Van life: how to build community when always moving | Madi & Adam Smith | TEDxBGSU
Join us as we explore the paradox of building deep, meaningful connections while living a life of constant motion. In 2020, amidst a global pandemic, we stepped out of our comfort zones as newlyweds and recent college graduates to embrace a full-time nomadic lifestyle in our self-built van. Van lfe offered breathtaking scenery and the flexibility of life on the road. With every destination, we encountered profound stories of people deeply connected to the spaces they call home. One such encounter was with a young Navajo woman in Arizona. While waiting for our takeout order of Navajo tacos at her family’s restaurant, we asked about her life. She proudly shared her connection to the Navajo Nation and her deep connections to her home. She also shared her dream of visiting the Grand Canyon, a mere 150-miles away. This moment prompted us to reflect on our privilege and the ease with which we traveled to places others only dream of. Inspired by her pride and connection to place, we began to slow down, immersing ourselves more deeply in the places we visited and the stories of the people we met. Her deep rootedness in one place embodied the sense of belonging we were seeking through our nomadic journey. In this talk, we share the lessons we’ve learned from van life, including three transformative stories like the one above that taught us what it means to form community and belong. We conclude with reflections on how to root down and create meaningful connections in a world always in motion. Adam and Madi are both two-time BGSU graduates, who both currently work full-time at Bowling Green State University. Adam and Madi live in the Bowling Green area with their two dogs Acadia and Olympia. Their academic backgrounds include Sociology, History, Environmental Sciences, and Leadership. They enjoy traveling, hiking, yoga, meditation, ultra-marathon running, and spending time outdoors. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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