on July 27 2016 my heart stopped I was 10,000 kilometres away from home when
10,000 kilometres away from home when
10,000 kilometres away from home when this happened and my friend Jason
this happened and my friend Jason
this happened and my friend Jason immediately began CPR while
immediately began CPR while
immediately began CPR while simultaneously screaming and my other
simultaneously screaming and my other
simultaneously screaming and my other friend to call the front desk and ask
friend to call the front desk and ask
friend to call the front desk and ask for the AED 30 minutes 23 floors down
for the AED 30 minutes 23 floors down
for the AED 30 minutes 23 floors down and to resuscitations later our
and to resuscitations later our
and to resuscitations later our ambulance began to move into and out of
ambulance began to move into and out of
ambulance began to move into and out of Chong Chang’s traffic this evening
Chong Chang’s traffic this evening
Chong Chang’s traffic this evening marked the premature end of my trade
marked the premature end of my trade
marked the premature end of my trade mission in China so last summer I was
mission in China so last summer I was
mission in China so last summer I was hand picked to represent Canadian
hand picked to represent Canadian
hand picked to represent Canadian businesses in China along with other
businesses in China along with other
businesses in China along with other youth ambassadors and for those of you
youth ambassadors and for those of you
youth ambassadors and for those of you who know me you probably know that my
who know me you probably know that my
who know me you probably know that my career aspirations involve business and
career aspirations involve business and
career aspirations involve business and that’s why as soon as I was offered a
that’s why as soon as I was offered a
that’s why as soon as I was offered a membership with Junior Team Canada I
membership with Junior Team Canada I
membership with Junior Team Canada I immediately said yes little did I know
immediately said yes little did I know
immediately said yes little did I know that a trade mission would mean waking
that a trade mission would mean waking
that a trade mission would mean waking up in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV
up in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV
up in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV ECG machine BP cuff in nasal cannula I
ECG machine BP cuff in nasal cannula I
ECG machine BP cuff in nasal cannula I woke up to the sight of needle markings
woke up to the sight of needle markings
woke up to the sight of needle markings on my arms and electrode pads all over
on my arms and electrode pads all over
on my arms and electrode pads all over my chest and on top of that I couldn’t
my chest and on top of that I couldn’t
my chest and on top of that I couldn’t even understand what the doctors were
even understand what the doctors were
even understand what the doctors were saying I didn’t know what was being put
saying I didn’t know what was being put
saying I didn’t know what was being put into my body and I couldn’t just tell
into my body and I couldn’t just tell
into my body and I couldn’t just tell the nurse excuse me nurse could you
the nurse excuse me nurse could you
the nurse excuse me nurse could you please take these off because I really
please take these off because I really
please take these off because I really need to go to the bathroom the language
need to go to the bathroom the language
need to go to the bathroom the language barrier was very daunting and in fact at
barrier was very daunting and in fact at
barrier was very daunting and in fact at one point one of the nurses pulled out
one point one of the nurses pulled out
one point one of the nurses pulled out her phone started typing something in
her phone started typing something in
her phone started typing something in and just showed me as showed me the
and just showed me as showed me the
and just showed me as showed me the screen Google Translate I had never felt
screen Google Translate I had never felt
screen Google Translate I had never felt so helpless and so lost in my life
so helpless and so lost in my life
so helpless and so lost in my life so soon after I was sent home in tears
so soon after I was sent home in tears
so soon after I was sent home in tears to seek further medical attention and
to seek further medical attention and
to seek further medical attention and the weeks that followed were a blur of
the weeks that followed were a blur of
the weeks that followed were a blur of doctors appointments lab results a few
doctors appointments lab results a few
doctors appointments lab results a few more trips to the ER and yes more
more trips to the ER and yes more
more trips to the ER and yes more doctor’s appointments but what consumed
doctor’s appointments but what consumed
doctor’s appointments but what consumed me was not the fact that I was virtually
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] thanks for helping you with my mic so
thanks for helping you with my mic so
thanks for helping you with my mic so anyway the weeks of followed that were
anyway the weeks of followed that were
anyway the weeks of followed that were just a blur of doctors appointments lab
