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How On Earth Do You Matter? | Steve Rohr | TEDxFargo


who made the world the first line of

who made the world the first line of merry Oliver’s poem the summer day she

merry Oliver’s poem the summer day she

merry Oliver’s poem the summer day she finds inspiration in nature she sees the

finds inspiration in nature she sees the

finds inspiration in nature she sees the familiar through fresh eyes the

familiar through fresh eyes the

familiar through fresh eyes the architecture of a leaf the perfection in

architecture of a leaf the perfection in

architecture of a leaf the perfection in a pine cone she’s not stopping to smell

a pine cone she’s not stopping to smell

a pine cone she’s not stopping to smell the flowers no she she’s discovering the

the flowers no she she’s discovering the

the flowers no she she’s discovering the poetry among the weeds who made the

poetry among the weeds who made the

poetry among the weeds who made the world well a couple nights ago I looked

world well a couple nights ago I looked

world well a couple nights ago I looked up you know what I saw a whole lot a

up you know what I saw a whole lot a

up you know what I saw a whole lot a lotta Lotta that’s what I saw there no

lotta Lotta that’s what I saw there no

lotta Lotta that’s what I saw there no clouds so there were just stars stars

clouds so there were just stars stars

clouds so there were just stars stars and the world looked expansive hmm so I

and the world looked expansive hmm so I

and the world looked expansive hmm so I started to contemplate the grand design

started to contemplate the grand design

started to contemplate the grand design did you know that from here to the Sun

did you know that from here to the Sun

did you know that from here to the Sun 93 million miles oh and get this

93 million miles oh and get this

93 million miles oh and get this you can fit 1.3 million planet Earth’s

you can fit 1.3 million planet Earth’s

you can fit 1.3 million planet Earth’s into the Sun well not that you’d want to

into the Sun well not that you’d want to

into the Sun well not that you’d want to it’s not actually very proud anyway the

it’s not actually very proud anyway the

it’s not actually very proud anyway the point is the point is compared to the

point is the point is compared to the

point is the point is compared to the Sun the earth is just speck and if the

Sun the earth is just speck and if the

Sun the earth is just speck and if the earth is a speck what does that make us

earth is a speck what does that make us

earth is a speck what does that make us you know there should be a trigger

you know there should be a trigger

you know there should be a trigger warning for looking up because the more

warning for looking up because the more

warning for looking up because the more you see the more you see that your hopes

you see the more you see that your hopes

you see the more you see that your hopes and your dreams and your wishes and your

and your dreams and your wishes and your

and your dreams and your wishes and your success and your pride it wouldn’t even

success and your pride it wouldn’t even

success and your pride it wouldn’t even begin to fill a speck of a speck of a

begin to fill a speck of a speck of a

begin to fill a speck of a speck of a speck of a speck of a speck so how on

speck of a speck of a speck so how on

speck of a speck of a speck so how on earth do we even matter

earth do we even matter

earth do we even matter isn’t this a great pep talk yeah I know

isn’t this a great pep talk yeah I know

isn’t this a great pep talk yeah I know I feel better already

I feel better already

I feel better already yeah I went to Concordia College right

yeah I went to Concordia College right

yeah I went to Concordia College right down the way I lived in the dorms now

down the way I lived in the dorms now

down the way I lived in the dorms now the dorms are very nice don’t get me

the dorms are very nice don’t get me

the dorms are very nice don’t get me wrong but you know dorms are dorms every

wrong but you know dorms are dorms every

wrong but you know dorms are dorms every floor looks like the next one or the

floor looks like the next one or the

floor looks like the next one or the last one one night a guy we’re gonna

last one one night a guy we’re gonna

last one one night a guy we’re gonna call Robbie came home very early slash

call Robbie came home very early slash

call Robbie came home very early slash late and he discovered that his key

late and he discovered that his key

late and he discovered that his key didn’t work the door didn’t open and

didn’t work the door didn’t open and

didn’t work the door didn’t open and this really bothered him you see

this really bothered him you see

this really bothered him you see Robbie had been out enjoying beverages

Robbie had been out enjoying beverages

Robbie had been out enjoying beverages with his buddies so he was but he was

with his buddies so he was but he was

with his buddies so he was but he was totally behaved past his bedtime too

totally behaved past his bedtime too

totally behaved past his bedtime too much Sabra kool-aid so he decided whoa

much Sabra kool-aid so he decided whoa

much Sabra kool-aid so he decided whoa wait a second

wait a second

wait a second my roommates home I’m just gonna I’m

my roommates home I’m just gonna I’m

my roommates home I’m just gonna I’m gonna knock it’s late / early I’m just

gonna knock it’s late / early I’m just

gonna knock it’s late / early I’m just gonna knock so he knocked no answer okay

gonna knock so he knocked no answer okay

gonna knock so he knocked no answer okay knocks again no answer what wait I heard

