I want you to trust me for a minute and go on just a short trip and we will
and go on just a short trip and we will
and go on just a short trip and we will transport ourselves to September or
transport ourselves to September or
transport ourselves to September or early October in New England you’re
early October in New England you’re
early October in New England you’re walking down a wonderful path you might
walking down a wonderful path you might
walking down a wonderful path you might have your dog or you might have your
have your dog or you might have your
have your dog or you might have your special snookums with you as you walk
special snookums with you as you walk
special snookums with you as you walk you start to notice but it’s beautiful
you start to notice but it’s beautiful
you start to notice but it’s beautiful out here and you start to look around
out here and you start to look around
out here and you start to look around and you see the Magnificent colors you
and you see the Magnificent colors you
and you see the Magnificent colors you see that nature is putting on a show
see that nature is putting on a show
see that nature is putting on a show just for you and your snuggums are your
just for you and your snuggums are your
just for you and your snuggums are your dog people come from all over the world
dog people come from all over the world
dog people come from all over the world to see the beauty of New England in
to see the beauty of New England in
to see the beauty of New England in autumn they pee they look they stop they
autumn they pee they look they stop they
autumn they pee they look they stop they take pictures they are amazed at how
take pictures they are amazed at how
take pictures they are amazed at how nature is showing off its colors have
nature is showing off its colors have
nature is showing off its colors have you noticed that that the thing that we
you noticed that that the thing that we
you noticed that that the thing that we crave most is this diversity in nature
crave most is this diversity in nature
crave most is this diversity in nature and what I want to do here is say that
and what I want to do here is say that
and what I want to do here is say that we are a part of nature and the nature
we are a part of nature and the nature
we are a part of nature and the nature is a part of us that we start to realize
is a part of us that we start to realize
is a part of us that we start to realize how connected we are to all that is and
how connected we are to all that is and
how connected we are to all that is and was in the world and we realize that
was in the world and we realize that
was in the world and we realize that part of it is because things are diverse
part of it is because things are diverse
part of it is because things are diverse things are different and it’s the
things are different and it’s the
things are different and it’s the natural order of life and we can accept
natural order of life and we can accept
natural order of life and we can accept that in nature can’t we we take it in we
that in nature can’t we we take it in we
that in nature can’t we we take it in we say wow this is great I doubt if the
say wow this is great I doubt if the
say wow this is great I doubt if the redwood the majestic redwood is bragging
redwood the majestic redwood is bragging
redwood the majestic redwood is bragging about how much beautiful more beautiful
about how much beautiful more beautiful
about how much beautiful more beautiful it is than a simple pine tree so nature
it is than a simple pine tree so nature
it is than a simple pine tree so nature gets it and we are part of nature so
gets it and we are part of nature so
gets it and we are part of nature so today I’m here to tell you a story when
today I’m here to tell you a story when
today I’m here to tell you a story when I was a little girl my sister
I was a little girl my sister
I was a little girl my sister back and if you would have to know Pat
back and if you would have to know Pat
back and if you would have to know Pat to understand why this story is pretty
to understand why this story is pretty
to understand why this story is pretty amazing but my big sister Pat bought a
amazing but my big sister Pat bought a
amazing but my big sister Pat bought a book for me and what’s called the
book for me and what’s called the
book for me and what’s called the Emperor’s New Clothes I love that book
Emperor’s New Clothes I love that book
Emperor’s New Clothes I love that book again I don’t know if I love the book
again I don’t know if I love the book
again I don’t know if I love the book because Pat gave it to me and Pat is so
because Pat gave it to me and Pat is so
because Pat gave it to me and Pat is so amazing even until this day I think
amazing even until this day I think
amazing even until this day I think she’s amazing but she bought me this
she’s amazing but she bought me this
she’s amazing but she bought me this book called The Emperor’s New Clothes
book called The Emperor’s New Clothes
book called The Emperor’s New Clothes and I used to love reading it and having
and I used to love reading it and having
and I used to love reading it and having it read to me so today people I’m here
it read to me so today people I’m here
it read to me so today people I’m here to be that child in that story if you
to be that child in that story if you
to be that child in that story if you don’t know the story the child pointed
don’t know the story the child pointed
don’t know the story the child pointed out something that was obvious so I’m
out something that was obvious so I’m
out something that was obvious so I’m here to point out that obvious thing to
