THE BIG PLAN

I’ve always been a believer in the “Tabula Rasa” theory of child development. Basically, it supposes that babies are born a blank slate, an empty page waiting for the world to imprint. Obviously, our darling little canvases of genetic complexity owe a lot of their predispositions to mama and daddy, but it’s really the events that touch us that are instrumental in shaping our lives.

Sadly, I also know that–as hard as I’ve worked to master all trades–I won’t ever have the capacity to teach my babe all the things he needs to know to make him well-rounded and perfectly awesome. What I have always done very well though, is surround myself with great people–incredibly smart, talented, awesome people–from musicians to creative powerhouses, tattoo artists to celebrity bartenders, intellectual giants to wizards of finance…the list goes on and on.

I’m trying to raise a renaissance baby here–a versatile, intelligent, emotionally secure, creative dynamo–and by bringing together the incredible people in my life to help, I think there’s a chance we can do it.

Sebastian’s Village Project is a labour of love. It’s a collaboration of everyone that has touched my life in some way—from the kids I grew up with in South Africa, to the barista at Starbucks (who sneaked me decaf Americanos for the price of coffee) to the great people I’ve had the honour of working alongside—from all across the universe.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. So, by capturing my relationships in a blog entry that will stand alongside each video lesson, I’ll assemble my own microcosmos–a global hub of teaching, thought, learning, and culture as a great gift from the whole world to the love of my life, Sebastian.