What an inspiring trio of life stories. Three people who went through a major loss — one that took away arguably their biggest gift in their lives — and used it to become all the stronger and wiser because of it. The three are Grant Achatz, a chef who lost his sense of taste; Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who suffered a stroke; and Govindappa Venkatswamy, a surgeon with crippled fingers.
Lessons from Those Who Lost … and Found
by Pavithra Mehta
Jill Bolte Taylor, Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy and Chef Grant Achatz are an unlikely trio. What do this brain scientist, late eye surgeon, and a leader of the molecular gastronomy movement [yes there is such a thing] have in common? At a takeoff point in their careers they were each dealt a sucker punch — one that robbed them of what was arguably their greatest gift. Yet none of them threw in the towel. And each would rise to greatness after mining their unthinkable experience of loss for deeper insight into the human experience.
Here’s more:
- Jill Bolte Taylor’s stroke of insight: Video of JBT’s talk on TED.
- Grant Achatz: The Chef Who Couldn’t Taste: interview with Terri Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air