Just say 'Yes'

I attended the TedXStormont event yesterday at Parliament Buildings, Belfast. The theme of this year's event was 'Yes' reminding us that 25 years ago the majority of people (71%) in Northern Ireland said just that to peace and reconciliation in the referendum of the Good Friday Agreement.

14 individuals from all walks of life shared their stories, tales of adversity, and tales of joy, all peppered with optimism and hope. As we face further uncertainty with no sign of our elected MLA's sitting 'up on the hill' anytime soon. We need to say 'Yes' to diversity and inclusion, we have no time for 'No'.

Here are my top highlights and moments to ponder:

Sky News Reporter, David Blevins said to us, 'Peace building is built on creativity, we live in a world of full stops. We need more commas. When did we last pause for a cup of tea with someone with a completely different view. Commas, create a pause. Having a pause, gives clarity".

CEO Simon Community - Jim Dennison CIHCM challenged us on our thinking about homelessness and the solutions needed to solve it. He gave us three numbers.

• 250 is the number of people who will become homeless every week in NI.
• 1-160 will become homeless in the next year.
• 3 people sadly will die whilst homeless.

World renowned cellist Patrick Dexter gave an interactive talk and performance by playing JS Bach prelude from cello suite No.1 in G-Minor encouraging us to say yes to music, and think about the power it can have on our body and minds.

A son of a cattle farmer from Co.Cork, Entrepreneur and CEO of FinTrU Darragh McCarthy delivered an inspiring talk about leadership, 'Ambition sits at the epicentre of how far you will go'. As an eternal optimist, be believes that optimists deal with challenges, they are solution focused. A self declared yogi, he told us to 'keep our feet on the ground to signify that nothing was beneath us. But, we should always look to the sky to know nothing is above us'.

Professer Professor Karise Hutchinson Hutchinson opened with the words, "what we learn, isn't always accurate'. Leadership is not a simple process. It's navigating complexity and contradiction. There is never one hero in the story. We don't always need to read more books, listen to more podcasts (hurray). We should create space and margin and invite others to declutter. Let's say YES to unlearning, to learn together and make room for real positive change around us.

Theatre director Matthew McElhinney gave us a talk that combined three of my favourite subjects; theatre, football and peace. Matthew spoke about his mother's play, , 'A night in November' which explores the subjects of football and sectarianism, set during the 1994 World Cup. We must all remember, with 'baby steps and momentum' you can say yes to change.

Lisa Strutt, MCIPD - I have known her for many years, this was a hard one to watch. Lisa spoke candidly about the death of her childhood sweetheart John from pancreatic cancer. Grief is not a linear path. It prompts you to live in the moment.

She shared Mary Oliver's poem, 'Instructions for living life'.

• Pay Attention
• Be astonished
• Tell about it.

Dr Janina Ramirez took us on an inspirational journey through history to find the women from the past who can help us build a better future. Look up Emily Wilding Davidson.

Former British Ambassador and policy adviser to Prime Ministers, Blair, Gordon and Brown Tom Fletcher gave us an insight into his life as a peace negotiator. Reflecting on long nights at Stormont working on the GFA. Along with the challenges we face in big tech, the planet and technology.

There are so many more brilliant speakers to to mention, the amazing Winnie Ama Northern-Irish/Ghanaian singer and songwriter. 'My goal is to learn more and enjoy the process of growth'. Check out her weekly radio station. Journalist and lecturer at University of Ulster Leona O'Neill shared the harrowing story of witnessing the barbaric murder of journalist and TedxStormont Alum Lyra McKee in Derry/Londonderry and the impact PTSD has had on her and how she is advocating for change within the newsroom.

The singer, director and producer Peter Corry sang the beautiful intro to John Farnham's 'You're the voice'.

• We have the chance to turn the pages over
• We can write what we want to write
• We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
• We're all someone's daughter
• We're all someone's son
• How long can we look at each other
• Down the barrel of a gun?

We started the day with a short video from many familiar faces from across Northern Ireland, asking us the question. What's the bravest thing you can do today. Almost 25 years ago, we were brave enough to say YES! Yes to change and to a future of promise. As Tom Fletcher put it.

• Be Kind
• Be Brave
• Be curious

We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but as Lisa said, we can all live in the moment.