what do you think of when I say the word rebellion do you think of a civil war or
rebellion do you think of a civil war or
rebellion do you think of a civil war or political movement perhaps you think of
political movement perhaps you think of
political movement perhaps you think of a rebellious two-year-old or an angsty
a rebellious two-year-old or an angsty
a rebellious two-year-old or an angsty teenager do you have a positive
teenager do you have a positive
teenager do you have a positive connotation of the word attaching it to
connotation of the word attaching it to
connotation of the word attaching it to something with a noble cause or do you
something with a noble cause or do you
something with a noble cause or do you see it in more of a negative light
see it in more of a negative light
see it in more of a negative light something destructive something to be
something destructive something to be
something destructive something to be avoided what if I told you rebellion is
avoided what if I told you rebellion is
avoided what if I told you rebellion is not a dirty word and it is not reserved
not a dirty word and it is not reserved
not a dirty word and it is not reserved for the others what if I told you that
for the others what if I told you that
for the others what if I told you that rebellion was a necessary action in
rebellion was a necessary action in
rebellion was a necessary action in order for you to live a wholly authentic
order for you to live a wholly authentic
order for you to live a wholly authentic life and to be truly known in your
life and to be truly known in your
life and to be truly known in your relationships and in your communities
relationships and in your communities
relationships and in your communities one of the very first times I remember
one of the very first times I remember
one of the very first times I remember being rebellious was in the third grade
being rebellious was in the third grade
being rebellious was in the third grade I went to a Montessori School where they
I went to a Montessori School where they
I went to a Montessori School where they incorporated swimming lessons into our
incorporated swimming lessons into our
incorporated swimming lessons into our curriculum and once a week we went to a
curriculum and once a week we went to a
curriculum and once a week we went to a local pool and learned all about the
local pool and learned all about the
local pool and learned all about the breaststroke the backstroke and the
breaststroke the backstroke and the
breaststroke the backstroke and the doggy paddle I remember after a very
doggy paddle I remember after a very
doggy paddle I remember after a very first diving lesson we had a little bit
first diving lesson we had a little bit
first diving lesson we had a little bit of free time and the instructor is
of free time and the instructor is
of free time and the instructor is specifically said now you can go try to
specifically said now you can go try to
specifically said now you can go try to dive off the low dive just do not try to
dive off the low dive just do not try to
dive off the low dive just do not try to dive off the high dive well that didn’t
dive off the high dive well that didn’t
dive off the high dive well that didn’t make any good sense to me I thought
make any good sense to me I thought
make any good sense to me I thought what’s the difference if I can dive off
what’s the difference if I can dive off
what’s the difference if I can dive off the low dive
the low dive
the low dive why can’t I dive off the high dive not
why can’t I dive off the high dive not
why can’t I dive off the high dive not to mention there was a boy in my class
to mention there was a boy in my class
to mention there was a boy in my class who I thought was the cutest thing since
who I thought was the cutest thing since
who I thought was the cutest thing since Elmo and I really wanted to get his
Elmo and I really wanted to get his
Elmo and I really wanted to get his attention I climbed up the high dive
attention I climbed up the high dive
attention I climbed up the high dive took my stance and lept off problem was
took my stance and lept off problem was
took my stance and lept off problem was that because I had only had one diving
that because I had only had one diving
that because I had only had one diving lesson at this point I didn’t have full
lesson at this point I didn’t have full
lesson at this point I didn’t have full control over my limbs and my body went
control over my limbs and my body went
control over my limbs and my body went from straight up and down to perfectly
from straight up and down to perfectly
from straight up and down to perfectly parallel with the water and splat I
parallel with the water and splat I
parallel with the water and splat I successfully completed a very impressive
successfully completed a very impressive
successfully completed a very impressive but very painful belly flop mrs. Denman
but very painful belly flop mrs. Denman
but very painful belly flop mrs. Denman it dawned on me that’s probably why the
it dawned on me that’s probably why the
it dawned on me that’s probably why the instructor said don’t timeout the high
instructor said don’t timeout the high
instructor said don’t timeout the high dive but my plan did work that’s boy and
dive but my plan did work that’s boy and
dive but my plan did work that’s boy and I had an intense elementary school
I had an intense elementary school