knocks again no answer what wait I heard

knocks again no answer what wait I heard somebody he’s in there and I’m out here

somebody he’s in there and I’m out here

somebody he’s in there and I’m out here so he decides he’s gonna kick the door

so he decides he’s gonna kick the door

so he decides he’s gonna kick the door so he’s a door little kick

so he’s a door little kick

so he’s a door little kick nothing another kick nothing after about

nothing another kick nothing after about

nothing another kick nothing after about 15 16 ticks well there was something his

15 16 ticks well there was something his

15 16 ticks well there was something his roommate click unlocks the door stumbles

roommate click unlocks the door stumbles

roommate click unlocks the door stumbles back to bed Robbie he hits the hay he’s

back to bed Robbie he hits the hay he’s

back to bed Robbie he hits the hay he’s out like a light

out like a light

out like a light well the next morning Robbie wakes up to

well the next morning Robbie wakes up to

well the next morning Robbie wakes up to discover that he is in somebody else’s

discover that he is in somebody else’s

discover that he is in somebody else’s bed in the wrong room on the wrong floor

bed in the wrong room on the wrong floor

bed in the wrong room on the wrong floor you see Goldilocks here he lives in 301

you see Goldilocks here he lives in 301

you see Goldilocks here he lives in 301 this is 201 you know in our society

this is 201 you know in our society

this is 201 you know in our society there’s this idea that we have to kick

there’s this idea that we have to kick

there’s this idea that we have to kick down the door we have to beat down the

down the door we have to beat down the

down the door we have to beat down the door in order to be successful why

door in order to be successful why

door in order to be successful why you’re just gonna end up in somebody

you’re just gonna end up in somebody

you’re just gonna end up in somebody else’s room probably in somebody else’s

else’s room probably in somebody else’s

else’s room probably in somebody else’s bed let’s just go through the doors that

bed let’s just go through the doors that

bed let’s just go through the doors that open you know a closed door and an open

open you know a closed door and an open

open you know a closed door and an open door the most divine answers you will

door the most divine answers you will

door the most divine answers you will ever

ever

ever get go through the doors that open this

get go through the doors that open this

get go through the doors that open this is Van Cliburn he became he became a

is Van Cliburn he became he became a

is Van Cliburn he became he became a rock star you guys taller rock star

rock star you guys taller rock star

rock star you guys taller rock star after he won a piano contest I know stay

after he won a piano contest I know stay

after he won a piano contest I know stay stay with me on this one he won a piano

stay with me on this one he won a piano

stay with me on this one he won a piano competition is 1958 it was the height of

competition is 1958 it was the height of

competition is 1958 it was the height of the Cold War the Soviets the u.s. they

the Cold War the Soviets the u.s. they

the Cold War the Soviets the u.s. they were in the seismic power struggle and

were in the seismic power struggle and

were in the seismic power struggle and the Soviets decided they’re going to

the Soviets decided they’re going to

the Soviets decided they’re going to have an International Piano Competition

have an International Piano Competition

have an International Piano Competition well no contest really is gonna be held

well no contest really is gonna be held

well no contest really is gonna be held in Moscow with Russian judges Russian

in Moscow with Russian judges Russian

in Moscow with Russian judges Russian audience possibly a Russian winner until

audience possibly a Russian winner until

audience possibly a Russian winner until Van Cliburn showed up in American just

Van Cliburn showed up in American just

Van Cliburn showed up in American just 23 years old and he dazzled them and he

23 years old and he dazzled them and he

23 years old and he dazzled them and he charmed them and he won he won because

charmed them and he won he won because

charmed them and he won he won because he was undeniable and when he won we did

he was undeniable and when he won we did

he was undeniable and when he won we did too

too

too because when the Russian people met him

because when the Russian people met him

because when the Russian people met him heard him play well they started to see

heard him play well they started to see

heard him play well they started to see all Americans in a fresh new way and

all Americans in a fresh new way and

all Americans in a fresh new way and that was the night the Cold War began to

that was the night the Cold War began to

that was the night the Cold War began to thaw Van Cliburn changed the

thaw Van Cliburn changed the

thaw Van Cliburn changed the geopolitical course of history and he

geopolitical course of history and he

geopolitical course of history and he didn’t new with his Smith and Wesson

didn’t new with his Smith and Wesson

didn’t new with his Smith and Wesson he did it with a Steinway this kid from

he did it with a Steinway this kid from

he did it with a Steinway this kid from Texas

how does that happen how does he change

how does that happen how does he change the world door number one is his mama

the world door number one is his mama

