to change your life
About Steven AitchisonI am the creator of Change Your Thoughts (CYT) blog and love writing and speaking about personal development, it truly is my passion. There are over 500 articles on this site from myself and some great guest posters.
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I had another post planned for today and it was going to be a great one 
, however, I saw this video on TED.com and it totally blew me away and I had to scrap my post and put this video up instead. I believe every person who is 21 or over, and everyone who is 20, or younger, needs to see this video:
[...] Thanks to Steven Aitchison for making me aware of her in his post How 12 Year Old Adora Svitak Taught The World A Lesson. [...]
[...] How 12 Year Old Adora Svitak Taught The World A Lesson [...]
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Steven, thank you!!! I can understand why you felt compelled to scrap what you planned and put this video up instead. By the end of the video I was laughing so hard at the humor and so impressed with the wisdom. Adora Svitak is an awe-inspiring visionary and a very funny girl, too.
Wonderful – I especially loved her words, “when expectations are low, trust me – we will sink to them.” This is just such amazing insight – sad, too, because this is so often what we adults do to ourselves. We settle rather than strive, we sink rather than soar.
Many thanks to you for sharing this with your CYT community. I feel so inspired after watching this video, so invigorated. There is so much hope in the world, and visions plenty enough and grand enough to carry us forward in great expectations. Where will Adora lead us next?
From the mountains of Japan, evening greetings to you, and a thank you for your warm comment on my blog – Catrien Ross.
.-= Catrien Ross´s last blog ..Catrien Ross on Getting Unstuck By Gently Letting Go =-.
Hi Catrien, isn’t she amazing, such a polished speaker it was jaw dropping to watch, and the messages she ash for the world is quite stunning.
I loved the project you were part of and thought all 4 articles by all of you were just great.
Wow! What a truly inspiring video. It’s extremely rare to see such an accomplished speaker, in a person of any age! And I’m blown away by the insight and wisdom displayed by Adora. Actually, words just fail me! All I can say is, the world is in safe hands!
Topi
.-= Topi´s last blog ..10 moments to savour during the day =-.
Hi Tope, thanks for your comments I really appreciate them
Steven -
A really enjoyable video with some good messages for all. Sometimes we need to hear these things from those not yet tainted by the world, to remind us of the limits we place on ourselves. Loved the glass section – fascinating…. Thanks for sharing.
Phil
.-= Phil – Less Ordinary Living´s last blog ..The Five Secrets to Finding Work that Matters =-.
Hi Phil. My mum always had a saying ‘out of the mouths of babes’ meaning that children speak the truth because they don’t yet have the concept of consequences so say whatever they want. Like you, I thought the messages are really powerful.
To watch or not to; when one can only watch 15secs. and wait for the buffer for 30secs.
Hi Pakwan, hit the play button then hit pause, wait for the red bar to load and then play and you won’t get the interruption of the buffering.
Wow – that was fantastic!
She touched upon a topic that is near to my heart – the way people treat children. Truly, I don’t understand it. Children are often treated as if they are not “really” people, or at least individuals.
People rule over children in such controlling, demeaning ways. I have seen children reared with more awareness and consideration and they blossom so magnificently.
My hope is that more children have the opportunity to be treated with respectfulness, humaneness and joyfully.
I love children. Their openness and love is profound.
Thanks for this great talk!
Lauren
Hi Lauren, I think that is a consequence of generations of ‘children should be seen and not heard’ however that is changing in our current climate and in a few generations on children’s voices will be heard more than the adults.
Wow. She is TWELVE!!!! Wow!
She has more insight than many adults I know.
Chris
.-= Chris Akins´s last blog ..3 ways to ground yourself =-.
Hi Chris, Amazing to think she is only 12
Steve, this was so wonderful to see. You just skyrocketed my respect and appreciation for the shinning stars of youth. WOW, she was truly awesome. Thanks for sharing this!
.-= Jonathan – Advanced Life Skills´s last blog ..Allow Gratitude to Transform Your Life =-.
Hi Jonathan, imagine having that confidence and insight at that age, I was still playing with ‘Action man’ and trying to figure out how to get ‘Cindy’ into my army jeep.
Steven, thanks for sharing such an inspiring video. I’m certainly going to bring it to the attention of as many people as I can. The young lady in the video is a credit to all other young people.
Regards
Paul
.-= Paul´s last blog ..Dealing with change =-.
Hi Paul, amazing to think that she is our future
Hey Steven, I was talking to my girlfriend on Skype. She is across the Pacific Ocean. I was a little bored, so I checked Google reader, then came across your blog post. I opened it up, and I asked my girlfriend if she wanted to watch the video with me. So said okay. We watched the video of the little girl together after counting down from three. I really thought she had a sassy tone for a little girl. She sounded very intellectual, which made her cute, but she had a powerful message. We both enjoyed watching it and thought it was funny. Thank you Steven.
