we are born curious for nine months we sit in this dark holding cell and then
sit in this dark holding cell and then
sit in this dark holding cell and then all a sudden there’s light and
all a sudden there’s light and
all a sudden there’s light and everything that we’re experiencing is
everything that we’re experiencing is
everything that we’re experiencing is for the very first time every smell
for the very first time every smell
for the very first time every smell every taste every touch and as the
every taste every touch and as the
every taste every touch and as the minutes become hours and the hours
minutes become hours and the hours
minutes become hours and the hours become days we start to become more
become days we start to become more
become days we start to become more curious about our surroundings we will
curious about our surroundings we will
curious about our surroundings we will later find out that the seven women
later find out that the seven women
later find out that the seven women throwing us around like a football
throwing us around like a football
throwing us around like a football aren’t actually trying to kill us
aren’t actually trying to kill us
aren’t actually trying to kill us they’re called nurses and that these two
they’re called nurses and that these two
they’re called nurses and that these two large humans that are making weird faces
large humans that are making weird faces
large humans that are making weird faces and noises from the moment we wake up to
and noises from the moment we wake up to
and noises from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep aren’t aliens
the moment we go to sleep aren’t aliens
the moment we go to sleep aren’t aliens they’re called our parents and they love
they’re called our parents and they love
they’re called our parents and they love us and somewhere around the age of two
us and somewhere around the age of two
us and somewhere around the age of two or three years old we’re able to
or three years old we’re able to
or three years old we’re able to verbalize all this curiosity into a
verbalize all this curiosity into a
verbalize all this curiosity into a one-word question why now if you have
one-word question why now if you have
one-word question why now if you have kids of your own or you’ve watched any
kids of your own or you’ve watched any
kids of your own or you’ve watched any movie with some annoying child that
movie with some annoying child that
movie with some annoying child that knows more than the adults you know that
knows more than the adults you know that
knows more than the adults you know that that question of why cannot be answered
that question of why cannot be answered
that question of why cannot be answered in a single sentence know that question
in a single sentence know that question
in a single sentence know that question of why is going to need explanation and
of why is going to need explanation and
of why is going to need explanation and counter explanations because somehow
counter explanations because somehow
counter explanations because somehow this three-year-old that still wets the
this three-year-old that still wets the
this three-year-old that still wets the bed knows more about life than you do my
bed knows more about life than you do my
bed knows more about life than you do my son Bryce is four years old I’m still
son Bryce is four years old I’m still
son Bryce is four years old I’m still answering a question from when he was
answering a question from when he was
answering a question from when he was two the struggle is real
two the struggle is real
two the struggle is real trust me when I say this but something
trust me when I say this but something
trust me when I say this but something happens when we get older our curiosity
happens when we get older our curiosity
happens when we get older our curiosity turns into cautiousness I remember being
turns into cautiousness I remember being
turns into cautiousness I remember being ten years old and standing on top of a
ten years old and standing on top of a
ten years old and standing on top of a flight of stairs equipped with nothing
flight of stairs equipped with nothing
flight of stairs equipped with nothing but a garbage bag because I was sure
but a garbage bag because I was sure
but a garbage bag because I was sure once I jumped that hefty bag was going
once I jumped that hefty bag was going
once I jumped that hefty bag was going to turn into a parachute 17 stairs later
to turn into a parachute 17 stairs later
to turn into a parachute 17 stairs later I realized that was not the case I got
I realized that was not the case I got
I realized that was not the case I got messed up I got hurt but I made that
messed up I got hurt but I made that
messed up I got hurt but I made that discovery on
and when you start learning things and
and when you start learning things and being taught things like fear by your
being taught things like fear by your
being taught things like fear by your parents by your teachers by your
parents by your teachers by your
parents by your teachers by your siblings you start accepting answers and
siblings you start accepting answers and
siblings you start accepting answers and you stop asking why and the problem with
you stop asking why and the problem with
you stop asking why and the problem with that is this the most important question
that is this the most important question
that is this the most important question we can ask ourselves as human beings is
we can ask ourselves as human beings is
we can ask ourselves as human beings is why are we here there are billions not