just a blur of doctors appointments lab
just a blur of doctors appointments lab results a few more trips to the ER and
results a few more trips to the ER and
results a few more trips to the ER and yes more doctor’s appointments but what
yes more doctor’s appointments but what
yes more doctor’s appointments but what really got to me was not the fact that I
really got to me was not the fact that I
really got to me was not the fact that I was virtually living in these doctors
was virtually living in these doctors
was virtually living in these doctors clinics but rather the sense of failure
clinics but rather the sense of failure
clinics but rather the sense of failure that kept me up day-in day-out and I
that kept me up day-in day-out and I
that kept me up day-in day-out and I found myself slipping further and
found myself slipping further and
found myself slipping further and further into depression and before I
further into depression and before I
further into depression and before I knew it my doctor’s appointments were
knew it my doctor’s appointments were
knew it my doctor’s appointments were coupled with just as frequent
coupled with just as frequent
coupled with just as frequent psychotherapy sessions and all Daphne
psychotherapy sessions and all Daphne
psychotherapy sessions and all Daphne was really really nice
was really really nice
was really really nice she gave me two lollipops at the end of
she gave me two lollipops at the end of
she gave me two lollipops at the end of each session instead of just one my
each session instead of just one my
each session instead of just one my saving grace actually came from
saving grace actually came from
saving grace actually came from elsewhere and it came from these four
elsewhere and it came from these four
elsewhere and it came from these four lessons which I will share with you
lessons which I will share with you
lessons which I will share with you today lesson number one the power of
today lesson number one the power of
today lesson number one the power of impermanence
so nothing helps us understand the
so nothing helps us understand the fleeting beauty of life more than death
fleeting beauty of life more than death
fleeting beauty of life more than death itself has anyone here traveled before
itself has anyone here traveled before
itself has anyone here traveled before awesome so when you’re traveling you’re
awesome so when you’re traveling you’re
awesome so when you’re traveling you’re taking in every single moment and that’s
taking in every single moment and that’s
taking in every single moment and that’s because you know that your time in that
because you know that your time in that
because you know that your time in that place is so limited you try to savor
place is so limited you try to savor
place is so limited you try to savor every bite every photograph in every
every bite every photograph in every
every bite every photograph in every sight scent sound and every friendship
sight scent sound and every friendship
sight scent sound and every friendship you make and every conversation you have
you make and every conversation you have
you make and every conversation you have is just a little sweeter
is just a little sweeter
is just a little sweeter the friendships and conversations you
the friendships and conversations you
the friendships and conversations you have back home and that’s because you
have back home and that’s because you
have back home and that’s because you know it’s temporary prior to my
know it’s temporary prior to my
know it’s temporary prior to my near-death experience I didn’t have a
near-death experience I didn’t have a
near-death experience I didn’t have a sense that my time was limited
sense that my time was limited
sense that my time was limited nor did I understand that life was a
nor did I understand that life was a
nor did I understand that life was a gift a gift with a time limit so this
gift a gift with a time limit so this
gift a gift with a time limit so this brings us to lesson number two the power
brings us to lesson number two the power
brings us to lesson number two the power of now because impermanence begets
of now because impermanence begets
of now because impermanence begets presence and to me being present means
presence and to me being present means
presence and to me being present means understanding that today is all we’re
understanding that today is all we’re
understanding that today is all we’re ever gonna get because yesterday was
ever gonna get because yesterday was
ever gonna get because yesterday was once at today and tomorrow is just gonna
once at today and tomorrow is just gonna
once at today and tomorrow is just gonna be another today and before you know it
be another today and before you know it
be another today and before you know it you’ve allowed days weeks months years
you’ve allowed days weeks months years
you’ve allowed days weeks months years to just slip by when I catch myself
to just slip by when I catch myself
to just slip by when I catch myself getting lost in the mechanics of my
getting lost in the mechanics of my
getting lost in the mechanics of my daily routine I just try to take a step
daily routine I just try to take a step