here to point out that obvious thing to
here to point out that obvious thing to hear you I’m here to tell you that as
hear you I’m here to tell you that as
hear you I’m here to tell you that as humans we’ve been fooled we’ve been
humans we’ve been fooled we’ve been
humans we’ve been fooled we’ve been snookered we’ve been bamboozled into
snookered we’ve been bamboozled into
snookered we’ve been bamboozled into believing that difference is something
believing that difference is something
believing that difference is something that we should fear that difference is
that we should fear that difference is
that we should fear that difference is something that we talked about division
something that we talked about division
something that we talked about division among us that there’s so many ways that
among us that there’s so many ways that
among us that there’s so many ways that we divide ourselves up based on
we divide ourselves up based on
we divide ourselves up based on characteristics that we hold that we say
characteristics that we hold that we say
characteristics that we hold that we say some people are superior some people are
some people are superior some people are
some people are superior some people are inferior that we come up with all of
inferior that we come up with all of
inferior that we come up with all of these ideas around characteristics that
these ideas around characteristics that
these ideas around characteristics that people hold that’s a part of their
people hold that’s a part of their
people hold that’s a part of their natural being and we add value or
natural being and we add value or
natural being and we add value or devalue it again remember that redwood
devalue it again remember that redwood
devalue it again remember that redwood and the pine tree so again we have to
and the pine tree so again we have to
and the pine tree so again we have to start to understand what are some of the
start to understand what are some of the
start to understand what are some of the lessons we can take from nature how can
lessons we can take from nature how can
lessons we can take from nature how can we since we are part of nature we’re
we since we are part of nature we’re
we since we are part of nature we’re part of the natural order of life how do
part of the natural order of life how do
part of the natural order of life how do we as humans understand how essential it
we as humans understand how essential it
we as humans understand how essential it is for us to value this thing called
is for us to value this thing called
is for us to value this thing called diversity the other thing I want to tell
diversity the other thing I want to tell
diversity the other thing I want to tell you that that little child would tell
you that that little child would tell
you that that little child would tell you is that all these things are
you is that all these things are
you is that all these things are socially constructed aka made up those
socially constructed aka made up those
socially constructed aka made up those things are made up by humans to say that
things are made up by humans to say that
things are made up by humans to say that certain characteristics certain
certain characteristics certain
certain characteristics certain assumptions certain beliefs
assumptions certain beliefs
assumptions certain beliefs certain beliefs and assumptions and
certain beliefs and assumptions and
certain beliefs and assumptions and attitudes that we hold about people it
attitudes that we hold about people it
attitudes that we hold about people it was made it’s basically made up so when
was made it’s basically made up so when
was made it’s basically made up so when we talk about things like gender when we
we talk about things like gender when we
we talk about things like gender when we talk about race we would talk about
talk about race we would talk about
talk about race we would talk about class even when we talk about ability
class even when we talk about ability
class even when we talk about ability it’s made up and the little kid has said
it’s made up and the little kid has said
it’s made up and the little kid has said he got all no clothes
he got all no clothes
he got all no clothes that’s my Louisiana talking so here I am
that’s my Louisiana talking so here I am
that’s my Louisiana talking so here I am today is to tell you that we have been
today is to tell you that we have been
today is to tell you that we have been snookered we’ve been bamboozled we have
snookered we’ve been bamboozled we have
snookered we’ve been bamboozled we have been fooled into believing this based on
been fooled into believing this based on
been fooled into believing this based on those social constructions so one of the
those social constructions so one of the
those social constructions so one of the things that I often think about is this
things that I often think about is this
things that I often think about is this particular quote if all of these things
particular quote if all of these things
particular quote if all of these things are socially constructed then what comes
are socially constructed then what comes
are socially constructed then what comes of those social constructions select
of those social constructions select
of those social constructions select racism classism sexism heterosexism
racism classism sexism heterosexism
racism classism sexism heterosexism those are the things that come up from
those are the things that come up from
those are the things that come up from something that is made up okay and as a
something that is made up okay and as a
something that is made up okay and as a result of those things being made up and