the world door number one is his mama mama Clyburn real de B she was a cow no

mama Clyburn real de B she was a cow no

mama Clyburn real de B she was a cow no teacher in town taught him how to play

teacher in town taught him how to play

teacher in town taught him how to play until he was 17 he went to New York when

until he was 17 he went to New York when

until he was 17 he went to New York when she was young she had also studied in

she was young she had also studied in

she was young she had also studied in New York and her teacher was a man named

New York and her teacher was a man named

New York and her teacher was a man named Arthur of free time

Arthur of free time

Arthur of free time Arthur free time Arthur free time door

Arthur free time Arthur free time door

Arthur free time Arthur free time door number two studied with a composer named

number two studied with a composer named

number two studied with a composer named Franz Liszt and Franz Liszt his teacher

Franz Liszt and Franz Liszt his teacher

Franz Liszt and Franz Liszt his teacher was Carl Czerny the father of modern

was Carl Czerny the father of modern

was Carl Czerny the father of modern piano technique the Cherney method and

piano technique the Cherney method and

piano technique the Cherney method and Shirley’s teacher was Beethoven and

Shirley’s teacher was Beethoven and

Shirley’s teacher was Beethoven and Beethoven’s teacher was neva and EFA’s

Beethoven’s teacher was neva and EFA’s

Beethoven’s teacher was neva and EFA’s teacher was hell are and Hiller’s

teacher was hell are and Hiller’s

teacher was hell are and Hiller’s teacher was home Elias and his teacher

teacher was home Elias and his teacher

teacher was home Elias and his teacher was Johann Sebastian Bach as it turns

was Johann Sebastian Bach as it turns

was Johann Sebastian Bach as it turns out the journey from here to the Sun

out the journey from here to the Sun

out the journey from here to the Sun isn’t so far after all

I used to teach community college

I used to teach community college part-time but I ended up being a

part-time but I ended up being a

part-time but I ended up being a full-time mentor I taught Stephen at a

full-time mentor I taught Stephen at a

full-time mentor I taught Stephen at a community college in East Los Angeles

community college in East Los Angeles

community college in East Los Angeles well class started in about a weekend he

well class started in about a weekend he

well class started in about a weekend he comes to me and he asks if he can read

comes to me and he asks if he can read

comes to me and he asks if he can read something to me something he’s been

something to me something he’s been

something to me something he’s been working on sure no worries now Stephen

working on sure no worries now Stephen

working on sure no worries now Stephen has no public speaking back on none I

has no public speaking back on none I

has no public speaking back on none I had no expectations but Wow Wow no words

had no expectations but Wow Wow no words

had no expectations but Wow Wow no words today it was the worst speech I’d ever

today it was the worst speech I’d ever

today it was the worst speech I’d ever heard it’s just but somewhere along the

heard it’s just but somewhere along the

heard it’s just but somewhere along the way and that mess of a performance I

way and that mess of a performance I

way and that mess of a performance I heard something this speech was a

heard something this speech was a

heard something this speech was a dramatic interpretation of literature

dramatic interpretation of literature

dramatic interpretation of literature basically a play scene from a play and

basically a play scene from a play and

basically a play scene from a play and part of a performers job is to figure

part of a performers job is to figure

part of a performers job is to figure out the character who are you what do

out the character who are you what do

out the character who are you what do you want how are you going to get it and

you want how are you going to get it and

you want how are you going to get it and Stephen was making these choices

Stephen was making these choices

Stephen was making these choices naturally he was making he was making

naturally he was making he was making

naturally he was making he was making character choices like 90% of the kids

character choices like 90% of the kids

character choices like 90% of the kids in that school Stephen is Latino and the

in that school Stephen is Latino and the

in that school Stephen is Latino and the first his family to go to college like

first his family to go to college like

first his family to go to college like his friends you know took him a minute

his friends you know took him a minute

his friends you know took him a minute to get his bearings for example when I

to get his bearings for example when I

to get his bearings for example when I met him he was still majoring in the

met him he was still majoring in the

met him he was still majoring in the most popular of all subjects undecided

most popular of all subjects undecided

most popular of all subjects undecided he had the will but no way his second

he had the will but no way his second

he had the will but no way his second speech well he had to describe riding a

speech well he had to describe riding a

speech well he had to describe riding a Harley Davidson and he had never touched

Harley Davidson and he had never touched

Harley Davidson and he had never touched one you know I had some friends ride

one you know I had some friends ride

