What do you think of when you think of a politician? | Chlöe Swarbrick | TEDxVUW

what do you think of when you think of a

what do you think of when you think of a politician just reflect on it most of

politician just reflect on it most of

politician just reflect on it most of the time you’re probably not thinking of

the time you’re probably not thinking of

the time you’re probably not thinking of somebody who looks like me you think of

somebody who looks like me you think of

somebody who looks like me you think of a stereotype basically an older white

a stereotype basically an older white

a stereotype basically an older white dude in a suit there you go there he is

dude in a suit there you go there he is

dude in a suit there you go there he is you’ve seen him on the front cover of

you’ve seen him on the front cover of

you’ve seen him on the front cover of newspapers you know on the 6 o’clock

newspapers you know on the 6 o’clock

newspapers you know on the 6 o’clock news and scattered around your

news and scattered around your

news and scattered around your neighborhood his face on hoardings and

neighborhood his face on hoardings and

neighborhood his face on hoardings and the lead-up to election time I really

the lead-up to election time I really

the lead-up to election time I really trust him you don’t really know him but

trust him you don’t really know him but

trust him you don’t really know him but somebody’s got to do the job and the guy

somebody’s got to do the job and the guy

somebody’s got to do the job and the guy seems like he’s kind of the lesser of

seems like he’s kind of the lesser of

seems like he’s kind of the lesser of the evils and hick you might even have a

the evils and hick you might even have a

the evils and hick you might even have a beer with him maybe so statistics New

beer with him maybe so statistics New

beer with him maybe so statistics New Zealand data demonstrates that less than

Zealand data demonstrates that less than

Zealand data demonstrates that less than half of us trust government institutions

half of us trust government institutions

half of us trust government institutions but what about politicians themselves

but what about politicians themselves

but what about politicians themselves well the situation is actually much more

well the situation is actually much more

well the situation is actually much more dire so a rather ad-hoc survey the

dire so a rather ad-hoc survey the

dire so a rather ad-hoc survey the selection thus general election which

selection thus general election which

selection thus general election which we’ve all just had and hopefully

we’ve all just had and hopefully

we’ve all just had and hopefully participation demonstrators that only

participation demonstrators that only

participation demonstrators that only one in every 15 user lenders trust

one in every 15 user lenders trust

one in every 15 user lenders trust politicians themselves why is that I

politicians themselves why is that I

politicians themselves why is that I mean we voted for them men elected them

mean we voted for them men elected them

mean we voted for them men elected them didn’t we well I think it’s got a lot to

didn’t we well I think it’s got a lot to

didn’t we well I think it’s got a lot to do with who we think our politicians are

