TED Community » Colleen Parsons

More About Me

I'm passionate about

connecting with people in ways that allow the best to emerge; communication; people's dreams, hopes and prayers; the Divine in all

Talk to me about

your spritual adventures; goat farming; kids (humans and goats) healing; who you really are; animal behavior; human behavior; and TED Talks

People don't know that I'm good at

I'm good at listening to what you are really saying

My TED Story

My daughter Meghan showed me a documentary from Netflix and we became hooked on TED Talks. Some months later I misunderstood an e-mail and "accidentally" applied (well, I thought she had! and I didn't want to be left behind). At the time I had a chance to go on a cruise or apply for TED 2009@PalmSprings -- I couldn't do both. I just returned from TED@PalmSprings and I absolutely made the right decision. I have to figure out how to describe what happened to me there. This will be my 3rd TEDActive Adventure!!

Comments

• TEDCred score: +100.80 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +2

  A comment on Talk: Allan Savory: How to fight desertification and reverse climate change

  Mar 4 2013: As a farmer, growing soil is what we should be about. Joel Salatin (Polyface Farms) has been helping small farmers do just that for a couple of decades -- using very similar principles to those Allan Savory is recommending. I agree. Our farm was so deliciously green, until we cut back on the number of animals because of our time constraints. I'll be rethinking our farm plan after watching this.

• A comment on Talk: Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud

  Feb 27 2013: This is such an interesting and amazing concept. I love the idea. And I appreciate that our educational system is obsolete, though I hadn't really recognized the rationale for it's creation. Now I feel a bit silly that I didn't see it before. I'm a huge fan of the TED prizes and hope to help this one as best I can. Sadly, I couldn't make it to TEDActive this year, though I'd been 4 years prior. I am thrilled this video was posted so soon! Thanks Chris Andersen and TEDTeam for such great work.
• +2

  A comment on Talk: Susan Cain: The power of introverts

  Mar 2 2012: I watched this live at Palm Springs at TEDActive and was delighted to know how many conversations focused around this talk. It is a great topic and something worth considering.

• A reply on Talk: Eythor Bender demos human exoskeletons

  Mar 28 2011: Well said, Stephen. Thanks for your insight and historical perspective. Also thanks for serving and keeping us safe so I can stay on the home front and take care of Hospice patients.
• +4

  A comment on Talk: Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ...

  Mar 18 2011: Sarah was my very favorite TEDTalk from 2011!! She is such a gift to spoken word poetry, to young adults, to women and to the human race.

• A comment on Conversation: What would be some good ways to effect a cultural exchange between Long Beach and TEDActive?

  Mar 6 2011: People hang out with their friends. Even at TEDActive. People hang out with people who share their interests (fun things to do when not working). Many people who go to TEDActive attendees purposefully try to mix it up a bit -- they sit in different spots for each session, eat meals with different people, talk with people they might not ordinarily have conversations with. That's fascinating to me. It's kind of a game. HALF the people attending Palm Springs were there for the first time. I'm betting that demographic is not the same for Long Beach. I don't know what the age & socioeconomic demographics were at either place, though I'm betting Palm Springs has the younger less affluent crowd. (I work a second job to be able to afford to go.) And while Palm Springs attendees are curious about the Long Beach attendees, I wonder to what extent the reverse is true.

• A comment on Conversation: Is it fair or respectful to rate any TED talk OBNOXIOUS?

  Mar 5 2011: Why? What purpose would rating someone's presentation as obnoxious achieve? Granted, all rating are subjective, though choosing a description that is less personalized might be more in keeping with TED. I think it might be difficult for many to sort out the difference between the talk having an obnoxious overtone, verses your opinion of the person as being obnoxious -- which really wouldn't do at all.

• A comment on Conversation: Has a TED Talk ever influenced you? How?

  Feb 28 2011: I am different in so many ways. I think more purposefully. I act more compassionately. I feel more globally connected. I see more between the lines. I take action more often. I also have many more friends who care enough about people and the planet to take action toward compassionate change. When something challenging comes up or if I have to be in a situation that's a bit out of my element I'll search TEDTalks to see what has been presented here. TEDTalks and TEDActive have provided a platform that has helped me become more whole. EVERY single talk and person I've met through TED has added something meaningful to my life. While I don't always agree with the message, I treasure the person delivering it. Thank you Chris, thank you so much for expanding TED beyond what it was so it could find a way into our lives.

• A reply on Talk: Daniel Kahneman: The riddle of experience vs. memory

  Mar 1 2010: Sexual predators will tell you that, yes, you can shift the remembering self from something awful to something pleasant -- not wholly, but it can be done.

• A reply on Talk: Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds

  Feb 26 2010: Thomas!! So delighted to see you! I so enjoyed meeting you and listening to your challenging creativity. I hope your flight home was okay? Did the kids like their presents?
  
  You make a case for people to understand unseen neuro influences such as those sitting somewhere on the autistic spectrum -- if you tell me what the barriers or struggles are, I can adjust my behavior in a way that won't be potentially disturbing. For instance, one of the kids in my care struggles with verbal conversation, so we found a way to communicate with that child over the internet. That slight removal from that personal feeling has worked well. We also adjust our words from "how do you feel" to "what's happening with you?" Simple things that help us connect.
  
  (And yes, Silverman did put items on the agenda, but at what cos?. I was as disturbed about her thoughts on "adoption" as I was with her perspective of the aged ones. I'm working on forgiving myself for not walking out.)