[Music] the first time I flew a kite I was about
the first time I flew a kite I was about
the first time I flew a kite I was about the age of five and I was standing atop
the age of five and I was standing atop
the age of five and I was standing atop the hill in gasworks Park in downtown
the hill in gasworks Park in downtown
the hill in gasworks Park in downtown Seattle
Seattle
Seattle my mom’s boyfriend was flying this
my mom’s boyfriend was flying this
my mom’s boyfriend was flying this two-line kite it was zipping and diving
two-line kite it was zipping and diving
two-line kite it was zipping and diving across the sky and it looked like so
across the sky and it looked like so
across the sky and it looked like so much fun I had to try these kites are a
much fun I had to try these kites are a
much fun I had to try these kites are a bit of a workout for a fully grown adult
bit of a workout for a fully grown adult
bit of a workout for a fully grown adult and here he is handing it off to a
and here he is handing it off to a
and here he is handing it off to a 40-pound uncoordinated child and let me
40-pound uncoordinated child and let me
40-pound uncoordinated child and let me just say this was a recipe for disaster
just say this was a recipe for disaster
just say this was a recipe for disaster within a second I am launched airborne
and much to my surprise a mere second or
and much to my surprise a mere second or two after being handed the kite I am one
two after being handed the kite I am one
two after being handed the kite I am one big mess of kites strings and skinned up
big mess of kites strings and skinned up
big mess of kites strings and skinned up knees at the bottom of the hill but for
knees at the bottom of the hill but for
knees at the bottom of the hill but for me it felt like I had been soaring for
me it felt like I had been soaring for
me it felt like I had been soaring for hours and that I had flown over the city
hours and that I had flown over the city
hours and that I had flown over the city for miles my mom came rushing over to me
for miles my mom came rushing over to me
for miles my mom came rushing over to me expecting to find a child battered and
expecting to find a child battered and
expecting to find a child battered and crying and there I am and I’m laughing I
crying and there I am and I’m laughing I
crying and there I am and I’m laughing I can’t stop grinning and I asked can I do
can’t stop grinning and I asked can I do
can’t stop grinning and I asked can I do it again
it again
it again because for me in that briefest of
because for me in that briefest of
because for me in that briefest of moments I was completely free that was
moments I was completely free that was
moments I was completely free that was the closest to flying I have ever been
the closest to flying I have ever been
the closest to flying I have ever been as the years would go on I have fallen
as the years would go on I have fallen
as the years would go on I have fallen more and more in love with kites and I
more and more in love with kites and I
more and more in love with kites and I still get that same sense of freedom and
still get that same sense of freedom and
still get that same sense of freedom and flying whether I’m standing on the beach
flying whether I’m standing on the beach
flying whether I’m standing on the beach and I’m making my kite do loops or other
and I’m making my kite do loops or other
and I’m making my kite do loops or other acrobatics or if I’m being pulled up of
acrobatics or if I’m being pulled up of
acrobatics or if I’m being pulled up of a snow-covered mountain on my skis or
a snow-covered mountain on my skis or
a snow-covered mountain on my skis or across a beach at incredible speeds I
across a beach at incredible speeds I
across a beach at incredible speeds I still get that same sense of enjoyment
still get that same sense of enjoyment
still get that same sense of enjoyment and flying if I’m standing with my
and flying if I’m standing with my
and flying if I’m standing with my friends and we’re flying like a flock of
friends and we’re flying like a flock of
friends and we’re flying like a flock of birds over the past decade I’ve come to
birds over the past decade I’ve come to
birds over the past decade I’ve come to discover that there is this whole other
discover that there is this whole other
discover that there is this whole other world of kites a world that is filled
world of kites a world that is filled
world of kites a world that is filled with stunning artwork and fantastical
with stunning artwork and fantastical
with stunning artwork and fantastical shapes that I never could have imagined
shapes that I never could have imagined
shapes that I never could have imagined would fly and my memories are filled
would fly and my memories are filled
would fly and my memories are filled with thousands of people that have been
with thousands of people that have been
with thousands of people that have been smiling when they first flown a kite you
smiling when they first flown a kite you
smiling when they first flown a kite you take someone who is naturally shy afraid
take someone who is naturally shy afraid
take someone who is naturally shy afraid and introverted and you hand them a kite
and introverted and you hand them a kite
and introverted and you hand them a kite and within 5 seconds you see a change
