[Applause] do you remember the first time someone
do you remember the first time someone
do you remember the first time someone asked you what do you want to be when
asked you what do you want to be when
asked you what do you want to be when you grow up do you remember what you
you grow up do you remember what you
you grow up do you remember what you thought what you said this is my first
thought what you said this is my first
thought what you said this is my first answer to that question at about age 6
answer to that question at about age 6
answer to that question at about age 6 for those of you who can’t quite make
for those of you who can’t quite make
for those of you who can’t quite make out what this is
out what this is
out what this is it’s a bagpiper I was a bit of an odd
it’s a bagpiper I was a bit of an odd
it’s a bagpiper I was a bit of an odd six-year-old but to be fair I wasn’t
six-year-old but to be fair I wasn’t
six-year-old but to be fair I wasn’t thinking in terms of a viable future
thinking in terms of a viable future
thinking in terms of a viable future profession in the honorable art of
profession in the honorable art of
profession in the honorable art of bagpiping there isn’t one by the way I
bagpiping there isn’t one by the way I
bagpiping there isn’t one by the way I was trying to express something that had
was trying to express something that had
was trying to express something that had captured and shaped my imagination at
captured and shaped my imagination at
captured and shaped my imagination at the time think back to some of your
the time think back to some of your
the time think back to some of your earliest responses to that question
earliest responses to that question
earliest responses to that question maybe you’ll notice a similar pattern
maybe you’ll notice a similar pattern
maybe you’ll notice a similar pattern because when you really look at it this
because when you really look at it this
because when you really look at it this question is actually kind of sneaky it’s
question is actually kind of sneaky it’s
question is actually kind of sneaky it’s an adult march into our child mind and
an adult march into our child mind and
an adult march into our child mind and world asking us to explain it’s strange
world asking us to explain it’s strange
world asking us to explain it’s strange wild landscape in the form of an
wild landscape in the form of an
wild landscape in the form of an industry and an occupation it’s an
industry and an occupation it’s an
industry and an occupation it’s an attempt to make landfall plant a flag
attempt to make landfall plant a flag
attempt to make landfall plant a flag and start colonizing is it any wonder
and start colonizing is it any wonder
and start colonizing is it any wonder that the question that we adults feel
that the question that we adults feel
that the question that we adults feel most comfortable asking someone we just
most comfortable asking someone we just
most comfortable asking someone we just met is so what do you do the loneliness
met is so what do you do the loneliness
met is so what do you do the loneliness that I’ve ever felt is when I woke up
that I’ve ever felt is when I woke up
that I’ve ever felt is when I woke up one day as a full-on grown-up and
one day as a full-on grown-up and
one day as a full-on grown-up and realized that I’d focus for so long on
realized that I’d focus for so long on
realized that I’d focus for so long on what I wanted to be or what I thought I
what I wanted to be or what I thought I
what I wanted to be or what I thought I was supposed to want to be that I didn’t
was supposed to want to be that I didn’t
was supposed to want to be that I didn’t know who I actually was the stories in
know who I actually was the stories in
know who I actually was the stories in my head had stopped the portals in my
my head had stopped the portals in my
my head had stopped the portals in my universe had been closed the bagpiper
universe had been closed the bagpiper
universe had been closed the bagpiper had gone silent it was in the middle of
had gone silent it was in the middle of
had gone silent it was in the middle of this time of loneliness and confusion
this time of loneliness and confusion
this time of loneliness and confusion that wonder appeared to me as real as
that wonder appeared to me as real as
that wonder appeared to me as real as any imaginary friend and invited me to
any imaginary friend and invited me to
any imaginary friend and invited me to get to know it
get to know it
get to know it I didn’t know it at the time but this
I didn’t know it at the time but this
I didn’t know it at the time but this relationship with wonder would reshape
relationship with wonder would reshape
relationship with wonder would reshape every aspect of my life mind and work it
every aspect of my life mind and work it
every aspect of my life mind and work it would lead me to quit my job change my
would lead me to quit my job change my
would lead me to quit my job change my beliefs and meet and work with kids all
