Welcome to Vista Talks!

Vista Talks is an ongoing speaker series. A new speaker is chosen for every lecture. Speakers present their ideas, philosophies and experiences. At the end of their talk, attendees are encouraged to ask questions of the speaker.

The topics are broad but tend to span the ideas of life philosophies, spirituality in its many forms, easier ways of negotiating one's life, mindfulness and more.

Some topics might fit into conventional norms, other topics might be considered a little "out there." All will be presented over the course of the talks. The more ideas, the better.

Background

Hello there, I'm Andrea and I have created Vista Talks as a place to go to hear about new ideas and concepts.

Starting in 2007, I found myself in a bookstore, in the spiritual / inspirational section. I picked up a book, browsed through it and then bought it. I enjoyed the book, read another. I kept reading and reading.

For the first time, I was asking myself if I was happy. What did happiness mean? How did one go about becoming happy or happier? How was I to look at my life, how I spent my free time, my work time. The more I read, the more I questioned. It felt like my whole foundation was up for question and re-evaluation. As my exploration went on and I started trying out some new ideas and new perspectives, I started feeling happier, more alive. I started acting outside of my box, trying new ideas and concepts. I connected with situations that might make me happier. I would try them and then learn, that from quite a few of them, I was happier. I felt more alive. I felt more whole, more engaged with everything around me.

I am still doing all of this, still reading, talking, thinking and changing. I have also learned that there are quite a few people in my life who are interested in the same things, or at least the same idea of striving for happiness, peace of mind, joy and super enjoyment of life. One way to say it is "When I'm old and looking back on my life, I want to say I lived it to its fullest, I took advantage of every opportunity, every adventure. I'm now ready to go." I want to feel like I really >lived< every moment - or at least strived to.

So this leads me to Vista Talks. I love to read inspirational, thought-provoking books, but I also like to see and hear someone discuss the same topics. I just like this dialogue around me (books, people, etc). I attended a workshop on the East Coast that was fun and interesting, but it wasn't something that I could do often due to the expense: airfare, lodging and the workshop itself. So then I started thinking about what I could create locally.

And there you have Vista Talks. I don't have a fine-tuned focus for it yet. But this is what I have so far. I'd like Vista Talks to present a new speaker each time. The speaker will present a concept, perspective, theory which will fall in the category of living a happier more adventurous, authentic, interesting life.

I hold the belief that society holds way too many self-limiting traditions, rules and standards. I think there is a much bigger way of looking at and experiencing the world - and that way is probably different for each person.

Through Vista Talks, I would like to invite speakers to present different ways of seeing and living in this world. I'd like its attendees to receive information and ways to see the world that are new to them, new to me too. I love the concept of self-expansion - for me, that means when I see something in a different way, from a new perspective, when I understand where someone is else is coming from (that I didn't understand in the past). I love to feel like I'm growing and learning and that I'm evolving into a space of more peace, joy and adventure.

So that is why I have started Vista Talks. It's a place to go where you will hear different speakers share their ideas. I will try to describe the speakers beforehand so you have an idea of what that particular lecture will be about. Then just show up. The idea is to be exposed to some new idea that will make you see things in a new way or just give you an idea that might make your experience one of more happiness.

Vista Talks is as much for others as myself - as I want to hear these speakers too and have a regular place locally to which I can find this opportunity. So I welcome you. My goal is to find eclectic and inspiring speakers whose concepts serve as mind opening opportunities to make our lives more interesting and fun.

Do you have any questions or comments? Feel free to email me. I look forward to planning some great speakers!

~ Andrea