Ideas Worth Spreading – Final Wrap Up – TEDxCanberra 2010

Having provided this series of reflections on the TEDxCanberra event held last Saturday, it has become clear to me that there are dominant ideas and a persistent and consistent theme, which resounded through the whole TEDx experience in Canberra.

According to sociologists, human beings are “ultra” social animals and seek comfort and acceptance within social groups, in order to thrive. Indeed, isolation is one of the major contributors to mental health issues. So, it is obvious we all need each other to thrive.

The Ted talks in Canberra implicitly recognized this principle. Whilst the issues of the day: such as technological advances and how to deal with them; the ecological, socio-economic, psychological, political and social problems that face us in the global community, were all addressed in various ways, it is the overwhelming need for community that trumps them all!

Gloabalization presents us with challenges. Of this, there is little doubt.

But following in the footsteps of the inspirational thinkers of the 21st century, representatives of whom were present and active at TEDxCanberra, 2010, it is the notion of “community” that slaps us in the face at every turn.

We are global citizens, yes. But we need to engage collaboratively in our communities, from the micro level of family, to the macro level of global community, and if each of us can follow the leaders on this, this will be a far, far better place in which to bring up future generations of our children and their children’s children.

Robert Fulgham summed it up nicely in his book: “Everything I needed to learn, I learned in Kindergarten.” (c 1986 Harper Collins). He said that he learnt life’s invaluable lessons in the sandpit at Sunday School:

“Share everything; play fair; don’t hit people; put things back where you found them; clean up your own mess; say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody, and so on.”

Already Fulghum was ahead of his time!

These ideas, which are more important to spread than ever before, and are embodied in the need for community!

So until TEDxCanberra, 2011 – “spread the word!”