I had an intense elementary school romance for the next two weeks until he
romance for the next two weeks until he
romance for the next two weeks until he broke up with me for my best friend
broke up with me for my best friend
broke up with me for my best friend now we probably all have a few funny
now we probably all have a few funny
now we probably all have a few funny stories like this and most of those
stories like this and most of those
stories like this and most of those stories are probably from childhood as
stories are probably from childhood as
stories are probably from childhood as we get older though we begin to care
we get older though we begin to care
we get older though we begin to care more about fitting in and what people
more about fitting in and what people
more about fitting in and what people think of us we begin to care about doing
think of us we begin to care about doing
think of us we begin to care about doing the right thing
the right thing
the right thing but too often the right thing and the
but too often the right thing and the
but too often the right thing and the socially acceptable thing get mixed up
socially acceptable thing get mixed up
socially acceptable thing get mixed up and confused with one another I learned
and confused with one another I learned
and confused with one another I learned about social norms for the first time in
about social norms for the first time in
about social norms for the first time in college when I had to take a sociology
college when I had to take a sociology
college when I had to take a sociology class as a GE C course it’s one of those
class as a GE C course it’s one of those
class as a GE C course it’s one of those courses that’s just supposed to make you
courses that’s just supposed to make you
courses that’s just supposed to make you well-rounded has nothing to do with what
well-rounded has nothing to do with what
well-rounded has nothing to do with what you’re there to learn social norms is
you’re there to learn social norms is
you’re there to learn social norms is the idea that we humans because we are
the idea that we humans because we are
the idea that we humans because we are social creatures and longed for
social creatures and longed for
social creatures and longed for companionship that we will almost always
companionship that we will almost always
companionship that we will almost always do whatever it is the majority is doing
do whatever it is the majority is doing
do whatever it is the majority is doing basically nobody wants to be a weirdo
basically nobody wants to be a weirdo
basically nobody wants to be a weirdo and everybody wants to fit in has anyone
and everybody wants to fit in has anyone
and everybody wants to fit in has anyone ever seen those videos where someone
ever seen those videos where someone
ever seen those videos where someone walks into an elevator and this person
walks into an elevator and this person
walks into an elevator and this person is they test out subject unbeknownst to
is they test out subject unbeknownst to
is they test out subject unbeknownst to them and everyone else in the elevator
them and everyone else in the elevator
them and everyone else in the elevator turns around and faces the wall what do
turns around and faces the wall what do
turns around and faces the wall what do you think the test subject usually does
you think the test subject usually does
you think the test subject usually does they almost always also turn around and
they almost always also turn around and
they almost always also turn around and face the wall not because it makes sense
face the wall not because it makes sense
face the wall not because it makes sense but simply because everyone else is
but simply because everyone else is
but simply because everyone else is doing it they doubt themselves they
doing it they doubt themselves they
doing it they doubt themselves they doubt their intuition and they don’t
doubt their intuition and they don’t
doubt their intuition and they don’t want to be the odd man out I wasn’t
want to be the odd man out I wasn’t
want to be the odd man out I wasn’t invited here to speak because I’m an
invited here to speak because I’m an
invited here to speak because I’m an expert at anything or master of anything
expert at anything or master of anything
expert at anything or master of anything I didn’t invent anything or survive
I didn’t invent anything or survive
I didn’t invent anything or survive anything I was invited here simply
anything I was invited here simply
anything I was invited here simply because I did something I wasn’t
because I did something I wasn’t
because I did something I wasn’t supposed to do in 2015 I found myself at
supposed to do in 2015 I found myself at
supposed to do in 2015 I found myself at a crossroads I had finished my
a crossroads I had finished my
a crossroads I had finished my bachelor’s degree and built what most
bachelor’s degree and built what most
bachelor’s degree and built what most would consider a solid foundation to a
would consider a solid foundation to a
would consider a solid foundation to a successful career in commercial
successful career in commercial
successful career in commercial advertising I rented a beautiful
advertising I rented a beautiful
advertising I rented a beautiful apartment in an upscale neighborhood of
apartment in an upscale neighborhood of
apartment in an upscale neighborhood of Columbus Ohio and I had a pretty nice