.-= Hulbert Lee´s last blog ..Steve Jobs and Innovation =-.
Hi Hulbert, I am really glad you and your girlfriend enjoyed this.
I enjoyed the video thanks to the supportive parents
Hi Kennedy, thanks for the comments
Oh my, Steven!
I was just thinking about how my children actually teach ME many things and not the other way around. Each person with their own personality has something to add, a unique view point of the world and of events. This girl is going places and is more mature thanmost adults that I know.
Thanks for sharing!
Eren
.-= Eren Mckay´s last blog ..Inspirational Parenting – The Way I See My Calling as a Parent… =-.
Hi Eren, my kids have taught me so much in life and they don’t even have to speak to teach me.
Definitely an old soul.
Hi Susan, yep she has definitely been on this earth before
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sharing this video! This girl definitely has talent. And it doesn’t matter what age she is. This shows that we can all learn something from every other human being.
I especially loved her story about the kids giving the glassmakers ideas that were MUCH different. This is a classic case of thinking “outside the box.” It makes me wonder: How can I apply some creative thinking to my life?
.-= Greg Blencoe´s last blog ..Cardinals and always, always, always follow your heart =-.
Hi Greg. This girl made me stop in my tracks and look at my own life briefly, which is always a good thing. Glad you enjoyed it.
Love this.
I need to go and listen to my children more. I want them to have as bigger life as they can handle and clips like this help give me the tools.
So thank you for posting it.
.-= Deborah Wall´s last blog ..If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden. ~ Robert Brault =-.
Hi Deborah, I ma glad this allowed you a little time to think about your children. Thanks for your comments.
Amazing, this little girl and all children! All we adults need to do is believe in them and get out of their way. I am awed weekly by a group of 10 girls who make up my Brownie Troop in Girl Scouts of America (in theory, I am their “leader”). They chose our activities this year which have been entirely focused on the environment, protecting endangered animals and improving our community. Mine is a role of guidance and encouragement.
My mantra for my own children (including twins born with Down syndrome) Is: “BELIEVE — No one can know the limits of Another!” Let them bloom and the world will bloom with them. Thanks for sharing this!
.-= Maggie Mae´s last blog ..Down Syndrome Adoption — Life In A Good Home Or A Horrible Institution? =-.
Hi Maggie, thanks for sharing part of your life. It sounds as if you know exactly what you’re doing with regards to children. Thanks for you comments.
Hi Steven
I too totally understand why you went with this. Between laughter and tears, this little girl touched my heart profoundly. What an inspirational spirit!
Having been a teacher and working with teens, I so agree with her. My students taught me some of the greatest things I could have ever hoped for. It was an incredible honor and gift to teach them and learn from them.
And I am in awe of the kids out there today. We do need to put more trust and faith in them, because they are indeed capable of incredible things!
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Book Review: The Book of Awesome =-.
Hi Evita, thanks for visiting again, I am just reading a post of over on Robins blog. Thanks for your comments I really appreciate it.
what presence for such a young kid. Awesome…awesome video. Thanks for sharing
.-= Christian Russell´s last blog ..Must Have WordPress Plugins For Your Business Blog =-.
Hi Christian, thanks for connecting here on the blog and thanks for your comments I appreciate you stopping by.
This is very inspiring! I will try to look for more videos of Adora. I believe that we can always learn something good from those with pure hearts, regardless of their age.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..Why Is Braille on Drive-Through ATMs? =-.
Hi Julius, I think there are lots of stories about here as she has written a few books and been on TV etc.
It’s simply wonderful. I’m astonished and speechless after watching this video.
It’s such an insightful message presented in a style which is as humorous as those of very competent professionals. The video speaks volumes about her, and everyone who sees it is sure to be spell bound. Thanks a million Steve, for sharing this video to us instead of your scheduled post. If you hadn’t decided that, many of us wouldn’t have known her. I’m convinced anyone of us who will watch this video, would be instant fan of this 12 year old girl.
Thanks!
Regards!
SUMIT
.-= SUMIT´s last blog ..How to find a million or billion-dollar business idea in less than 5 minutes? =-.
Hi SUmit, she is amazing for any age. Thanks for your cooments, they are always appreciated.
Steven, thanks so much for sharing. It is unfortunate that we adults so often bat aside the great ideas shared by kids. It is fortunate that you shared this, for it has opened up my respect and ears to listen more to my own kids, as well as the kids I work with in my practice.
.-= Steve-Personal Success Factors´s last blog ..What Can You Learn From This Cinderella Story? =-.
Hi Steve, that’s the effect it had on me as well, it made me stop and think about all the kids in my life. I am glad it had the same effect on you and glad you enjoyed it.
Hey Steven!
Wow, this is absolutely amazing. It blew me away how someone that young can speak better than most adults. I hope she carries on what she is doing because she will be able to change our world for the better when she is older!
Thanks for posting this!
Cheers!
