hey Portland it said that language is the main thing that separates man from
the main thing that separates man from
the main thing that separates man from animal we name things to give them a
animal we name things to give them a
animal we name things to give them a relationship to us and to give them a
relationship to us and to give them a
relationship to us and to give them a relationship to us as well
relationship to us as well
relationship to us as well words solidify what is abstract and the
words solidify what is abstract and the
words solidify what is abstract and the boundaries the definitions of a word are
boundaries the definitions of a word are
boundaries the definitions of a word are kind of what a thing is and a thing
kind of what a thing is and a thing
kind of what a thing is and a thing isn’t we all know the power of words to
isn’t we all know the power of words to
isn’t we all know the power of words to hurt and heal whether in a tweet or
hurt and heal whether in a tweet or
hurt and heal whether in a tweet or face-to-face and paint being aware of
face-to-face and paint being aware of
face-to-face and paint being aware of the words that we use with others is
the words that we use with others is
the words that we use with others is more important now than than ever but
more important now than than ever but
more important now than than ever but sometimes we forget about the words that
sometimes we forget about the words that
sometimes we forget about the words that we use when we define ourselves and talk
we use when we define ourselves and talk
we use when we define ourselves and talk about ourselves and our aspirations and
about ourselves and our aspirations and
about ourselves and our aspirations and I’m gonna talk a little bit about not
I’m gonna talk a little bit about not
I’m gonna talk a little bit about not only how language shapes our perspective
only how language shapes our perspective
only how language shapes our perspective of the world but also how maybe we can
of the world but also how maybe we can
of the world but also how maybe we can use words to define and even reframe our
use words to define and even reframe our
use words to define and even reframe our own lives I’m not a linguist first of
own lives I’m not a linguist first of
own lives I’m not a linguist first of all I’m not an English scholar I’m a
all I’m not an English scholar I’m a
all I’m not an English scholar I’m a designer and an artist here in Portland
designer and an artist here in Portland
designer and an artist here in Portland but I’ve been telling stories since I
but I’ve been telling stories since I
but I’ve been telling stories since I was a little kid initially via games
was a little kid initially via games
was a little kid initially via games like Dungeons & Dragons in which we
like Dungeons & Dragons in which we
like Dungeons & Dragons in which we create these vast collaborative
create these vast collaborative
create these vast collaborative narratives as a group
narratives as a group
narratives as a group literally world building with words
literally world building with words
literally world building with words literally later on I immersed myself in
literally later on I immersed myself in
literally later on I immersed myself in hip-hop culture as a dancer and a
hip-hop culture as a dancer and a
hip-hop culture as a dancer and a graffiti writer and a rapper and that
graffiti writer and a rapper and that
graffiti writer and a rapper and that was a world of this kind of active
was a world of this kind of active
was a world of this kind of active character creation it was myth-making
character creation it was myth-making
character creation it was myth-making through music and language like David
through music and language like David
through music and language like David said I currently host the spelling bee
said I currently host the spelling bee
said I currently host the spelling bee here in town for the last six years in
here in town for the last six years in
here in town for the last six years in which we use language as a basis for
which we use language as a basis for
which we use language as a basis for participation and play I run an
participation and play I run an
participation and play I run an etymology blog which visualizes the
etymology blog which visualizes the
etymology blog which visualizes the history of words and I even recently
history of words and I even recently
history of words and I even recently started working on my own constructed a
started working on my own constructed a
started working on my own constructed a fictional language just for fun of
fictional language just for fun of
fictional language just for fun of course I’ve always been building worlds
course I’ve always been building worlds
course I’ve always been building worlds with words but only recently have I
with words but only recently have I
with words but only recently have I started to think about how I can change
started to think about how I can change
started to think about how I can change my life with words to give a little
my life with words to give a little
my life with words to give a little context for the last 15 years as a
context for the last 15 years as a
context for the last 15 years as a designer I’ve worked in the music
designer I’ve worked in the music
designer I’ve worked in the music industry at agencies freelance most
