Wow I’m both excited and surprised to be invited here today I was introduced to
invited here today I was introduced to
invited here today I was introduced to Ted through my little brother about 10
Ted through my little brother about 10
Ted through my little brother about 10 years ago and at this time we had
years ago and at this time we had
years ago and at this time we had dial-up internet and we weren’t able to
dial-up internet and we weren’t able to
dial-up internet and we weren’t able to stream the talks online he had gotten
stream the talks online he had gotten
stream the talks online he had gotten tickets to see TEDx Colorado but when I
tickets to see TEDx Colorado but when I
tickets to see TEDx Colorado but when I tried to get a ticket there was not
tried to get a ticket there was not
tried to get a ticket there was not available so what I did was I
available so what I did was I
available so what I did was I photocopied his nametag and attended my
photocopied his nametag and attended my
photocopied his nametag and attended my first TED event with a counterfeit badge
first TED event with a counterfeit badge
first TED event with a counterfeit badge it’s crazy that nobody’s actually caught
it’s crazy that nobody’s actually caught
it’s crazy that nobody’s actually caught on yet and I’m still here anyway I’m
on yet and I’m still here anyway I’m
on yet and I’m still here anyway I’m here today as a National Geographic
here today as a National Geographic
here today as a National Geographic young explorer when people think about
young explorer when people think about
young explorer when people think about exploration they think about beautiful
exploration they think about beautiful
exploration they think about beautiful views and exotic experiences I do myself
views and exotic experiences I do myself
views and exotic experiences I do myself in reality exploration is moreso being
in reality exploration is moreso being
in reality exploration is moreso being in the back of cramped buses for hours
in the back of cramped buses for hours
in the back of cramped buses for hours on end sitting out in the cold waiting
on end sitting out in the cold waiting
on end sitting out in the cold waiting for something to happen or being
for something to happen or being
for something to happen or being sleep-deprived just trying to get from
sleep-deprived just trying to get from
sleep-deprived just trying to get from point A to point B there’s been at least
point A to point B there’s been at least
point A to point B there’s been at least one moment in all of my adventures when
one moment in all of my adventures when
one moment in all of my adventures when I had to stop and truly ask myself is
I had to stop and truly ask myself is
I had to stop and truly ask myself is this worth it today I want to dig into
this worth it today I want to dig into
this worth it today I want to dig into that question and make a case for
that question and make a case for
that question and make a case for exploration to begin I want to rewind to
exploration to begin I want to rewind to
exploration to begin I want to rewind to September of 2014 for two weeks I’ve
September of 2014 for two weeks I’ve
September of 2014 for two weeks I’ve been trekking over land for Kathmandu
been trekking over land for Kathmandu
been trekking over land for Kathmandu trying to get to Everest base camp this
trying to get to Everest base camp this
trying to get to Everest base camp this particular morning I’d be covering some
particular morning I’d be covering some
particular morning I’d be covering some of the toughest terrain on my trip so I
of the toughest terrain on my trip so I
of the toughest terrain on my trip so I started early in the freezing cold the
started early in the freezing cold the
started early in the freezing cold the first challenge that I faced was Zoomba
first challenge that I faced was Zoomba
first challenge that I faced was Zoomba glacier it’s not that this was
glacier it’s not that this was
glacier it’s not that this was necessarily a highly technical glacier
necessarily a highly technical glacier
necessarily a highly technical glacier it’s just that I had never crossed a
it’s just that I had never crossed a
it’s just that I had never crossed a glacier before as I started through it I
glacier before as I started through it I
glacier before as I started through it I was crossing my way across blue glacial
was crossing my way across blue glacial
was crossing my way across blue glacial ponds and trying to find my footing on
ponds and trying to find my footing on
ponds and trying to find my footing on the ice and
the ice and
the ice and slip and as the morning wore on it
slip and as the morning wore on it
slip and as the morning wore on it slowly warmed up but so did the glacier
slowly warmed up but so did the glacier
slowly warmed up but so did the glacier before I knew it I was surrounded by the
before I knew it I was surrounded by the
before I knew it I was surrounded by the sound of rocks sliding into these ponds
sound of rocks sliding into these ponds
sound of rocks sliding into these ponds and the glacier itself started
and the glacier itself started
and the glacier itself started deteriorating right beneath my feet at
deteriorating right beneath my feet at
deteriorating right beneath my feet at times I would come across portions of
times I would come across portions of
times I would come across portions of the trail that were completely gone just
the trail that were completely gone just
the trail that were completely gone just melted away and I had to turn around and
melted away and I had to turn around and
melted away and I had to turn around and find another way through but I pushed on
find another way through but I pushed on
find another way through but I pushed on and eventually I did find my way through
and eventually I did find my way through
