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AJ Jacobs: My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee
AJ Jakobs: Safari yangu kushukuru watu wote wanaowajibika kwenye kahawa yangu ya asubuhi
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Mwandishi AJ Jakobs alianzisha safari na wazo linaloonekana rahisi kutoka moyoni: kushukuru binafsi kila mtu aliesaidia utengenezaji wa kikombe chake cha asubuhi cha kahawa. Zaidi ya "asante" elfu moja baadae, Jakobs anakumbukia safari yake ya kishindo duniani iliotokea -- na kushirikisha hekima ya kubadili maisha aliopata njiani. "Niligundua kua kahawa yangu isingekuwepo bila ma mia ya watu ninaowachukulia poa," Jakobs alisema.
AJ Jacobs - Author
Immersing himself in alternate lifestyles and long, hilarious experiments (usually with himself the guinea pig), writer AJ Jacobs tests the limits of behavior, customs, culture, knowledge -- and his wife's sense of humor. Full bio
Immersing himself in alternate lifestyles and long, hilarious experiments (usually with himself the guinea pig), writer AJ Jacobs tests the limits of behavior, customs, culture, knowledge -- and his wife's sense of humor. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
So, I don't like to boast,
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Basi, sipendi kujivunia,
00:15
but I am very good at finding things
to be annoyed about.
to be annoyed about.
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ila ni mzuri sana kutafuta vitu
vitakavyo niudhi.
vitakavyo niudhi.
00:21
It is a real specialty of mine.
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Ni utaalamu wangu wa kweli.
00:23
I can hear 100 compliments
and a single insult,
and a single insult,
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Naweza kusikia sifa 100
na tusi moja,
na tusi moja,
00:27
and what do I remember?
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na ni nini ninakumbuka?
00:28
The insult.
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Hilo tusi.
00:30
And according to
the research, I'm not alone.
the research, I'm not alone.
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Na kulingana na utafiti,
siko peke yangu.
siko peke yangu.
00:32
Unfortunately, the human brain
is wired to focus on the negative.
is wired to focus on the negative.
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Bahati mbaya, akili ya binadamu
imeungwa kulenga mabaya.
imeungwa kulenga mabaya.
00:38
Now, this might have been helpful
when we were cave people,
when we were cave people,
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Sasa, hii inaweza kuwa imesaidia
pale tulivyokua watu wa pangoni,
pale tulivyokua watu wa pangoni,
00:41
trying to avoid predators,
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kujaribu kuepuka wanyama pori,
00:43
but now it's a terrible way
to go through life.
to go through life.
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lakini sasa ni njia mbaya
ya kwenda na maisha.
ya kwenda na maisha.
00:46
It is a real major component
of anxiety and depression.
of anxiety and depression.
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Ni sehemu muhimu kweli ya
wasiwasi na huzuni.
wasiwasi na huzuni.
00:52
So how can we fight
the brain's negative bias?
the brain's negative bias?
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Hivyo tutapiganaje
jinsi ubongo unavyopendelea ubaya?
jinsi ubongo unavyopendelea ubaya?
00:57
According to a lot of research,
one of the best weapons is gratitude.
one of the best weapons is gratitude.
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Kulingana na tafiti nyingi,
moja ya silaha nzuri ni shukrani.
moja ya silaha nzuri ni shukrani.
01:03
So knowing this, I started a new tradition
in our house a couple of years ago.
in our house a couple of years ago.
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Kwa kujua hili, nimeanza desturi mpya
nyumbani miaka kadhaa iliopita.
nyumbani miaka kadhaa iliopita.
01:08
Before a meal with my wife and kids,
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Kabla ya chakula na mke na watoto wangu,
01:10
I would say a prayer of thanksgiving.
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Ninasemaga sala ya kutoa shukrani.
01:14
Prayer is not quite the right word.
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Sala sio neno sahihi sana.
01:16
I'm agnostic, so instead of thanking God,
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Mimi ni agnostiki, hivyo badala ya
kumshukuru Mungu,
kumshukuru Mungu,
01:21
I would thank some of the people
who helped make my food a reality.
who helped make my food a reality.
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ninashukuru baadhi ya watu ambao
wamesaidia kufanya chakula kua ukweli.
wamesaidia kufanya chakula kua ukweli.
01:25
I'd say, "I'd like to thank the farmer
who grew these tomatoes,
who grew these tomatoes,
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Ningesema, "Napenda kushukuru mkulima
aliekuza nyanya hizi,
aliekuza nyanya hizi,
01:29
and the trucker who drove
these tomatoes to the store,
these tomatoes to the store,
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na dereva alieendesha lori
kupeleka nyanya hizi dukani,
kupeleka nyanya hizi dukani,
01:32
and the cashier
who rang these tomatoes up."
who rang these tomatoes up."
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na keshia
aliezigongea nyanya hizi."
aliezigongea nyanya hizi."
01:35
And I thought it was going
pretty well, this tradition.
pretty well, this tradition.
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Na nikadhani inaenda vizuri
sana, hii desturi.
sana, hii desturi.
01:39
Then one day, my 10-year-old son said,
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Ndipo siku moja, kijana wangu wa miaka 10
akasema,
akasema,
01:41
"You know, Dad, those people
aren't in our apartment.
aren't in our apartment.