industry at agencies freelance most
industry at agencies freelance most recently at a big company which I left
recently at a big company which I left
recently at a big company which I left in 2012
in 2012
in 2012 to start my own business my own agency
to start my own business my own agency
to start my own business my own agency because that’s what I thought that
because that’s what I thought that
because that’s what I thought that designers like me were supposed to do I
designers like me were supposed to do I
designers like me were supposed to do I had made a model off of what I saw the
had made a model off of what I saw the
had made a model off of what I saw the people that I looked up to doing and
people that I looked up to doing and
people that I looked up to doing and many of my peers that I was trying to
many of my peers that I was trying to
many of my peers that I was trying to keep up with many of whom are human
keep up with many of whom are human
keep up with many of whom are human today whom are here today and I realized
today whom are here today and I realized
today whom are here today and I realized that I was chasing a dream that wasn’t
that I was chasing a dream that wasn’t
that I was chasing a dream that wasn’t even really my dream at all after a
even really my dream at all after a
even really my dream at all after a couple years into my business I started
couple years into my business I started
couple years into my business I started to get stressed beyond belief and
to get stressed beyond belief and
to get stressed beyond belief and overwhelmed and like many of us can
overwhelmed and like many of us can
overwhelmed and like many of us can probably relate to I had trouble asking
probably relate to I had trouble asking
probably relate to I had trouble asking for help I kind of broke down although
for help I kind of broke down although
for help I kind of broke down although the business was technically going well
the business was technically going well
the business was technically going well it just wasn’t for me when it came to
it just wasn’t for me when it came to
it just wasn’t for me when it came to the stuff that I was doing with the
the stuff that I was doing with the
the stuff that I was doing with the business exactly I transitioned back to
business exactly I transitioned back to
business exactly I transitioned back to it just being me from having employees
it just being me from having employees
it just being me from having employees and as I started to pick up the pieces
and as I started to pick up the pieces
and as I started to pick up the pieces and figure out what’s next I became
and figure out what’s next I became
and figure out what’s next I became obsessed with words I started writing I
obsessed with words I started writing I
obsessed with words I started writing I started reading philosophy and
started reading philosophy and
started reading philosophy and philosophy of language in particular and
philosophy of language in particular and
philosophy of language in particular and I had some breakthroughs and the first
I had some breakthroughs and the first
I had some breakthroughs and the first breakthrough I had was to stop chasing
breakthrough I had was to stop chasing
breakthrough I had was to stop chasing my dream
my dream
my dream let me explain so chase your dreams is
let me explain so chase your dreams is
let me explain so chase your dreams is something that we hear all the time
something that we hear all the time
something that we hear all the time especially as English speakers you may
especially as English speakers you may
especially as English speakers you may have have you may have the phrase pinned
have have you may have the phrase pinned
have have you may have the phrase pinned up above your desk at work on the wall
up above your desk at work on the wall
up above your desk at work on the wall of your bedroom
of your bedroom
of your bedroom it’s an incredible sentiment I’ve never
it’s an incredible sentiment I’ve never
it’s an incredible sentiment I’ve never been one to hang my hat on these kind of
been one to hang my hat on these kind of
been one to hang my hat on these kind of motivational phrases in general but as I
motivational phrases in general but as I
motivational phrases in general but as I started to learn more about language it
started to learn more about language it
started to learn more about language it changed the way I think about platitudes
changed the way I think about platitudes
changed the way I think about platitudes and the ubiquity of these kind of
and the ubiquity of these kind of
and the ubiquity of these kind of platitudes there’s this book it’s called
platitudes there’s this book it’s called
platitudes there’s this book it’s called metaphors we live by by linguist George
metaphors we live by by linguist George
metaphors we live by by linguist George Lakoff and Mark Johnson and in it they
Lakoff and Mark Johnson and in it they
Lakoff and Mark Johnson and in it they propose metaphor as the building blocks
propose metaphor as the building blocks
propose metaphor as the building blocks of how we use language itself and
of how we use language itself and
of how we use language itself and therefore how we understand the world
therefore how we understand the world
therefore how we understand the world the foundations of how we speak are
the foundations of how we speak are