Columbus Ohio and I had a pretty nice
Columbus Ohio and I had a pretty nice car with fancy leather seats and a few
car with fancy leather seats and a few
car with fancy leather seats and a few bells and whistles by society’s
bells and whistles by society’s
bells and whistles by society’s standards the next steps for a
standards the next steps for a
standards the next steps for a middle-class Midwestern white 28 year
middle-class Midwestern white 28 year
middle-class Midwestern white 28 year old girl was to get married buy a house
old girl was to get married buy a house
old girl was to get married buy a house and start having babies with no marriage
and start having babies with no marriage
and start having babies with no marriage prospects on the line I decided to skip
prospects on the line I decided to skip
prospects on the line I decided to skip the
the
the part and jump straight into researching
part and jump straight into researching
part and jump straight into researching the housing market but here was my
the housing market but here was my
the housing market but here was my dilemma I am a millennial the millennial
dilemma I am a millennial the millennial
dilemma I am a millennial the millennial generation is quoted to be the largest
generation is quoted to be the largest
generation is quoted to be the largest generation in US history we are the most
generation in US history we are the most
generation in US history we are the most educated and yet the most underpaid in
educated and yet the most underpaid in
educated and yet the most underpaid in comparison to education and productivity
comparison to education and productivity
comparison to education and productivity we are also the most in debt generation
we are also the most in debt generation
we are also the most in debt generation with most of that debt being due to
with most of that debt being due to
with most of that debt being due to student loans all that to say that even
student loans all that to say that even
student loans all that to say that even though I was making a decent income for
though I was making a decent income for
though I was making a decent income for my age and time spent in my career I was
my age and time spent in my career I was
my age and time spent in my career I was still only making enough to keep up with
still only making enough to keep up with
still only making enough to keep up with my monthly bills and my student loan
my monthly bills and my student loan
my monthly bills and my student loan payments at the same time the price tags
payments at the same time the price tags
payments at the same time the price tags on houses have been rising rapidly and
on houses have been rising rapidly and
on houses have been rising rapidly and rent was rising at an even more
rent was rising at an even more
rent was rising at an even more accelerated rate the availability of
accelerated rate the availability of
accelerated rate the availability of starter homes was dipping which meant
starter homes was dipping which meant
starter homes was dipping which meant that larger more elaborate and more
that larger more elaborate and more
that larger more elaborate and more expensive homes dominated the market
expensive homes dominated the market
expensive homes dominated the market when I sat down to look at my disposable
when I sat down to look at my disposable
when I sat down to look at my disposable income to see how much I could save each
income to see how much I could save each
income to see how much I could save each month I realized it was gonna take me
month I realized it was gonna take me
month I realized it was gonna take me anywhere between 10 to 16 years just to
anywhere between 10 to 16 years just to
anywhere between 10 to 16 years just to save up a small down payment on my own
save up a small down payment on my own
save up a small down payment on my own all this made the idea of purchasing
all this made the idea of purchasing
all this made the idea of purchasing homes seemed nearly impossible
homes seemed nearly impossible
homes seemed nearly impossible ironically around the same time I saw a
ironically around the same time I saw a
ironically around the same time I saw a different TEDx talk by two gentlemen who
different TEDx talk by two gentlemen who
different TEDx talk by two gentlemen who run a website called the minimalist calm
run a website called the minimalist calm
run a website called the minimalist calm if you’re unfamiliar with it I highly
if you’re unfamiliar with it I highly
if you’re unfamiliar with it I highly recommend checking it out their message
recommend checking it out their message
recommend checking it out their message absolutely changed my life and I believe
absolutely changed my life and I believe
absolutely changed my life and I believe it is critical to our existence in order
it is critical to our existence in order
it is critical to our existence in order for us to address some of the world’s
for us to address some of the world’s
for us to address some of the world’s largest current issues we must first
largest current issues we must first
largest current issues we must first address our compulsory consumption of
address our compulsory consumption of
address our compulsory consumption of material goods and resources no
material goods and resources no
material goods and resources no technological advancement will affect us
technological advancement will affect us