do with who we think our politicians are

do with who we think our politicians are and how we see ourselves not just in

and how we see ourselves not just in

and how we see ourselves not just in relation to them but in relation to the

relation to them but in relation to the

relation to them but in relation to the rest of society basically it all boils

rest of society basically it all boils

rest of society basically it all boils down to trust and this is what I

down to trust and this is what I

down to trust and this is what I scientifically call the gap between

scientifically call the gap between

scientifically call the gap between people and politics so that gap is the

people and politics so that gap is the

people and politics so that gap is the reason why I honestly ran for office I

reason why I honestly ran for office I

reason why I honestly ran for office I couldn’t see myself my friends my family

couldn’t see myself my friends my family

couldn’t see myself my friends my family my classmates my co-workers in politics

my classmates my co-workers in politics

my classmates my co-workers in politics it felt performative not substantive it

it felt performative not substantive it

it felt performative not substantive it felt foreign not representative it kind

felt foreign not representative it kind

felt foreign not representative it kind of just felt like a maintenance of the

of just felt like a maintenance of the

of just felt like a maintenance of the way that things are so how does that

way that things are so how does that

way that things are so how does that work

work

work right when when we

right when when we

right when when we she licked people well it turns out that

she licked people well it turns out that

she licked people well it turns out that hundreds of thousands of us actually

hundreds of thousands of us actually

hundreds of thousands of us actually didn’t turn out and elect our

didn’t turn out and elect our

didn’t turn out and elect our politicians this general election 20% of

politicians this general election 20% of

politicians this general election 20% of New Zealand’s population decided not to

New Zealand’s population decided not to

New Zealand’s population decided not to vote how does that work how are we not

vote how does that work how are we not

vote how does that work how are we not taking to the streets at the moment well

taking to the streets at the moment well

taking to the streets at the moment well I guess that’s because you know there’s

I guess that’s because you know there’s

I guess that’s because you know there’s no other real explanation for it except

no other real explanation for it except

no other real explanation for it except that we’re in a bit of a lull for some

that we’re in a bit of a lull for some

that we’re in a bit of a lull for some reason we don’t expect and cannot

reason we don’t expect and cannot

reason we don’t expect and cannot foresee change coming out of an

foresee change coming out of an

foresee change coming out of an institution so far removed from our

institution so far removed from our

institution so far removed from our daily lives so entrenched and

daily lives so entrenched and

daily lives so entrenched and bureaucratic jargon and technocratic

bureaucratic jargon and technocratic

bureaucratic jargon and technocratic woful especially when our communities

woful especially when our communities

woful especially when our communities are fragmented at an historic scale so

are fragmented at an historic scale so

are fragmented at an historic scale so this is me running for the Auckland

this is me running for the Auckland

this is me running for the Auckland mayoralty last year kind of standing out

mayoralty last year kind of standing out

mayoralty last year kind of standing out like a sore thumb amongst the other more

like a sore thumb amongst the other more

like a sore thumb amongst the other more stereotypical politicians that I alluded