beliefs and meet and work with kids all
beliefs and meet and work with kids all over the world and it would show me
over the world and it would show me
over the world and it would show me what’s possible when you ask a better
what’s possible when you ask a better
what’s possible when you ask a better question one that I’m here to share with
question one that I’m here to share with
question one that I’m here to share with you what if instead of asking kids what
you what if instead of asking kids what
you what if instead of asking kids what do you want to be when you grow up we
do you want to be when you grow up we
do you want to be when you grow up we asked them what do you wonder about this
asked them what do you wonder about this
asked them what do you wonder about this simple shift holds great power and
simple shift holds great power and
simple shift holds great power and permission to bring back things within
permission to bring back things within
permission to bring back things within ourselves that we might have long
ourselves that we might have long
ourselves that we might have long forgotten to believe that there is much
forgotten to believe that there is much
forgotten to believe that there is much we have yet to imagine and to share that
we have yet to imagine and to share that
we have yet to imagine and to share that rich world with each other I want to
rich world with each other I want to
rich world with each other I want to talk more about how this happens but
talk more about how this happens but
talk more about how this happens but first another question why aren’t we
first another question why aren’t we
first another question why aren’t we doing this already to answer that we
doing this already to answer that we
doing this already to answer that we have to look at what wonder really is if
have to look at what wonder really is if
have to look at what wonder really is if you were to look around you today for
you were to look around you today for
you were to look around you today for our cultural view of wonder
our cultural view of wonder
our cultural view of wonder you’d be likely to see bright colors big
you’d be likely to see bright colors big
you’d be likely to see bright colors big letters and aspirational add like
letters and aspirational add like
letters and aspirational add like messages none of these things are wrong
messages none of these things are wrong
messages none of these things are wrong or untrue wonder is in fact a wonderful
or untrue wonder is in fact a wonderful
or untrue wonder is in fact a wonderful thing but it’s a bit OneNote and there’s
thing but it’s a bit OneNote and there’s
thing but it’s a bit OneNote and there’s a reason for this slightly anesthetized
a reason for this slightly anesthetized
a reason for this slightly anesthetized oversimplification wonder if you look
oversimplification wonder if you look
oversimplification wonder if you look with a sharper focus is ambiguous
with a sharper focus is ambiguous
with a sharper focus is ambiguous duplicitous even looking at the origins
duplicitous even looking at the origins
duplicitous even looking at the origins of the word wonder starts to tell us why
of the word wonder starts to tell us why
of the word wonder starts to tell us why it ranges from the Old English one
it ranges from the Old English one
it ranges from the Old English one drienne meaning a marvellous thing or a
drienne meaning a marvellous thing or a
drienne meaning a marvellous thing or a miracle to the middle English one door
miracle to the middle English one door
miracle to the middle English one door meaning to entertain some doubt or
meaning to entertain some doubt or
meaning to entertain some doubt or curiosity to finally the German word
curiosity to finally the German word
curiosity to finally the German word vonda meaning an opening or wound so on
vonda meaning an opening or wound so on
vonda meaning an opening or wound so on the one hand wonder represents the act
the one hand wonder represents the act
the one hand wonder represents the act of questioning the reaching out to
of questioning the reaching out to
of questioning the reaching out to advance what we know on the other it
advance what we know on the other it
advance what we know on the other it represents a feeling discovery or
represents a feeling discovery or
represents a feeling discovery or experience that causes us to let go of
experience that causes us to let go of
experience that causes us to let go of what we thought we knew in a sweeping
what we thought we knew in a sweeping
what we thought we knew in a sweeping moment of
moment of
moment of ah the result of either of these things
ah the result of either of these things
ah the result of either of these things create something new and dismantle
create something new and dismantle
create something new and dismantle something known at the same time
something known at the same time
something known at the same time something which can be experienced as
something which can be experienced as