why are we here there are billions not
why are we here there are billions not millions billions of people that occupy
millions billions of people that occupy
millions billions of people that occupy this planet that believe their only
this planet that believe their only
this planet that believe their only purpose in life is to go to school go to
purpose in life is to go to school go to
purpose in life is to go to school go to college get a job to pay for said
college get a job to pay for said
college get a job to pay for said college get married have two-and-a-half
college get married have two-and-a-half
college get married have two-and-a-half cancers I still cannot figure out how
cancers I still cannot figure out how
cancers I still cannot figure out how you have to want to have kids retire at
you have to want to have kids retire at
you have to want to have kids retire at the ripe age of 80 and then die they
the ripe age of 80 and then die they
the ripe age of 80 and then die they feel that’s the reason they exist that’s
feel that’s the reason they exist that’s
feel that’s the reason they exist that’s not an existence that’s just existing
not an existence that’s just existing
not an existence that’s just existing that’s taking up space I feel that every
that’s taking up space I feel that every
that’s taking up space I feel that every single one of us has a purpose you’re
single one of us has a purpose you’re
single one of us has a purpose you’re probably sitting there right now like
probably sitting there right now like
probably sitting there right now like okay crazy man on stage why are you so
okay crazy man on stage why are you so
okay crazy man on stage why are you so sure well here’s the reason I used to
sure well here’s the reason I used to
sure well here’s the reason I used to work at this place called the Denville
work at this place called the Denville
work at this place called the Denville pharmacy in the very back counter I used
pharmacy in the very back counter I used
pharmacy in the very back counter I used to call it the sink counter I used to
to call it the sink counter I used to
to call it the sink counter I used to sell cigarettes and a lottery tickets
sell cigarettes and a lottery tickets
sell cigarettes and a lottery tickets and I had this older gentleman that used
and I had this older gentleman that used
and I had this older gentleman that used to come into the pharmacy every single
to come into the pharmacy every single
to come into the pharmacy every single day and by hundreds of lottery tickets
day and by hundreds of lottery tickets
day and by hundreds of lottery tickets hundreds and one day he came up to me
hundreds and one day he came up to me
hundreds and one day he came up to me said young man I’ve been playing the
said young man I’ve been playing the
said young man I’ve been playing the lottery for 30 years I never got more
lottery for 30 years I never got more
lottery for 30 years I never got more than three winning numbers I’m 18 so my
than three winning numbers I’m 18 so my
than three winning numbers I’m 18 so my mind says like stop but then I started
mind says like stop but then I started
mind says like stop but then I started to think about it think about how many
to think about it think about how many
to think about it think about how many millions of people play the lottery
millions of people play the lottery
millions of people play the lottery every day and how many tens of thousands
every day and how many tens of thousands
every day and how many tens of thousands of people play it as aggressively as
of people play it as aggressively as
of people play it as aggressively as this older gentleman and never ever win
this older gentleman and never ever win
this older gentleman and never ever win and there’s a reason for that
and there’s a reason for that
and there’s a reason for that you know when the lottery is a 1 in 175
you know when the lottery is a 1 in 175
you know when the lottery is a 1 in 175 million chance one in 175 million that’s
million chance one in 175 million that’s
million chance one in 175 million that’s like me walking out of the theater
like me walking out of the theater
like me walking out of the theater getting struck by lightning coming back
getting struck by lightning coming back
getting struck by lightning coming back in here getting struck by the same
in here getting struck by the same
in here getting struck by the same lightning ball only to walk back outside
lightning ball only to walk back outside
lightning ball only to walk back outside and get eaten by a freaking unicorn
that’s what 1 and 175 million look like
that’s what 1 and 175 million look like so when someone finally does win from
so when someone finally does win from
so when someone finally does win from Louisiana because they’re always from
Louisiana because they’re always from
Louisiana because they’re always from down south I don’t know why what’s the
down south I don’t know why what’s the
down south I don’t know why what’s the first 2 things they say they bring him
first 2 things they say they bring him
first 2 things they say they bring him up to the podium his hair is all
up to the podium his hair is all
up to the podium his hair is all disheveled
disheveled
disheveled his shirts and buns he found he has 30
his shirts and buns he found he has 30
his shirts and buns he found he has 30 new family members he’s never met before
new family members he’s never met before
new family members he’s never met before in his life and they say sir how do you
in his life and they say sir how do you
