Transcriber: Hiroshi Uchiyama Reviewer: Hélène Mock
Hello,
I couldn't help but notice you all
admiring my jacket.
Yes, it is.
Remembers only jacket.
I don't blame you
for looking it is awesome.
All right. Well maybe it's a bit ill fitting,
and it's a bit smelly
because I dug it out of storage.
And it's a bit dated.
All right. Well maybe it's not so awesome.
But you know who thought this jacket
was really awesome
thirteen-year-old me.
(Laughter)
That's right.
Thirteen-year-old Cheyne.
I was young and had discovered the power
and potential of art.
But don't get me wrong.
I could always draw as soon as
I could pick up a pencil.
But you see,
thirteen-year-old Cheyne
had just recently won
the yearbook cover contest.
And seeing my work
for such a shy reserved kid,
seeing my work
in the hands of all of my classmates,
Well, that was a life-changing moment.
It was then and there that I decided
to pursue art as a career.
You know be paid to do the thing
I love to do.
At thirteen, even at that young age,
I was so certain
with what I wanted to do
with my life.
I knew the direction I wanted to go.
But now, like most adults,
I have a lot of moments of uncertainty,
a lot of moments of dread,
and self-doubt.
You know if I could write a letter
to my younger self
and give myself advice,
I wouldn't even know what I would say
because honestly,
I'm pretty happy with the path
that I took in life.
It's just that I've lost some direction.
And I could use some reminders.
So a compass for guidance
a North Star if you will.
And then I remember this jacket.
I remember this jacket
and I get nostalgic about it.
I get nostalgic about being 13 again.
But don't get me wrong
there's a lot about being 13
that I do not miss.
But there's a handful of things
that I do miss.
I miss the limitless dreams that I had.
I miss the unflinching optimism that I had.
Being nostalgic is awesome.
But when I think about that,
when I get nostalgic about the past,
I feel kind of guilty about it.
And I'm sure
we've all felt moments like that.
You know, and you're not alone
because traditionally and historically
nostalgia has
a lot of negative connotations.
It was actually seen as a disease.
It was actually labeled
a psychological disorder,
very similar to homesickness.
But for those of us
who have ever thought
fondly on the past,
we know that is definitely not a sickness.
And we know that it happens to everybody
not just people who are away from home.
So why all the negative connotation
with nostalgia?
Nostalgia can be
such an important part of our lives
if we we use it wisely.
We all have these objects,
things, food,
music, books,
places, memories
that we hold onto.
And we should be able to
reflect upon them.
fondly.
it's okay to go back there as long as
you don't get stuck there.
The trick is to let it ground you
but not let it weigh you down.
Nostalgia gives our lives texture.
It reminds us
that we are valuable people,
that we've led meaningful lives.
That's why this jacket is so awesome to me
because it reminds me of who I am,
who I chose to be,
what I decide to do with my life
and why.
In all of its faded glory,
it gives me wind in my sails.
And so I say,
the next time you are ever feeling unsure
about something in life or uncertain.
I say fish out
that object,
that thing,
that memory,
and reflect upon it.
Because life is full of
so many winding roads
and we could all use a really good compass
once in a while.
And wherever you go
in life on your journey,
make sure you bring a jacket
because a little comfort goes a long way.
Thank you.
(Applause)