technological advancement will affect us more greatly than dealing with this
more greatly than dealing with this
more greatly than dealing with this behavior minimalism is the idea of
behavior minimalism is the idea of
behavior minimalism is the idea of learning how to live off of what you
learning how to live off of what you
learning how to live off of what you need instead of what you want it’s the
need instead of what you want it’s the
need instead of what you want it’s the idea that bigger is not always better
idea that bigger is not always better
idea that bigger is not always better and bigger is certainly not always
and bigger is certainly not always
and bigger is certainly not always necessary after investigating this
necessary after investigating this
necessary after investigating this minimalistic lifestyle and after gutting
minimalistic lifestyle and after gutting
minimalistic lifestyle and after gutting my house of all of my unused belongings
my house of all of my unused belongings
my house of all of my unused belongings I also began to research something
I also began to research something
I also began to research something called the tiny house movement now if
called the tiny house movement now if
called the tiny house movement now if you watch HGTV you are probably familiar
you watch HGTV you are probably familiar
you watch HGTV you are probably familiar with this one I thought that’s it if I
with this one I thought that’s it if I
with this one I thought that’s it if I can’t afford a traditional home and I
can’t afford a traditional home and I
can’t afford a traditional home and I don’t even need all that space anyways
don’t even need all that space anyways
don’t even need all that space anyways then I’ll just build a tiny house since
then I’ll just build a tiny house since
then I’ll just build a tiny house since you can build them for
you can build them for
you can build them for fraction of the cost unfortunately
fraction of the cost unfortunately
fraction of the cost unfortunately because of current zoning laws and city
because of current zoning laws and city
because of current zoning laws and city ordinances you are unable to put a tiny
ordinances you are unable to put a tiny
ordinances you are unable to put a tiny house inside the city limits of Columbus
house inside the city limits of Columbus
house inside the city limits of Columbus and this is true for most cities across
and this is true for most cities across
and this is true for most cities across the u.s. zoning lodges have not caught
the u.s. zoning lodges have not caught
the u.s. zoning lodges have not caught up with their current economic and
up with their current economic and
up with their current economic and population demands through my tiny house
population demands through my tiny house
population demands through my tiny house research however I stumbled across all
research however I stumbled across all
research however I stumbled across all sorts of people living in all sorts of
sorts of people living in all sorts of
sorts of people living in all sorts of structures some in RV’s and campers some
structures some in RV’s and campers some
structures some in RV’s and campers some in container homes earthships
in container homes earthships
in container homes earthships even some in cargo vans one morning
even some in cargo vans one morning
even some in cargo vans one morning sitting in my bedroom I looked out the
sitting in my bedroom I looked out the
sitting in my bedroom I looked out the back window to the alleyway where my
back window to the alleyway where my
back window to the alleyway where my 2004 Acura sedan set and I thought hmmm
2004 Acura sedan set and I thought hmmm
2004 Acura sedan set and I thought hmmm I wonder if I could fit for the next two
I wonder if I could fit for the next two
I wonder if I could fit for the next two months I planned out every detail of how
months I planned out every detail of how
months I planned out every detail of how I could live out of my tiny car as my
I could live out of my tiny car as my
I could live out of my tiny car as my primary residence I had a plan for food
primary residence I had a plan for food
primary residence I had a plan for food showering privacy security with only a
showering privacy security with only a
showering privacy security with only a couple months left on my lease it was
couple months left on my lease it was
couple months left on my lease it was now or never so I donated the rest of my
now or never so I donated the rest of my
now or never so I donated the rest of my belongings and moved into my car August
belongings and moved into my car August
belongings and moved into my car August of 2015 I told myself I would live this
of 2015 I told myself I would live this
of 2015 I told myself I would live this way for at least a year and in that year
way for at least a year and in that year
way for at least a year and in that year I was completely transformed I couldn’t
I was completely transformed I couldn’t
I was completely transformed I couldn’t tell you in just one sitting everything
tell you in just one sitting everything
tell you in just one sitting everything that I learned about how choosing such a
that I learned about how choosing such a
that I learned about how choosing such a small minimal lifestyle would change how
small minimal lifestyle would change how
small minimal lifestyle would change how I spent my time how I invested in my
I spent my time how I invested in my