something which can be experienced as incredible or painful depending on our
incredible or painful depending on our
incredible or painful depending on our vantage point that’s all in there in
vantage point that’s all in there in
vantage point that’s all in there in that one little word in our society
that one little word in our society
that one little word in our society built on and addicted to speed
built on and addicted to speed
built on and addicted to speed convenience and the domination of the
convenience and the domination of the
convenience and the domination of the known no wonder we feel the need to tame
known no wonder we feel the need to tame
known no wonder we feel the need to tame it and yet to bring wonder into our
it and yet to bring wonder into our
it and yet to bring wonder into our lives in a real way we have to
lives in a real way we have to
lives in a real way we have to acknowledge that this seeming
acknowledge that this seeming
acknowledge that this seeming contradiction as uncomfortable as it can
contradiction as uncomfortable as it can
contradiction as uncomfortable as it can be is actually part of its nature and
be is actually part of its nature and
be is actually part of its nature and can help us to understand our own I
can help us to understand our own I
can help us to understand our own I discovered this while working with a
discovered this while working with a
discovered this while working with a remarkable group of people to build the
remarkable group of people to build the
remarkable group of people to build the wonderment when I tell people that my
wonderment when I tell people that my
wonderment when I tell people that my job for the last six years has been to
job for the last six years has been to
job for the last six years has been to support kids around the world to use
support kids around the world to use
support kids around the world to use their sense of wonder to build a new
their sense of wonder to build a new
their sense of wonder to build a new sense of humanity together I usually get
sense of humanity together I usually get
sense of humanity together I usually get a look and if that look had a sound it
a look and if that look had a sound it
a look and if that look had a sound it would be right but guess what it’s a
would be right but guess what it’s a
would be right but guess what it’s a real thing we built a nonprofit web
real thing we built a nonprofit web
real thing we built a nonprofit web platform and where kids could gather and
platform and where kids could gather and
platform and where kids could gather and share what they imagined in their
share what they imagined in their
share what they imagined in their neighborhoods in the world we knew that
neighborhoods in the world we knew that
neighborhoods in the world we knew that it wasn’t enough just to encourage kids
it wasn’t enough just to encourage kids
it wasn’t enough just to encourage kids to wonder we knew that they needed to
to wonder we knew that they needed to
to wonder we knew that they needed to experience the power of sharing that
experience the power of sharing that
experience the power of sharing that with each other and could take action
with each other and could take action
with each other and could take action together to bring it into the world and
together to bring it into the world and
together to bring it into the world and we knew that we as adults needed to
we knew that we as adults needed to
we knew that we as adults needed to learn how to walk alongside them and
learn how to walk alongside them and
learn how to walk alongside them and support them in that process so as ideas
support them in that process so as ideas
support them in that process so as ideas and projects began to grow as this
and projects began to grow as this
and projects began to grow as this wondering we brought together mentors
wondering we brought together mentors
wondering we brought together mentors donors and volunteers to help make them
donors and volunteers to help make them
donors and volunteers to help make them a reality we took one sometimes shaky
a reality we took one sometimes shaky
a reality we took one sometimes shaky step at a time learning from kids and
step at a time learning from kids and
step at a time learning from kids and ideas all over the world and some
ideas all over the world and some
ideas all over the world and some amazing things started to happen we
amazing things started to happen we
amazing things started to happen we worked with a group of high school
worked with a group of high school
worked with a group of high school students in Guatemala to turn an old
students in Guatemala to turn an old
students in Guatemala to turn an old sheriff’s bus into a mobile library that
sheriff’s bus into a mobile library that
sheriff’s bus into a mobile library that they could use to go to
they could use to go to
they could use to go to kids and surrounding rural areas to help
kids and surrounding rural areas to help
kids and surrounding rural areas to help them learn and love to read kids from
