Why Everyday Kindness and Simple Giving Matter | Jenny Schell | TEDxColoradoSprings

Growing up in a Colorado ghost town, Jenny Schell spent her days hauling water, chopping wood, and learning why everyday kindness and simple gifts matter.
Colorado Springs native, Jenny Schell, is a proud Pikes Peak Community College graduate with an AAS degree in Graphic Design. In 2007, she co-founded Design Rangers out of a longing to be in control of her future, and to model to her two young sons that each of us have the power to design our life. Jenny has been deeply involved in the community for many years, joining with other local designers to create Wild Fire Tees during the Waldo Canyon Fire, acting as Creative Director for local philanthropic initiative Give!, and sharing stories of hope from her eclectic childhood as keynote speaker at Care and Share Food Bank’s 2015 fundraising luncheon, Recipe for Hope. Most recently, Jenny was honored to have a portion of her childhood story featured in Walmart’s 2016 "Fight Hunger. Spark Change." campaign which raised more than $17M for Feeding America member food banks, including $107,000 for Care and Share.
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

[@blockannaclaireout]

This video just shows what we take for granted and what we don’t . We need to appreciate the little things.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you, Anna! I appreciate you commenting :)

[@patientson]

Kindness fuels patience and in turn focus.

[@sharonrousseau3527]

You are my best friend’s neighbor in C. Springs. You have made an enormous wonderful impression on them and inspired them as humans. I can see why. God bless you and your family. I’m praying for your health and comfort. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others to be kind.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you so much, Sharon

[@optimal8155]

Your mom is a warm, kind soul. My wife and I see her all the time where she works. Your mom, out of the blue told me to watch this video. About kindness. The timing is the uncanny part. I had recently been struggling with a loss of kindness in my life. It’s almost like she knew.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you so much -- thank you for watching and thank you for sharing

[@melindabeen7266]

I have heard great things about this Church, you saved a friend of mine, his name is Stanley, TK u all so much, he has told me all about you all. God Bless your Church and all the people in it. 👼🙌🙏🙌👑 Melinda Been Lafayette,IN

[@alicegossrau2295]

What an inspiring and beautiful speech...it really makes you feel so much more down to earth listening to Jenny Schell and at the same time challenges your usual way of walking through life. It makes you more aware of the little acts of kindness that can mean so much! True words that reach the heart!

[@JennySchell]

Thank you, Alice

[@trishankuuknahsirt1872]

beautiful! a simple but emotional powerful talk. thank you!

[@JennySchell]

Thank you so much!

[@michelleferz07]

This talk was incredible and moving in so many ways, everyone should see this video. Thank you for this message of love and kindness!

[@JennySchell]

Thank you for your kind words, Michelle!

[@eoinoliver4826]

Brilliant Jenny, great talk

[@JennySchell]

Thank you, Eoin

[@angelagilesklockeYT]

I wanted to watch this again because your message is just so beautiful. We all need to remember to be kind.

[@JennySchell]

[@howardcohen6817]

@@JennySchell Right on, Angela.

[@snapshotsfromalife]

One word - Powerful.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you so much!

[@Mahasariputta]

Gratitude ❤️🙏

[@ariannam7258]

A beautiful talk!! Kindness is underrated :)

[@JennySchell]

Thank you, Arianna! :)

[@selcukpolat2371]

This video was great. Thank you for sharing it!

[@JennySchell]

Thank you so much!

[@billwong6077]

very powerful talk. I loved how you share your personal story. I am really impressed. (I am a TEDx Talker myself, and will soon do another one.)

[@JennySchell]

Thank you for your kind words, Bill! Means so much to me.

[@billwong6077]

Of course, doing a TEDx is a wonderful accomplishment.

[@howardcohen6817]

Thanks for your talk, Jenny. I'll try to be more kind.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you for watching, Howard

[@howardcohen6817]

@@JennySchell Well, I've fully forgotten your talk, Jenny. So I listened again after you had written back. today, and was once again moved to write. The heading tells us that I wrote to you a year ago. Since then I've devoten much more of my life to showing kindness and helping others, without even knowing why I was doing so. Mostly helping people at the train-station who are homeless. Not only getting food and toiletries to them but also listening to their stories and hearing their concerns. Their despair is often difficult to bear but I listen to that, too, and commiserate with these new friends. I'm instrumental in saving their legs, lives, life's moods. Many tell me how important I am, but I know how important these relatively honest people are and am thankful, that they let me help. An anecdote from this week: Sasha is 30 and has been living from hand to mouth for the past five years. I took him to the hospital when his swollen leg was turning colors, convinced him to get off H (he's in the methadone program since Jan 1). He'd been stabbed in Feb. and the wound needed a month of treatment. He's had a lot of bad luck this year, but I was there, from time to time, helping out, bringing the stolen wheel-chair back to the hospital, providing crutches, food and drink. I don't know how he survives, but he survived an incredibly harsh winter this year despite his belongings being stolen. His aunt who had brought him up recently died and left him her house, which he didn't want to take as it had €100,000 debt on it. I asked him if he knew the house and he explained that this was the house of his childhood. In answer to my questions he made it clear to me that we were talking about a 5-family house surrounded by land! The units were currently not being rented! In short, this property holding was worth a small fortune and I encouraged this person who sleeps on the ground of the train-station to go with the papers to the bank and get a professional opinion. "This is your start-capital out of this mess. Your aunt- God rest her soul, would want you to be using the house in this way." He became agitated and promised he'd go to the bank with his social-worker (I'd go with him if I had any knowledge or sense about real-estate). I can't wait to hear what the bank said or to encourage him again to go to the bank to get their opinion. Just by paying attention to his story (I really just wanted to offer my condolences on the passing of his aunt) we uncovered a very real, possible way out. To your plea about being kind I might respectfully add to be sincere (which you are, I'm certain). People need this very much. I need this very much. Thanks for answering my comment. Love.

[@JennySchell]

@@howardcohen6817 You've brought me to tears, Howard

[@vmpy2024]

Beautiful and wonderful!! you are really impressive I wish you and your family the best in life.

[@JennySchell]

Thank you, Vineeth! And thank you for your kind words

[@patientson]

Love is patient and kind yet it is the beginning of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - the way of love & 1 John 4:8 - God is Love.

[@smokinnplatez1426]

6:20 in and its blah blah sad hard life could use a better structure

[@JennySchell]

Thanks for your feedback. I’m sure you’ll find other talks that resonate with you more.

[@Lois-o1f]

Better structure for sure, now you tell me! 😮😂😊❤