Imagine being able to check on your loved ones no matter where you are in the world. You can check little Timmy's glucose levels in Boston, while you’re on a business trip to Peru. With modern science and technology this is already possible. Check out what Eric Topol has to say about advancing medical technologies.
I chose to post this talk, because this is our future. As the technological world advances it has already made many changes in the way we live our day-to-day lives. Instead of walkmans, we use ipods, and many people have gotten rid of their wired phones, as cell phones make calls easy on-the-go. These new technological innovations when used in the medical field could save thousands, if not millions, of lives every year. They allow your doctors to be able to check in on you without ever having to prick your finger or use a stethoscope. This is the future of the medical field!
What is compassion and how could it change our world as we know it? Joan Halifax works in health care clinics in impoverished countries all over the world. she has worked with people on death row, both in health clinics and in high security prisons. Here is her story...
I can't even begin to imagine how incredibly moving and life changing it must be to work in environments like those that Halifax described. What would happen if we all treated each other with that same compassion described in the health clinic in India? How different would our world be if we did elect our government officials based off of how compassionate they are? I believe that together we could make the world a better place. We would become less judgemental as we open up our hearts and lend a helping hand to the needy. We would find comfort in a society of community. Our hatred towards each other could go away all together. With compassion, we could change the word as we know it!
As we grow up each of us learns more and more information. Once we reach about three years old we get to that age where we sit in the back of the car while mom drive to the grocery store and we begin inquiring about all sorts of things. "Mom, why is the sky blue? What's that sign say? Who made trees?" And often times we get an answer of, "just because". Then we reply with, "because what?" and our parents get aggravated and reply, "because I said so!”
With time we grow out of that stage, but throughout life we continue to ask questions. But what would you do if your eight year old daughter started asking questions about reproduction? Check out this Ted talk by Julia Sweeney!
Personally, I believe that Julia had good intentions when her daughter began asking about frog reproduction, but even the best intentions can often lead to bad results, as was evident in this video. Where would you draw the line if you were the parent of that eight year old? And how far is too far? How do you factor telling the truth verses sustaining innocence?
This next Ted talk I'd like to share with you starts out a little awkward as Eve Ensler talks about her body, but as her talk progresses I believe she brings up many vital points that we can all relate to in one way or another. From children being raped and taken from their parents, to the golf coast oil spill, she says it all. Take a look for yourself:
I think it's difficult for any of us to truly relate to all of the experiences that Eve has encountered throughout her lifetime. But as she spoke of her father physically abusing her as a child, he disconnection she felt growing up, and her struggle with cancer I felt a connection. We are all born into a broken world and face many struggles of our own, but we can learn and grow from each other. So here is my question for you, through all the pain and suffering this world has to offer what will you do to be a part of it? What will you contribute to all the other broken people living in this world? How will you make our world a better place?
