There are a lot of ways1 the people around us can help improve2 our lives. We don't bump into3 every neighbor, so a lot of wisdom4 never gets
passed on, though5
we do share6 the
same public spaces.
So over the past few years, I've tried ways to share more with my
neighbors in public space, using simple tools like stickers7, stencils8
and chalk9. And
these projects came from questions I had, like: How much are my neighbors
paying for their apartments? (Laughter) How can we lend10 and borrow11
more things, without knocking on each
other's doors12 at a bad time?
How can we share more
memories of our abandoned buildings, and gain a better understanding of our landscape13? How can
we share more of our hopes for our vacant
storefronts14, so our communities can reflect our needs and
dreams today?
Now, I live in New Orleans, and I am in love with New Orleans. My soul15 is always soothed16 by the
giant live oak trees17,
shading18 lovers,
drunks and dreamers for hundreds of years, and I trust19 a city that always makes way for20 music. I feel like every time someone sneezes21,
New Orleans has a parade22.
(Laughter)The city has some of the most beautiful architecture in the world,
but it also has one of the highest amounts of abandoned properties in America.
I live near this house, and I thought23
about how I could make it a nicer space for my neighborhood, and I also thought
about something that changed my life forever.
In 2009, I lost someone I loved very much. Her name was Joan, and she
was a mother to me. And her death was sudden24
and unexpected. And I thought about death a lot. And ... this made me feel deep gratitude25 for
the time I've had. And ... brought26
clarity to the things that are meaningful27
to my life now. But I struggle28
to maintain this perspective in my daily life. I feel like it's easy to get caught up29 in
the day-to-day, and forget what really matters30
to you.
So with help from old and new friends, I turned31 the side of this abandoned house into a
giant chalkboard32,
and stenciled it with a fill-in-the-blank33
sentence: "Before I die, I want to ..." So anyone walking by can pick up34 a piece of
chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public
space.
I didn't know what to expect from this experiment, but by the next
day, the wall was entirely filled out35,and
it kept growing36.
And I'd like to share a few things that people wrote on this wall.
"Before I die, I want to be tried for piracy37." (Laughter) "Before I die, I want to straddle38 the International Dateline."
"Before I die, I want to sing for millions." "Before I die, I
want to plant a tree." "Before I die, I want to live off the grid39." "Before I die, I
want to hold40 her
one more time." "Before I die, I want to be someone's cavalry41."
"Before I die, I want to be completely myself."
So this neglected42
space became a constructive one, and people's hopes and dreams made me laugh out loud43, tear up44, and they
consoled me during my own tough times.
It's about knowing you're not alone; it's about understanding our neighbors in
new and enlightening ways46;
it's about making space for reflection and contemplation, and remembering what
really matters most to us as we grow47
and change.
I made this last year, and started receiving hundreds of messages from passionate people
who wanted to make a wall with their community. So, my civic center colleagues
and I made a tool kit48,
and now walls have been made in countries around the world, including
Kazakhstan, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and beyond49. Together, we've shown how powerful our
public spaces can be if we're given the opportunity to have a voice, and share
more with one another50.
Two of the most valuable things we have are time, and our relationships with other people. In our age51 of increasing52
distractions, it's more important than ever to find ways to maintain
perspective, and remember that life is brief53
and tender. Death is something that we're often discouraged to talk about, or even54 think about,
but I've realized55
that preparing for death is one of the most empowering56 things you can do. Thinking about
death clarifies56
your life.
Our shared spaces can better reflect what matters to us, as
individuals and as a community, and with more ways to share our hopes58, fears and
stories, the people around us can not only help us make better places, they can
help us lead59
better lives. Thank you. (Applause) Thank you. (Applause)
Vocabulary
1.
There are a
lot of ways = há muitas maneiras
2.
Improve =
melhorar
3. bump into =
esbarrar em, trombar com
4. wisdom = sabedoria
5. though = embora
6. share = compartilhar
7. stickers = adesivos
8. stencils = autocolantes
9. chalk = giz
10.
lend =
emprestar a
11.
borrow =
tomar emprestado
12.
without
knocking on each other's doors = sem bater à porta um do outro
13.
landscape =
paisagem
14.
vacant
storefronts = fachadas vagas
15.
soul = alma
16.
soothed =
acalmada
17.
oak trees =
carvalhos
18.
shading =
lançando suas sombras sobre
19.
trust =
confiar
20.
makes way
for = abre caminho para
21.
every time someone sneezes = toda vez que alguém
espirra
22.
parade =
desfile
23.
thought =
pensei
24.
sudden =
súbito, repentino
25.
deep
gratitude = profunda gratidão
26.
brought =
trouxe
27.
meaningful
= significativo
28.
struggle =
luta
29.
get caught
up = somos apanhados
30.
matters =
importa
31.
turned =
transformei
32.
chalkboard
= lousa
33.
fill-in-the-blank
= prencher lacunas
34.
pick up =
apanhar, pegar
35.
filled out
= cheio de
36.
kept
growing = continuous crescendo
37.
tried for piracy = julgado por pirataria
38.
straddle =
atravessar
39.
live off the grid = viver “fora do sistema”
40.
hold =
abraçar
41.
cavalry =
cavalaria
42.
neglected =
negligenciado(a)
43.
laugh out
loud = dar gargalhadas
44.
tear up =
ir às lágrimas
45.
tough times
= tempos dificeis
46.
enlightening
ways = formas esclarecedoras
47.
as we grow = a medida em que nós crescemos
48.
tool kit =
jogo de ferramentas
49.
beyond =
além
50.
with one another = uns com os outros
51.
age = era
52.
increasing
= crescent
53.
brief =
breve
54.
even = até
mesmo
55.
realized =
percebi
56.
empowering
= fortalecedoras
57.
clarifies =
purifica
58.
hopes =
esperanças
59.
lead =
conduzir