stereotypical politicians that I alluded

stereotypical politicians that I alluded to earlier a lot of people came out of

to earlier a lot of people came out of

to earlier a lot of people came out of the woodwork to give me advice when I

the woodwork to give me advice when I

the woodwork to give me advice when I first put myself forward for election

first put myself forward for election

first put myself forward for election many people told me that I should just

many people told me that I should just

many people told me that I should just be older because that I should wait a

be older because that I should wait a

be older because that I should wait a little while you know pick up some of

little while you know pick up some of

little while you know pick up some of that magical life experience juju other

that magical life experience juju other

that magical life experience juju other people told me that I had to smile more

people told me that I had to smile more

people told me that I had to smile more I was basically being asked to become a

I was basically being asked to become a

I was basically being asked to become a politician to shave off my edges dull

politician to shave off my edges dull

politician to shave off my edges dull down the idealism and turn back the

down the idealism and turn back the

down the idealism and turn back the desire for change by virtue of my age

desire for change by virtue of my age

desire for change by virtue of my age and my gender I cannot be the

and my gender I cannot be the

and my gender I cannot be the stereotypical politician but as I’ve

stereotypical politician but as I’ve

stereotypical politician but as I’ve already shown research kind of reflects

already shown research kind of reflects

already shown research kind of reflects that we kind of hate that guy we we

that we kind of hate that guy we we

that we kind of hate that guy we we don’t trust them at the very least so

don’t trust them at the very least so

don’t trust them at the very least so why does change make us so uncomfortable

why does change make us so uncomfortable

why does change make us so uncomfortable well I’ve got a theory and it’s that I

well I’ve got a theory and it’s that I

well I’ve got a theory and it’s that I think that change might remind us a

think that change might remind us a

think that change might remind us a little bit too much of ourselves you see

little bit too much of ourselves you see

little bit too much of ourselves you see if I can be a politician then your

if I can be a politician then your

if I can be a politician then your grandma can be too if I can be a

grandma can be too if I can be a

grandma can be too if I can be a politician then the local Deary owner

politician then the local Deary owner

politician then the local Deary owner your geography teacher you

your geography teacher you

your geography teacher you bus driver your little sister can be

bus driver your little sister can be

bus driver your little sister can be politicians and they have every right to

politicians and they have every right to

politicians and they have every right to be but to accept that is to shatter

be but to accept that is to shatter

be but to accept that is to shatter assumptions and give up the illusion

assumptions and give up the illusion

assumptions and give up the illusion that politics is something done to us

that politics is something done to us

that politics is something done to us outside of us instead of for us or with

outside of us instead of for us or with

outside of us instead of for us or with us to accept that all of us could be and

us to accept that all of us could be and

us to accept that all of us could be and perhaps should be politicians is to

perhaps should be politicians is to

perhaps should be politicians is to accept accountability for the role that

accept accountability for the role that

accept accountability for the role that any and all of us can play in society so

any and all of us can play in society so

any and all of us can play in society so a next question is what do you think of

a next question is what do you think of

a next question is what do you think of when you think of a citizen probably not

when you think of a citizen probably not

when you think of a citizen probably not thinking of yourself you may think of

thinking of yourself you may think of

thinking of yourself you may think of you know a businessman filing as taxes

you know a businessman filing as taxes

you know a businessman filing as taxes or a public servant or perhaps an

or a public servant or perhaps an

or a public servant or perhaps an activist or a protester so why don’t we

activist or a protester so why don’t we

activist or a protester so why don’t we think of ourselves because citizenship

think of ourselves because citizenship

think of ourselves because citizenship is primary and a legal sense but in a

is primary and a legal sense but in a

is primary and a legal sense but in a social sense it is if anything a

social sense it is if anything a

social sense it is if anything a secondary consideration its subservient

secondary consideration its subservient

secondary consideration its subservient to our individuality it’s unusual for us

to our individuality it’s unusual for us

to our individuality it’s unusual for us to think of ourselves in such a light

to think of ourselves in such a light

to think of ourselves in such a light but all politicians are citizens first

but all politicians are citizens first

but all politicians are citizens first and all of us are actually born citizens

and all of us are actually born citizens

and all of us are actually born citizens look around you you can actually look

look around you you can actually look

look around you you can actually look around you or you can choose not to

around you or you can choose not to

around you or you can choose not to that’s fine as told this is supposed to

that’s fine as told this is supposed to

that’s fine as told this is supposed to be interactive I get you all blood

be interactive I get you all blood

be interactive I get you all blood flowing last presentation you know how

flowing last presentation you know how

flowing last presentation you know how does so that’s us all of us are citizens

does so that’s us all of us are citizens

does so that’s us all of us are citizens we’re the people who make up society

we’re the people who make up society

we’re the people who make up society with the people from whom politicians

with the people from whom politicians

with the people from whom politicians are made in to whom politicians are

are made in to whom politicians are

are made in to whom politicians are supposed to be accountable so that’s the

supposed to be accountable so that’s the

supposed to be accountable so that’s the apparent paradox right we get to choose

apparent paradox right we get to choose

apparent paradox right we get to choose our politicians but for some reason we

our politicians but for some reason we

our politicians but for some reason we don’t trust them so surely we would

don’t trust them so surely we would

don’t trust them so surely we would actually just be choosing the people

actually just be choosing the people

actually just be choosing the people from among us who are the most

from among us who are the most

from among us who are the most trustworthy but what is the gauge of

trustworthy but what is the gauge of

trustworthy but what is the gauge of trust

trust

trust what is it that we are actually trusting

what is it that we are actually trusting

what is it that we are actually trusting our politicians for well that’s another

our politicians for well that’s another

our politicians for well that’s another point of contention and I’d argue a

point of contention and I’d argue a

point of contention and I’d argue a symptom of the same issue its 2017 and

symptom of the same issue its 2017 and

symptom of the same issue its 2017 and we’re kind of used to talking past each

we’re kind of used to talking past each

we’re kind of used to talking past each other at this point

other at this point

other at this point we have kind of given up explaining to

we have kind of given up explaining to

we have kind of given up explaining to each other and we’ve all got the

each other and we’ve all got the

each other and we’ve all got the Internet and that automatically curates

Internet and that automatically curates

Internet and that automatically curates proof that I am right and you are wrong

proof that I am right and you are wrong

proof that I am right and you are wrong it’s a problem that’s compounded by the

it’s a problem that’s compounded by the

it’s a problem that’s compounded by the increasing precariousness of modern life

increasing precariousness of modern life

increasing precariousness of modern life a home and a job and not things to be

a home and a job and not things to be

a home and a job and not things to be taken for granted

taken for granted

taken for granted in the modern first world we’ve got the

in the modern first world we’ve got the

in the modern first world we’ve got the gig economy and record low rates of home

gig economy and record low rates of home

gig economy and record low rates of home ownership without the security of rental