and within 5 seconds you see a change
and within 5 seconds you see a change you see them start to smile and the
you see them start to smile and the
you see them start to smile and the chances are they’re talking non-stop and
chances are they’re talking non-stop and
chances are they’re talking non-stop and you can’t get the kite away from them
you can’t get the kite away from them
you can’t get the kite away from them and that happiness is so pure and so
and that happiness is so pure and so
and that happiness is so pure and so free that it spreads it is said that our
free that it spreads it is said that our
free that it spreads it is said that our most heartfelt communication happens
most heartfelt communication happens
most heartfelt communication happens with our body language and if I can
with our body language and if I can
with our body language and if I can trust what I see in those first five
trust what I see in those first five
trust what I see in those first five seconds well I see someone allowing
seconds well I see someone allowing
seconds well I see someone allowing themselves to be free they’re releasing
themselves to be free they’re releasing
themselves to be free they’re releasing all the frustration and tension they
all the frustration and tension they
all the frustration and tension they might have and they’re letting go of
might have and they’re letting go of
might have and they’re letting go of those things that might be holding them
those things that might be holding them
those things that might be holding them down their shoulders relaxed and their
down their shoulders relaxed and their
down their shoulders relaxed and their head tips upward and this genuine smile
head tips upward and this genuine smile
head tips upward and this genuine smile spreads across their face
spreads across their face
spreads across their face what is truly exceptional is that
what is truly exceptional is that
what is truly exceptional is that allowing ourselves to experience that
allowing ourselves to experience that
allowing ourselves to experience that freedom through kite-flying radically
freedom through kite-flying radically
freedom through kite-flying radically changes our lives it not only changes
changes our lives it not only changes
changes our lives it not only changes how we see ourselves it changes how we
how we see ourselves it changes how we
how we see ourselves it changes how we see the world it changes how we see
see the world it changes how we see
see the world it changes how we see various things around us and it even
various things around us and it even
various things around us and it even changes the way we innovate not many
changes the way we innovate not many
changes the way we innovate not many would be surprised to discover that it
would be surprised to discover that it
would be surprised to discover that it was playing around with kites that led
was playing around with kites that led
was playing around with kites that led Hargraves Alexander Graham Bell and the
Hargraves Alexander Graham Bell and the
Hargraves Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright brothers into aviation our basic
Wright brothers into aviation our basic
Wright brothers into aviation our basic understanding of how planes could fly
understanding of how planes could fly
understanding of how planes could fly what shapes would work best and simple
what shapes would work best and simple
what shapes would work best and simple aerodynamics comes from kites
aerodynamics comes from kites
aerodynamics comes from kites we’ve supposedly learned about
we’ve supposedly learned about
we’ve supposedly learned about electricity and radio wave propagation
electricity and radio wave propagation
electricity and radio wave propagation and kites have even helped build the
and kites have even helped build the
and kites have even helped build the bridge at Niagara Falls
bridge at Niagara Falls
bridge at Niagara Falls several militaries for several hundreds
several militaries for several hundreds
several militaries for several hundreds of years have been using kites for enemy
of years have been using kites for enemy
of years have been using kites for enemy observation and signaling and they have
observation and signaling and they have
observation and signaling and they have served as the first platforms for large
served as the first platforms for large
served as the first platforms for large aerial photographs surprisingly kites
aerial photographs surprisingly kites
aerial photographs surprisingly kites have even saved the lives of pilots lost
have even saved the lives of pilots lost
have even saved the lives of pilots lost at sea for more than a thousand years
at sea for more than a thousand years
at sea for more than a thousand years various cultures across this world have
various cultures across this world have
various cultures across this world have used kites for religious and daily
used kites for religious and daily
used kites for religious and daily rituals whether it’s the Micronesians
rituals whether it’s the Micronesians
rituals whether it’s the Micronesians using kites to fish or the large
using kites to fish or the large
using kites to fish or the large memorial kites in Guatemala honoring the
memorial kites in Guatemala honoring the
memorial kites in Guatemala honoring the dead and we may continue to think of