them learn and love to read kids from
them learn and love to read kids from Italy
Italy
Italy Israel’s Spain and more organized a
Israel’s Spain and more organized a
Israel’s Spain and more organized a cultural summit and brought to young
cultural summit and brought to young
cultural summit and brought to young members of the Carrows tribe in the high
members of the Carrows tribe in the high
members of the Carrows tribe in the high Andes of Peru to Costa Rica to share
Andes of Peru to Costa Rica to share
Andes of Peru to Costa Rica to share their knowledge and traditions with
their knowledge and traditions with
their knowledge and traditions with hundreds of students and make
hundreds of students and make
hundreds of students and make international friendships that will last
international friendships that will last
international friendships that will last for the rest of their lives
kids from over 25 countries have
kids from over 25 countries have connected and gotten to know each other
connected and gotten to know each other
connected and gotten to know each other over the last several years through
over the last several years through
over the last several years through projects and ideas like these that
projects and ideas like these that
projects and ideas like these that started with them including a refugee
started with them including a refugee
started with them including a refugee community bus right here in Salt Lake
community bus right here in Salt Lake
community bus right here in Salt Lake City there’s part of me that wishes that
City there’s part of me that wishes that
City there’s part of me that wishes that I could tell you that this is the
I could tell you that this is the
I could tell you that this is the solution that we figured it out once and
solution that we figured it out once and
solution that we figured it out once and for all that all the stories were
for all that all the stories were
for all that all the stories were beautiful like these and then all that’s
beautiful like these and then all that’s
beautiful like these and then all that’s left to do is package and deliver wonder
left to do is package and deliver wonder
left to do is package and deliver wonder to solve the world’s problems some of
to solve the world’s problems some of
to solve the world’s problems some of that’s true but as we’ve seen already
that’s true but as we’ve seen already
that’s true but as we’ve seen already wonder doesn’t do well with
wonder doesn’t do well with
wonder doesn’t do well with oversimplification what’s also true is
oversimplification what’s also true is
oversimplification what’s also true is it the same reaction that you might have
it the same reaction that you might have
it the same reaction that you might have gotten as a kid to your crazy idea or
gotten as a kid to your crazy idea or
gotten as a kid to your crazy idea or question is alive and well
question is alive and well
question is alive and well no matter what age you are most days
no matter what age you are most days
no matter what age you are most days have more unknowns than knowns and for
have more unknowns than knowns and for
have more unknowns than knowns and for every person who sees and supports a
every person who sees and supports a
every person who sees and supports a vision there are twenty more including
vision there are twenty more including
vision there are twenty more including one in here who would love nothing more
one in here who would love nothing more
one in here who would love nothing more than to tell you why it won’t work why
than to tell you why it won’t work why
than to tell you why it won’t work why it doesn’t make sense why there are more
it doesn’t make sense why there are more
it doesn’t make sense why there are more responsible things that you should be
responsible things that you should be
responsible things that you should be doing and more knowledgeable people who
doing and more knowledgeable people who
doing and more knowledgeable people who could do it better so what then when
could do it better so what then when
could do it better so what then when Wonder and the world around you don’t
Wonder and the world around you don’t
Wonder and the world around you don’t seem to fit so nicely I want you to
seem to fit so nicely I want you to
seem to fit so nicely I want you to imagine the first time you stood on a
imagine the first time you stood on a
imagine the first time you stood on a ledge facing a set of monkey bars if
ledge facing a set of monkey bars if
ledge facing a set of monkey bars if you’re anything like I was at this age
you’re anything like I was at this age
you’re anything like I was at this age this is next-level daring and sorcery
this is next-level daring and sorcery
this is next-level daring and sorcery you quickly realize that there are two
you quickly realize that there are two
you quickly realize that there are two very basic things required here reaching
very basic things required here reaching
very basic things required here reaching out and letting go but there’s a mystery
