You Have One Life. Live It. | Sherry McConkey | TEDxUniversityofNevada

After the tragic death of her husband Shane in 2009, Sherry McConkey had to change in order to continue to thrive. Shane McConkey, regarded as the most influential skier in the world, believed that if you have the courage to be authentic, anything is possible. In this very authentic talk, Sherry discusses how the legacy of Shane empowers her daily to discover a new and better version of herself.
An avid world traveler, Sherry McConkey was born in Ireland, raised in South Africa, and began her global journey in 1989. After traveling through Europe and Canada, she landed in Lake Tahoe, CA, which she still calls home.
A passion for the outdoors connected Sherry to legendary free ski pioneer Shane McConkey. The two were married in Thailand in 2004 and their greatest creation, Ayla, came along in 2005. Shane passed away in 2009.
Through both her life with Shane, and his death, Sherry has come to believe that with desire, passion, and a goal, anything is possible. Despite the grief after losing him, Sherry knew she wanted to carry on Shane’s legacy. She turned moments of sadness into inspiration and used the power of positivity to build The Shane McConkey Foundation, and Executive Produce the movie, McConkey.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@AW-zc1xt]

We all die. Most never live. This guy lived.

[@mijuajua4820]

A W -so very well said!!!

[@n.e.o.n3983]

😍 inspiring...

[@carltonpenaloza600]

Braveheart

[@jellybean6556]

@Pabriel Gomez lol

[@terrencelachlan1633]

a tip: you can watch series on flixzone. Been using them for watching a lot of movies these days.

[@EnglishwithKristina]

As a wife and mother, I can't even begin to imagine what you must have gone through and am so sorry for your loss. Please continue to be authentic and pour your heart into it - it shows. You are an inspiration, Sherry. Thank you for this video.

[@sisteryaya24]

Losing my mother and my father was one of the hardest hings I have ever had to deal with so I understand what she may have suffered. I admire how she allowed that deep and great loss to assist her in becoming a bigger version of herself and living a more passionate life. Thanks so much.

[@joselleannetv]

You are so strong. I admire you. Thank you for sharing this.

[@melissamclaughlin5693]

I watched the documentary on Shane a couple years ago. I was immediately drawn in by his personality, acceptance of others, and charisma. It was an amazing, well made documentary that seem to really capture the essence of his life. AMAZING.

[@thisdreamergirl]

My husband rides a motorcycle. It's dangerous, and I usually worry. But two things help me navigate that worry - 1. Seeing the JOY on my husbands face, and in his energy when he's on his bike... and 2. this amazing phrase "Las aves prefieren morir volando." (The birds prefer to die while flying) If he's going to injure himself, I'd rather him injure himself doing something he loves.

[@palmtrees3117]

Jacob Glascow wtf are you even talking about? Holy fuck you're stupid.

[@akileshk8212]

Kerilyn Russo beautifully phrased. Cheers to u guys

[@eramthakur6992]

Kerilyn Russo I lost my sister to a motorcycle accident. I lost her two days before my wedding. Every part of this talk reminds me of her.

[@jairofranco6847]

@@palmtrees3117 who is jacob Glascow?

[@tangoz811]

i wonder if you would say the same if he does ACTUALLY die

[@mamajulie1501]

I am currently Caregiving for Shane's mother, Glenn, which brought me to learn about Shane and Glenn as well. I am so grateful and honored to be around such beautiful, amazing, and inspiring people, and to Caregive for his mother in the last stretch of her journey. I am grateful and inspired to learn of Shane, his legacy, his Light. Thank you for this talk. I will take your examples and words to heart, as well as the foundations you mention. Exciting and good work. Thank you!

[@macintheus]

A little poem that would seem to sum up Shane's life. "My candle burns at both ends, it will not last the night. But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends, it gives a lovely light." -- Edna St. Vincent Millay The movie -- McConkey -- is one of the best I've ever seen -- of any genre. I recommend it to everyone. Shane was an amazing guy who had the courage to follow his dreams. I was blown away by his athleticism, and laughed so hard at his antics!. R.I.P. Shane -- and way to go Sherry for turning such a dark event into such a bright light. Shane would be so proud!

[@nw504]

M

[@tywoodhall2991]

Shane McConkey, will forever be Brilliant......He changed the world by Believing in his Dreams.

