Nick Owen is one of those people you feel as if you know even though you know you’ve never met him before.  I think it’s because he’s in touch with his environment, and this allows him to make immediate connections with people who share that environment.  The honesty with which he speaks and his desire to do some good in the world are palpable.  Visible.

His keynote presentation, “Touching the Heart,” is seemingly so in tune with its environment that whenever a phone rings or a plane flies overhead, it is with perfect timing.  With the addition of these ‘rimshots’ ordinary statements become punch lines, a lesson for sure in how humor works.  Timing is………………everything.  Nick:  “Understand what causes the arrow to find its mark.”  (Pause)  Phone RINGS.   Audience LAUGHS.

Nick draws on philosophy, world culture, storytelling and improvisation to describe the expressions of the heart that connect us.

Nick Owen

He tells a story about a girl riding a camel through a desert who resolves a dispute amongst three brothers fighting over their inheritance–which consists of camels.  He tells another story about a legendary Chinese archer and an old monk. I am a sucker for archery stories.  Shoot an arrow into the air, and I will definitely stick around to see where it lands. The ‘ka-’ always demands a ‘-thunk!’

As part of his address, Nick conducts a couple of exercises.  One of them builds a five-line story about who we are.  What may, to a non-improviser seem narcissistic or self-interested, we regard as essential to the scene.  First be certain of what brought you here, and what you’re here for, and where you’re headed.  Take care of yourself first, and you are free to take care of your scene partners.

In small groups, we read these stories to one another, these five-line reminders of how we define ourselves in the world. The stories are poetic and moving.  We dry a tear off Caitlin McClure’s cheek. The tear speaks for all of us.