and eventually I did find my way through but now what lay ahead of me was cho la
but now what lay ahead of me was cho la
but now what lay ahead of me was cho la paz cho la paz sits at 17,000 700 feet
paz cho la paz sits at 17,000 700 feet
paz cho la paz sits at 17,000 700 feet above sea level this would be the
above sea level this would be the
above sea level this would be the highest elevation i had ever been to to
highest elevation i had ever been to to
highest elevation i had ever been to to make things worse when i looked up at
make things worse when i looked up at
make things worse when i looked up at where the trail should be i realized
where the trail should be i realized
where the trail should be i realized there have been a rockslide and the
there have been a rockslide and the
there have been a rockslide and the trail was completely covered in bowling
trail was completely covered in bowling
trail was completely covered in bowling ball-sized boulders but when i looked
ball-sized boulders but when i looked
ball-sized boulders but when i looked behind me I just saw the glacier and I
behind me I just saw the glacier and I
behind me I just saw the glacier and I didn’t want to turn around to do that
didn’t want to turn around to do that
didn’t want to turn around to do that again so I decided to press on what
again so I decided to press on what
again so I decided to press on what ensued over the next few hours could
ensued over the next few hours could
ensued over the next few hours could have been a spectator sport I would walk
have been a spectator sport I would walk
have been a spectator sport I would walk up 5 feet or so and then try to catch my
up 5 feet or so and then try to catch my
up 5 feet or so and then try to catch my breath and it slide back down 3 or 4 but
breath and it slide back down 3 or 4 but
breath and it slide back down 3 or 4 but I kept pushing on through the boulder
I kept pushing on through the boulder
I kept pushing on through the boulder field and up the gully soon the clouds
field and up the gully soon the clouds
field and up the gully soon the clouds rolled in and fog rolled in all around
rolled in and fog rolled in all around
rolled in and fog rolled in all around so I couldn’t even see in front of me as
so I couldn’t even see in front of me as
so I couldn’t even see in front of me as I pushed up further it started to snow
I pushed up further it started to snow
I pushed up further it started to snow but I pushed on and eventually I found
but I pushed on and eventually I found
but I pushed on and eventually I found my way to the top of cho la paz as
my way to the top of cho la paz as
my way to the top of cho la paz as always i sat here trying to my breath
always i sat here trying to my breath
always i sat here trying to my breath and looking forward I saw what would
and looking forward I saw what would
and looking forward I saw what would become the second glacier I had ever
become the second glacier I had ever
become the second glacier I had ever crossed but this time I was cold alone
crossed but this time I was cold alone
crossed but this time I was cold alone and didn’t know where to go and I
and didn’t know where to go and I
and didn’t know where to go and I couldn’t even see in front of me because
couldn’t even see in front of me because
couldn’t even see in front of me because of the fog and a snowstorm I distinctly
of the fog and a snowstorm I distinctly
of the fog and a snowstorm I distinctly remember asking that question is it
remember asking that question is it
remember asking that question is it worth it over the next few hours I wound
worth it over the next few hours I wound
worth it over the next few hours I wound my way through the crevices tried not to
my way through the crevices tried not to
my way through the crevices tried not to slip and fall and got lost among the
slip and fall and got lost among the
slip and fall and got lost among the sacks but shortly before nightfall I
sacks but shortly before nightfall I
sacks but shortly before nightfall I finally found the trail
finally found the trail
finally found the trail I made it out
this experience in many ways has defined
this experience in many ways has defined what I think of when I say exploration
what I think of when I say exploration
what I think of when I say exploration it’s a time when I tangibly took a step
it’s a time when I tangibly took a step
it’s a time when I tangibly took a step into the unknown faced insurmountable
into the unknown faced insurmountable
into the unknown faced insurmountable obstacles but made it through before we
obstacles but made it through before we
obstacles but made it through before we go further I want to define with you
go further I want to define with you
go further I want to define with you what I see to be the building blocks of
what I see to be the building blocks of
what I see to be the building blocks of exploration first off
exploration first off
exploration first off exploration itself is defined in its
exploration itself is defined in its
exploration itself is defined in its most abstract sense as existence in the
most abstract sense as existence in the
most abstract sense as existence in the unknown what becomes what comes before
unknown what becomes what comes before
unknown what becomes what comes before exploration and is often overlooked is a
exploration and is often overlooked is a
exploration and is often overlooked is a question questions that require
question questions that require
question questions that require exploration are those that seem like
exploration are those that seem like
exploration are those that seem like they might have no answer but you try to
they might have no answer but you try to
they might have no answer but you try to answer them anyway and when you choose
answer them anyway and when you choose
answer them anyway and when you choose to try to answer these questions is when