out and letting go but there’s a mystery
out and letting go but there’s a mystery at the heart of it which you immediately
at the heart of it which you immediately
at the heart of it which you immediately face when you end up like this if you
face when you end up like this if you
face when you end up like this if you think that you can make it all the way
think that you can make it all the way
think that you can make it all the way across well thinking of those two things
across well thinking of those two things
across well thinking of those two things as separate acts you’re screwed
as separate acts you’re screwed
as separate acts you’re screwed trust me those arms just don’t have the
trust me those arms just don’t have the
trust me those arms just don’t have the strength the thing that generates the
strength the thing that generates the
strength the thing that generates the momentum is the breakthrough experience
momentum is the breakthrough experience
momentum is the breakthrough experience of realizing it’s all part of the same
of realizing it’s all part of the same
of realizing it’s all part of the same motion I want you to remember in your
motion I want you to remember in your
motion I want you to remember in your body what that feels like this is the
body what that feels like this is the
body what that feels like this is the truth and the power of wonder it’s not a
truth and the power of wonder it’s not a
truth and the power of wonder it’s not a nice feeling or a vague dream it’s not a
nice feeling or a vague dream it’s not a
nice feeling or a vague dream it’s not a nostalgic nod to a lost childhood it’s a
nostalgic nod to a lost childhood it’s a
nostalgic nod to a lost childhood it’s a practice it’s taking a deep breath and
practice it’s taking a deep breath and
practice it’s taking a deep breath and having the guts to reach out let go
having the guts to reach out let go
having the guts to reach out let go reach out let go and as a result of this
reach out let go and as a result of this
reach out let go and as a result of this willingness feeling an amazing force
willingness feeling an amazing force
willingness feeling an amazing force somehow carrying you forward in this
somehow carrying you forward in this
somehow carrying you forward in this primal rhythm of playgrounds everywhere
primal rhythm of playgrounds everywhere
primal rhythm of playgrounds everywhere I loved and believed in the wonderment
I loved and believed in the wonderment
I loved and believed in the wonderment so much that it made me afraid afraid
so much that it made me afraid afraid
so much that it made me afraid afraid that it might not be understood or
that it might not be understood or
that it might not be understood or supported and that somewhere somehow
supported and that somewhere somehow
supported and that somewhere somehow that meant that I wasn’t understood or
that meant that I wasn’t understood or
that meant that I wasn’t understood or supported and this fear made me hold on
supported and this fear made me hold on
supported and this fear made me hold on to expectations both my own and others
to expectations both my own and others
to expectations both my own and others of what it would be when it grew up I
of what it would be when it grew up I
of what it would be when it grew up I found myself doing the same thing to the
found myself doing the same thing to the
found myself doing the same thing to the project that we do to our kids feeling
project that we do to our kids feeling
project that we do to our kids feeling the same pressure to explain plan
the same pressure to explain plan
the same pressure to explain plan measure justify predict sometimes from
measure justify predict sometimes from
measure justify predict sometimes from the very people closest to me even my
the very people closest to me even my
the very people closest to me even my own board and suddenly in the midst of
own board and suddenly in the midst of
own board and suddenly in the midst of it I realized why we do it why we grasp
it I realized why we do it why we grasp
it I realized why we do it why we grasp so tightly that we drive wonder away
so tightly that we drive wonder away
so tightly that we drive wonder away it’s because deep down we wish we had
it’s because deep down we wish we had
it’s because deep down we wish we had the kind of control to keep what we love
the kind of control to keep what we love
the kind of control to keep what we love safe in a world that seems to have a
safe in a world that seems to have a
safe in a world that seems to have a million ways to hurt it I choose to stay
million ways to hurt it I choose to stay
million ways to hurt it I choose to stay open and stand with Wonder come marvel
open and stand with Wonder come marvel
open and stand with Wonder come marvel or wound because I know now it’s the
or wound because I know now it’s the
or wound because I know now it’s the only way to stay connected to that part
only way to stay connected to that part
only way to stay connected to that part of myself that allows me to truly
