TED Talks Daily How to find humor in life's absurdity | Maira Kalman (re-release)
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Jul 12, 2025 
Maira Kalman, an artist known for her colorful reflections on life and the absurdity within it, shares her unique insights in a delightful talk interwoven with her paintings. She humorously explores themes of life and death, the joy of street food, and the beauty of unanswered questions. Kalman emphasizes the importance of humor amid life's complexities while celebrating the imperfections of human connection. Her anecdotes encourage listeners to embrace life's quirks and the richness of existence with a light heart.
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Daily Rituals Reflect Life's Fragility
- Maira Kalman starts her day by reading obituaries with coffee to reflect on life's fragility.
- At night, she finds solace in British murder mysteries, where evil is swiftly dealt with and order restored.
Embrace Life's Inherent Contradictions
- Each day is invented anew, blending uncertainty and possibility.
- Embracing inconsistencies and contradictions liberates creativity and life itself.
Mother's Map Celebrates Imagination
- Maira's mother, Sarah, made a memorable map of the US from memory filled with imaginative inaccuracies.
- This map embodies knowledge as humor and imagination, valuing creativity over correctness.
