What experiences are worth attending?
Sometimes it can be overwhelming knowing there is so much going on in your community, especially in the Bay Area. RSVP to this, donate to that, join us in this. I find it difficult to decipher which events to attend and which to miss; accept or deny? What will guide me towards my discovery of doing what I love and what will distract me?
Similar Raj Patel talk at UC Berkeley.
I made the right choice in attending a stellar lecture, Edible Education, at UC Berkeley this week. No, I'm not a Cal student, but after this talk, I was snagging anything blue and yellow to represent my pride in the knowledge the university offers. My friend, Wyatt, and I decided to spend our Monday evening listening to powerful, thought leaders. This particular talk focused on the pros and cons of the Green Revolution, the Economics of the Food System, and what changes we can make for the future of our world.
The Wheeler Auditorium was very warm but the speaker, Raj Patel, had an amazing knack of captivating his audience. Sweat rolling down my face, I was still on the edge of my seat wanting more information. How do we still have world hunger, why aren't more people growing their own food, did fences really destroy the future of feeding the world? I was especially drawn towards a short, very moving video they played on a giant theater screen of a small village in Malawi. This resonated deeply within me because of my past summer trip to Rwanda.
Malawian children learning how to grow their own food to create a stronger village.
Malawian villages face similar struggles to the families I spent time with in Rwanda: How to feed their families, surpass the difficulties of gender inequality, eat healthy enough to take their HIV/AIDS medications. Learning how to grow and cook the right food, creating an irrigation system, and divvying the work between genders, the village grew stronger through the community investing in the land together.
Wyatt and I are still enthusiastic passengers of the inspiration express as Raj Patel invites 8 or so Cal student clubs with similar interests to share their initiatives on stage. This was an intimidating task as the auditorium had nearly 1,000 faces looking to them but each group proudly shared. I thoroughly enjoyed the moment Kelly grabbed the microphone and rocked out an amazing poetry slam about the harsh realities of a 5-year-old boy she grew fond of. He lives in Oakland and struggles with health issues due to inescapable, harmful substances in his daily life.
“Unable to escape the toxins coming through his window from traffic driving right by his bedside...”
Kelly's story was inspirational, but it was her burning passion of humanness towards this young child and desire to follow her passion in making his world a better place that hooked me. She clearly grew attached and shared her affection with over 1,000 strangers. After the talk I made it a point to thank her for her willingness to be so vulnerable. Thrilled by her motivations in our brief conversation, we embraced each other tightly truly celebrating the inspiring evening. The emotions she sparked in the auditorium stand as proof she is a member of the I Do What I Love movement.
Wyatt Roscoe, SeedTabs Co-founder, sharing seed packets with lucky strangers who take time to notice the gifts in life.
Feeling like the world is at our fingertips, Wyatt and I explored Berkeley while processing the inspiration we were just served. After grabbing delicious cookies (What better way to celebrate knowledge than late night desserts?) we found a great message on an electrical structure. It read "Grow Your Own Food" with beautiful vegetables painted below. Now, what you need to know is Wyatt co-founded a company called SeedTabs with his brother. They sell seed packets in high traffic locations like cafes and bookstores to encourage more people to grow their own food. With purely good intentions he puts 4 free SeedTabs for any stranger willing to follow the structure's call to action.
Much like the Berkeley electrical structure, life is what you care to have the patience for. If you take time to really open your eyes, find your drive, discover your passions, truly follow what you love -- you too may find free seed packets. When debating to accept or deny, ask yourself, "Why not?" You never know what moments are waiting to turn into memories.
Follow your passion,
BreAnn
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-- A more detailed introduction is soon to come. I am an active member inspired by I DO WHAT I LOVE's movement. I strive to create new experiences that transpire into memorable life lessons guiding me towards my many passions in life. I will try anything as long as my feet are warm. I am sharing my journey of self-discovery and hopeful to inspire others to find theirs as well. Contact me directly at BreAnn@idwil.com. --