ownership without the security of rental

ownership without the security of rental of rental protection what that means is

of rental protection what that means is

of rental protection what that means is that we are increasingly unlikely to

that we are increasingly unlikely to

that we are increasingly unlikely to know our neighbors and our co-workers we

know our neighbors and our co-workers we

know our neighbors and our co-workers we are increasingly unlikely to form

are increasingly unlikely to form

are increasingly unlikely to form community so this is basically the

community so this is basically the

community so this is basically the problem that we’ve got right after

problem that we’ve got right after

problem that we’ve got right after decades of reform and economic and

decades of reform and economic and

decades of reform and economic and social sectors we’ve become increasingly

social sectors we’ve become increasingly

social sectors we’ve become increasingly encouraged to just look after ourselves

encouraged to just look after ourselves

encouraged to just look after ourselves the prevailing mantra has become one of

the prevailing mantra has become one of

the prevailing mantra has become one of personal responsibility and that’s fine

personal responsibility and that’s fine

personal responsibility and that’s fine you know personal responsibility it’s

you know personal responsibility it’s

you know personal responsibility it’s important but it cannot come at the

important but it cannot come at the

important but it cannot come at the expense of political responsibility

expense of political responsibility

expense of political responsibility personal responsibility cannot solve the

personal responsibility cannot solve the

personal responsibility cannot solve the biggest issues of our time those issues

biggest issues of our time those issues

biggest issues of our time those issues they look like climate change

they look like climate change

they look like climate change they look like record rates of wealth

they look like record rates of wealth

they look like record rates of wealth inequality in this country at home they

inequality in this country at home they

inequality in this country at home they look like the refugee crisis

look like the refugee crisis

look like the refugee crisis they look like wars seemingly raging

they look like wars seemingly raging

they look like wars seemingly raging eternally overseas these are problems

eternally overseas these are problems

eternally overseas these are problems there as individuals are far too big to

there as individuals are far too big to

there as individuals are far too big to comprehend they’re arguably the very

comprehend they’re arguably the very

comprehend they’re arguably the very reason that we formulated civil society

reason that we formulated civil society

reason that we formulated civil society and accepted democracy as a mess

and accepted democracy as a mess

and accepted democracy as a mess convenient decision-making tool civil

convenient decision-making tool civil

convenient decision-making tool civil society by the way and just for the

society by the way and just for the

society by the way and just for the record is defined

record is defined

record is defined a society considered as a community of

a society considered as a community of

a society considered as a community of citizens linked by common interest and

citizens linked by common interest and

citizens linked by common interest and collective activity unbridled

collective activity unbridled

collective activity unbridled self-interest is then the antithesis to

self-interest is then the antithesis to

self-interest is then the antithesis to civil society time and again research

civil society time and again research

civil society time and again research has shown that when we expect other

has shown that when we expect other

has shown that when we expect other people to act in self-interest it gives

people to act in self-interest it gives

people to act in self-interest it gives us an excuse to do so basically we

us an excuse to do so basically we

us an excuse to do so basically we behave badly when we think other people

behave badly when we think other people

behave badly when we think other people will this kind of feedback loop is

will this kind of feedback loop is

will this kind of feedback loop is terrible it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy

terrible it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy

terrible it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy and are hiding to nowhere so what we