the foundations of how we speak are metaphoric not just metaphors like what
metaphoric not just metaphors like what
metaphoric not just metaphors like what you hear in love songs or ideas of
you hear in love songs or ideas of
you hear in love songs or ideas of simile an analogy but the actual make up
simile an analogy but the actual make up
simile an analogy but the actual make up of the words that we use every single
of the words that we use every single
of the words that we use every single day there’s this theory it’s called the
day there’s this theory it’s called the
day there’s this theory it’s called the embodied cognition theory it states that
embodied cognition theory it states that
embodied cognition theory it states that the way that we
the way that we
the way that we the fact that we are actually human
the fact that we are actually human
the fact that we are actually human beings in bodies in space shapes the way
beings in bodies in space shapes the way
beings in bodies in space shapes the way that we view the world as infants trying
that we view the world as infants trying
that we view the world as infants trying to put food into our mouths are toggled
to put food into our mouths are toggled
to put food into our mouths are toggled to our mothers as hunter-gatherers
to our mothers as hunter-gatherers
to our mothers as hunter-gatherers trying to survive in the wild in a
trying to survive in the wild in a
trying to survive in the wild in a primeval forest the way we exist in the
primeval forest the way we exist in the
primeval forest the way we exist in the world in space shapes the way we view it
world in space shapes the way we view it
world in space shapes the way we view it now think of the words that we use all
now think of the words that we use all
now think of the words that we use all the time and how they kind of reinforce
the time and how they kind of reinforce
the time and how they kind of reinforce these ideas for example when we talk
these ideas for example when we talk
these ideas for example when we talk about feelings or the mind that these
about feelings or the mind that these
about feelings or the mind that these kind of concepts we often talk about
kind of concepts we often talk about
kind of concepts we often talk about things being inside or outside of us I’m
things being inside or outside of us I’m
things being inside or outside of us I’m in love with her that went over my head
in love with her that went over my head
in love with her that went over my head I’m feeling a little out of it today
I’m feeling a little out of it today
I’m feeling a little out of it today and when we try to conceptualize time
and when we try to conceptualize time
and when we try to conceptualize time for example we talk about events being
for example we talk about events being
for example we talk about events being literally in front of or behind us I’m
literally in front of or behind us I’m
literally in front of or behind us I’m looking forward to the after party
looking forward to the after party
looking forward to the after party things were better back when there were
things were better back when there were
things were better back when there were more record stores but but chasing your
more record stores but but chasing your
more record stores but but chasing your dreams following your bliss the pursuit
dreams following your bliss the pursuit
dreams following your bliss the pursuit of happiness all in this search for
of happiness all in this search for
of happiness all in this search for meaning think about those words chasing
meaning think about those words chasing
meaning think about those words chasing pursuing following these words have this
pursuing following these words have this
pursuing following these words have this kind of survival based idea right there
kind of survival based idea right there
kind of survival based idea right there they propose a predator-prey
they propose a predator-prey
they propose a predator-prey relationship two concepts that we create
relationship two concepts that we create
relationship two concepts that we create ourselves dreams in happiness those are
ourselves dreams in happiness those are
ourselves dreams in happiness those are things that we realize we make real
things that we realize we make real
things that we realize we make real ourselves but not creatures that hide in
ourselves but not creatures that hide in
ourselves but not creatures that hide in the bushes that we go and catch with a
the bushes that we go and catch with a
the bushes that we go and catch with a net I know it’s all semantics and that
net I know it’s all semantics and that
net I know it’s all semantics and that it’s literally semantics and that that
it’s literally semantics and that that
it’s literally semantics and that that these phrases become culturally accepted
these phrases become culturally accepted
these phrases become culturally accepted and become socially accepted they become
and become socially accepted they become
and become socially accepted they become cliche and perhaps the metaphoric roots
cliche and perhaps the metaphoric roots
cliche and perhaps the metaphoric roots those foundations aren’t important at
those foundations aren’t important at
those foundations aren’t important at all as long as we learn how to
all as long as we learn how to