daily routine I just try to take a step back away from all of the noise and
back away from all of the noise and
back away from all of the noise and spend time with the people I love
spend time with the people I love
spend time with the people I love because that is what makes me feel alive
because that is what makes me feel alive
because that is what makes me feel alive and present see the paradox of death is
and present see the paradox of death is
and present see the paradox of death is that it actually points you towards what
that it actually points you towards what
that it actually points you towards what it really feels like to be alive and
it really feels like to be alive and
it really feels like to be alive and living has to do with connection and
living has to do with connection and
living has to do with connection and experience in full expression so I want
experience in full expression so I want
experience in full expression so I want to ask you today what makes you feel
to ask you today what makes you feel
to ask you today what makes you feel alive and present and who makes you feel
alive and present and who makes you feel
alive and present and who makes you feel alive in present lesson number three the
alive in present lesson number three the
alive in present lesson number three the power of transformation so I’d like to
power of transformation so I’d like to
power of transformation so I’d like to share with you a quote from Cynthia
share with you a quote from Cynthia
share with you a quote from Cynthia Shelly and it goes like this for a seed
Shelly and it goes like this for a seed
Shelly and it goes like this for a seed to achieve its greatest expression it
to achieve its greatest expression it
to achieve its greatest expression it must come completely undone the shell
must come completely undone the shell
must come completely undone the shell cracks its insides come out and
cracks its insides come out and
cracks its insides come out and everything changes to someone who
everything changes to someone who
everything changes to someone who doesn’t understand growth it would look
doesn’t understand growth it would look
doesn’t understand growth it would look like complete destruction so according
like complete destruction so according
like complete destruction so according to this quote your struggle holds the
to this quote your struggle holds the
to this quote your struggle holds the seeds of transfer
seeds of transfer
seeds of transfer nation and I completely agree as I’ve
nation and I completely agree as I’ve
nation and I completely agree as I’ve experienced multiple episodes of
experienced multiple episodes of
experienced multiple episodes of struggle and loss I’ve noticed a pattern
struggle and loss I’ve noticed a pattern
struggle and loss I’ve noticed a pattern and it’s that I become more resilient
and it’s that I become more resilient
and it’s that I become more resilient and the seeds of my struggle have always
and the seeds of my struggle have always
and the seeds of my struggle have always resulted in growth see I’ve learned that
resulted in growth see I’ve learned that
resulted in growth see I’ve learned that life is a continuous cycle of struggle
life is a continuous cycle of struggle
life is a continuous cycle of struggle transformation and growth and although
transformation and growth and although
transformation and growth and although it may not always seem obvious if you
it may not always seem obvious if you
it may not always seem obvious if you look at growth you can always trace it
look at growth you can always trace it
look at growth you can always trace it back to the struggle that preceded it so
back to the struggle that preceded it so
back to the struggle that preceded it so what does growth actually look like that
what does growth actually look like that
what does growth actually look like that brings us to our final and most
brings us to our final and most
brings us to our final and most important lesson lesson number four the
important lesson lesson number four the
important lesson lesson number four the power of why have you ever stepped
power of why have you ever stepped
power of why have you ever stepped outside of yourself to connect with
outside of yourself to connect with
outside of yourself to connect with something bigger than you
something bigger than you
something bigger than you Daphney actually advised me to start
Daphney actually advised me to start
Daphney actually advised me to start journaling but I really just like
journaling but I really just like
journaling but I really just like writing so I started talking to people
writing so I started talking to people
writing so I started talking to people instead and through that I began to
instead and through that I began to
instead and through that I began to understand what kind of impact I wanted
understand what kind of impact I wanted
understand what kind of impact I wanted to have on the world and why I even
to have on the world and why I even
to have on the world and why I even existed in other words I began searching
existed in other words I began searching
existed in other words I began searching for my why so after realizing my passion
for my why so after realizing my passion
for my why so after realizing my passion for modern education in the classroom of