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"Unajua Baba, hao watu
hawapo kwenye hili ghorofa.
hawapo kwenye hili ghorofa.
01:44
They can't hear you.
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Hawawezi kukusikia.
01:46
If you really cared, you would go
and thank them in person."
and thank them in person."
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Kama kweli unajali, ungeenda
na kuwashukuru binafsi."
na kuwashukuru binafsi."
01:50
And I thought, "Hmm.
That's an interesting idea."
That's an interesting idea."
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Na nikawaza, "Hmm.
Hilo ni wazo la kuvutia."
Hilo ni wazo la kuvutia."
01:53
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
01:54
Now I'm a writer, and for my books
I like to go on adventures.
I like to go on adventures.
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Sasa mimi ni mwandishi, na kwa vitabu
vyangu napenda kwenda kwenye shani.
vyangu napenda kwenda kwenye shani.
01:59
Go on quests.
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Kwenda kwenye safari.
02:01
So I decided I'm going to take
my son up on his challenge.
my son up on his challenge.
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Hivyo nikaamua nitamchukua
kijana wangu kwenye changamoto yake.
kijana wangu kwenye changamoto yake.
02:05
It seemed simple enough.
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Ilionekana rahisi sana.
02:07
And to make it even simpler,
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Na kufanya ili iwe rahisi zaidi,
02:09
I decided to focus on just one item.
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nikaamua kulenga kitu kimoja tu.
02:12
An item I can't live without:
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Kitu ambacho siwezi kuishi nikikikosa:
02:14
my morning cup of coffee.
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kikombe changu cha kahawa asubuhi.
02:16
Well, it turned out
to be not so simple at all.
to be not so simple at all.
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Basi, ikasemekana
kua sio rahisi kabisa.
kua sio rahisi kabisa.
02:20
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
02:21
This quest took me months.
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Hii safari imenichukua miezi.
02:22
It took me around the world.
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Imenizungusha duniani.
02:25
Because I discovered
that my coffee would not be possible
that my coffee would not be possible
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Kwa sababu niligundua
kua kahawa yangu isingewezekana
kua kahawa yangu isingewezekana
02:30
without hundreds of people
I take for granted.
I take for granted.
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bila ma mia ya watu
ninowachukulia poa.
ninowachukulia poa.
02:33
So I would thank the trucker
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Hivyo ningemshukuru dereva lori
02:35
who drove the coffee beans
to the coffee shop.
to the coffee shop.
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alieendesha kahawa
kwenda kwenye duka la kahawa.
kwenda kwenye duka la kahawa.
02:38
But he couldn't have done his job
without the road.
without the road.
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Lakini asingeweza kufanya kazi yake
bila barabara.
bila barabara.
02:41
So I would thank the people
who paved the road.
who paved the road.
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Hivyo ningeshukuru watu
waliotengeneza barabara.
waliotengeneza barabara.
02:44
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
02:45
And then I would thank the people
who made the asphalt for the pavement.
who made the asphalt for the pavement.
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Halafu ningeshukuru watu
waliotengeneza saruji ya lami.
waliotengeneza saruji ya lami.
02:50
And I came to realize that my coffee,
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Na nimekuja kutambua kua kahawa yangu,
02:54
like so much else in the world,
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kama vingine vingi duniani,
02:57
requires the combined work
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inahitaji nguvu ya muungano
02:59
of a shocking number of people
from all walks of life.
from all walks of life.
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ya idadi ya kushangaza ya watu
kutoka kwenye maeneo yote ya maisha.
kutoka kwenye maeneo yote ya maisha.
03:03
Architects, biologists,
designers, miners, goat herds,
designers, miners, goat herds,
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Wasanifu,wanabiolojia, wabunifu,
wachimbaji, wachunga mbuzi,
wachimbaji, wachunga mbuzi,
03:08
you name it.
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taja yeyote.
03:10
I decided to call my project
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Nimeamua kuita mradi wangu
03:12
"Thanks a Thousand."
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"Asante Mara Elfu."
03:14
Because I ended up
thanking over a thousand people.
thanking over a thousand people.
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Kwa sababu niliishia
kushukuru zaidi ya watu elfu moja.
kushukuru zaidi ya watu elfu moja.
03:18
And it was overwhelming,
but it was also wonderful.
but it was also wonderful.
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Na ilikua ni inachosha,
lakini ilikua pia ni ajabu.
lakini ilikua pia ni ajabu.
03:22
Because it allowed me to focus
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Kwa sababu iliniruhusu mimi kulenga
03:24
on the hundreds of things
that go right every day,
that go right every day,
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kwenye vitu mia vinavyoenda
sawa kila siku,
sawa kila siku,
03:27
as opposed to the three
or four that go wrong.
or four that go wrong.
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tofauti na vile vitatu au
vinne vinavyoenda vibaya.
vinne vinavyoenda vibaya.
03:30
And it reminded me of the astounding
interconnectedness or our world.
interconnectedness or our world.
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Na ikanikumbusha jinsi muungano
wa dunia unavyoshangaza.
wa dunia unavyoshangaza.
03:36
I learned dozens of lessons
during this project,
during this project,
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Nilijifunza mafundisho mengi sana
kwenye mradi huu,
kwenye mradi huu,
03:40
but let me just focus on five today.
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lakini ngoja nilenge vitano leo.