I spent my time how I invested in my relationships or how my identity was no
relationships or how my identity was no
relationships or how my identity was no longer tied to material possessions or
longer tied to material possessions or
longer tied to material possessions or the idea of a beautiful home perhaps the
the idea of a beautiful home perhaps the
the idea of a beautiful home perhaps the most tangible benefit I could point out
most tangible benefit I could point out
most tangible benefit I could point out for you was that because I had
for you was that because I had
for you was that because I had eliminated my largest expenses being
eliminated my largest expenses being
eliminated my largest expenses being rent and utilities I was able to pay off
rent and utilities I was able to pay off
rent and utilities I was able to pay off $42,000 of student loan debt in full
$42,000 of student loan debt in full
$42,000 of student loan debt in full leaving me completely debt-free
debt is like a prison sentence and
debt is like a prison sentence and suddenly it was just gone
suddenly it was just gone
suddenly it was just gone since then I’ve tried living in an
since then I’ve tried living in an
since then I’ve tried living in an apartment again with a roommate but
apartment again with a roommate but
apartment again with a roommate but honestly I just miss living so simply I
honestly I just miss living so simply I
honestly I just miss living so simply I missed the freedom of it and having more
missed the freedom of it and having more
missed the freedom of it and having more time to spend with friends and family
time to spend with friends and family
time to spend with friends and family and doing the things that I love to do
and doing the things that I love to do
and doing the things that I love to do flash forward to January of this year
flash forward to January of this year
flash forward to January of this year 2017 I flew down to Florida and bought
2017 I flew down to Florida and bought
2017 I flew down to Florida and bought myself a big white cargo van
myself a big white cargo van
myself a big white cargo van I named her Marta after my grandmother
I named her Marta after my grandmother
I named her Marta after my grandmother and I began the process of converting
and I began the process of converting
and I began the process of converting her into a tiny house on wheels
her into a tiny house on wheels
her into a tiny house on wheels you see I might not be able to put a
you see I might not be able to put a
you see I might not be able to put a tiny house on a plot of land inside the
tiny house on a plot of land inside the
tiny house on a plot of land inside the city limits but I can park my big white
city limits but I can park my big white
city limits but I can park my big white van anywhere I like as long as you don’t
van anywhere I like as long as you don’t
van anywhere I like as long as you don’t know there’s a tiny house inside of it
so this this is the story of my personal
so this this is the story of my personal rebellion in our American society you’re
rebellion in our American society you’re
rebellion in our American society you’re supposed to want to live in a big fancy
supposed to want to live in a big fancy
supposed to want to live in a big fancy house it’s an icon of the American Dream
house it’s an icon of the American Dream
house it’s an icon of the American Dream you’re supposed to want more space not
you’re supposed to want more space not
you’re supposed to want more space not less and too many what I’m doing looks
less and too many what I’m doing looks
less and too many what I’m doing looks more like going backwards not forwards
more like going backwards not forwards
more like going backwards not forwards but I just don’t see it that way for me
but I just don’t see it that way for me
but I just don’t see it that way for me to choose to live any other way than the
to choose to live any other way than the
to choose to live any other way than the way I am now
way I am now
way I am now would be a false version of myself
would be a false version of myself
would be a false version of myself instead I’m choosing to stand in my own
instead I’m choosing to stand in my own
instead I’m choosing to stand in my own truth and live out of that place as I
truth and live out of that place as I
truth and live out of that place as I was preparing for this talk and
was preparing for this talk and
was preparing for this talk and processing with my mother you see I’m a
processing with my mother you see I’m a
processing with my mother you see I’m a verbal processor and if you have one of
verbal processor and if you have one of
verbal processor and if you have one of those in your family then you know just
those in your family then you know just
those in your family then you know just how many hours you end up spending on
how many hours you end up spending on
how many hours you end up spending on the phone we’re talking about this idea
the phone we’re talking about this idea
the phone we’re talking about this idea of rebellion and she begins to recall
of rebellion and she begins to recall
of rebellion and she begins to recall all the examples of how I had rebelled
all the examples of how I had rebelled
all the examples of how I had rebelled against people’s expectations of me over
against people’s expectations of me over
against people’s expectations of me over my whole life it was honestly surprised