in his life and they say sir how do you feel and he gets up there he wipes his
feel and he gets up there he wipes his
feel and he gets up there he wipes his brown he goes man I just want to thank
brown he goes man I just want to thank
brown he goes man I just want to thank God I want to thank God and baby Jesus
God I want to thank God and baby Jesus
God I want to thank God and baby Jesus and Jesus is nephew and everybody and
and Jesus is nephew and everybody and
and Jesus is nephew and everybody and what’s the second thing he says it’s a
what’s the second thing he says it’s a
what’s the second thing he says it’s a miracle
miracle
miracle it’s a miracle and he’s right one in 175
it’s a miracle and he’s right one in 175
it’s a miracle and he’s right one in 175 million is a miracle but here’s a
million is a miracle but here’s a
million is a miracle but here’s a crazier stat I’m not trying to get too
crazier stat I’m not trying to get too
crazier stat I’m not trying to get too personal I don’t know your father’s
personal I don’t know your father’s
personal I don’t know your father’s exact sperm count and I don’t want to
exact sperm count and I don’t want to
exact sperm count and I don’t want to know it but for you to be born is
know it but for you to be born is
know it but for you to be born is somewhere in the one in four hundred
somewhere in the one in four hundred
somewhere in the one in four hundred trillion range with a T one in four
trillion range with a T one in four
trillion range with a T one in four hundred trillion so please do not sit
hundred trillion so please do not sit
hundred trillion so please do not sit here and tell me that you don’t have
here and tell me that you don’t have
here and tell me that you don’t have purpose you didn’t play the lottery you
purpose you didn’t play the lottery you
purpose you didn’t play the lottery you are the freaking lottery you are the
are the freaking lottery you are the
are the freaking lottery you are the miracle every time you wake up and you
miracle every time you wake up and you
miracle every time you wake up and you look in the mirror the miracle is
look in the mirror the miracle is
look in the mirror the miracle is looking right back at you so why are so
looking right back at you so why are so
looking right back at you so why are so many of us unconvinced some of you guys
many of us unconvinced some of you guys
many of us unconvinced some of you guys are sitting there right now I can see it
are sitting there right now I can see it
are sitting there right now I can see it on your little faces man he’s tripping
I’ll tell you why
I’ll tell you why when I was 16 years old I fell in love
when I was 16 years old I fell in love
when I was 16 years old I fell in love with basketball head over heels in love
with basketball head over heels in love
with basketball head over heels in love with basketball the problem was this I
with basketball the problem was this I
with basketball the problem was this I never played ball before in my life ever
never played ball before in my life ever
never played ball before in my life ever and I sucked badly but I play a
and I sucked badly but I play a
and I sucked badly but I play a basketball for a really big reason I
basketball for a really big reason I
basketball for a really big reason I want to play basketball so my mother the
want to play basketball so my mother the
want to play basketball so my mother the great Tina Thomas never had to work
great Tina Thomas never had to work
great Tina Thomas never had to work another job again in her life because
another job again in her life because
another job again in her life because when I was three years old my father
when I was three years old my father
when I was three years old my father Bobby Thomas passed away from cancer and
Bobby Thomas passed away from cancer and
Bobby Thomas passed away from cancer and he left my mom the task of raising five
he left my mom the task of raising five
he left my mom the task of raising five kids on her own with no money so since I
kids on her own with no money so since I
kids on her own with no money so since I was three
was three
was three I’ve seen this woman struggle I’ve seen
I’ve seen this woman struggle I’ve seen
I’ve seen this woman struggle I’ve seen this woman come home and us have bills
this woman come home and us have bills
this woman come home and us have bills from the table to the ceiling so when I
from the table to the ceiling so when I
from the table to the ceiling so when I started playing ball I said to my mom
started playing ball I said to my mom
started playing ball I said to my mom she’s the only one I share my dream with
she’s the only one I share my dream with
she’s the only one I share my dream with mom I’m gonna be a professional
mom I’m gonna be a professional
mom I’m gonna be a professional basketball player you’re never gonna
basketball player you’re never gonna
basketball player you’re never gonna have to work again and my mom would
have to work again and my mom would
have to work again and my mom would always say all right baby I believe you
always say all right baby I believe you
always say all right baby I believe you all right and somehow some way through
all right and somehow some way through
all right and somehow some way through having the coordination of a baby dear
having the coordination of a baby dear
having the coordination of a baby dear when I first started I was able to get a
when I first started I was able to get a
when I first started I was able to get a scholarship to play in North Dakota and
scholarship to play in North Dakota and