03:43
The first is: look up.
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Cha kwanza ni: angalia juu,
03:46
I started my trail of gratitude
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Nilianza njia yangu ya shukrani
03:48
by thanking the barista
at my local coffee shop,
at my local coffee shop,
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kwa kumshukuru muuza kahawa
kwenye duka la kahawa la mtaani,
kwenye duka la kahawa la mtaani,
03:51
Joe Coffee in New York.
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Joe Coffee ilioko New York.
03:53
Her name is Chung,
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Jina lake ni Chung,
03:55
and Chung is one of the most
upbeat people you will ever meet.
upbeat people you will ever meet.
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na Chung ni mmoja wa watu
wachangamfu unaweza kutana nao.
wachangamfu unaweza kutana nao.
03:59
Big smiler, enthusiastic hugger.
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Tabasamu kubwa, kumbatio lenye shauku.
04:03
But even for Chung,
being a barista is hard.
being a barista is hard.
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Lakini hata kwa Chung,
kua muuza kahawa ni ngumu.
kua muuza kahawa ni ngumu.
04:06
And that's because you are encountering
people in a very dangerous state.
people in a very dangerous state.
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Na hio ni kwa sababu unakutana na
watu kwenye hali ya hatari.
watu kwenye hali ya hatari.
04:11
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:12
You know what it is -- precaffeination.
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Unajua hio ni nini -- hali ya kutokua na
kahawa.
kahawa.
04:15
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:17
So, Chung has had people
yell at her until she cried,
yell at her until she cried,
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Hivyo, Chung ameshakua na watu
wanampigia kelele mpaka akalia,
wanampigia kelele mpaka akalia,
04:21
including a nine-year-old girl,
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ikiwemo binti wa miaka tisa,
04:23
who didn't like the whipped cream design
that Chung did on her hot chocolate.
that Chung did on her hot chocolate.
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ambae hakupenda mchoro wa malai
ambao Chung aliweka kwenye chokoleti yake.
ambao Chung aliweka kwenye chokoleti yake.
04:27
So I thanked Chung,
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Hivyo nikamshukuru Chung,
04:30
and she thanked me for thanking her.
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na akanishukuru kwa kumshukuru.
04:34
I cut it off there.
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Nikaikatia hapo.
04:35
I didn't want to go
into an infinite thanking loop.
into an infinite thanking loop.
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Sikutaka uwe kwenye mzunguko
wa shukrani usioisha.
wa shukrani usioisha.
04:37
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:39
But Chung said that the hardest part
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Lakini Chung alisema sehemu ngumu ya zote
04:43
is when people don't even treat her
like a human being.
like a human being.
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ni pale watu wanavyomtendea
kama sio binadamu.
kama sio binadamu.
04:46
They treat her like a vending machine.
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Wanamfanya kama ni mashine ya mahitaji.
04:48
So, they'll hand her their credit card
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Hivyo, watampatia kadi yao
04:51
without even looking up from their phone.
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bila hata kutoa macho kwenye simu.
04:53
And while she's saying this,
I'm realizing I've done that.
I'm realizing I've done that.
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Na huku akisema haya,
nagundua kua nimeshafanya hivyo.
nagundua kua nimeshafanya hivyo.
04:58
I've been that a-hole.
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Nimewahi kua mpumbavu huyo.
05:00
And at that moment, I pledged:
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Na mda huo huo, nika ahidi:
05:03
when dealing with people,
I'm going to take those two seconds
I'm going to take those two seconds
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ninapo shughulika na watu,
nitakua nachukua hizo sekunde mbili
nitakua nachukua hizo sekunde mbili
05:06
and look at them, make eye contact.
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na kuwatazama, nikiwaangalia machoni.
05:09
Because it reminds you,
you're dealing with a human being
you're dealing with a human being
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Kwa sababu inakukumbusha,
unashughulika na binadamu
unashughulika na binadamu
05:12
who has family and aspirations
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alie na familia na matarajio
05:16
and embarrassing high school memories.
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na kumbukumbu za shule zinazoaibisha.
05:19
And that little moment of connection
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Na kipindi hicho kidogo cha mwunganisho
05:22
is so important to both people's
humanity and happiness.
humanity and happiness.
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ni muhimu sana kwa zote ubinadamu
na furaha ya watu.
na furaha ya watu.
05:26
Alright, second lesson was:
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Sawa, somo la pili lilikua:
05:28
smell the roses. And the dirt.
And the fertilizer.
And the fertilizer.
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nusa mawaridi. Na mchanga.
Na mbolea.
Na mbolea.
05:33
After Chung, I thanked this man.
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Baada ya Chung, nikamshukuru huyu mtu.
05:36
This is Ed Kaufmann.
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Huyu ni Ed Kaufmann.
05:38
And Ed is the one who chooses which coffee
they serve at my local coffee shop.
they serve at my local coffee shop.
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Na Ed anachagua kahawa ipi wanahudumia
kwenye duka la kahawa mtaani.
kwenye duka la kahawa mtaani.
05:43
He goes around the world,
to South America, to Africa,
to South America, to Africa,
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Anazunguka duniani,
kwenda Amerika Kusini, kwenda Afrika,
kwenda Amerika Kusini, kwenda Afrika,
05:47
finding the best coffee beans.
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akitafuta buni yenye ubora.