result of those things being made up and
result of those things being made up and us buying into them it’s limiting our
us buying into them it’s limiting our
us buying into them it’s limiting our capacity as humans to be as beautiful as
capacity as humans to be as beautiful as
capacity as humans to be as beautiful as that autumn day to be as productive as
that autumn day to be as productive as
that autumn day to be as productive as at autumn day to bring about the joy
at autumn day to bring about the joy
at autumn day to bring about the joy that people have as a result of that
that people have as a result of that
that people have as a result of that beautiful autumn day and it took the
beautiful autumn day and it took the
beautiful autumn day and it took the vision of the child to point out the
vision of the child to point out the
vision of the child to point out the obvious I remember the first time I
obvious I remember the first time I
obvious I remember the first time I realized I had been snookered in
realized I had been snookered in
realized I had been snookered in bamboozled and I remember thinking this
bamboozled and I remember thinking this
bamboozled and I remember thinking this must be the way Dorothy failed and I
must be the way Dorothy failed and I
must be the way Dorothy failed and I want mean Dorothy and my mother because
want mean Dorothy and my mother because
want mean Dorothy and my mother because that was her name but I mean Dorothy
that was her name but I mean Dorothy
that was her name but I mean Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz when it took total
from The Wizard of Oz when it took total
from The Wizard of Oz when it took total to pull back the curtain and reveal the
to pull back the curtain and reveal the
to pull back the curtain and reveal the truth
truth
truth it took Toto to put did you hear that
it took Toto to put did you hear that
it took Toto to put did you hear that total and total was little bit all total
total and total was little bit all total
total and total was little bit all total was as I call a little bite-sized dog
was as I call a little bite-sized dog
was as I call a little bite-sized dog okay so it took toto to pull the curtain
okay so it took toto to pull the curtain
okay so it took toto to pull the curtain back and expose the truth and then I
back and expose the truth and then I
back and expose the truth and then I started to realize I’m buying into a
started to realize I’m buying into a
started to realize I’m buying into a narrative that’s a fantasy and not only
narrative that’s a fantasy and not only
narrative that’s a fantasy and not only am i buying into this fantasy narrative
am i buying into this fantasy narrative
am i buying into this fantasy narrative but I’m allowing it to rule everything
but I’m allowing it to rule everything
but I’m allowing it to rule everything that I do the way I feel about myself
that I do the way I feel about myself
that I do the way I feel about myself the way I feel about other people the
the way I feel about other people the
the way I feel about other people the way I engage with my natural environment
way I engage with my natural environment
way I engage with my natural environment and I said no more no more would I be
and I said no more no more would I be
and I said no more no more would I be willing to do this no more but I be
willing to do this no more but I be
willing to do this no more but I be willing to allow other people to define
willing to allow other people to define
willing to allow other people to define me in a way that isn’t consistent with
me in a way that isn’t consistent with
me in a way that isn’t consistent with who I am and so now I’m on a journey I’m
who I am and so now I’m on a journey I’m
who I am and so now I’m on a journey I’m on a mission to do the same with other
on a mission to do the same with other
on a mission to do the same with other people I don’t know how many of us it
people I don’t know how many of us it
people I don’t know how many of us it will take to say that we will no longer
will take to say that we will no longer
will take to say that we will no longer buy into the social constructions that
buy into the social constructions that
buy into the social constructions that we have been led to believe to be true
we have been led to believe to be true
we have been led to believe to be true we’re no longer buying into it we are
we’re no longer buying into it we are
we’re no longer buying into it we are going to be like that redwood and say
going to be like that redwood and say
going to be like that redwood and say I’m okay with that pine tree because we
I’m okay with that pine tree because we
I’m okay with that pine tree because we look good together no longer am I
look good together no longer am I
look good together no longer am I willing to buy into those things that is
willing to buy into those things that is
willing to buy into those things that is at the core of every movement that has
at the core of every movement that has
at the core of every movement that has led to the destruction of other humans
led to the destruction of other humans
led to the destruction of other humans fear I am no longer going to bind to
fear I am no longer going to bind to
fear I am no longer going to bind to constructions that people have of other
constructions that people have of other
constructions that people have of other people and give it to me and act out of
people and give it to me and act out of
people and give it to me and act out of my fear when I interact or engage with
my fear when I interact or engage with