of myself that allows me to truly
of myself that allows me to truly connect to anyone or anything else this
connect to anyone or anything else this
connect to anyone or anything else this is a daily choice and it goes beyond
is a daily choice and it goes beyond
is a daily choice and it goes beyond just my creative or professional life I
just my creative or professional life I
just my creative or professional life I also have a six-year-old son like any
also have a six-year-old son like any
also have a six-year-old son like any parent my desire to know that he’ll be
parent my desire to know that he’ll be
parent my desire to know that he’ll be okay
okay
okay feels overwhelming sometimes I wish I
feels overwhelming sometimes I wish I
feels overwhelming sometimes I wish I had a guarantee the who live in a world
had a guarantee the who live in a world
had a guarantee the who live in a world where he’d be happy safe and successful
where he’d be happy safe and successful
where he’d be happy safe and successful but I don’t none of us do I don’t have a
but I don’t none of us do I don’t have a
but I don’t none of us do I don’t have a lot of knowns to give him and I know
lot of knowns to give him and I know
lot of knowns to give him and I know that there are kids around the world and
that there are kids around the world and
that there are kids around the world and in our own neighborhood who were given
in our own neighborhood who were given
in our own neighborhood who were given even fewer but I also remember what
even fewer but I also remember what
even fewer but I also remember what finally got my me to trust myself enough
finally got my me to trust myself enough
finally got my me to trust myself enough to try on those monkey bars as a kid it
to try on those monkey bars as a kid it
to try on those monkey bars as a kid it was seeing someone I cared about someone
was seeing someone I cared about someone
was seeing someone I cared about someone older show me what that looked like
older show me what that looked like
older show me what that looked like so reach out and ask yourself what do
so reach out and ask yourself what do
so reach out and ask yourself what do you wonder let go of what tells you you
you wonder let go of what tells you you
you wonder let go of what tells you you can’t or you shouldn’t or you’re too old
can’t or you shouldn’t or you’re too old
can’t or you shouldn’t or you’re too old or it’s a waste of time share what you
or it’s a waste of time share what you
or it’s a waste of time share what you find with the people in your life no
find with the people in your life no
find with the people in your life no matter their age then ask them this is
matter their age then ask them this is
matter their age then ask them this is how we reclaim ourselves and each other
how we reclaim ourselves and each other
how we reclaim ourselves and each other from the loneliness and fear that we
from the loneliness and fear that we
from the loneliness and fear that we experience when we believe that we have
experience when we believe that we have
experience when we believe that we have to separate from our most essential self
to separate from our most essential self
to separate from our most essential self our child’s self to survive in this
our child’s self to survive in this
our child’s self to survive in this world reach out let go reach out let go
world reach out let go reach out let go
world reach out let go reach out let go who you are is needed because of what we
who you are is needed because of what we
who you are is needed because of what we make possible from that place
make possible from that place
make possible from that place together day by day we can call forward
together day by day we can call forward
together day by day we can call forward that human magic within us they cannot
that human magic within us they cannot
that human magic within us they cannot help but transform the world around us
help but transform the world around us
help but transform the world around us wildly curiously this is the kind of
wildly curiously this is the kind of
wildly curiously this is the kind of belonging that includes every one of us
belonging that includes every one of us
belonging that includes every one of us and helps us to recognize each other for
and helps us to recognize each other for
and helps us to recognize each other for the discoveries that we are this is how
the discoveries that we are this is how
the discoveries that we are this is how we move forward into a future that we
we move forward into a future that we
we move forward into a future that we all belong in and this can never be
all belong in and this can never be
all belong in and this can never be bought or contained or won or controlled
bought or contained or won or controlled
bought or contained or won or controlled this is the awe of the gift Wonder
this is the awe of the gift Wonder
this is the awe of the gift Wonder offers us thank you
”
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