05:49
So I thanked Ed.
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Hivyo nikamshukuru Ed.
05:50
And in return, Ed showed me
how to taste coffee like a pro.
how to taste coffee like a pro.
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Na kwa malipo, Ed akaionyesha
jinsi ya kuonja kahawa kama mtaalamu.
jinsi ya kuonja kahawa kama mtaalamu.
05:56
And it is quite a ritual.
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Na ni kitu cha kawaida kabisa.
05:58
You take your spoon
and you dip it in the coffee
and you dip it in the coffee
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Unachukua kijiko chako
na kuingiza kwenye kahawa
na kuingiza kwenye kahawa
06:00
and then you take a big, loud slurp.
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halafu unakunywa nyingi na kwa sauti.
06:03
Almost cartoonishly loud.
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Karibia kelele ya katuni.
06:05
This is because you want
to spray the coffee all over your mouth.
to spray the coffee all over your mouth.
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Hii ni kwa sababu unataka
kufukiza kahawa mdomoni kwako.
kufukiza kahawa mdomoni kwako.
06:08
You have taste buds
in the side of your cheeks,
in the side of your cheeks,
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Una sehemu za ladha
pembezoni mwa mashavu yako,
pembezoni mwa mashavu yako,
06:11
in the roof of your mouth,
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ndani ya paa la mdomo wako,
06:13
you've got to get them all.
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unatakiwa kuzipata zote.
06:14
So Ed would do this
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Hivyo Ed angefanya hivi
06:17
and he would --
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na ange --
06:20
his face would light up and he would say,
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uso wake ungewaka na angesema,
06:22
"This coffee tastes of honey-crisp apple
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"Kahawa hii ina ladha ya tufaa ya
honey-crisp
honey-crisp
06:26
and notes of soil and maple syrup."
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na ladha za udongo na sukari ya maple."
06:30
And I would take a sip and I'd say,
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Na ningekunywa kidogo na kusema,
06:33
"I'm picking up coffee.
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"Napata ladha ya kahawa.
06:35
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
06:37
It tastes to me like coffee."
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Kwangu ina ladha kama kahawa."
06:39
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
06:41
But inspired by Ed, I decided to really
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Lakini kwa msukumo wa Ed, nikaamua
kabisa
kabisa
06:44
let the coffee sit on my tongue
for five seconds --
for five seconds --
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kuacha kahawa ikae kwenye ulimi wangu
kwa sekunde tano --
kwa sekunde tano --
06:47
we're all busy,
but I could spare five seconds,
but I could spare five seconds,
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wote tuna kazi, lakini ningetoa
sekunde tano,
sekunde tano,
06:49
and really think about the texture
and the acidity and the sweetness.
and the acidity and the sweetness.
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na kuwaza kabiza kuhusu mfumo
na ukali na utamu wake.
na ukali na utamu wake.
06:56
And I started to do it with other foods.
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Na nika anza kufanya hivyo na vyakula
vingine.
vingine.
06:58
And this idea of savoring
is so important to gratitude.
is so important to gratitude.
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Na hili wazo la kufurahia ladha
ni muhimu kwenye shukrani.
ni muhimu kwenye shukrani.
07:04
Psychologists talk about how gratitude
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Wanasaikolojia wanaongelea jinsi shukrani
07:07
is about taking a moment
and holding on to it as long as possible.
and holding on to it as long as possible.
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ni kuhusu kuchukua mda na
kuushikilia kwa mda mrefu unaowezekana.
kuushikilia kwa mda mrefu unaowezekana.
07:13
And slowing down time.
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Na kupunguza kasi ya mda.
07:16
So that life doesn't go by
in one big blur, as it often does.
in one big blur, as it often does.
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Ili maisha yasipite kama
ukungu mkubwa, kama yanavyofanyaga.
ukungu mkubwa, kama yanavyofanyaga.
07:21
Number three is:
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Namba tatu ni:
07:23
find the hidden masterpieces
all around you.
all around you.
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tafuta vito vilivyojificha
vinavyokuzunguka.
vinavyokuzunguka.
07:26
Now, one of my favorite
conversations during this year
conversations during this year
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Sasa, moja ya mazungumzo
niliyoyapenda mwaka huu
niliyoyapenda mwaka huu
07:29
was with the guy who invented
my coffee cup lid.
my coffee cup lid.
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yalikua na mtu alievumbua mfuniko
wa kikombe changu cha kahawa.
wa kikombe changu cha kahawa.
07:33
And until this point,
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Na hadi mda huu,
07:35
I had given approximately
zero thought to coffee cup lids.
zero thought to coffee cup lids.
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Nilikua sijawaza kabisa kuhusu
vifuniko vya vikombe vya kahawa.
vifuniko vya vikombe vya kahawa.
07:39
But I loved talking
to this inventor, Doug Fleming,
to this inventor, Doug Fleming,
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Lakini nilipenda kuongea na
mvumbuzi huyu, Doug Fleming,
mvumbuzi huyu, Doug Fleming,
07:42
because he was so passionate.
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kwa sababu alikua ana shauku sana.
07:44
And the blood and sweat and tears
he put into this lid,
he put into this lid,
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Na ile jitihada alioweka kwenye
mfuniko huu,
mfuniko huu,
07:48
and that I had never even considered.
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na kua sijawahi hata kuzingatia.