dead and we may continue to think of
dead and we may continue to think of kites as a children’s toy or a relic of
kites as a children’s toy or a relic of
kites as a children’s toy or a relic of a less technologically advanced past but
a less technologically advanced past but
a less technologically advanced past but kites are helping us to discover new
kites are helping us to discover new
kites are helping us to discover new frontiers here on earth and beyond
frontiers here on earth and beyond
frontiers here on earth and beyond kite power is seriously being looked at
kite power is seriously being looked at
kite power is seriously being looked at for renewable energy and the same
for renewable energy and the same
for renewable energy and the same principles of flying that kite here on
principles of flying that kite here on
principles of flying that kite here on the surface of the earth are the same
the surface of the earth are the same
the surface of the earth are the same principles of fluid dynamics that will
principles of fluid dynamics that will
principles of fluid dynamics that will allow us to harness power by flying
allow us to harness power by flying
allow us to harness power by flying kites underwater as we branch out across
kites underwater as we branch out across
kites underwater as we branch out across the solar system we will be using large
the solar system we will be using large
the solar system we will be using large kite
kite
kite to harness the winds of solar radiation
to harness the winds of solar radiation
to harness the winds of solar radiation providing an infinite resource for
providing an infinite resource for
providing an infinite resource for propulsion
propulsion
propulsion but kites are not just about
but kites are not just about
but kites are not just about technological advances they are also
technological advances they are also
technological advances they are also about helping us discover new things
about helping us discover new things
about helping us discover new things within ourselves and they’re helping us
within ourselves and they’re helping us
within ourselves and they’re helping us to unlock new potential and to reconnect
to unlock new potential and to reconnect
to unlock new potential and to reconnect pathways we thought were previously
pathways we thought were previously
pathways we thought were previously broken a few years ago I was at a kite
broken a few years ago I was at a kite
broken a few years ago I was at a kite festival with my partner a fellow avid
festival with my partner a fellow avid
festival with my partner a fellow avid kite flier and this is kite festival is
kite flier and this is kite festival is
kite flier and this is kite festival is kind of special
kind of special
kind of special it’s an indoor kite festival an indoor
it’s an indoor kite festival an indoor
it’s an indoor kite festival an indoor kite flying is this fun special niche in
kite flying is this fun special niche in
kite flying is this fun special niche in the kite community that is oddly enough
the kite community that is oddly enough
the kite community that is oddly enough the most accessible way for people to
the most accessible way for people to
the most accessible way for people to get into kite flying
get into kite flying
get into kite flying we don’t need fans or wind generators we
we don’t need fans or wind generators we
we don’t need fans or wind generators we just use super lightweight material and
just use super lightweight material and
just use super lightweight material and through the movements of our body we can
through the movements of our body we can
through the movements of our body we can get a kite to fly glide and dance it was
get a kite to fly glide and dance it was
get a kite to fly glide and dance it was a few years before this that my partner
a few years before this that my partner
a few years before this that my partner had introduced me to the power and
had introduced me to the power and
had introduced me to the power and expression that comes from indoor kite
expression that comes from indoor kite
expression that comes from indoor kite flying and ever since then I was hooked
so there we are at this festival and
so there we are at this festival and just like in years past this festival
just like in years past this festival
just like in years past this festival would bring in a group of local folks
would bring in a group of local folks
would bring in a group of local folks for us to teach how to fly
for us to teach how to fly
for us to teach how to fly this year it was a group of folks that
this year it was a group of folks that
this year it was a group of folks that had been affected by traumatic brain
had been affected by traumatic brain
had been affected by traumatic brain injury now some of the some in the group
injury now some of the some in the group
injury now some of the some in the group were just beginning their path to
were just beginning their path to
were just beginning their path to recovery and there’s varying abilities
recovery and there’s varying abilities
recovery and there’s varying abilities and varying impairments in this group
and varying impairments in this group
and varying impairments in this group there’s this one gentleman a firefighter
there’s this one gentleman a firefighter
there’s this one gentleman a firefighter a few years prior he had been hurt on
