It starts out with the words “I think we all need a pep talk.” and quotes a legendary poet (“not cool, Robert Frost”). The speaker of these words is a cherubic looking youngster with the wit and wisdom of an ancient sage, juiced up on life. He waxes forth with quotables such as “The world needs to stop being boring.” “If life is a game, aren’t we all on the same team?” “I want to be on the road that leads to awesome.” “Create something that will make the world awesome.”
This wise man is 9 year old Robby Novak from Tennessee; on the surface, a ‘normal’ kid with a sense of humor that belies his age and likely as a result of being ‘broken open by life.’ Born with Brittle Bone Syndrome, formally known as Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Robby (a.k.a. Kid President) has broken over 7o bones in his body. Some of his videos show him sporting colorful casts. Do you think that stops him from keepin’ on keepin’ on? No way! And if he can dance through life, literally and symbolically, so can we.
With his brother in-law as camera man, he created a series of home made videos that have him waxing philosophical and silly, encouraging grownups to stop being boring and boo-hooing over things that we can actually change. Rainn Wilson from “The Office” and Soul Pancake, got a glimpse of the videos and invited KP to play. Over 7 million views of his motivational. transformational, inpsirational words and moves have made this young man a viral phenom.
In his Pep Talk video, he queries: “In high school, what if [Michael Jordan] had quit if he didn’t make the [basketball] team? He would have never made Space Jam. And I love Space Jam. What would be your Space Jam? What would you create that would make the world awesome? Nothin’ if you keep sitting there.” “If it doesn’t make the world better, don’t do it.”
When asked what policital party he affiliates with, his brilliant response was: “Don’t be in a party. Be a party.”
What I love most about this brilliant beam of light is that he is a thriver who moved beyond being a victim and even survivor of a serious condition and is a role model for kids and adults alike about the power to overcome challenge through love and humor, playfulness and deeply held values that we can and are called on to make a difference in each others’ lives. If I could meet him, I would hug him and thank him for shining his heart so magnificently. For now, this will have to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o&feature=share&list=SPzvRx_johoA-YabI6FWcU-jL6nKA1Um-t A Pep Talk
http://youtu.be/Tc3FPwpZ9wY Kid President Answers Your Questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcZVGjG6LWM&feature=share&list=SPzvRx_johoA-YabI6FWcU-jL6nKA1Um-t The True Story of Kid President
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