scholarship to play in North Dakota and then after I got home I got a contract
then after I got home I got a contract
then after I got home I got a contract to play professional basketball in
to play professional basketball in
to play professional basketball in Europe in 168 hours before I was
Europe in 168 hours before I was
Europe in 168 hours before I was supposed to leave I ruptured my Achilles
supposed to leave I ruptured my Achilles
supposed to leave I ruptured my Achilles tendon now understand something my whole
tendon now understand something my whole
tendon now understand something my whole purpose in life was pure it was for this
purpose in life was pure it was for this
purpose in life was pure it was for this woman that I love more than anything
woman that I love more than anything
woman that I love more than anything else on this planet in the hardest day
else on this planet in the hardest day
else on this planet in the hardest day of my life was the day after my surgery
because the day after my surgery my mom
because the day after my surgery my mom came in my room it kissed me on my
came in my room it kissed me on my
came in my room it kissed me on my forehead and I watched her walk out the
forehead and I watched her walk out the
forehead and I watched her walk out the house on her way to one of the three
house on her way to one of the three
house on her way to one of the three jobs I promised
jobs I promised
jobs I promised she never have to work again and when I
she never have to work again and when I
she never have to work again and when I talk about it now I still feel it and
talk about it now I still feel it and
talk about it now I still feel it and when she left I asked myself why why
when she left I asked myself why why
when she left I asked myself why why would I get injured now and I’m cursing
would I get injured now and I’m cursing
would I get injured now and I’m cursing the heavens all upset I’m I’m pissed off
the heavens all upset I’m I’m pissed off
the heavens all upset I’m I’m pissed off but that’s the answer to why we don’t
but that’s the answer to why we don’t
but that’s the answer to why we don’t think we have purpose because what we
think we have purpose because what we
think we have purpose because what we don’t understand when we’re going
don’t understand when we’re going
don’t understand when we’re going through it is a lot of times it’s going
through it is a lot of times it’s going
through it is a lot of times it’s going to take pain to find your purpose and us
to take pain to find your purpose and us
to take pain to find your purpose and us as humans when we experience pain one of
as humans when we experience pain one of
as humans when we experience pain one of the first things that we do is tuck tail
the first things that we do is tuck tail
the first things that we do is tuck tail and we run without realizing that on the
and we run without realizing that on the
and we run without realizing that on the other side of that pain your purpose is
other side of that pain your purpose is
other side of that pain your purpose is waiting for you you just got to stick it
waiting for you you just got to stick it
waiting for you you just got to stick it out last year they did a like a mini
out last year they did a like a mini
out last year they did a like a mini documentary at my house it was just my
documentary at my house it was just my
documentary at my house it was just my uncle not fancy was it was my uncle he’s
uncle not fancy was it was my uncle he’s
uncle not fancy was it was my uncle he’s just recording some stuff I tried to say
just recording some stuff I tried to say
just recording some stuff I tried to say like I was cool he was like oh did a doc
like I was cool he was like oh did a doc
like I was cool he was like oh did a doc it was just uncle Joey he just came over
and I sat down with my mom my mom’s
and I sat down with my mom my mom’s supposed to be here today but she gets
supposed to be here today but she gets
supposed to be here today but she gets embarrassed when I talk about her so she
embarrassed when I talk about her so she
embarrassed when I talk about her so she gets embarrassed a lot and I said mom I
gets embarrassed a lot and I said mom I
gets embarrassed a lot and I said mom I said how did you get through all the
said how did you get through all the
said how did you get through all the madness now when I say fi5 I’ve four
madness now when I say fi5 I’ve four
madness now when I say fi5 I’ve four siblings is five of us one of my
siblings is five of us one of my
siblings is five of us one of my brother’s is autistic if you have
brother’s is autistic if you have
brother’s is autistic if you have anybody on the spectrum you know that’s
anybody on the spectrum you know that’s
anybody on the spectrum you know that’s tough so how did you get through all
tough so how did you get through all
tough so how did you get through all that what did you dream about what was
that what did you dream about what was
that what did you dream about what was your purpose and my mom said baby boy
your purpose and my mom said baby boy
your purpose and my mom said baby boy she goes my only purpose was to make
she goes my only purpose was to make
she goes my only purpose was to make sure you guys had a roof over your head
sure you guys had a roof over your head
sure you guys had a roof over your head you have food in your stomach and you
you have food in your stomach and you
you have food in your stomach and you were raised the right way now understand
were raised the right way now understand