one you know I had some friends ride Harley’s for a hobby

Harley’s for a hobby

Harley’s for a hobby she’s a television star her husband is a

she’s a television star her husband is a

she’s a television star her husband is a successful businessperson could we just

successful businessperson could we just

successful businessperson could we just drive up to the house and you just you

drive up to the house and you just you

drive up to the house and you just you just see I’m sure no no worries come on

just see I’m sure no no worries come on

just see I’m sure no no worries come on up so on the appointed day we drive up

up so on the appointed day we drive up

up so on the appointed day we drive up to Beverly Hills and the homes there are

to Beverly Hills and the homes there are

to Beverly Hills and the homes there are hmm they’re spectacular

hmm they’re spectacular

hmm they’re spectacular they’re important looking and my friends

they’re important looking and my friends

they’re important looking and my friends are really down to earth and they came

are really down to earth and they came

are really down to earth and they came out and they greeted us and they said

out and they greeted us and they said

out and they greeted us and they said well Stephen do you want to go for a

well Stephen do you want to go for a

well Stephen do you want to go for a ride do you want to go for a ride of

ride do you want to go for a ride of

ride do you want to go for a ride of course he wants to go for a ride

course he wants to go for a ride

course he wants to go for a ride they were off they were off when they

they were off they were off when they

they were off they were off when they returned he was his beaming was so

returned he was his beaming was so

returned he was his beaming was so excited for so exciting but on the drive

excited for so exciting but on the drive

excited for so exciting but on the drive back to my place

back to my place

back to my place he was really quiet really quiet I just

he was really quiet really quiet I just

he was really quiet really quiet I just sat there and he just sat there and we

sat there and he just sat there and we

sat there and he just sat there and we didn’t look at each other’s guys do

I don’t want to be a nothing those words

I don’t want to be a nothing those words just seared into our

then be something not year with that

then be something not year with that speech he became a national gold speech

speech he became a national gold speech

speech he became a national gold speech champion the first in our colleges

champion the first in our colleges

champion the first in our colleges history and now the eyes of Texas were

history and now the eyes of Texas were

history and now the eyes of Texas were upon him and they gave him a scholarship

upon him and they gave him a scholarship

upon him and they gave him a scholarship to transfer their to be on the national

to transfer their to be on the national

to transfer their to be on the national championship team and in a few days

championship team and in a few days

championship team and in a few days he’ll be walking onto the campus of the

he’ll be walking onto the campus of the

he’ll be walking onto the campus of the mighty Trojans USC to begin his master’s

mighty Trojans USC to begin his master’s

mighty Trojans USC to begin his master’s degree at a communication school that

degree at a communication school that

degree at a communication school that happens to be one of the top on the

happens to be one of the top on the

happens to be one of the top on the planet Steven made himself undeniable

planet Steven made himself undeniable

planet Steven made himself undeniable and he did it by making character

and he did it by making character

and he did it by making character choices Who am I what do I want how am I

choices Who am I what do I want how am I

choices Who am I what do I want how am I gonna get it you know when you you

gonna get it you know when you you

gonna get it you know when you you mentor somebody like Steven it’s

mentor somebody like Steven it’s

mentor somebody like Steven it’s tempting to believe that you are

tempting to believe that you are

tempting to believe that you are rescuing them no no because the life or

rescuing them no no because the life or

rescuing them no no because the life or the life you save might be your own

the life you save might be your own

the life you save might be your own because now you’re seeing the world

because now you’re seeing the world

because now you’re seeing the world through fresh eyes you’re not just a

through fresh eyes you’re not just a

through fresh eyes you’re not just a speck of aspect of a speck know you are

speck of aspect of a speck know you are

speck of aspect of a speck know you are necessary to this grand design and oh

necessary to this grand design and oh

necessary to this grand design and oh are you grateful because now you finally

are you grateful because now you finally

are you grateful because now you finally realize that you

realize that you

realize that you you you you are an open door

so who made the world I think we all did

so who made the world I think we all did because every day we have a choice to

because every day we have a choice to

because every day we have a choice to make the world a little bit better or a

make the world a little bit better or a

make the world a little bit better or a little bit worse so how on earth will

little bit worse so how on earth will

little bit worse so how on earth will you matter

”

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