[@gracebrown7059]

Sherry, Your evolution as an individual and passion to make a difference in this world are infectious. Thank you for perpetuating Shane and his curious, dorky, genuine, amazing self. As a High School student,The Shane McConkey Foundation reminds me to live my best life every day, and making a difference in the world is possible at any age, and that we are all worthy of making our dreams come true no matter what. Thank you.

[@iiloveshane1]

+Grace Brown Thank you lovely, can't wait to see what you grow up to be, the things you have already done are incredible! Hope we see you soon!!

[@wingspan507]

Hi Sherry, I knew I recognized you from somewhere. When your daughter told me your story, in the Los Olas pool, I had a faint memory I had seen it. I found this video and showed it to Quinn. What a delight to meet you and your daughter! I knew she was a mermaid when I saw her splashing in the pool and singing. You are so lucky to have each other. Thank you for sharing so courageously this story. It's touching and powerful because you are so right. We have only one life to live, but the beauty is that those we love who have moved on live within our hearts forever. I hope our paths cross again and If you ever want to jam with some ukuleles, please let me know. Many Blessing and my deepest gratitude for your powerful and vulnerable talk!

[@sharonericson4125]

Death of a love one, a horrible thing to live past. Thank you for sharing, so strong. I'm struggling to live past my precious sister's death 3 years ago. Bless you . ♥️

[@BrianMorrisPhoto]

Love you Sherry, that was amazing! You both touched my soul deeply while on my journey and calling Tahoe my home, our home ,Your queendom. Sending you blessings always.

[@larasmith2931]

🦋I can’t even imagine what you felt getting the call but for me knowing families can be together forever has helped with loss

[@htr1974]

You were so brave to do this Sherry - inspiring just like your husband - bless you xxxx

[@myles5197]

Great Talk. I felt it in my soul. God Bless Shane!

[@michaels8902]

Amazing, Shane has influenced so many people inside and outside the ski community.

[@marujob6619]

We all know we have one life but it amazes us that living life to the fullest seems to be a revolutionary idea.

[@AmaSharapova]

Documentary about McConkey is one of the best movies I have seen. Thank you.

[@trishveser2883]

Natasha Sharapova agreed. I saw him skiing once in Canada. Great guy.

[@mansijain3842]

Acknowledging the devastated reality that love of your life will never meet you anymore, his existence has completely vanished to this world is something which is excruciatingly painful.

[@kleding11]

Bless you for your honesty and sharing your vulnerability with us all. May you, your child and your husband be at peace.

[@azzamatdardhk8643]

It is true that in this world we have to live only for onetime but it is also true that we shall be granted a second life for living again, no body know about his life after death in this world.

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Great great talk . Life is short . Preach what you live . Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.

[@messyroomstudios]

Who shared this video to inspire others? Be honest. GO.

[@hadirahman9580]

my candle burns at both ends,it wont lasts the night...But ah, my foes,and oh,my friends..it gives a lovely night.

[@zirconce]

Thank you so much for sharing your extraordinary story about Shane McConkey and yourself with us. Thank you.

[@slahdjif0atiha320]

Jason Loke £? y

[@shahidaparveen8129]

That's what I believe ^Live your life to your fullest sans any regret !^

[@katrinavanwijk]

Thank you so much Sherry.

[@gabriellamenendez4400]

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this. Beautiful video.

[@mastercerisdi]

This lady is such a great speaker, honest, genuine and so easy to relate to. The point of the speech could have been presented in a slightly sharper and more precise way, but i still liked the talk a lot.

[@Koloherides]

We never die ,now is constant forever just different body different star different parents different friends but always

[@WandaHennig]

Lovely. So authentic and inspiring. Congrats.

[@seaniemacification]

We love you Sherry! Amazing work!

[@ReneeSLiu]

Thank you so much for this. Really need this.

[@lukeshacter5832]

Amazing Sherry Congratulations.

[@anwaaralrigheewhuy8585]

Thank you about sharing that to us ,that was incredible to hear it , really you are strong women .

[@Smm1802]

Powerful! Thank you for your inspiring words!!!

[@veganchaatparty]

Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Super Superb!! Thanks for sharing!

[@tarawasinger]

Such a powerful speech. Hugs 🤗

[@MW-eg4gu]

I sympathize with this woman. But in the past 60 or so years, feelings have pushed aside thinking. Death can take any of us at any time, but a guy with a wife and child. We all need ti grow up. Anyone thinking you must find some thrill to make life meaningful, needs to understand day by day living what to too many seems a boring life, such as working at a job you don't particularly like, is the thrill of walking the tightrope of a balanced, conservative life of responsibility for family and others. Live the thrill of struggling with your responsibilities and reaching out to others in simple but loving acts. We all have a lot of growing up to do.

