My good friend Karen who has a blog titled “Empty Nest Expat” wrote about our meeting. You can read it from this link: http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/12/curious-souls-gather-in-istanbul-for.html . I also copied her blog post below.
By the way, she has an extremely interesting blog which receives best expat blog awards every year. I recommend you to check it out. You will not regret it.
“Curious Souls” Gather in Istanbul for Discussion
Isil Musluer |
One of the wonderful friends I have made through Istanbul Internations and my Global Minds Book Club is my Turkish friend Isil. Isil is an attractive, fun, positive and intelligent woman who is always uplifting to be around.
The audience primed for discussion |
We gathered at Art 350, an art gallery on the Anatolian (Asian) side of Istanbul, right on the main shopping street at 350 Bagdat Caddesi (Bagdad Street). We were surrounded by the inspiring painting of Setenay Özbek.
Isil invited people with these words:
Are you fascinated with new ideas and new ways of looking at life? Do you have an insatiable desire to learn more? Do you get immense pleasure in listening to inspirational stories of great minds, and are you filled with appreciation for great talents? In short, are you a “Curious Soul”? If you are, then, we are getting together once in a month, to watch two or three very interesting, mind-stretching and entertaining TED conferences. After each video conference, we carry a guided discussion and express our own points of view. If you are ready to experience the flourishing of diverse ideas, if you would like to express yourself, expand your horizons and grow together, and while doing these, if you would like to pass an enjoyable time together, then I invite you to come and join us.
We discussed these videos:
Alain de Botton: A kinder, gentler philosophy of success.
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
Neil Harbisson: I listen to color (so appropriate given our surroundings)
Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.
You know the discussions are good when you almost hate to see the next video start up.
Another insight I had from the combination of videos watched that day is how there seems to be a dominate “single story” about what constitutes success around the world: career success and wealth. How useful for the world’s corporations.
Yet, there are many other ways to be successful, each an expression of human excellence. Think of success in marriage, or as a caregiver, or as a parent, or as a creative. We too often care too much about that dominant single story of success, rather than listen to our own drummer.
Isil’s idea of a ‘Curious Souls’ discussion group would be an inexpensive idea to replicate anywhere in the world, wouldn’t it? It’s exciting the range of content available on the Internet. It’s no longer necessary to settle for what’s on TV. We can skip the violence and go straight to intellectually uplifting.
BTW I should be in Istanbul again in April with my wife and daughter — I’d love for you to meet them.
By the way, I now understand, why your blog is continually selected as the best expat blog! You have a wonderful gift for expressing! You make all those regular things that we do everyday, like a simple tour in Cihangir or a walk along the Bosphorous or a meeting we have, seem like an extraordinary adventure. I am really proud of you Karen and glad that you are my friend!
So I wish you all the best in 2013 and hope to see you soon!
Isil