to try to answer these questions is when
to try to answer these questions is when you become an explorer when you choose
you become an explorer when you choose
you become an explorer when you choose to explore what often ensues is
to explore what often ensues is
to explore what often ensues is adventure and as I discussed on my story
adventure and as I discussed on my story
adventure and as I discussed on my story earlier exploring can be very exciting
earlier exploring can be very exciting
earlier exploring can be very exciting now I also want to touch on some counter
now I also want to touch on some counter
now I also want to touch on some counter points to exploration first off people
points to exploration first off people
points to exploration first off people say the exploration is uncomfortable and
say the exploration is uncomfortable and
say the exploration is uncomfortable and that adventure is dangerous and this
that adventure is dangerous and this
that adventure is dangerous and this leads them to the conclusion that
leads them to the conclusion that
leads them to the conclusion that questioning in it of itself is
questioning in it of itself is
questioning in it of itself is inefficient and it’s better to actually
inefficient and it’s better to actually
inefficient and it’s better to actually learn answers to the questions we
learn answers to the questions we
learn answers to the questions we already know but here’s the thing when
already know but here’s the thing when
already know but here’s the thing when you assume this perspective you’re
you assume this perspective you’re
you assume this perspective you’re constructing a world around you that’s
constructing a world around you that’s
constructing a world around you that’s completely static changing you’re also a
completely static changing you’re also a
completely static changing you’re also a limit in your ability to question now
limit in your ability to question now
limit in your ability to question now today this world we live in is
today this world we live in is
today this world we live in is incredibly dynamic with climate change
incredibly dynamic with climate change
incredibly dynamic with climate change technology spreading and with population
technology spreading and with population
technology spreading and with population increasing drastically we’ve never seen
increasing drastically we’ve never seen
increasing drastically we’ve never seen the world changing this fast as
the world changing this fast as
the world changing this fast as explorers we can proactively take
explorers we can proactively take
explorers we can proactively take ownership of these changes and even if
ownership of these changes and even if
ownership of these changes and even if we don’t know where we’re going or what
we don’t know where we’re going or what
we don’t know where we’re going or what our role will be when we get there we
our role will be when we get there we
our role will be when we get there we can take ownership of this and seize the
can take ownership of this and seize the
can take ownership of this and seize the opportunity to step into the unknown
coming back from Nepal I knew and
coming back from Nepal I knew and learned something really important
learned something really important
learned something really important but I wanted to apply it to more than
but I wanted to apply it to more than
but I wanted to apply it to more than just trekking through the mountains
just trekking through the mountains
just trekking through the mountains funded by a National Geographic grin my
funded by a National Geographic grin my
funded by a National Geographic grin my brother and I came up with the idea to
brother and I came up with the idea to
brother and I came up with the idea to travel across the United States and try
travel across the United States and try
travel across the United States and try to inspire the next generation of
to inspire the next generation of
to inspire the next generation of explorers to conserve and protect our
explorers to conserve and protect our
explorers to conserve and protect our environment with the grant money we
environment with the grant money we
environment with the grant money we converted an old van to run on waste
converted an old van to run on waste
converted an old van to run on waste vegetable oil and then change the inside
vegetable oil and then change the inside
vegetable oil and then change the inside and cover the outside turning into our
and cover the outside turning into our
and cover the outside turning into our very own ice cream truck we traveled
very own ice cream truck we traveled
very own ice cream truck we traveled around the United States for three
around the United States for three
around the United States for three months and for 3,000 or 4,000 miles we
months and for 3,000 or 4,000 miles we
months and for 3,000 or 4,000 miles we actually met with kids in their own
actually met with kids in their own
actually met with kids in their own neighborhoods and cities asked them to
neighborhoods and cities asked them to
neighborhoods and cities asked them to choose an area that they wanted to
choose an area that they wanted to
choose an area that they wanted to conserve and take ownership of that area
conserve and take ownership of that area
conserve and take ownership of that area as an explorer somebody who no matter
as an explorer somebody who no matter
as an explorer somebody who no matter the unknown things that would happen
the unknown things that would happen
the unknown things that would happen would conserve and protect that area the
would conserve and protect that area the
would conserve and protect that area the interesting thing about this experience
interesting thing about this experience
interesting thing about this experience is that we set out to inspire the next
is that we set out to inspire the next