my fear when I interact or engage with people who are quote different from
people who are quote different from
people who are quote different from myself because I know that some of the
myself because I know that some of the
myself because I know that some of the social constructions that are about me
social constructions that are about me
social constructions that are about me are not true I know that there are
are not true I know that there are
are not true I know that there are nowhere near the core of Who I am and so
nowhere near the core of Who I am and so
nowhere near the core of Who I am and so what I have to do is believe that in
what I have to do is believe that in
what I have to do is believe that in others and y’all we are at a critical
others and y’all we are at a critical
others and y’all we are at a critical point in our culture we are literally at
point in our culture we are literally at
point in our culture we are literally at a tipping point that more of us have to
a tipping point that more of us have to
a tipping point that more of us have to take the courage to engage in this type
take the courage to engage in this type
take the courage to engage in this type of understanding of one another
of understanding of one another
of understanding of one another of being able to reach out to one
of being able to reach out to one
of being able to reach out to one another and feel as though we can create
another and feel as though we can create
another and feel as though we can create a world where we can embrace each
a world where we can embrace each
a world where we can embrace each other’s diversity see again nature
other’s diversity see again nature
other’s diversity see again nature nature has it down nature understand in
nature has it down nature understand in
nature has it down nature understand in order to being sustainable we have to
order to being sustainable we have to
order to being sustainable we have to have diversity diversity of thought
have diversity diversity of thought
have diversity diversity of thought diversity of ways of being diversity of
diversity of ways of being diversity of
diversity of ways of being diversity of attitude assumptions beliefs
attitude assumptions beliefs
attitude assumptions beliefs perspectives the list goes on nature
perspectives the list goes on nature
perspectives the list goes on nature gets how important diversity is around
gets how important diversity is around
gets how important diversity is around sustainability around growth and most of
sustainability around growth and most of
sustainability around growth and most of all around repair we have some repair to
all around repair we have some repair to
all around repair we have some repair to do based on the social constructions
do based on the social constructions
do based on the social constructions that we’ve created about one another and
that we’ve created about one another and
that we’ve created about one another and I think we can do it it is not too late
I think we can do it it is not too late
I think we can do it it is not too late for us to do this when we think about
for us to do this when we think about
for us to do this when we think about all of the creative people just in this
all of the creative people just in this
all of the creative people just in this room I bet we could probably do a
room I bet we could probably do a
room I bet we could probably do a variety of things that we never thought
variety of things that we never thought
variety of things that we never thought were possible if we were working
were possible if we were working
were possible if we were working together with those multiple voices
together with those multiple voices
together with those multiple voices being heard and again I’m not telling
being heard and again I’m not telling
being heard and again I’m not telling you something that I read about I’m
you something that I read about I’m
you something that I read about I’m getting I have a lot of boring slides
getting I have a lot of boring slides
getting I have a lot of boring slides but a lot of words on them I’m telling
but a lot of words on them I’m telling
but a lot of words on them I’m telling you about something that I know to be
you about something that I know to be
you about something that I know to be true that I feel it to be true that when
true that I feel it to be true that when
true that I feel it to be true that when I’m truly interconnected and understand
I’m truly interconnected and understand
I’m truly interconnected and understand my interrelatedness with other people
my interrelatedness with other people
my interrelatedness with other people I’m at my most productive and most
I’m at my most productive and most
I’m at my most productive and most creative if we were continue to do this
creative if we were continue to do this
creative if we were continue to do this things that we did a hundred years ago
things that we did a hundred years ago
things that we did a hundred years ago we would not have the innovation that we
we would not have the innovation that we
we would not have the innovation that we have now it took that diversity of
have now it took that diversity of
have now it took that diversity of thought to say what if we do it this way
thought to say what if we do it this way
thought to say what if we do it this way or what if we do it that way that was
or what if we do it that way that was
or what if we do it that way that was covered to what was do being what was
covered to what was do being what was
covered to what was do being what was happening at the time so that’s about
happening at the time so that’s about