07:51
He says a bad lid can ruin your coffee.
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Anasema mfuniko mbaya unaweza
kuharibu kahawa yako.
kuharibu kahawa yako.
07:54
That it can block the aroma,
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Kua inaweza kukinga harufu,
07:56
which is so important to the experience.
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ambayo ni muhimu kwenye zoezi hilo.
07:59
So he -- he's very innovative.
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Hivyo aka -- ni mbunifu kweli.
08:01
He's like the Elon Musk of coffee lids.
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Yuko kama Elon Musk wa vifuniko vya
kahawa.
kahawa.
08:03
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
08:04
So he designed this lid
that's got an upside-down hexagon
that's got an upside-down hexagon
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Hivyo akabuni hichi kifuniko
kilicho na pembe-sita iliogeuka
kilicho na pembe-sita iliogeuka
08:09
so you can get your nose right in there
and get maximum aroma.
and get maximum aroma.
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hivyo unaweza ingiza pua yako huko ndani
na kupata harufu ya kutosha.
na kupata harufu ya kutosha.
08:13
And so I was delighted talking to him,
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Na hivyo nilikua na furaha kuongea nae,
08:16
and it made me realize there are
hundreds of masterpieces all around us
hundreds of masterpieces all around us
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na ikanifanya nitambue kua kuna
ma mia ya vito vinavyotuzunguka
ma mia ya vito vinavyotuzunguka
08:21
that we totally take for granted.
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ambavyo hatuvichukulii uzito.
08:23
Like the on-off switch on my desk lamp
has a little indentation for my thumb
has a little indentation for my thumb
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Kama swichi ya kuwasha na kuzima taa
mezani kwangu ina jongezo ya kidole
mezani kwangu ina jongezo ya kidole
08:29
that perfectly fits my thumb.
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inayokaa kikamilifu na gumba langu.
08:31
And when something is done well,
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Na pale kitu kinavyofanywa vizuri,
08:34
the process behind it
is largely invisible.
is largely invisible.
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mchakato uliohusika ni
mkubwa na usioonekana.
mkubwa na usioonekana.
08:37
But paying attention to it
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Lakini ukiwa makini nayo
08:40
can tap into that sense of wonder
and enrich our lives.
and enrich our lives.
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inaweza kugusa ndani ya hisia ya
kustaajabu na kuimarisha maisha yetu.
kustaajabu na kuimarisha maisha yetu.
08:44
Number four is: fake it till you feel it.
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Namba nne ni: igiza mpaka uihisi.
08:47
By the end of the project,
I was just in a thanking frenzy.
I was just in a thanking frenzy.
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Mwishoni mwa mradi,
nilikua kwenye hamkani ya shukrani.
nilikua kwenye hamkani ya shukrani.
08:51
So I was -- I would get up
and spend a couple hours,
and spend a couple hours,
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Kwahiyo nilikua -- ningesimama
na kutumia masaa kadhaa,
na kutumia masaa kadhaa,
08:54
I'd write emails, send notes,
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ningeandika barua pepe, tuma kumbukumbu,
08:58
make phone calls, visit people
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piga simu, tembelea watu
09:00
to thank them for their role in my coffee.
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kuwashukuru kwa majukumu kwenye
kahawa yangu.
kahawa yangu.
09:03
And some of them, quite honestly --
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Na baadhi yao, kiukweli kabisa --
09:05
not that into it.
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hawajapenda.
09:07
They would be like, "What is this?
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Wangesema hivi, "Ni nini hiki?
09:09
Is this a pyramid scheme,
what do you want, what are you selling?"
what do you want, what are you selling?"
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Ni mpango wa piramidi,
unataka nini, unauza nini?"
unataka nini, unauza nini?"
09:14
But most people were surprisingly moved.
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Lakini watu wengi walipata mguso wa
kushangaza.
kushangaza.
09:18
I remember, I called the woman
who does the pest control
who does the pest control
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Nakumbuka, nilimpigia mwanamke
anaedhibiti wadudu
anaedhibiti wadudu
09:22
for the warehouse
where my coffee is served --
where my coffee is served --
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kwenye ghala
ambapo kahawa yangu inatumiwa --
ambapo kahawa yangu inatumiwa --
09:25
I'm sorry -- where my coffee is stored.
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samahani -- ambapo kahawa yangu inatunzwa.
09:28
And I said,
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Na nikasema,
09:30
"This may sound strange,
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"Hii inaweza kusikika kiajabu,
09:32
but I want to thank you
for keeping the bugs out of my coffee."
for keeping the bugs out of my coffee."
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lakini nataka kukushukuru
kwa kuondoa wadudu kwenye kahawa yangu."
kwa kuondoa wadudu kwenye kahawa yangu."
09:36
And she said, "Well,
that does sound strange,
that does sound strange,
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Na akasema, "Kweli,
hio inasikika kiajabu,
hio inasikika kiajabu,
09:39
but you just made my day."
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lakini umefanya siku yangu kuwa nzuri."
09:41
And it was like an anti-crank phone call.
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Na ilikua kama tofauti ya simu za
udanganyifu.
udanganyifu.
09:45
And it didn't just affect her,
it affected me.
it affected me.
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Na haikumuathiri yeye tu,
iliniathiri mimi.
iliniathiri mimi.