is that we set out to inspire the next generation but it was actually turned
generation but it was actually turned
generation but it was actually turned right back on us we were the ones
right back on us we were the ones
right back on us we were the ones inspired by the creativity they showed
inspired by the creativity they showed
inspired by the creativity they showed and protecting and conserving our
and protecting and conserving our
and protecting and conserving our environment now let’s fast forward to
environment now let’s fast forward to
environment now let’s fast forward to just last spring funded by another
just last spring funded by another
just last spring funded by another National Geographic another National
National Geographic another National
National Geographic another National Geographic grant my team and I traveled
Geographic grant my team and I traveled
Geographic grant my team and I traveled to Ladakh now the dock is a region high
to Ladakh now the dock is a region high
to Ladakh now the dock is a region high in the Indian Himalayas nestled between
in the Indian Himalayas nestled between
in the Indian Himalayas nestled between Pakistan and Tibet it’s home to some of
Pakistan and Tibet it’s home to some of
Pakistan and Tibet it’s home to some of the world’s highest altitude roads but
the world’s highest altitude roads but
the world’s highest altitude roads but every single year these roads are
every single year these roads are
every single year these roads are destroyed by the avalanches rock slides
destroyed by the avalanches rock slides
destroyed by the avalanches rock slides and flooding and this essentially cuts
and flooding and this essentially cuts
and flooding and this essentially cuts the dock off from the outside world now
the dock off from the outside world now
the dock off from the outside world now every spring immigrants come to Ladakh
every spring immigrants come to Ladakh
every spring immigrants come to Ladakh to reconstruct these roads despite of
to reconstruct these roads despite of
to reconstruct these roads despite of the extreme altitude while we’re in
the extreme altitude while we’re in
the extreme altitude while we’re in Ladakh the story that unfolded was very
Ladakh the story that unfolded was very
Ladakh the story that unfolded was very much a coming-of-age story we had found
much a coming-of-age story we had found
much a coming-of-age story we had found a Tibetan Buddhist culture with this
a Tibetan Buddhist culture with this
a Tibetan Buddhist culture with this identity rootedness isolation at an
identity rootedness isolation at an
identity rootedness isolation at an awkward point development
awkward point development
awkward point development a time when things had grown a little
a time when things had grown a little
a time when things had grown a little bit too fast but not quite fast enough
we found that the connectivity had
we found that the connectivity had increased tourism and sparked
increased tourism and sparked
increased tourism and sparked socio-economic change but the lack of
socio-economic change but the lack of
socio-economic change but the lack of connectivity for six to nine months out
connectivity for six to nine months out
connectivity for six to nine months out of the year had prevented people from
of the year had prevented people from
of the year had prevented people from fully assuming this new way of life we
fully assuming this new way of life we
fully assuming this new way of life we found that the roads themselves acted as
found that the roads themselves acted as
found that the roads themselves acted as the metronome of the docks development
the metronome of the docks development
the metronome of the docks development as this metronome quickens the docks
as this metronome quickens the docks
as this metronome quickens the docks isolation will become a thing of the
isolation will become a thing of the
isolation will become a thing of the past they will be forced into the
past they will be forced into the
past they will be forced into the unknown to take that step what I learned
unknown to take that step what I learned
unknown to take that step what I learned from this experience was the exploration
from this experience was the exploration
from this experience was the exploration it is not always a choice the reality of
it is not always a choice the reality of
it is not always a choice the reality of our world even if you’ve constructed it
our world even if you’ve constructed it
our world even if you’ve constructed it to be static is that the world is
to be static is that the world is
to be static is that the world is changing a changing world whether you
changing a changing world whether you
changing a changing world whether you wanted to or not will shake things up
wanted to or not will shake things up
wanted to or not will shake things up and you will be forced to step into the
and you will be forced to step into the
and you will be forced to step into the unknown to say this another way at some
unknown to say this another way at some
unknown to say this another way at some point or another we will all be forced
point or another we will all be forced
point or another we will all be forced to be explorers or to ignore the changes
to be explorers or to ignore the changes
to be explorers or to ignore the changes happening around us I encourage you to
happening around us I encourage you to
happening around us I encourage you to do like Ladakh ease and step into the
do like Ladakh ease and step into the
do like Ladakh ease and step into the unknown and embrace these challenges
unknown and embrace these challenges
unknown and embrace these challenges when they cross your path one note I’d
when they cross your path one note I’d
when they cross your path one note I’d like to say something I’ve learned is
like to say something I’ve learned is
like to say something I’ve learned is that exploration applies to you