happening at the time so that’s about diversity diversity to me is the mother
diversity diversity to me is the mother
diversity diversity to me is the mother of innovation I know the other things
of innovation I know the other things
of innovation I know the other things are the mother of innovation but this is
are the mother of innovation but this is
are the mother of innovation but this is the real dorothea meaning my mother of
the real dorothea meaning my mother of
the real dorothea meaning my mother of innovation is this whole idea of
innovation is this whole idea of
innovation is this whole idea of diversity the whole idea of thinking
diversity the whole idea of thinking
diversity the whole idea of thinking creatively the whole idea of thinking of
creatively the whole idea of thinking of
creatively the whole idea of thinking of what my colleague Michael antonucci
what my colleague Michael antonucci
what my colleague Michael antonucci always says
always says
always says is that ours take compound solutions for
is that ours take compound solutions for
is that ours take compound solutions for these companies complex issues we are
these companies complex issues we are
these companies complex issues we are dealing with today and we cannot do that
dealing with today and we cannot do that
dealing with today and we cannot do that with a single mind we cannot do that
with a single mind we cannot do that
with a single mind we cannot do that with a narrow way of thinking about this
with a narrow way of thinking about this
with a narrow way of thinking about this work we have to come from it from a
work we have to come from it from a
work we have to come from it from a variety of ways we have to have many
variety of ways we have to have many
variety of ways we have to have many people at the table and there’s a rule
people at the table and there’s a rule
people at the table and there’s a rule we live with the illusion of scarcity
we live with the illusion of scarcity
we live with the illusion of scarcity but if we work together if we really
but if we work together if we really
but if we work together if we really understood the value of something
understood the value of something
understood the value of something greater than ourselves operating if we
greater than ourselves operating if we
greater than ourselves operating if we really understand our connection to one
really understand our connection to one
really understand our connection to one another and our natural environment
another and our natural environment
another and our natural environment coming up with these compound solutions
coming up with these compound solutions
coming up with these compound solutions would be easy I know this to be true
would be easy I know this to be true
would be easy I know this to be true because of environments where I have
because of environments where I have
because of environments where I have been in where we didn’t think we’d make
been in where we didn’t think we’d make
been in where we didn’t think we’d make it and it was that long voice that said
it and it was that long voice that said
it and it was that long voice that said have we tried this and everybody’s like
have we tried this and everybody’s like
have we tried this and everybody’s like and it wasn’t because you should have
and it wasn’t because you should have
and it wasn’t because you should have had a v-8 for those of you so this whole
had a v-8 for those of you so this whole
had a v-8 for those of you so this whole idea about how do we do this is
idea about how do we do this is
idea about how do we do this is important so let me give you three tips
important so let me give you three tips
important so let me give you three tips that I went through in order to do this
that I went through in order to do this
that I went through in order to do this for myself the first one was self
for myself the first one was self
for myself the first one was self reflection I think that there’s nothing
reflection I think that there’s nothing
reflection I think that there’s nothing greater than being able to reflect and
greater than being able to reflect and
greater than being able to reflect and to be able to understand what’s
to be able to understand what’s
to be able to understand what’s operating so when I first realized that
operating so when I first realized that
operating so when I first realized that I had been snookered I had been
I had been snookered I had been
I had been snookered I had been bamboozled what I did was I set and I
bamboozled what I did was I set and I
bamboozled what I did was I set and I thought and I felt and I cried and I
thought and I felt and I cried and I
thought and I felt and I cried and I cheered and I celebrated as a result of
cheered and I celebrated as a result of
cheered and I celebrated as a result of understanding that so I always tell
understanding that so I always tell
understanding that so I always tell people what came out of that was this is
people what came out of that was this is
people what came out of that was this is that I was able to look at things that
that I was able to look at things that
that I was able to look at things that had once been ashamed of that they had
had once been ashamed of that they had
had once been ashamed of that they had engaged in some self-loathing about and
engaged in some self-loathing about and
engaged in some self-loathing about and I was able to reframe it into something
I was able to reframe it into something
I was able to reframe it into something positive so the slave narrative for
positive so the slave narrative for
positive so the slave narrative for example had always been ashamed of that
