat and

you take me to get something to eat and

you take me to get something to eat and I will have to repeat myself five or six

I will have to repeat myself five or six

I will have to repeat myself five or six times before I can get a plane yes or no

times before I can get a plane yes or no

times before I can get a plane yes or no it’s like it takes my dad 10 minutes to

it’s like it takes my dad 10 minutes to

it’s like it takes my dad 10 minutes to process a 10 word question and give a

process a 10 word question and give a

process a 10 word question and give a response without a doubt from my dad I’m

response without a doubt from my dad I’m

response without a doubt from my dad I’m a major distraction however he doesn’t

a major distraction however he doesn’t

a major distraction however he doesn’t give me the power to prevent him from

give me the power to prevent him from

give me the power to prevent him from focusing on his football game and

focusing on his football game and

focusing on his football game and potentially missing the greatest or the

potentially missing the greatest or the

potentially missing the greatest or the only catch

only catch

only catch season but my God loves football and he

season but my God loves football and he

season but my God loves football and he is committed to supporting his team no

is committed to supporting his team no

is committed to supporting his team no matter what we need this kind of

matter what we need this kind of

matter what we need this kind of commitment to not allow anything to

commitment to not allow anything to

commitment to not allow anything to distract us from the things that we love

distract us from the things that we love

distract us from the things that we love and are passionate about do you know

and are passionate about do you know

and are passionate about do you know that every time we start a new activity

that every time we start a new activity

that every time we start a new activity the brain has to reorient itself but yet

the brain has to reorient itself but yet

the brain has to reorient itself but yet those notifications on our phones are

those notifications on our phones are

those notifications on our phones are designed to distract it’s time for us to

designed to distract it’s time for us to

designed to distract it’s time for us to take our focus back it’s time for us to

take our focus back it’s time for us to

take our focus back it’s time for us to put our whole hearts into everything we

put our whole hearts into everything we

put our whole hearts into everything we do our minds are probably running a

do our minds are probably running a

do our minds are probably running a million miles a minute some of you in

million miles a minute some of you in

million miles a minute some of you in here right now are probably thinking

here right now are probably thinking

here right now are probably thinking about what you’re going to eat later or

about what you’re going to eat later or

about what you’re going to eat later or where you’re going tonight but it’s time

where you’re going tonight but it’s time

where you’re going tonight but it’s time for us to focus it’s time for us to put

for us to focus it’s time for us to put

for us to focus it’s time for us to put our whole hearts into everything we do

our whole hearts into everything we do

our whole hearts into everything we do the king is to clear our minds and

the king is to clear our minds and

the king is to clear our minds and organize our lives if you don’t remember

organize our lives if you don’t remember

organize our lives if you don’t remember anything else today

anything else today

anything else today remember that mediocrity is the result

remember that mediocrity is the result

remember that mediocrity is the result of living a distracted life the

of living a distracted life the

of living a distracted life the difference between the outstanding and

difference between the outstanding and

difference between the outstanding and the average individuals is their

the average individuals is their

the average individuals is their abilities to remain focused thank you

abilities to remain focused thank you

abilities to remain focused thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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