.-= Diggy´s last blog ..6,706,993,152 Reasons To Save The World and Why We Need Your Help To Do It =-.
That 12 year girl is really amazing. I can’t believe how insightful she is. I was never like that when I was a kid. Thanks for this post.
.-= Aaron´s last blog ..MR PSDfile? =-.
Oh yes. I remember this girl. She appeared in “The world’s … and me” series as the world’s cleverest child
I’m speechless! Simple brilliant! Thanks for sharing Steven!!
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..Video – Are You Still Doing Things To Make People ‘Like’ You? =-.
Steven:
Thanks for passing this one along. It was a great reminder of the brilliance that lives in the younger generation. It is easy to get caught up and buy into all the things you hear about all the things going wrong with the younger generation. This was a great reminder that perhaps they are just doing things their own way, but still very much moving in the right direction. Why run when you can fly?
Hi Sibyl. You’ve made a great point about how the media portrays the younger generation today and it is simply not true. Thanks for your comments, they are always appreciated.
Steven, that’s the most inspiring video clip I have seen for a while. Thank you!
This feels me with so much hope for the future. It is humbling and yet inspiring to see what young people like Adora are capable of.
Everyone young person has the same potential and the same aspirations – it is up to us adults to give them a chance to flourish.
I’m truly lost for words! She’s 12?? Simply remarkable!
.-= Amit Sodha – The Power Of Choice´s last blog ..Video – Are You Still Doing Things To Make People ‘Like’ You? =-.
Steven,
Thank you so much for sharing this video. She displays a great deal of wisdom and during the entire video I was sitting here saying “Go ‘head girl, speak on it!” As a mother this spoke volumes to me because our kids won’t always tell us how they really feel out of fear of being punished (obviously something projected from us adults), so it is refreshing to hear a child’s perspective on their feelings. She is right, learning should be reciprocal between adults and children. I will definitely share with my 9-year-old son. Thank you.
Kitara
.-= Kitara R. Wilson´s last blog ..The Law of Reflection : christywhitman.com =-.
Wow. I thought I was pretty good speaker… she is quite remarkable. It is true: “…Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise…”
What an amazing set of parents she has to have been able to let her soar as she obviously is doing. Would that I had been that wise with my own children when they were young.
She will go far as long as she keeps her perspective and continues to develop on the path she is on.
Very impressive!
Sandy
.-= Sandy & Al Abrams´s last blog ..From The Other Side Of The Nipple: Another Psychic Communication For Mom =-.
Wow! What a great speaker at 12!! Thanks for sharing!
.-= jackie hall´s last blog ..Body Gospel: Have Faith in Your Weight Loss Results! =-.
Fabulous!!! Kids are born without a filter, seeing a different world than most adults – fearless, wide-eyed, thinking the impossible. Society is what slowly drains children of freethinking, fantastical thoughts, unflinching determination – the qualities that nurture dreams and make the impossible, possible – turning them into depressed, how to exceed the Jones’s type adults. I wish more children, our future, would be allowed to stay innocent, where they can dream the impossible and make it a reality.
I know I’m late in catching this one. But that was awesome!
If I’ve gotta get old and senile – I hope she is the one that will be taking care of me
.-= Kiesha @ We Blog Better´s last blog ..Developing your Friendship with God =-.
Nice speech, but if it was an adult saying that no-one would care. Take the rough with the smooth kids.
Speaking as a 14-year old, it’s great to see a person of such a young age speak up to adults, and with such charisma. I feel that she has many valid points and I agree that both adults and children should feed off each other intellectually, but she also that she gives children too much credit. While there are very talented and intelligent children, there are also those who are immature, irresponsible and dim-witted. Sadly, the latter is more frequent.
Yes very articulate child, but sad to see her potrayal of President Bush.
Respect is a lesson she could still learn
She is an amazing speaker! She is wiser than many adults i know.
What a INCREDIBLE girl. She’ll go on to do amazing, world changing things. So inspiring.
This little girl is absolutely amazing and her message is so true. The entire time I watched the video I kept thinking back to a conversation I happened to overhear a few weeks ago between a group of teachers. They kept saying things like, “They’re only kids, they don’t know how to think unless you tell them to,” and, “They aren’t people, they’re children.” It truly made me sad to realize that these comments were coming from the people that are supposed to inspire children and help them to cultivate their ideas and imaginations, but instead they simply regard them as unintelligent and uncreative.
This is just amazing. It reminds me every day we need to keep striving for more and better in this world of ours. Also makes me wish that people like her were on the news! I never would have found her if it had not been for the stumble button i have! It is indeed an incredible insight she shares with the world!
Speech was great. She is no doubt talented. However, her speech was way too one sided and seemed way too arrogant.
I don’t believe she wrote this speech. She couldn’t even pronounce many of the words. Not quite so awe inspiring to me. She had some valid points but, in the end it was a waste of my time.
Remarkable young woman Steven. I have TED Talks on my iPod and a podcast and missed this one.
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