all as long as we learn how to positively apply them to our lives
positively apply them to our lives
positively apply them to our lives totally get that but I found that by
totally get that but I found that by
totally get that but I found that by being more conscious of the words that
being more conscious of the words that
being more conscious of the words that we use when we talk about those ideas of
we use when we talk about those ideas of
we use when we talk about those ideas of dreams and aspirations and hopes that
dreams and aspirations and hopes that
dreams and aspirations and hopes that maybe we can be more active in the way
maybe we can be more active in the way
maybe we can be more active in the way that we make meaning in our own lives as
that we make meaning in our own lives as
that we make meaning in our own lives as human beings so for example take the
human beings so for example take the
human beings so for example take the term human being I love that term human
term human being I love that term human
term human being I love that term human a noun being a verb
a noun being a verb
a noun being a verb the idea of something thought of as a
the idea of something thought of as a
the idea of something thought of as a noun suddenly made verb so powerful I
noun suddenly made verb so powerful I
noun suddenly made verb so powerful I like to think that I’m a verb active
like to think that I’m a verb active
like to think that I’m a verb active dynamic evolving right how many of you
dynamic evolving right how many of you
dynamic evolving right how many of you have ever had to write your own personal
have ever had to write your own personal
have ever had to write your own personal bio for a resume or a website yeah
bio for a resume or a website yeah
bio for a resume or a website yeah sucks right yeah having to define your
sucks right yeah having to define your
sucks right yeah having to define your whole life in a paragraph it’s great
whole life in a paragraph it’s great
whole life in a paragraph it’s great no it’s daunting I recently was speaking
no it’s daunting I recently was speaking
no it’s daunting I recently was speaking to a class of soon-to-be graduates about
to a class of soon-to-be graduates about
to a class of soon-to-be graduates about writing their own personal BIOS as I
writing their own personal BIOS as I
writing their own personal BIOS as I walked in the room I met 15 petrified
walked in the room I met 15 petrified
walked in the room I met 15 petrified faces staring back at me
faces staring back at me
faces staring back at me not literally they were scared to even
not literally they were scared to even
not literally they were scared to even start the process and the task of
start the process and the task of
start the process and the task of defining yourself especially as a fresh
defining yourself especially as a fresh
defining yourself especially as a fresh graduate is incredibly scary it’s this
graduate is incredibly scary it’s this
graduate is incredibly scary it’s this transformation of role from student to
transformation of role from student to
transformation of role from student to whatever it is that you are next the
whatever it is that you are next the
whatever it is that you are next the point of consolation I have for them
point of consolation I have for them
point of consolation I have for them however is that we change we’re supposed
however is that we change we’re supposed
however is that we change we’re supposed to change we’re supposed to be the
to change we’re supposed to be the
to change we’re supposed to be the different different people today than we
different different people today than we
different different people today than we were yesterday
were yesterday
were yesterday and your BIOS could and should evolve as
and your BIOS could and should evolve as
and your BIOS could and should evolve as well philosopher Gil Duluth states that
well philosopher Gil Duluth states that
well philosopher Gil Duluth states that being is nothing more than a momentary
being is nothing more than a momentary
being is nothing more than a momentary freezing of the infinite process of
freezing of the infinite process of
freezing of the infinite process of becoming I think that means that you can
becoming I think that means that you can
becoming I think that means that you can update your bio tomorrow it’s translated
update your bio tomorrow it’s translated
update your bio tomorrow it’s translated back to human being so I had this idea
back to human being so I had this idea
back to human being so I had this idea that if human being can be a verb if I’m
that if human being can be a verb if I’m
that if human being can be a verb if I’m going to position it as such perhaps my
going to position it as such perhaps my
going to position it as such perhaps my creative studio itself could be more
creative studio itself could be more
creative studio itself could be more verb like just as dynamic and active and
verb like just as dynamic and active and
verb like just as dynamic and active and evolving my creative studio being the
evolving my creative studio being the
evolving my creative studio being the sum of all of my creative activity in
sum of all of my creative activity in
sum of all of my creative activity in the world human being studio doing
the world human being studio doing
the world human being studio doing sounds weird here meow if I’m being then