09:48
Because I would wake up every morning
in my default mood, which is grumpiness,
in my default mood, which is grumpiness,
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Kwa sababu ninaamka kila asubuhi na
hali yangu ya kawaida, ambayo ni harara.
hali yangu ya kawaida, ambayo ni harara.
09:54
but I would force myself
to write a thank-you note
to write a thank-you note
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lakini ninajilazimisha kuandika
kumbukumbu ya asante
kumbukumbu ya asante
09:57
and then another and then another.
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na nyingine na nyingine.
10:00
And what I found was
that if you act as if you're grateful,
that if you act as if you're grateful,
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Na nilichopata ni kua
unaigiza kama una shukrani,
unaigiza kama una shukrani,
10:04
you eventually become grateful for real.
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hatimae unakua na shukrani kweli.
10:07
The power of our actions
to change our mind is astounding.
to change our mind is astounding.
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Nguvu ya matendo yetu
kubadili mawazo yetu inashangaza.
kubadili mawazo yetu inashangaza.
10:12
So, often we think
that thought changes behavior,
that thought changes behavior,
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Hivyo, mara nyingi tunafikiri
kua mawazo hubadilisha tabia,
kua mawazo hubadilisha tabia,
10:16
but behavior very often
changes our thought.
changes our thought.
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lakini tabia mara nyingi sana
hubadilisha mawazo yetu.
hubadilisha mawazo yetu.
10:22
And finally, the last lesson
I want to tell you about is:
I want to tell you about is:
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Na hatimae, somo la mwisho
nataka kuwaambia ni kuhusu:
nataka kuwaambia ni kuhusu:
10:27
practice six degrees of gratitude.
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jizoeshe digrii sita za shukrani.
10:30
And every place, every stop
on this gratitude trail
on this gratitude trail
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Na kila sehemu, kila kituo
kwenye hii njia ya shukrani
kwenye hii njia ya shukrani
10:35
would give birth to 100 other people
that I could thank.
that I could thank.
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kingezaa watu 100 wengine
ambao ningewashukuru.
ambao ningewashukuru.
Hivyo nikaenda huko Colombia kuwashukuru
wakulima wa kahawa yangu.
wakulima wa kahawa yangu.
10:39
So I went down to Colombia to thank
the farmers who grow my coffee beans.
the farmers who grow my coffee beans.
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Na ilikua kwenye mji mdogo wa mlima,
10:44
And it was in a small mountain town,
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10:46
and I was driven there
along these curvy, cliffside roads.
along these curvy, cliffside roads.
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na niliendeshwa huko
kwenye njia za kupinda.
kwenye njia za kupinda.
Na kila mara
tulipozunguka kona za kujirudia
tulipozunguka kona za kujirudia
10:51
And every time
we went around a hairpin turn
we went around a hairpin turn
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10:55
the driver would do the sign of the cross.
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dereva angefanya ishara ya msalaba.
Na nilisema, "Asante kwa hilo.
10:59
And I was like, "Thank you for that.
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11:02
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
Lakini unaweza kufanya hivyo
huku mikono iko kwenye usukani?
huku mikono iko kwenye usukani?
11:04
But can you do that
while keeping your hands on the wheel?
while keeping your hands on the wheel?
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Kwa sababu nilikua na hofu."
11:07
Because I am terrified."
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11:09
But we made it.
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Lakini tulifika.
Na nikakutana na wakulima,
ndugu wa Guarnizo.
ndugu wa Guarnizo.
11:10
And I met the farmers,
the Guarnizo brothers.
the Guarnizo brothers.
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11:14
It's a small farm, they make great coffee,
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Ni shamba dogo, wanatengeneza kahawa
nzuri
nzuri
11:17
they're paid above
fair-trade prices for it.
fair-trade prices for it.
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wanalipwa juu ya kiwango
cha biashara kwa sababu hio.
cha biashara kwa sababu hio.
11:20
And they showed me
how the coffee is grown.
how the coffee is grown.
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Na wakanionyesha
jinsi kahawa inavyokua.
jinsi kahawa inavyokua.
Buni kiukweli iko ndani ya
tunda liitwalo cheri ya kahawa.
tunda liitwalo cheri ya kahawa.
11:23
The bean is actually inside
this fruit called the coffee cherry.
this fruit called the coffee cherry.
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Na nikawashukuru.
11:28
And I thanked them.
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Na wakasema,
"Basi, tusingeweza kufanya kazi yetu
"Basi, tusingeweza kufanya kazi yetu
11:30
And they said,
"Well, we couldn't do our job
"Well, we couldn't do our job
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bila wati 100 wengine."
11:33
without 100 other people."
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Machine inayomenya hilo tunda
inatengenezwa Brazil,
inatengenezwa Brazil,
11:35
The machine that depulps the fruit
is made in Brazil,
is made in Brazil,
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11:39
and the pickup truck
they drive around the farm,
they drive around the farm,
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na lori la kubebea
wanalozunguka nalo shambani,
wanalozunguka nalo shambani,
iliotengenezwa na sehemu
zilizotoka duniani kote.
zilizotoka duniani kote.
11:42
that is made from parts
from all over the world.
from all over the world.
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kwa kweli, Marekani wanauza chuma
kwenda Colombia.
kwenda Colombia.
11:46
In fact, the US exports steel to Colombia.