were raised the right way now understand something sometimes that’s all that
something sometimes that’s all that
something sometimes that’s all that purpose has to be we get it misconstrued
purpose has to be we get it misconstrued
purpose has to be we get it misconstrued we think purpose is everybody has to
we think purpose is everybody has to
we think purpose is everybody has to save the planet man sometimes you just
save the planet man sometimes you just
save the planet man sometimes you just got to save your house and that’s
got to save your house and that’s
got to save your house and that’s powerful if it wasn’t for my mom I
powerful if it wasn’t for my mom I
powerful if it wasn’t for my mom I wouldn’t be here right
wouldn’t be here right
wouldn’t be here right now and man if it wasn’t for my injury I
now and man if it wasn’t for my injury I
now and man if it wasn’t for my injury I wouldn’t be here either
wouldn’t be here either
wouldn’t be here either my injury has bought me my beautiful
my injury has bought me my beautiful
my injury has bought me my beautiful family my injury has allowed me to speak
family my injury has allowed me to speak
family my injury has allowed me to speak in front of thousands of people an
in front of thousands of people an
in front of thousands of people an impact and be impacted and my injury is
impact and be impacted and my injury is
impact and be impacted and my injury is bringing me to this stage right now
bringing me to this stage right now
bringing me to this stage right now where I’m getting a chance to have a
where I’m getting a chance to have a
where I’m getting a chance to have a conversation with you beautiful people
conversation with you beautiful people
conversation with you beautiful people now understand something Kurt Vonnegut
now understand something Kurt Vonnegut
now understand something Kurt Vonnegut once said we are whatever we pretend to
once said we are whatever we pretend to
once said we are whatever we pretend to be so if you want to sit there in this
be so if you want to sit there in this
be so if you want to sit there in this auditorium and act like you don’t have
auditorium and act like you don’t have
auditorium and act like you don’t have purpose you want to act like there’s no
purpose you want to act like there’s no
purpose you want to act like there’s no reason that you exist you want to act
reason that you exist you want to act
reason that you exist you want to act like you’re not good enough you’re not
like you’re not good enough you’re not
like you’re not good enough you’re not smart enough you’re not the right shade
smart enough you’re not the right shade
smart enough you’re not the right shade of color etc etc etc so be it but do
of color etc etc etc so be it but do
of color etc etc etc so be it but do this for me think of your age and
this for me think of your age and
this for me think of your age and subtract it by a hundred how much time
subtract it by a hundred how much time
subtract it by a hundred how much time do you think you have left that’s if
do you think you have left that’s if
do you think you have left that’s if everything goes right we’re just renters
everything goes right we’re just renters
everything goes right we’re just renters on this planet we own nothing these
on this planet we own nothing these
on this planet we own nothing these clothes my car that barely works my
clothes my car that barely works my
clothes my car that barely works my house in a hundred years all that is
house in a hundred years all that is
house in a hundred years all that is gone but what I could do is this every
gone but what I could do is this every
gone but what I could do is this every day I am blessed with the opportunity to
day I am blessed with the opportunity to
day I am blessed with the opportunity to wake up
wake up
wake up I can impact my life for the better and
I can impact my life for the better and
I can impact my life for the better and my family’s life for the better I can
my family’s life for the better I can
my family’s life for the better I can impact somebody else’s and I can leave
impact somebody else’s and I can leave
impact somebody else’s and I can leave this world a little bit better than
this world a little bit better than
this world a little bit better than where I got it if you look around this
where I got it if you look around this
where I got it if you look around this auditorium right now we all won the
auditorium right now we all won the
auditorium right now we all won the lottery today we’re all awake we’re all
lottery today we’re all awake we’re all
lottery today we’re all awake we’re all alive and if you don’t have gratitude
alive and if you don’t have gratitude
alive and if you don’t have gratitude for that if you don’t realize there are
for that if you don’t realize there are
for that if you don’t realize there are tens of thousands of people all over the
tens of thousands of people all over the
tens of thousands of people all over the world that didn’t then you don’t
world that didn’t then you don’t
world that didn’t then you don’t understand the miracle so my big
understand the miracle so my big
understand the miracle so my big question to you is this today
question to you is this today
question to you is this today you have opportunity what the hell are
you have opportunity what the hell are
you have opportunity what the hell are you gonna do with it
you gonna do with it
you gonna do with it thank you
thank you
thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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