my whole life it was honestly surprised
my whole life it was honestly surprised there were so many I guess if I’m an
there were so many I guess if I’m an
there were so many I guess if I’m an expert at anything then I’m an expert at
expert at anything then I’m an expert at
expert at anything then I’m an expert at being rebellious which is great I’m sure
being rebellious which is great I’m sure
being rebellious which is great I’m sure that’ll look wonderful on a resume
that’ll look wonderful on a resume
that’ll look wonderful on a resume someday it begs the question though how
someday it begs the question though how
someday it begs the question though how did I get this way for those who know my
did I get this way for those who know my
did I get this way for those who know my family well they might think that it was
family well they might think that it was
family well they might think that it was genetic or woven into my DNA because
genetic or woven into my DNA because
genetic or woven into my DNA because both my mother and my grandmother were
both my mother and my grandmother were
both my mother and my grandmother were this way the ironic part though is that
this way the ironic part though is that
this way the ironic part though is that all three of us were born
all three of us were born
all three of us were born shy and very much carrying what people
shy and very much carrying what people
shy and very much carrying what people thought of us when my favorite stories
thought of us when my favorite stories
thought of us when my favorite stories of my mom when she was little was when
of my mom when she was little was when
of my mom when she was little was when she entered elementary school for the
she entered elementary school for the
she entered elementary school for the first time on the very first day
first time on the very first day
first time on the very first day somebody new simply asked her her name
somebody new simply asked her her name
somebody new simply asked her her name her response was to break out in
her response was to break out in
her response was to break out in hysterical tears and run away so no I
hysterical tears and run away so no I
hysterical tears and run away so no I don’t think we were born with some extra
don’t think we were born with some extra
don’t think we were born with some extra measure of courage but this is what I
measure of courage but this is what I
measure of courage but this is what I believe happened this rebellious
believe happened this rebellious
believe happened this rebellious behavior was first learned and then it
behavior was first learned and then it
behavior was first learned and then it was taught it came through in the
was taught it came through in the
was taught it came through in the parenting part and was passed down
parenting part and was passed down
parenting part and was passed down through the women in my family like a
through the women in my family like a
through the women in my family like a legacy and it all hinged on one very
legacy and it all hinged on one very
legacy and it all hinged on one very important question that we were not only
important question that we were not only
important question that we were not only allowed to ask but encouraged to ask and
allowed to ask but encouraged to ask and
allowed to ask but encouraged to ask and that question is why most of us probably
that question is why most of us probably
that question is why most of us probably grew up in a household where our parents
grew up in a household where our parents
grew up in a household where our parents justified their authority with the
justified their authority with the
justified their authority with the phrase because I said so fewer of us
phrase because I said so fewer of us
phrase because I said so fewer of us probably grew up with parents who walked
probably grew up with parents who walked
probably grew up with parents who walked us through their decision-making process
us through their decision-making process
us through their decision-making process and maybe even at times asked us for her
and maybe even at times asked us for her
and maybe even at times asked us for her input
input
input I had the lucky situation of growing up
I had the lucky situation of growing up
I had the lucky situation of growing up with both my father was only interested
with both my father was only interested
with both my father was only interested in teaching me how to obey while my
in teaching me how to obey while my
in teaching me how to obey while my mother was more interested in teaching
mother was more interested in teaching
mother was more interested in teaching me how to think and how to problem-solve
me how to think and how to problem-solve
me how to think and how to problem-solve she left room for me to ask the question
she left room for me to ask the question
she left room for me to ask the question why now I’m not advocating that children
why now I’m not advocating that children
why now I’m not advocating that children don’t need boundaries especially when it
don’t need boundaries especially when it
don’t need boundaries especially when it comes to their safety and learning some
comes to their safety and learning some
comes to their safety and learning some of the harder lessons like sharing and
of the harder lessons like sharing and
of the harder lessons like sharing and eating vegetables what I am saying
eating vegetables what I am saying