and are hiding to nowhere so what we

and are hiding to nowhere so what we need is a fuse breaker and what I’m

need is a fuse breaker and what I’m

need is a fuse breaker and what I’m reminded of is George Orwell’s kind of

reminded of is George Orwell’s kind of

reminded of is George Orwell’s kind of resounding thought which i think is

resounding thought which i think is

resounding thought which i think is particularly important at a time of fake

particularly important at a time of fake

particularly important at a time of fake news and alternative facts in a time of

news and alternative facts in a time of

news and alternative facts in a time of universal deceit telling the truth

universal deceit telling the truth

universal deceit telling the truth feels like a revolutionary act so where

feels like a revolutionary act so where

feels like a revolutionary act so where are we going and how do we get things

are we going and how do we get things

are we going and how do we get things back on track well let me tell you I’m a

back on track well let me tell you I’m a

back on track well let me tell you I’m a philosophy nerd for those who may not

philosophy nerd for those who may not

philosophy nerd for those who may not know that was something which was

know that was something which was

know that was something which was neglected from my biography but I’m a

neglected from my biography but I’m a

neglected from my biography but I’m a big fan of this philosopher John Rawls

big fan of this philosopher John Rawls

big fan of this philosopher John Rawls he had this theory called the veil of

he had this theory called the veil of

he had this theory called the veil of ignorance it’s basically this thought

ignorance it’s basically this thought

ignorance it’s basically this thought experiment where you try and design a

experiment where you try and design a

experiment where you try and design a society from scratch but the hitch is

society from scratch but the hitch is

society from scratch but the hitch is that you don’t know who or where you

that you don’t know who or where you

that you don’t know who or where you will be placed in that society the

will be placed in that society the

will be placed in that society the argument goes that most of us will end

argument goes that most of us will end

argument goes that most of us will end up designing a society with a position

up designing a society with a position

up designing a society with a position of the person who is in the worst lowest

of the person who is in the worst lowest

of the person who is in the worst lowest position they are still living a life

position they are still living a life

position they are still living a life that is not just livable but ultimately

that is not just livable but ultimately

that is not just livable but ultimately meaningful there is designing a society

meaningful there is designing a society

meaningful there is designing a society from the position of the common good

from the position of the common good

from the position of the common good there is what I would argue as how

there is what I would argue as how

there is what I would argue as how politicians should design legislation

politicians should design legislation

politicians should design legislation for civic society but we have to demand

for civic society but we have to demand

for civic society but we have to demand and expect that they do that we have to

and expect that they do that we have to

and expect that they do that we have to trust them to do it and be mad as hell

trust them to do it and be mad as hell

trust them to do it and be mad as hell if they don’t to the point that

if they don’t to the point that

if they don’t to the point that vote them out or stand ourselves we have

vote them out or stand ourselves we have

vote them out or stand ourselves we have to trust other citizens it can no longer

to trust other citizens it can no longer

to trust other citizens it can no longer be about you versus me it has got to be

be about you versus me it has got to be

be about you versus me it has got to be about us

about us

about us so an example of how that trust won’t

so an example of how that trust won’t

so an example of how that trust won’t come easy is I think best evidenced by

come easy is I think best evidenced by

come easy is I think best evidenced by the much mythologized and much

the much mythologized and much

the much mythologized and much talked-about youthquake from this year’s

talked-about youthquake from this year’s

talked-about youthquake from this year’s general election which didn’t really

general election which didn’t really

general election which didn’t really seem to make that much of an appearance

seem to make that much of an appearance

seem to make that much of an appearance cliche tells us that Trust takes an age

cliche tells us that Trust takes an age

cliche tells us that Trust takes an age to build a moment to break and a

to build a moment to break and a

to build a moment to break and a lifetime to repair young people like

lifetime to repair young people like

lifetime to repair young people like middle-aged and older people have by and

middle-aged and older people have by and

middle-aged and older people have by and large grown up in an age of mistrust in

large grown up in an age of mistrust in

large grown up in an age of mistrust in order to repair that we have to build

order to repair that we have to build

order to repair that we have to build community so this here is a portion of

community so this here is a portion of

community so this here is a portion of my campaign team from this year’s

my campaign team from this year’s

my campaign team from this year’s general election they are a crew of

general election they are a crew of

general election they are a crew of young people brought together by faith

young people brought together by faith

young people brought together by faith and a better future but also wait for it

and a better future but also wait for it

and a better future but also wait for it an idea worth spreading okay there was

an idea worth spreading okay there was

an idea worth spreading okay there was good joke

good joke

good joke their idea their idea is building

their idea their idea is building

their idea their idea is building communities on the foundation of trust

communities on the foundation of trust

communities on the foundation of trust is modeling participation by doing it

is modeling participation by doing it

is modeling participation by doing it ourselves and trying to generate ripple

ourselves and trying to generate ripple

ourselves and trying to generate ripple effects through our communities because

effects through our communities because

effects through our communities because the fact of the matter is is that as

the fact of the matter is is that as

the fact of the matter is is that as individuals you know we can donate to

individuals you know we can donate to

individuals you know we can donate to charity or compost our waste or call up

charity or compost our waste or call up

charity or compost our waste or call up talkback radio and have a bit of a go

talkback radio and have a bit of a go

talkback radio and have a bit of a go but as a collective we can end

but as a collective we can end

but as a collective we can end intergenerational poverty we can take

intergenerational poverty we can take

intergenerational poverty we can take action on climate change and we can

action on climate change and we can

action on climate change and we can build the foundations of tolerance

build the foundations of tolerance

build the foundations of tolerance systemic change though requires trust

systemic change though requires trust

systemic change though requires trust and the status quo approach Pfister’s

and the status quo approach Pfister’s

and the status quo approach Pfister’s and distrust a kind of mischievous

and distrust a kind of mischievous

and distrust a kind of mischievous powerful wealthy and currently often

powerful wealthy and currently often

powerful wealthy and currently often political class capitalized on our fear

political class capitalized on our fear

political class capitalized on our fear other people it is a classic example of

other people it is a classic example of

other people it is a classic example of divide and conquer and we have only to

divide and conquer and we have only to

divide and conquer and we have only to look around and realize the common

look around and realize the common

look around and realize the common interest that we all share and the power

interest that we all share and the power

interest that we all share and the power that we have in numbers to disrupt it so

