The TEDx Johannesburg “Uplifting Communities” was much more than an event it was an experience and mind blow deluxe! There was a genuine admiration and camaraderie amongst the speakers and the audience and there is no doubt that Alicia Thomas-Woolf, Rodney Kuhn and Andrew Thomas-Woolf had given their all to making the event a success. Theirs was a the kind of caring and generosity that uplifted each individual speaker and took every detail into consideration. A behind the scenes contribution made by several generous individuals and sponsors whose names are too numerous to mention here, also made a difference. The excitement was genuine as one speaker after the next captured the admiration of the audience in the Theatre on the Square, a perfect, professional yet intimate venue. This was a space where ideas were flowing and Alicia kept reminding everyone to connect, collaborate and network and to take their projects further than they ever could have dreamed. We were constantly reminded that although nothing worthwhile is ever instant or necessarily easy, individuals can make an astounding difference in uplifting communities with a good deal of persistence, imagination and lateral thinking. All About Food was a treat, making the gastronomic experience both visual and mouth wateringly exquisite. The speakers had been invited to meet each other the night before, interact and experience a unique tasting experience which Shaun had created to surprise and delight us all. My mind was spinning, firstly from nervous energy and constantly from pure admiration for the good that people do. Well I am back to earth now, yet still on a roll and I want to say a big thank you to all of you who bring sunshine into the world with the difference you make. I am all the richer for it.