Marty Seligman delivered a TED speech in 2004. I was completing his Authentic Happiness Coaching program at that time and he told us about this speech. This segment covers Positive Psychology to that point in its young history. It is a good primer for those interested in the subject.
One part not covered in this video that Marty shared during the class stuck with me — because it is something I generally do not care about — and that was when he taught that when Florence was the center of economic commerce, the greatest decision the wealthy made was to invest in the arts.
It was that investment that helped the society flourish and continue to proposer for centuries. Today, the core of Florence’s global attraction is art and architecture created during that time (well maybe food, fashion and weather have something to do it, too).
I live in Las Vegas. Tourists do not come to Las Vegas because of the art and culture. Yet, several years ago the buzz about the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and its creation began to circulate. In March, 2012 The Smith Center opened — after having been constructed during the worst depression in Las Vegas history (because the population of Las Vegas was so small during the Great Depression most stories you hear about Las Vegas and that depression are associated with how Las Vegas prospered from government stimulus — specifically the building of Hoover Dam).
As I sat in the Smith Center Reynolds Hall for the first time last night, I understood what the leaders of Florence understood and what Marty Seligman was attempting to teach me…investment in the arts creates community. Every seat in the hall was filled, and filled with faces of every race, creed, color and generation. I have lived in Las Vegas 15 years, I have never experienced the electrifying sense of community I experience in that hall.
I always knew Las Vegas would survive the depression of 2008-2012. It was not until last night that I could see how it was going to again thrive.
The Reynolds Foundation legacy will become the legacy of a city.
Thank you, Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD
DrSuccess@ServingSuccess.com