[@MAVakil-gj9mv]

Salute to you for your courage to live and live for others. God Bless.

[@hobmarg]

Powerful talk, thank you.

[@زهرةالتوليب-ف4ع]

The whole talk is about Shane !

[@niksa5512]

God bless her n her family...amen🙏✝️

[@Dragonite-hm4lm]

YOU HAVE TO LIVE IT

[@AdamMcConkey]

7 Years today, RIP.

[@unzahid]

Thank you so much for this.

[@SXHQQSSS]

A story far from over!! BRAVO!!

[@bhimkallu]

So much courage. Thanks for sharing ur story

[@GB-mj2sj]

McConkey was the legend

[@starrysmile7646]

very very beautiful, thank you.

[@mariarosales7717]

Gracias por compartir.dificil prueba te dió la vida, Pero también te dió la oportunidad de superarla y seguir con tu vida de guerrera exitosa en lo que más amas y te gusta. Eso nos motiva a seguir tu ejemplo para salir adelante a pesar de los obstáculos que se nos presenten en la vida. Nunca es tarde para lograr con éxito lo que en un tiempo se detuvo.

[@GravInducedSleepTrac]

Shane always wanted to make his mother proud, unfortunately Glenn would never allow that! Oddly enough she seemed happier after he died versus angry most of the time when we were kids living together during the Summers!

[@CC42_]

best skiier in the history of the sport

[@fallzero7304]

I feel like people are misunderstanding what she was supposed to deliver She isn't feeling despair with the loss of her family but rather allowing us to take a different perspective as to why Shane lived how he did tho that means the risk of losing out things Life isn't about a linear set of living People die almost every day in a great magnitude We don't get to choose when we die but we have the ability to when we live Doing things you are passionate about brings about the goodness and greatness in not only yourself but also to the ones around you Shane lived his life the way he wanted so even after his death his documentary helped millions other to become a better person She understood what Shane was and even after with the unimaginable loss she overcame the hurdles turned her life for the better Losing things are part of the life my fellow humans Somethings we love so much and others we just don't care but the latter doesn't affect you as much as the former do Be the personal you want to be and the world around you would change without you having to worry about it After all it takes only one guy to lead the herd The message I would like to take from this is adversity is real and it's everywhere but overcoming that is possible and all we have to do is take that goddamn next step

[@MeowMeow-yw1zp]

Great movie👍

[@djc7039]

Well done,

[@christophersnyder9565]

Thank YOU!

[@duniabounader]

THANK YOU

[@michellekim4996]

Thank you for the life giving story and lessons.

[@barnojumayeva4339]

Great talk!

[@girijasomani3234]

Itsss jusss amazingg !!! Loved it !!

[@saheed8815]

Super talk ,inspiring Ur words

[@TariqKhan-xt5qs]

I think i was meant to see this, because i randomly clicked on this and i live in this city

[@Rosell-h5g]

Tariq Khan of course you were meant to see this, life is here for you.

[@WaterMan-ss6eb]

People say well he was doing what he loved. Or he died doing what he loved....I've thought about that a lot and i dont think there is one dead person who would say if i come back to life I'm going to do that again. It is simply adrenaline addiction and the price is steep for addiction

[@q062am]

There is no point to make in making a theoretical hypothesis that is based on an assumption and can never be proven. Who is to say that even if they could change their life and not repeat it again, that this would make them more happy. Besides, everyone would like to change any adverse outcome of any action or decision but thats not how we decide what to do with our luves

[@GravInducedSleepTrac]

He was the product of a very dysfunctional upbringing, caged in every way from day one! Could never do anything good enough, even punished for using to much toothpaste on the tooth brush, a single pea left on the plate, 10 years old and we got to sit in a theater, for 3hours and watch something like The Big Sleep, or Kramer vs Kramer and everyone knows Donkey Kong is 30 feet away, a guaranteed fail, picking weeds when we get home! Adrenaline was the drug byproduct of the act of escaping the cage! It felt good, to good to resist! Ironically the last time I saw him he told me the biggest danger was not getting the skis off in time. So much riding on so little binding? R.I.P old friend!