eating vegetables what I am saying though is that they need to be able to
though is that they need to be able to
though is that they need to be able to participate in the dialogue I’m not a
participate in the dialogue I’m not a
participate in the dialogue I’m not a parent and so I can’t speak with
parent and so I can’t speak with
parent and so I can’t speak with certainty on parenting styles but I was
certainty on parenting styles but I was
certainty on parenting styles but I was once a shy people-pleasing child and I
once a shy people-pleasing child and I
once a shy people-pleasing child and I can speak with certainty on how I became
can speak with certainty on how I became
can speak with certainty on how I became the right kind of rebellious how I
the right kind of rebellious how I
the right kind of rebellious how I learned to have courage and to write my
learned to have courage and to write my
learned to have courage and to write my own story even if it looks a little
own story even if it looks a little
own story even if it looks a little different one of the largest pieces of
different one of the largest pieces of
different one of the largest pieces of that transition was growing up with the
that transition was growing up with the
that transition was growing up with the freedom to question my own existence and
freedom to question my own existence and
freedom to question my own existence and to question the expectations put on me
to question the expectations put on me
to question the expectations put on me now given my story of moving into and
now given my story of moving into and
now given my story of moving into and living out of a vehicle and choosing a
living out of a vehicle and choosing a
living out of a vehicle and choosing a smaller more minimalistic lifestyle I
smaller more minimalistic lifestyle I
smaller more minimalistic lifestyle I could have simply talked to you about
could have simply talked to you about
could have simply talked to you about minimalism I could have talked to you
minimalism I could have talked to you
minimalism I could have talked to you about America’s consumption problem and
about America’s consumption problem and
about America’s consumption problem and how if the whole world consumed the way
how if the whole world consumed the way
how if the whole world consumed the way Amer
Amer
Amer conceal we need three to five more
conceal we need three to five more
conceal we need three to five more Earth’s just to sustain us I could have
Earth’s just to sustain us I could have
Earth’s just to sustain us I could have talked to you about how exclusive the
talked to you about how exclusive the
talked to you about how exclusive the housing market is becoming and that tiny
housing market is becoming and that tiny
housing market is becoming and that tiny houses are just one viable solution or
houses are just one viable solution or
houses are just one viable solution or we could have talked about the huge
we could have talked about the huge
we could have talked about the huge environmental cost behind the everyday
environmental cost behind the everyday
environmental cost behind the everyday luxuries that we take for granted
luxuries that we take for granted
luxuries that we take for granted however there are plenty of fabulous Ted
however there are plenty of fabulous Ted
however there are plenty of fabulous Ted and TEDx talks out there on all these
and TEDx talks out there on all these
and TEDx talks out there on all these topics and I don’t need to repeat them
topics and I don’t need to repeat them
topics and I don’t need to repeat them here what good does it do for us to be
here what good does it do for us to be
here what good does it do for us to be educated on the world’s issues if we do
educated on the world’s issues if we do
educated on the world’s issues if we do not value the act of rebellion in our
not value the act of rebellion in our
not value the act of rebellion in our own lives
own lives
own lives rebellion is the very first step in any
rebellion is the very first step in any
rebellion is the very first step in any innovation or change whether it be on a
innovation or change whether it be on a
innovation or change whether it be on a global scale or personal one now it is
global scale or personal one now it is
global scale or personal one now it is easy to value rebellion in someone
easy to value rebellion in someone
easy to value rebellion in someone else’s life to look on from afar and
else’s life to look on from afar and
else’s life to look on from afar and applaud maybe even Envy those who are
applaud maybe even Envy those who are
applaud maybe even Envy those who are willing to make some waves
willing to make some waves
willing to make some waves it is indeed much more difficult to take
it is indeed much more difficult to take
it is indeed much more difficult to take that leap ourselves because then we
that leap ourselves because then we
that leap ourselves because then we accept the risk of being judged by our
accept the risk of being judged by our
accept the risk of being judged by our peers and I can’t stand here and tell
peers and I can’t stand here and tell
peers and I can’t stand here and tell you that that fear isn’t at all valid
you that that fear isn’t at all valid
you that that fear isn’t at all valid when I first decided to do this whole
when I first decided to do this whole
when I first decided to do this whole living in my car thing I started a
living in my car thing I started a