that exploration applies to you
that exploration applies to you regardless of what you’re doing in life
regardless of what you’re doing in life
regardless of what you’re doing in life I want us all to stay here to stand here
I want us all to stay here to stand here
I want us all to stay here to stand here today and imagine a world where instead
today and imagine a world where instead
today and imagine a world where instead of businesspeople scientists engineers
of businesspeople scientists engineers
of businesspeople scientists engineers students engineers and teachers were all
students engineers and teachers were all
students engineers and teachers were all explorers well yeah what would our what
explorers well yeah what would our what
explorers well yeah what would our what would our world look like what would our
would our world look like what would our
would our world look like what would our world look like if we taught children to
world look like if we taught children to
world look like if we taught children to be explorers instead of how to answer
be explorers instead of how to answer
be explorers instead of how to answer questions on tests correctly
questions on tests correctly
questions on tests correctly what would business look like if we
what would business look like if we
what would business look like if we tried to look for those answers or those
tried to look for those answers or those
tried to look for those answers or those questions and those answers to questions
questions and those answers to questions
questions and those answers to questions are really mattered and what would
are really mattered and what would
are really mattered and what would science look like if we look for
science look like if we look for
science look like if we look for meaningful questions regardless of
meaningful questions regardless of
meaningful questions regardless of whether they are published
whether they are published
whether they are published in a reputable journal if you’re
in a reputable journal if you’re
in a reputable journal if you’re inspired what you hear today I want you
inspired what you hear today I want you
inspired what you hear today I want you to take away three things the first is
to take away three things the first is
to take away three things the first is practice practice every single chance
practice practice every single chance
practice practice every single chance you get if a question comes across that
you get if a question comes across that
you get if a question comes across that will lead you into the unknown chase
will lead you into the unknown chase
will lead you into the unknown chase that answer as we practice exploration
that answer as we practice exploration
that answer as we practice exploration we become better explorers ourselves the
we become better explorers ourselves the
we become better explorers ourselves the second thing is be creative look for
second thing is be creative look for
second thing is be creative look for opportunities to explore like the ice
opportunities to explore like the ice
opportunities to explore like the ice cream expedition I talked about earlier
cream expedition I talked about earlier
cream expedition I talked about earlier these types of things are only the tip
these types of things are only the tip
these types of things are only the tip of the iceberg the opportunities for
of the iceberg the opportunities for
of the iceberg the opportunities for exploration are truly endless the last
exploration are truly endless the last
exploration are truly endless the last thing I want us to do is encourage
thing I want us to do is encourage
thing I want us to do is encourage exploration like my stores make my story
exploration like my stores make my story
exploration like my stores make my story previously illustrated exploration can
previously illustrated exploration can
previously illustrated exploration can at times be terrifying and you may have
at times be terrifying and you may have
at times be terrifying and you may have no idea where you’re going and it’s
no idea where you’re going and it’s
no idea where you’re going and it’s supposed to be this way when you see
supposed to be this way when you see
supposed to be this way when you see somebody engaging and meaningful
somebody engaging and meaningful
somebody engaging and meaningful exploration encourage them let’s think
exploration encourage them let’s think
exploration encourage them let’s think back to that story in the Himalayas when
back to that story in the Himalayas when
back to that story in the Himalayas when I was alone in the cold not sure where
I was alone in the cold not sure where
I was alone in the cold not sure where to go I couldn’t even see through the
to go I couldn’t even see through the
to go I couldn’t even see through the fog in the snowstorm remember that
fog in the snowstorm remember that
fog in the snowstorm remember that question I asked is this worth it what
question I asked is this worth it what
question I asked is this worth it what I’ve learned since then is that
I’ve learned since then is that
I’ve learned since then is that explorers come across the raging river
explorers come across the raging river
explorers come across the raging river of the unknown and instead of turning
of the unknown and instead of turning
of the unknown and instead of turning around they jump in and learn how to
around they jump in and learn how to
around they jump in and learn how to swim next time something crosses your
swim next time something crosses your
swim next time something crosses your path that encourages you to step in the
path that encourages you to step in the
path that encourages you to step in the unknown
unknown
unknown I implore you to boldly do so as an
I implore you to boldly do so as an
I implore you to boldly do so as an explorer it’s worth it
”
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