It’s All About Relationships [My Takeaways from TEDx Dirigo]

I recently had the privilege of attending TEDx Dirigo in Portland, Maine. I’ve been inspired by many TED talks over the years and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend an event live for the first time.The one-day event connected speakers from near and far with attendees who happily call Maine home. It included opera, circus, and youth rock orchestra performances as well as talks on subjects such as farming, gender identity, art, science, death, waste, nonsense, thinking wrong, and more. Presenters ranged from brave high school students finding their voice and place in the world to passionate individuals who have spent years studying, learning and working to make the world a better place. But what I found is that there was a single common thread woven throughout all of the presentations. That thread is relationships.Each of the individuals that ended up on the stage did so as a result of relationships they’ve had in their life. Some positive, some negative, some challenging and some seemingly trivial, each has shaped who they are and led them on a path to the TEDx stage in Maine. By sharing the impact that these relationships have had on their lives, they have enlightened and inspired others and have encouraged the establishment of new relationships.Below are the messages about relationships that I took away from each presenter.

1. Rosemary Crimp showed the joy to be found in communication with others in the form of both music and language.
2. Scott Nash encouraged us to include ‘nonsense’ in our lives, purporting that ‘nonsense’ is an integral part of creativity and by incorporating it into our lives, we have the power to bring laughter and comfort to others.
3. Demetri Maxim reminded us that with passion and perseverance we can overcome almost anything.
4. Kate Braestrup shared how to deliver news of a death to a loved one.
5. Clara Coleman highlighted the importance of creating intentional family farms as a means to sustain them, sharing that “information is like compost-it does no good unless you spread it around.”
6. Leo Eichfeld reminded us that “we are each an ocean of adjectives-let’s not be defined as only one of them.”
7. Rev. Kenneth Lewis encouraged us to always remember to make more deposits than withdrawals.
8. Circus Maine showed us the awe and beauty that results from relationships based on strength, focus, and teamwork.
9. Jamie Bissonette asked us to consider what we want our descendants to know 200 years from now.
10. Salim Salim encouraged us to avoid judging others, stating that “our society points out our weaknesses so much that we forget our strengths.”
11. Suzanne MacDonald reminded us that Dirigo means “to lead” and that we must “stop focusing on a technological fix and start focusing on people.”
12. Chris Poulos shared his story from being incarcerated to becoming a lawyer noting, “It’s hard to hate up close.”
13. Elise Pepple shared that stories are what connect people to a new place and that we must honor our stories by telling them.
14. The Maine Youth Rock Orchestra showed us the fun that can be found in combining music, words, and teamwork.
15. John Bielenberg encouraged us to “think wrong” which may actually be “thinking right,” highlighting that we cannot let culture conspire against us to focus solely on traditional problem solving.
16. Muna Adan spoke of forgiveness as she recited her personal journey in the form a poem entitled “Forgive Me.”
17. Lisa Bjerke reminded us that “waste” is a verb and asked us to consider “where is away?” when we throw something away, asking us to think more intentionally about our “discarded resources.”
18. Ian Harvie asked us to stay away from labels and discuss feelings instead.
19. Dr. Edison Liu shared that science and art are not all that different and that we must always listen to the music of our lives.

These speakers encouraged and motivated me to be mindful of the choices I make each day, in my words and my actions, knowing that we are all connected. Despite at times feeling like all we need to survive these days is technology, we must always remember that there are people behind everything we need and do. If we could all remember this and approach each day with hope, positivity, and gratitude while releasing negativity, judgment, and blame, relationships all over the world would flourish.