living in my car thing I started a YouTube channel to keep friends and
YouTube channel to keep friends and
YouTube channel to keep friends and family updated on the experience if
family updated on the experience if
family updated on the experience if you’re interested you can find it easily
you’re interested you can find it easily
you’re interested you can find it easily just by typing my name into the youtube
just by typing my name into the youtube
just by typing my name into the youtube search bar but if you go back to some of
search bar but if you go back to some of
search bar but if you go back to some of my very first posts you will find one
my very first posts you will find one
my very first posts you will find one video that’s quite somber and melancholy
video that’s quite somber and melancholy
video that’s quite somber and melancholy I posted that video the very first night
I posted that video the very first night
I posted that video the very first night that I publicly told anyone what I was
that I publicly told anyone what I was
that I publicly told anyone what I was planning on doing I did I had decided to
planning on doing I did I had decided to
planning on doing I did I had decided to tell a small group of co-workers and I
tell a small group of co-workers and I
tell a small group of co-workers and I was surprised to find that for the rest
was surprised to find that for the rest
was surprised to find that for the rest of the evening
of the evening
of the evening I was the punchline of every joke and
I was the punchline of every joke and
I was the punchline of every joke and they made it quite clear that they
they made it quite clear that they
they made it quite clear that they thought I was absolutely ridiculous I
thought I was absolutely ridiculous I
thought I was absolutely ridiculous I came home feeling utterly deflated and
came home feeling utterly deflated and
came home feeling utterly deflated and honestly a little pathetic here’s what I
honestly a little pathetic here’s what I
honestly a little pathetic here’s what I can say on the other side of it though
can say on the other side of it though
can say on the other side of it though the people who are still in my life
the people who are still in my life
the people who are still in my life those who are unconditionally in my
those who are unconditionally in my
those who are unconditionally in my corner those people get to do life with
corner those people get to do life with
corner those people get to do life with the real authentic version of Ilia not
the real authentic version of Ilia not
the real authentic version of Ilia not the socially constructed version not the
the socially constructed version not the
the socially constructed version not the surface version and not the well-behaved
surface version and not the well-behaved
surface version and not the well-behaved you know they get to know me way more
you know they get to know me way more
you know they get to know me way more deeply than had I chosen a life dictated
deeply than had I chosen a life dictated
deeply than had I chosen a life dictated by social norms so what is your personal
by social norms so what is your personal
by social norms so what is your personal rebellion what choices are you making
rebellion what choices are you making
rebellion what choices are you making that you don’t really want to make but
that you don’t really want to make but
that you don’t really want to make but you are simply because you’ve been told
you are simply because you’ve been told
you are simply because you’ve been told you ought to what is it that you
you ought to what is it that you
you ought to what is it that you desperately want to do but you’re afraid
desperately want to do but you’re afraid
desperately want to do but you’re afraid to do it only because you’re afraid that
to do it only because you’re afraid that
to do it only because you’re afraid that your friends and family might think
your friends and family might think
your friends and family might think you’re a bit odd it usually starts out
you’re a bit odd it usually starts out
you’re a bit odd it usually starts out quietly as a small rustling of the
quietly as a small rustling of the
quietly as a small rustling of the leaves in the back of your heart it
leaves in the back of your heart it
leaves in the back of your heart it starts out as a crazy idea it’s easy to
starts out as a crazy idea it’s easy to
starts out as a crazy idea it’s easy to dismiss but it doesn’t really ever go
dismiss but it doesn’t really ever go
dismiss but it doesn’t really ever go away if we choose not to dismiss it if
away if we choose not to dismiss it if
away if we choose not to dismiss it if we choose to embrace it if we are
we choose to embrace it if we are
we choose to embrace it if we are willing to be just a little rebellious
willing to be just a little rebellious
willing to be just a little rebellious it could change our lives our
it could change our lives our
it could change our lives our communities a whole world it could even
communities a whole world it could even
communities a whole world it could even change the depth of our everyday
change the depth of our everyday
change the depth of our everyday relationships and I hope you’ll join me
relationships and I hope you’ll join me
relationships and I hope you’ll join me thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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