that we have in numbers to disrupt it so

that we have in numbers to disrupt it so this leads me to my final point which is

this leads me to my final point which is

this leads me to my final point which is that democracy is just a means not an

that democracy is just a means not an

that democracy is just a means not an end unto itself in the words of Winston

end unto itself in the words of Winston

end unto itself in the words of Winston Churchill democracy is the worst form of

Churchill democracy is the worst form of

Churchill democracy is the worst form of government except for all of the others

government except for all of the others

government except for all of the others it is literally just a tool to make

it is literally just a tool to make

it is literally just a tool to make decisions decisions are almost always

decisions decisions are almost always

decisions decisions are almost always compromises and compromises in our

compromises and compromises in our

compromises and compromises in our society when a lot of people are at the

society when a lot of people are at the

society when a lot of people are at the table have to be built on trust

table have to be built on trust

table have to be built on trust Trust is founded in relationships in

Trust is founded in relationships in

Trust is founded in relationships in communities and in good faith so I think

communities and in good faith so I think

communities and in good faith so I think it’s crucial to remember that our

it’s crucial to remember that our

it’s crucial to remember that our politics does not start and end every

politics does not start and end every

politics does not start and end every three years with a general election

three years with a general election

three years with a general election respect breathes respect trust breeds

respect breathes respect trust breeds

respect breathes respect trust breeds trust our politics lives in our

trust our politics lives in our

trust our politics lives in our relationships with each other but also

relationships with each other but also

relationships with each other but also and things are so perceivably small as

and things are so perceivably small as

and things are so perceivably small as our daily challenges but as thing in

our daily challenges but as thing in

our daily challenges but as thing in things as massive and monolithic as the

things as massive and monolithic as the

things as massive and monolithic as the challenges of our time in summation

challenges of our time in summation

challenges of our time in summation society is made up of citizens we as

society is made up of citizens we as

society is made up of citizens we as citizens elect our politicians to make

citizens elect our politicians to make

citizens elect our politicians to make decisions for us and to make the rules

decisions for us and to make the rules

decisions for us and to make the rules essentially we expect those politicians

essentially we expect those politicians

essentially we expect those politicians to be representatives of us so we should

to be representatives of us so we should

to be representatives of us so we should expect them to come with our humanity

expect them to come with our humanity

expect them to come with our humanity that means yeah with our ideals but also

that means yeah with our ideals but also

that means yeah with our ideals but also with our flaws and I think that in

with our flaws and I think that in

with our flaws and I think that in looking for the circuit breaker in order

looking for the circuit breaker in order

looking for the circuit breaker in order to break the cycle of distrust perhaps

to break the cycle of distrust perhaps

to break the cycle of distrust perhaps the best thing that you can do is look

the best thing that you can do is look

the best thing that you can do is look to York

to York

to York communities look around find someone who

communities look around find someone who

communities look around find someone who you admire and trust and support them

you admire and trust and support them

you admire and trust and support them and running for office

and running for office

and running for office perhaps the People’s Revolution looks

perhaps the People’s Revolution looks

perhaps the People’s Revolution looks like a healthy dose of earnest naivety

like a healthy dose of earnest naivety

like a healthy dose of earnest naivety and belief in our better nature my name

and belief in our better nature my name

and belief in our better nature my name is Chloe Swarbrick and I am utterly

is Chloe Swarbrick and I am utterly

is Chloe Swarbrick and I am utterly privileged to be one of your new MPs I

privileged to be one of your new MPs I

privileged to be one of your new MPs I am 23 in case you weren’t aware and I

am 23 in case you weren’t aware and I

am 23 in case you weren’t aware and I have struggled with anxiety and

have struggled with anxiety and

have struggled with anxiety and depression

depression

depression I only just learned how to ride a

I only just learned how to ride a

I only just learned how to ride a bicycle a few weeks ago and the reason

bicycle a few weeks ago and the reason

bicycle a few weeks ago and the reason that I am telling you all of this is

that I am telling you all of this is

that I am telling you all of this is because if I can do it you can do it too