example had always been ashamed of that
example had always been ashamed of that narrative but out of this self
narrative but out of this self
narrative but out of this self reflection came a lot of proud pride and
reflection came a lot of proud pride and
reflection came a lot of proud pride and now I say to people I’m a proud
now I say to people I’m a proud
now I say to people I’m a proud descendant of African slaves brought to
descendant of African slaves brought to
descendant of African slaves brought to this country that’s that’s what the self
this country that’s that’s what the self
this country that’s that’s what the self reflection did
reflection did
reflection did allowed for that to happen so how do you
allowed for that to happen so how do you
allowed for that to happen so how do you engage in self-reflection that’s deep
engage in self-reflection that’s deep
engage in self-reflection that’s deep enough for you to understand who you
enough for you to understand who you
enough for you to understand who you truly are the second thing is whenever
truly are the second thing is whenever
truly are the second thing is whenever you’re in a situation you want to
you’re in a situation you want to
you’re in a situation you want to analyze and say what perspective isn’t
analyze and say what perspective isn’t
analyze and say what perspective isn’t being entertained you always have to say
being entertained you always have to say
being entertained you always have to say what perspective isn’t in fact if you
what perspective isn’t in fact if you
what perspective isn’t in fact if you would say everybody else thinks the way
would say everybody else thinks the way
would say everybody else thinks the way I do that’s when you know you’re going
I do that’s when you know you’re going
I do that’s when you know you’re going down the wrong path okay so that’s the
down the wrong path okay so that’s the
down the wrong path okay so that’s the first time you’re going down the road
first time you’re going down the road
first time you’re going down the road path but what you want to ask yourself
path but what you want to ask yourself
path but what you want to ask yourself is what perspective is missing and how
is what perspective is missing and how
is what perspective is missing and how might we creatively bring those
might we creatively bring those
might we creatively bring those perspectives to the table the second the
perspectives to the table the second the
perspectives to the table the second the last tip I had is to realize how you’re
last tip I had is to realize how you’re
last tip I had is to realize how you’re interconnected with others and again if
interconnected with others and again if
interconnected with others and again if you’ve heard my story you could tell
you’ve heard my story you could tell
you’ve heard my story you could tell that that was part of what brought me to
that that was part of what brought me to
that that was part of what brought me to where I am now I know that I am a part
where I am now I know that I am a part
where I am now I know that I am a part of everything and everyone when I look
of everything and everyone when I look
of everything and everyone when I look out at you I see a reflection of myself
out at you I see a reflection of myself
out at you I see a reflection of myself in each one of you and therefore it’s
in each one of you and therefore it’s
in each one of you and therefore it’s hard for me to engage in separating or
hard for me to engage in separating or
hard for me to engage in separating or other in you seeing you as the other so
other in you seeing you as the other so
other in you seeing you as the other so this whole idea of how do I understand
this whole idea of how do I understand
this whole idea of how do I understand that I’m part of something greater than
that I’m part of something greater than
that I’m part of something greater than myself and then interrelatedness now how
myself and then interrelatedness now how
myself and then interrelatedness now how many people will it take I don’t know I
many people will it take I don’t know I
many people will it take I don’t know I don’t know what’s the critical mass
don’t know what’s the critical mass
don’t know what’s the critical mass that’s necessary for us to shift the
that’s necessary for us to shift the
that’s necessary for us to shift the culture and to decrease the negative
culture and to decrease the negative
culture and to decrease the negative impact of those social constructs but I
impact of those social constructs but I
impact of those social constructs but I do know we have to ask ourselves two
do know we have to ask ourselves two
do know we have to ask ourselves two questions how do i blast pass my
questions how do i blast pass my
questions how do i blast pass my illusion of separateness that’s one
illusion of separateness that’s one
illusion of separateness that’s one question you really have to answer and
question you really have to answer and
question you really have to answer and the last thing is how do I reduce the
the last thing is how do I reduce the
the last thing is how do I reduce the amount of uttering I engaged in since I
amount of uttering I engaged in since I
amount of uttering I engaged in since I know that I’m a part of you and you are
know that I’m a part of you and you are
know that I’m a part of you and you are part of me let’s take our lead from
part of me let’s take our lead from
part of me let’s take our lead from nature because isn’t it magnificent
nature because isn’t it magnificent
nature because isn’t it magnificent thank you
”
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