a few years prior he had been hurt on
a few years prior he had been hurt on the job and he had been unable to walk
the job and he had been unable to walk
the job and he had been unable to walk unassisted since his accident one of the
unassisted since his accident one of the
unassisted since his accident one of the fliers brought him out onto the floor
fliers brought him out onto the floor
fliers brought him out onto the floor and handed him a glider kite
and handed him a glider kite
and handed him a glider kite glider kites require minimal input and
glider kites require minimal input and
glider kites require minimal input and they don’t require a lot of movement
they don’t require a lot of movement
they don’t require a lot of movement across the floor and in a way they
across the floor and in a way they
across the floor and in a way they forced the flier to be completely
forced the flier to be completely
forced the flier to be completely focused on that moment in time so after
focused on that moment in time so after
focused on that moment in time so after a few minutes the firefighters flying
a few minutes the firefighters flying
a few minutes the firefighters flying and his friend notices he’s not holding
and his friend notices he’s not holding
and his friend notices he’s not holding on to his Walker and he pulls the Walker
on to his Walker and he pulls the Walker
on to his Walker and he pulls the Walker away the firefighter takes a step and
away the firefighter takes a step and
away the firefighter takes a step and another step and another it took a
another step and another it took a
another step and another it took a minute for all of us there to recognize
minute for all of us there to recognize
minute for all of us there to recognize what was happening what we were
what was happening what we were
what was happening what we were witnessing for the first time in five
witnessing for the first time in five
witnessing for the first time in five years
years
years this firefighter walked unassisted kite
this firefighter walked unassisted kite
this firefighter walked unassisted kite flying transcends all of the boundaries
flying transcends all of the boundaries
flying transcends all of the boundaries that we may willingly or unwillingly
that we may willingly or unwillingly
that we may willingly or unwillingly place upon ourselves it transcends
place upon ourselves it transcends
place upon ourselves it transcends cultural differences religion language
cultural differences religion language
cultural differences religion language physical ability and age there is
physical ability and age there is
physical ability and age there is literally a kite out there for everybody
literally a kite out there for everybody
literally a kite out there for everybody whether you want the athleticism of
whether you want the athleticism of
whether you want the athleticism of power kites and kite boarding or the
power kites and kite boarding or the
power kites and kite boarding or the fast paced action of a sport kite or
fast paced action of a sport kite or
fast paced action of a sport kite or maybe you want to be artistic and design
maybe you want to be artistic and design
maybe you want to be artistic and design something new and creative kites allow
something new and creative kites allow
something new and creative kites allow us to express ourselves on both our
us to express ourselves on both our
us to express ourselves on both our physical and our creative side
physical and our creative side
physical and our creative side simultaneously and kite flying in its
simultaneously and kite flying in its
simultaneously and kite flying in its very nature encourages us not to see one
very nature encourages us not to see one
very nature encourages us not to see one failed launch one crashed landing or one
failed launch one crashed landing or one
failed launch one crashed landing or one tangled set of lines as a reason to not
tangled set of lines as a reason to not
tangled set of lines as a reason to not fly again so I invite you to go find a
fly again so I invite you to go find a
fly again so I invite you to go find a kite and let it fly watch
kite and let it fly watch
kite and let it fly watch as you change watch as the world around
as you change watch as the world around
as you change watch as the world around you
you
you begins to look different take note of
begins to look different take note of
begins to look different take note of that feeling you have in that very
that feeling you have in that very
that feeling you have in that very moment and know that there are billions
moment and know that there are billions
moment and know that there are billions of people around the world and
of people around the world and
of people around the world and throughout time that have experienced
throughout time that have experienced
throughout time that have experienced that same exact emotion and then take
that same exact emotion and then take
that same exact emotion and then take that kite and hand it off to someone
that kite and hand it off to someone
that kite and hand it off to someone else and witness the transformation in
else and witness the transformation in
else and witness the transformation in them thank you
them thank you
them thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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