Before I Die…I want to share something with you…
This is Candy Chang.
Candy Chang is an artist, designer, and urban planner who explores making cities more comfortable and contemplative places. She believes in the potential of introspection and collective wisdom in public space to improve our communities and help us lead better lives.
But she’s much more than that. She gave a TED Talk over 6 years ago, and I came across it in a book called ‘Die Empty’ by author Todd Henry, who after interviewing him for my podcast, encouraged me to watch it.
I interviewed Todd shortly after my sister-in-law, then the same age as I, with 3 young boys had dropped down dead in front of her parents. There was no warning. It just happened. At Christmas. The family was still reeling. So was I. It became a point in my life where you re-evaluate everything.
This TED Talk made sense, and so I want to share it with you. CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO
In 2009 Candy lost someone she classed as a mother to her. Her death was also sudden an unexpected. It bought gratitude and a new perspective on her life. But as always, it’s difficult to keep that perspective in day-to-day life.
What she did was use the walls of an old abandoned building and wrote the words, “Before I Die I…” so that people could share their lives aspirations with everyone in a public space. Things are so much more meaningful when written down. I guess it gives them power.
So I want to ask you a question. Just take a minute away from your desk. Away from your business. Away from your customers and clients. Away from the kids. Away from the phone. Away from the day-to-day. And answer this…
“Before I Die I…”
Marc