It has been almost 2 weeks since I ended school and of course, I have been doing much since then. I should really be finding a job that I am trying. I can’t help but enjoy my fortress of solitude. Besides cleaning and decorating my room, I have been actively trying to engage my mind in this time of inactive and unemployment. My current favorite daily task is listening to Ted talks while doing everything else. Honestly, I never realized how much I love Ted talks. I think I have learned more insight into these talks than I have in my university classes where participation is a core assessment. What I love most about Ted talks is how much you truly learn. When I put forth the term learns, I do not refer to Asian rote learning. The learn I mean is the knowledge-seeking, filling the void of curiosity and finding insight with opinions and views.

What I love most about Ted talks is how much you truly learn. When I put forth the term learns, I do not refer to Asian rote learning. The learn I mean is the knowledge-seeking, filling the void of curiosity and finding insight with opinions and views. I have not watched all the talks available and neither do I find them all enriching. Trust me, there are some not worthy of being labeled a Ted Talk. Those that I have watched, the speakers are not just intellectually advanced but spoke from experience. Basically, I enjoy learning and listening to people who know their shit. You can feel their passion when they talk about their areas of interests from art to mental health issues and even Islamophobia. Some talks I can’t even put a label to what they belong to because the information decimated is so holistic that it touches various subjects.

A holistic approach to knowledge is what I thought I would get out of my university education. (But I can’t blame my small private institution.) The oozing of knowledge excites me. How I can talk about democracy in relation to economics and science. I can go for hours and hours sharing with my sister about what I watch or hear. The other best part of Ted Talks is all audio and visual which is great for a non-reading person like me. Honestly, I have never been more in love. That love and thirst for knowledge overwhelm me completely. It’s not about finding motivational or inspiring persons who have accomplished clearly too much. It’s about them sharing their knowledge that you can’t get from reading a textbook. If anything, I feel more motivated to go back to school and get myself another degree or even go to graduate school.

I think people should watch Ted Talks not just for the information but you learn to understand varying viewpoints on a widespread issue. I think that is something the world lacks now. The ability to understand or hear out all the viewpoints before passing your verdict on certain sensitive issues. What a world to be in if we were all lovers of knowledge. I could only dream.

xoxo

By the way, this all started with me watching Elon Musk talk. Can I just say how an amazing person he is and I would just love to pick his brain. I can write a whole post on why I love him (why don’t I). He has officially joined the list of people I would like to meet which includes Christopher Nolan.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

• The future we’re building — and boring – Elon Musk
• The art of being yourself – Caroline McHugh
• Why thinking you’re ugly is bad for you – Meaghan Ramsey
• The power of introverts – Susan Cain
• The surprising habits of original thinkers – Adam Grant
• Why I love a country that once betrayed me – George Takei
• What do you think when you look at me? – Dalia Mogahed