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11:50
So I went to Indiana,
and I thanked the steel makers.
and I thanked the steel makers.
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Hivyo nikaenda Indiana,
na nikawashukuru watengeneza chuma.
na nikawashukuru watengeneza chuma.
11:55
And it just drove home
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Na ikanipeleka tu nyumbani
11:58
that it doesn't take a village
to make a cup of coffee.
to make a cup of coffee.
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kua haichukui kijiji
kutengeneza kikombe cha kahawa.
kutengeneza kikombe cha kahawa.
Inachukua dunia
kutengeneza kikombe cha kahawa.
kutengeneza kikombe cha kahawa.
12:02
It takes the world
to make a cup of coffee.
to make a cup of coffee.
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12:05
And this global economy,
this globalization,
this globalization,
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Na huu uchumi wa dunia,
huu utandawazi,
huu utandawazi,
12:10
it does have downsides.
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unakua na hasara.
Lakini na amini faida zake
za muda mrefu ni kubwa zaidi,
za muda mrefu ni kubwa zaidi,
12:12
But I believe the long-term
upsides are far greater,
upsides are far greater,
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12:15
that progress is real.
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kua maendeleo ni ya kweli.
12:17
We have made improvements
in the last 50 years,
in the last 50 years,
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Tumefanya uboreshaji ndani
ya miaka 50 iliopita,
ya miaka 50 iliopita,
12:19
poverty worldwide has gone down.
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umasikini duniani kote umeshuka.
12:22
And that we should resist the temptation
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Na kua tunatakiwa kupinga ushawishi
wa kurejea kwenye maghala yetu.
12:25
to retreat into our silos.
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Na tunatakiwa kupinga muongezeko huu
12:28
And we should resist this upsurge
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wa hali za kujitenga na uzalendo.
12:31
in isolationism and jingoism.
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Ambayo inanileta kwenye hatua yangu
ya mwisho.
ya mwisho.
12:36
Which brings me to my final point.
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Ambayo ni tumaini langu tutumie shukrani
kama cheche kwenye hatua.
kama cheche kwenye hatua.
12:38
Which is my hope that we use gratitude
as a spark to action.
as a spark to action.
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Baadhi ya watu wana wasiwasi
kua shukrani ina hasara.
kua shukrani ina hasara.
12:45
Some people worry
that gratitude has a downside.
that gratitude has a downside.
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Kua tutakua na shukrani sana,
mpaka tutakua haturidhiki.
mpaka tutakua haturidhiki.
12:49
That we'll be so grateful,
that we'll be complacent.
that we'll be complacent.
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Tutasema, "Oh, kila kitu
ni chema, nashukuru sana."
ni chema, nashukuru sana."
12:52
We'll be so, "Oh, everything's
wonderful, I'm so grateful."
wonderful, I'm so grateful."
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12:56
Well, it turns out, the opposite is true.
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Basi, inaonekana, kinyume chake ni kweli.
Utafiti unaonyesha
13:01
The research shows
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13:03
that the more grateful you are,
the more likely you are to help others.
the more likely you are to help others.
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kua unavyozidi kua na shukrani,
unazidi kua na uwezo wa kusaidia wengine.
unazidi kua na uwezo wa kusaidia wengine.
Ukiwa kwenye hali mbaya,
13:08
When you're in a bad state,
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13:10
you're often more focused
on your own needs.
on your own needs.
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mara nyingi unakua unalenga
mahitaji yako mwenyewe.
mahitaji yako mwenyewe.
Lakini shukrani inakufanya
utake kuilipa mbeleni.
utake kuilipa mbeleni.
13:12
But gratitude makes you
want to pay it forward.
want to pay it forward.
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Na nimepitia hii binafsi.
13:16
And I experienced this personally.
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13:18
I mean, I'm not Mother Teresa,
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Yani, mimi sio Mama Teresa,
13:20
I'm still a selfish bastard
a huge amount of the time.
a huge amount of the time.
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mimi bado ni mwanaharamu mchoyo
mara nyingi sana.
mara nyingi sana.
13:23
But I'm better than I was
before this project.
before this project.
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Lakini ni bora kuliko nilivyokua
kabla ya mradi huu.
kabla ya mradi huu.
Na hii na kwa sababu ilinifanya nifahamu
13:27
And that's because it made me aware
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13:30
of the exploitation on the supply chain.
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kuhusu utumiaji wa mlolongo wa usambazaji.
Ikanikumbusha kua
ninachokichukulia poa
ninachokichukulia poa
13:34
It reminded me
that what I take for granted
that what I take for granted
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13:37
is not available to millions
of people around the world.
of people around the world.
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hakipatikani kwa mamilioni
ya watu duniani.
ya watu duniani.
Kama maji.
13:40
Like water.
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13:42
Coffee is 98.8 percent water.
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Kahawa ni asilimia 98.8 maji.
Hivyo nikaona niende na nishukuru
watu wa maji wa New York,
watu wa maji wa New York,
13:46
So I figured I should go and thank
the people at the New York reservoir,
the people at the New York reservoir,
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13:49
hundreds of them, who provide me water,
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ma mia ya hao, wanaonipatia maji,
na huu muujiza kua naweza geuza
mtambo na kupata maji salama.
mtambo na kupata maji salama.
13:52
and this miracle that I can
turn a lever and get safe water.
turn a lever and get safe water.