sounds weird here meow if I’m being then
sounds weird here meow if I’m being then doing all the things that we do that
doing all the things that we do that
doing all the things that we do that affect our world
affect our world
affect our world having this idea started to make this
having this idea started to make this
having this idea started to make this kind of personal framework towards being
kind of personal framework towards being
kind of personal framework towards being this kind of personal approach and using
this kind of personal approach and using
this kind of personal approach and using the terms active doing and passive doing
the terms active doing and passive doing
the terms active doing and passive doing using more words to create these kind of
using more words to create these kind of
using more words to create these kind of orientation towards being for myself I
orientation towards being for myself I
orientation towards being for myself I started to make this conceptual map
started to make this conceptual map
started to make this conceptual map based on these two ideas so active doing
based on these two ideas so active doing
based on these two ideas so active doing is what we commonly think of as making
is what we commonly think of as making
is what we commonly think of as making things it’s working collaborating with
things it’s working collaborating with
things it’s working collaborating with others drawing writing it’s tangible its
others drawing writing it’s tangible its
others drawing writing it’s tangible its output passive doing therefore is
output passive doing therefore is
output passive doing therefore is everything else its input but always
everything else its input but always
everything else its input but always oriented towards action to me passive
oriented towards action to me passive
oriented towards action to me passive doing is it’s the kind of application
doing is it’s the kind of application
doing is it’s the kind of application and synthesis of the constant input
and synthesis of the constant input
and synthesis of the constant input around us at all times with intention it
around us at all times with intention it
around us at all times with intention it means thinking means being curious
means thinking means being curious
means thinking means being curious paying attention to everything no matter
paying attention to everything no matter
paying attention to everything no matter how seemingly irrelevant or superfluous
how seemingly irrelevant or superfluous
how seemingly irrelevant or superfluous as everything must have relative meaning
as everything must have relative meaning
as everything must have relative meaning which can be unfolded if you just try
which can be unfolded if you just try
which can be unfolded if you just try and I use that term unfolding
and I use that term unfolding
and I use that term unfolding intentionally I love that term unfolding
intentionally I love that term unfolding
intentionally I love that term unfolding to me unfolding is approaching
to me unfolding is approaching
to me unfolding is approaching everything as if it has more than one
everything as if it has more than one
everything as if it has more than one dimension
dimension
dimension nothing is basic it means that
nothing is basic it means that
nothing is basic it means that everything matters using these kind of
everything matters using these kind of
everything matters using these kind of terms
terms
terms I’ve reframed and redefined my life in a
I’ve reframed and redefined my life in a
I’ve reframed and redefined my life in a way that that has made me more open and
way that that has made me more open and
way that that has made me more open and although I may not be happier per se I’m
although I may not be happier per se I’m
although I may not be happier per se I’m definitely more present and engaged than
definitely more present and engaged than
definitely more present and engaged than I’ve ever been in my life not chasing
I’ve ever been in my life not chasing
I’ve ever been in my life not chasing but doing we are not the same people we
but doing we are not the same people we
but doing we are not the same people we were yesterday you’re not gonna be the
were yesterday you’re not gonna be the
were yesterday you’re not gonna be the same person you are tomorrow maybe by
same person you are tomorrow maybe by
same person you are tomorrow maybe by thinking about the words that you use
thinking about the words that you use
thinking about the words that you use you can reframe yourself and not be
you can reframe yourself and not be
you can reframe yourself and not be other people’s ideas of what you’re
other people’s ideas of what you’re
other people’s ideas of what you’re supposed to be and maybe by thinking
supposed to be and maybe by thinking
supposed to be and maybe by thinking about the words they use to define
about the words they use to define
about the words they use to define yourself you can reframe your life as I
yourself you can reframe your life as I
yourself you can reframe your life as I have mine you’re you’re a human being be
have mine you’re you’re a human being be
have mine you’re you’re a human being be a verb we define yourself unfold your
a verb we define yourself unfold your
a verb we define yourself unfold your world
”
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