[@skiersparadise4568]

Long live saucer boy

[@ittiebittiedance]

I need motivation rn

[@eddiesteele7428]

Fantastic.

[@gatoreneatyahoo]

Beautifully put :)

[@aungwinnaing4682]

Really interesting.

[@walkertongdee]

there are billions of people who disagree with this title, just sayin...

[@palmtrees3117]

Walkertongdee what's the point in just saying?

[@beatrixatthecchwclub5620]

I thought I detected a South African accent, amazing how that remains

[@harsh8518]

life is amazing gift of god

[@Cece-fr7bp]

When you were describing shane it's like you were describing my boyfriend😇❤

[@JudithMarieG]

Don't just live your life. RISK IT! Even when you have small children that might need you to be around for a while.

[@steveblades6967]

covid took my sister so i live each day as if its my last

[@63mymojo]

Love you ...... X

[@monicacristelli67]

❤️🙏🏻

[@akhenamenray4492]

Interesting experienced!

[@زهرةالتوليب-ف4ع]

In what this could help a depressed and broken person who’s not wife not mom to find the light at the end of the tunnel

[@JFYDRAFTINGSANDIMAS]

People surprised of someone die after being doing this stuff ''I'm surprised''

[@melanieholstra4397]

Live it...what does that mean really? I lost my husband suddenly and am a single mom with a child on,the Autism Spectrum. How can I do more than what is in front of me each day?

[@powskier]

So you release the skis manually in the air? Such a bad idea. Some kind of fail-safe (proven and tested) electronic release would be so much faster.

[@spol3278]

Wanderful men. Why is he gone so fast

[@maheshpatil5022]

great.

[@bear693]

Im stuggling with a guy who has a wife and child and is involved in a stunt that gives himself one chance to remove a ski or face death

[@alexandriadavis4250]

I don't like sad stuff and I don't like the cold😩☕

[@delbertcast3543]

Don’t forget Frank G

[@paolozotti]

Microsoft guys help raising their daughters, do not choose meaningless adrenaline rush and big bucks over their families. At least, most of them. She did not even realize that it was his choice of a reckless life to inflict so much pain to her and her daughter. So many young lives are lost to illness, war, accidents... why do we glorify people that value life so little?

[@leoravel6799]

It's actually a great question you ask, but I desagree with you on one point, the guy doesn't value life so little, maybe the guy value life so much that he cannot even spend one day doing things he doesn't LOVE, and maybe he value life so much that he cannot push his dreams aside. cheers

[@fredlay3010]

Noname Johndoe p p m

[@krishnamohan2351]

Léo Ravel thank you for explaining it so beautifully.

[@krishnamohan2351]

Noname Johndoe please don't judge people so easily. Yes his occupation was risky but what do you do when the only place you find happiness is doing that risky thing? Not everyone wants a desk job. Imagine how boring the world would be if everyone was like that. If his wife and daughter can make peace with his choice who are we to question it?

[@jasonconrad4314]

Shane valued his life more than you could imagine. If you even paid attention to what Sherry said, you'd realize that the decision was hers. She knew what Shane loved to do, and she accepted his risks also

[@ub4079]

He was looking for death. He knew ( as his wife) that this will happen sooner or later. His life, his decision. But!!!!! After having loved ones, wife, kid -- this is simply a very very selfish attitud... Yes. “Live your life”. But having a kid comes with responsibilities!!!!! If you don t want them - do not have a kid.

[@danielaandrade2025]

[@ThomasSellers]

I've lived my one life. Now that it's almost over you have no right to talk anymore.Nice try, tho.

[@sutats]

Carpe diem!

[@ateez3904]

This womans husband died due to a stupid stunt. He didn't have to do it - he chose to do it. What about all these murders that die due to terrorism or war etc - They both knew the consequences - cry me a fucking river.

[@emmanuelobi5752]

Hello

[@newlife286]

1st world motivational talk has no idea about life in a 3rd world country.

[@mattjoy]

I believe in reincarnation...

[@emmanuelobi5752]

Please i need helping hand

[@larryrobinson6914]

Helps not to have pet python curl up on your shoulder

[@abc-bn8qe]

Yup, you have family and still you pursue adrenaline driven dangerous sports.

[@janeyhazekamp2475]

The useful blanket pathogenetically steer because beach parallely rule afore a gleaming tabletop. loving, safe office