for modern education in the classroom of
for modern education in the classroom of tomorrow
tomorrow
tomorrow I actually co-founded a national
I actually co-founded a national
I actually co-founded a national nonprofit which continues to grow today
nonprofit which continues to grow today
nonprofit which continues to grow today and I’m really proud of that you see the
and I’m really proud of that you see the
and I’m really proud of that you see the beauty of pursuing a purpose and
beauty of pursuing a purpose and
beauty of pursuing a purpose and following your calling is that you are
following your calling is that you are
following your calling is that you are guided internally and yet you’re also
guided internally and yet you’re also
guided internally and yet you’re also connected to something beyond you and
connected to something beyond you and
connected to something beyond you and this is the experience that I think most
this is the experience that I think most
this is the experience that I think most of us strive towards because when you
of us strive towards because when you
of us strive towards because when you know your why you have a sense of
know your why you have a sense of
know your why you have a sense of purpose that can guide the way you
purpose that can guide the way you
purpose that can guide the way you interact with the world so what have I
interact with the world so what have I
interact with the world so what have I gathered from all of these lessons
gathered from all of these lessons
gathered from all of these lessons I’ve gathered the Deaf is powerfully
I’ve gathered the Deaf is powerfully
I’ve gathered the Deaf is powerfully enlightening but you don’t have to wait
enlightening but you don’t have to wait
enlightening but you don’t have to wait for someone your love or for yourself to
for someone your love or for yourself to
for someone your love or for yourself to get close to it to start changing the
get close to it to start changing the
get close to it to start changing the way you think and live in fact if
way you think and live in fact if
way you think and live in fact if there’s one thing that I would like for
there’s one thing that I would like for
there’s one thing that I would like for all of you here to try it is this find
all of you here to try it is this find
all of you here to try it is this find your why I know some of you may be
your why I know some of you may be
your why I know some of you may be thinking oh that’s just a mission
thinking oh that’s just a mission
thinking oh that’s just a mission statement right not necessarily if you
statement right not necessarily if you
statement right not necessarily if you look at a company or an organization’s
look at a company or an organization’s
look at a company or an organization’s mission statement it will usually only
mission statement it will usually only
mission statement it will usually only include the what and the how but really
include the what and the how but really
include the what and the how but really does it include the why and that’s
does it include the why and that’s
does it include the why and that’s because it’s not easy to pinpoint but
because it’s not easy to pinpoint but
because it’s not easy to pinpoint but you’re why matters because that is where
you’re why matters because that is where
you’re why matters because that is where it all begins when you know your why and
it all begins when you know your why and
it all begins when you know your why and you chase it everything else falls into
you chase it everything else falls into
you chase it everything else falls into place with your why you have a purpose
place with your why you have a purpose
place with your why you have a purpose not purpose gives you a sense of urgency
not purpose gives you a sense of urgency
not purpose gives you a sense of urgency which ties into the time limit I
which ties into the time limit I
which ties into the time limit I mentioned earlier and when you have a
mentioned earlier and when you have a
mentioned earlier and when you have a sense of urgency you get things done not
sense of urgency you get things done not
sense of urgency you get things done not just busy work but the things that
just busy work but the things that
just busy work but the things that actually matter to you the things that
actually matter to you the things that
actually matter to you the things that are relevant to your why this is where
are relevant to your why this is where
are relevant to your why this is where growth comes in when you work from the
growth comes in when you work from the
growth comes in when you work from the inside out
inside out
inside out and when everything in here is reflected
and when everything in here is reflected
and when everything in here is reflected and expressed in the things you do and
and expressed in the things you do and
and expressed in the things you do and this is what I call being why driven and
this is what I call being why driven and
this is what I call being why driven and this is what I think it means to be
this is what I think it means to be
this is what I think it means to be truly alive thank you
truly alive thank you
truly alive thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment