How to Create a Life You Don’t Need a Holiday From | Dave Cornthwaite | TEDxBrussels

Having attained everything he’d always been told would define a successful adulthood, Dave Cornthwaite shares how he swapped comfort for a life of adventure, accidentally started a community and realised that ultimately, the bravest thing we can do is accept that we’re different from everybody else.

Since quitting a job as a really bad graphic designer in 2005, Dave Cornthwaite has developed a successful career based around his passions.

At the core, he is a record-breaking adventurer who has travelled over 19,000 miles in eleven journeys as part of his groundbreaking Expedition1000 project: 25 journeys of 1000 miles or more, each using a different form of non-motorised transport.

Dave has written three books: the bestselling Life in the Slow Lane, a hapless search for love in Date, and BoardFree, the story of how he left his job to skateboard further than anyone ever had.

His uniquely entertaining and motivational keynote presentations have been enjoyed on six continents and his passionate advocacy of the word YES has contributed to the sprouting of countless adventures worldwide, big and small.

In between adventures Dave is committed to enabling others to reach their own potential and a life fully realised through social journeys, workshops, group expeditions and mindset-shaping projects. He runs a social enterprise called SayYesMore and a community of doers called The YesTribe, as well as annual Exploring Mindset paddles down the Mississippi.

If his enthusiasm for simple living, the power of adventure for good and the glorious pursuit of enjoying Mondays isn't enough to get you ready for a new challenge, nothing will.

[mariazouganeli]

" I am constantly reminded that the default for humans is to be good and kind, but I am baffled that our world is so often presented as a place full of fear and danger. It' s quite the opposite..." So absolutely spot on! Thank you!

[zoemma]

I have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was 13, I am now 26 and have only recently discovered that the only thing that truly makes me relaxed is getting put into nature and exploring. Luckily I live beside forestry and fields so I go for a walk and explore every day I can. I really resonated with this talk! Thanks!

[finawatsonart]

Best thing I've done in a long time was a spontaneous decision to volunteer for a charity shop. Doing something different to my day job has sparked my creativity, which keeps getting damped down by "being realistic" and I'm starting to take steps to realise a long held & never acted on dream of becoming a designer by customising second hand clothes to create unique pieces. Small steps for now but better than not moving at all

[nataliedickinson]

"When you realise what your puzzle is supposed to look like, it doesn't really matter that all of the pieces aren't in place yet."
Gem of a talk. Loads of good quotes, advice, inspiration. Thanks Dave! :)

[mollyerickson]

One of the best talks I've seen. He speaks from how he lives, not books he read. He shares heartfelt wisdom from what he has learned and continued rebuilding his life based on these lessons. So inspiring. I noticed he has given more TED Talks.Can't wait to watch. "Confidence and optimism are muscles we have to exercise every day in order for them to grow."

[stefan]

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that was given to us." Quote by Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings".

[adamalpha]

a thousand mile journey does not begin with a single step
it starts with an idea !!
great !!

[erakkovaatainen]

Awesome talk, I love this TEDx thing! Is all about minimalism, living simple life with less and being happy without fear and worries. If you have more TV's in your house, than you have people, something is wrong! I truly understand what you are talking, because the same things makes me smile too, and this is more than just a life without waiting another weekend or special episode in future.

[wildflowerwind]

I think we need to do less not more. We need to find peace and happiness in the ordinary. We don't have to "do" anything or "be" anything to find our best highest self. You can do a million mile adventure and not find peace. It all is in the mind. Unfortunately our culture does not value a simple life.

[kevint]

Awesome talk. I think we do need to acknowledge all of the folks (most of us) who need to work at jobs that don't allow the luxury of 1000 mile adventures, and accept the responsibility of taking care of aged parents and/or children and/or grandchildren, but who are able to carve out some time for spontaneity and adventure in ways that may seem minimal to others. For us, our 1000 miles might be a mile a day for 1000 days, a cup of coffee with a friend, a book, or a night out.

[teachura]

Best and most inspirational TED talk I've seen, and I watch way too many of these.

[Aria.Serenity]

I found this TED talk inspiring: affirming wonder, community, adventure, joy and trust in the human spirit. It also gave me some perspective on the critical voices of "angry parrots" that we sometimes have in our lives. This is the most eminently quotable talk I've seen on YouTube. Thank you for this. Is there an transcription available?

[DavidWillis]

Wonderful, on route and saying yes more - thank you Dave Cornthwaite

[lifetodamax]

This crowd was so dead for how funny, inspiring, engaging, and joyful he was! OPTIMUS PRIME!KAYAKING ELVIS! 😆 Maybe cuz I'm American I laugh more. This crowd really needed to hear this one apparently, but so did I 😃 I definitely need to get out more.

Strangers may often be friendlier than we expect, but many places it's still dangerous, especially for women. There are many recent stories of people doing journeys to prove how safe and kind the world is who get attacked or murdered. Be wise in your adventures. Travel places known for safety.

[maireadmaccy]

Inspirational speech. Kept expecting him to mention Jupiter or the moon tho! Was listening with my eyes closed and his voice "IS" Brian Cox!!!😮😂😂😂

[srcsmxd]

World is imbalanced in many aspects because of our greed.

We should come together to create a balance in it.

instead we are trying balance at individual lives.

[sanjuansteve]

I work remotely and live in different countries, often with lower costs of living and feel on perma working holiday, but I love my work too, so... :D

[andeeanko]

Inspirational, life is *truly* what we make it

[DaniDennington]

Great talk and loved the illustrations!

[javiergarciasimon]

Great talk, loved it, so many good points in such a short time.