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Na kua mamilioni ya watu duniani
hawana anasa hii
hawana anasa hii
13:55
And that millions of people
around the world don't have this luxury
around the world don't have this luxury
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13:59
and have to walk hours to get safe water.
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na inabidi kutembea masaa kupata maji
salama.
salama.
Ilinihamasisha kuona ninachoweza kufanya
kusaidia watu kuwa na upatikanaji,
kusaidia watu kuwa na upatikanaji,
14:02
It inspired me to see what I could do
to help people get more access,
to help people get more access,
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14:07
and I did research
and found a wonderful group
and found a wonderful group
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na ninafanya utafiti
na kukuta kundi zuri
na kukuta kundi zuri
linaitwa Vitoaji vya Maji Salama.
14:10
called Dispensers for Safe Water.
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14:12
And I got involved.
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Na nikajihusisha.
14:14
And I'm not expecting
the Nobel Prize committee
the Nobel Prize committee
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Na sitarajii kamati
ya Nobel Prize
ya Nobel Prize
14:16
to knock down my door,
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kunigongea mlangoni,
14:18
but it's a baby step,
it's a little something.
it's a little something.
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lakini ni hatua ndogo,
ni kitu kidogo.
ni kitu kidogo.
Na yote ni kwa sababu ya shukrani.
14:22
And it's all because of gratitude.
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Na ndio maana natia moyo
watu, marafiki, familia,
watu, marafiki, familia,
14:25
And it's why I encourage
people, friends, family,
people, friends, family,
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14:28
to follow gratitude trails of their own.
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kufuata njia zao za shukrani.
14:31
Because it's a
life-transforming experience.
life-transforming experience.
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Kwa sababu ni jambo
la kubadilisha maisha.
la kubadilisha maisha.
Na sio lazima iwe kahawa.
14:34
And it doesn't have to be coffee.
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Inaweza kua chochote.
14:36
It could be anything.
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14:37
It could be a pair of socks,
it could be a light bulb.
it could be a light bulb.
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Inaweza kua soksi, inaweza kua
taa ya mwanga.
taa ya mwanga.
Na sio lazima uzunguke duniani
unaweza kufanya tu ishara ndogo,
unaweza kufanya tu ishara ndogo,
14:40
And you don't have to go around the world,
you can just do a little gesture,
you can just do a little gesture,
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kama kuangalia machoni au kutuma
kumbukumbu kwa aliebuni alama unayopenda.
kumbukumbu kwa aliebuni alama unayopenda.
14:43
like make eye contact or send a note
to the designer of a logo you love.
to the designer of a logo you love.
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Ni zaidi kuhusu mawazo.
14:49
It's more about a mindset.
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Kutambua maelfu ya watu
wanaohusika kwenye kila tunachofanya,
wanaohusika kwenye kila tunachofanya,
14:51
Being aware of the thousands of people
involved in every little thing we do.
involved in every little thing we do.
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Kukumbuka kua kuna mtu
kwenye kiwanda
kwenye kiwanda
14:56
Remembering that
there's someone in a factory
there's someone in a factory
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alietengeneza kitambaa cha viti
mnavyokalia sasa hivi.
mnavyokalia sasa hivi.
15:00
who made the fabric for the chairs
you're sitting in right now.
you're sitting in right now.
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Kua mtu kaenda kwenye mgodi na kupata
shaba kwa ajili ya kipaza sauti hiki
shaba kwa ajili ya kipaza sauti hiki
15:04
That someone went into a mine
and got the copper for this microphone
and got the copper for this microphone
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15:10
so that I could say my final thank you,
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ili niweze kusema shukrani zangu za
mwisho,
mwisho,
15:13
which is to thank you.
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ambayo ni kuwashukuru.
Asanteni mara elfu kwa
kusikiliza hadithi yangu.
kusikiliza hadithi yangu.
15:14
Thank you a thousand
for listening to my story.
for listening to my story.
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15:18
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
(Hekaheka)
15:20
(Cheering)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
AJ Jacobs - AuthorImmersing himself in alternate lifestyles and long, hilarious experiments (usually with himself the guinea pig), writer AJ Jacobs tests the limits of behavior, customs, culture, knowledge -- and his wife's sense of humor.
Why you should listen
AJ Jacobs' writings stand at the intersection of philosophy, Gonzo journalism and performance art. Stubbornly curious and slyly perceptive, he takes immersive learning to its irrational and profoundly amusing extreme -- extracting wisdom and meaning after long stints as a self-styled guinea pig. For his widely circulated Esquire article "My Outsourced Life," he explored the phenomenon of outsourcing by hiring a team in Bangalore to take care of every part of his life -- from reading his emails to arguing with his wife to reading bedtime stories to his own son. A previous article, "I Think You're Fat," chronicled a brief, cringe-inducing attempt to live his life in Radical Honesty, telling all the truth, all the time.
Jacobs is author of The Know-It-All, which documents the year he spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, uncovering both funny and surprising factoids but also poignant insight into history and human nature. In 2007 he released The Year of Living Biblically, in which he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year. His recent book The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment is a collection of numerous personal experiments. including living according to George Washington's rules of conduct, outsourcing every single task to India, and posing as a woman on an online dating site.
AJ Jacobs | Speaker | TED.com