Unlocking the Secret to Living Fully and Thriving | Vahe Keushguerian | TEDxYerevan

25 Nov 2024 (23 days ago)

Life of Vahe Keushguerian

Vahe Keushguerian was born in Syria and moved to Beirut, Lebanon at the age of 3, where he lived in West Beirut until he joined the army voluntarily, one year before he was supposed to be drafted, to fight in a war that was not his own (1m6s).
In Lebanon, military service was mandatory after finishing high school, but Vahe chose to join the army early, seeking a new adventure and experience (1m45s).
During his one-year military service, Vahe was part of the music department, despite not knowing music, and was responsible for tasks such as making food for thousands of soldiers and rotating sandbag duty (2m44s).
Vahe exchanged his barrack duty for making food and hummus, as the barrack duty was considered dangerous due to its location between a Muslim and Christian neighborhood (3m39s).

After his military service, Vahe went to Italy, where he picked up the language and developed a deep connection with Italian culture, which has become a significant part of his life (4m41s).
A person's father decided to move them from their Muslim neighborhood after seeing them in military clothing, and they applied for US and UK visas but were unsuccessful, eventually receiving a scholarship to study in Italy through a contact at the Italian Embassy (5m0s).
The person went to Urbino, Italy to study graphic arts and the language, which was a huge opening and a new cultural experience (5m33s).
After Italy, the person went to the US to finish their college degree and had to work to make a living, taking a job at a donut shop making donuts on the graveyard shift (6m8s).
The person later worked as a waiter and bartender in Washington, making more money, and then saw an announcement for an Italian restaurant in LA looking for a captain, a position that involved taking orders and giving them to the waiter (6m52s).
The person got the job at the Italian restaurant after speaking Italian during the interview and was given a tuxedo to wear, eventually blending in and becoming comfortable in the role (7m16s).
The person's name at the restaurant was Franco, which was given to them by the owner, and they kept the name as they moved to different restaurants, eventually becoming known as Franco (8m3s).

The ability to take whatever life throws at you and make something beautiful out of it is unique (8m50s).
The ability to face difficulties and rise from them is crucial, as demonstrated by the experience of starting from zero not once, but three times, and managing to recover from bankruptcy (9m4s).
The first instance of starting from zero was a choice, leaving a restaurant to import Italian wine, and then moving to Tuscany to pursue a new opportunity (10m7s).
In Tuscany, a winery was leased, and wine was made in various locations, including Australia, but this led to overextension and an inevitable crash, resulting in bankruptcy (11m14s).
After bankruptcy, there were two options: working for someone else or trying to start again, and the decision was made to start again, utilizing old contacts and clients to rebuild the business (11m51s).
This experience taught valuable lessons about managing cash and not overextending, and after six or seven months, the business was back on track (12m30s).

The wine industry has had a significant impact on Armenian culture, bringing people together and facilitating conversations, and Armenian wine has become a source of pride and a way to introduce the country to the world (12m55s).
Research on neighboring countries, including Iran, revealed a historic wine-making culture, and the potential for Armenian wine to be exported and recognized globally (13m49s).
Iran is one of the oldest wine-producing countries, with a history dating back 13,000 years, but over 200 wineries were closed overnight in 1979 due to the revolution, making drinking illegal (14m2s).
Despite the challenges, there is a rich culture of wine in Iran, and making Iranian wine or wine from Iranian grapes has given thousands of Iranians living in the diaspora the opportunity to connect with their heritage (15m7s).
The value of a bottle of wine can evoke memories and emotions, allowing people to remember their cultural roots, and many Iranians have written to express their desire to find Iranian wine to celebrate special occasions (15m26s).
It is believed that within 5 to 10 years, wine will be made in Iran again, and efforts to promote Iranian wine can help start a conversation and motivate people to take action (15m59s).

Having a hopeless romanticism and not quitting can lead to achieving goals and pursuing passions, as seen in the story of making Iranian wine despite the challenges (16m38s).
Not quitting and pursuing one's goals can lead to success and fulfillment, and it is essential to ignore negative opinions and focus on making things happen (17m28s).
True love is not just a concept found in novels or movies, and it is possible to experience it in real life, as seen in personal experiences and relationships (17m48s).
Sharing life with someone and experiencing the ups and downs together can be a wonderful feeling, and it is essential to appreciate and nurture relationships (18m48s).

Growing up, the idea of being an astronaut was exciting, and it can be a wonderful career for those who are young at heart, excited, and always learning new things (19m12s).
If there's one key takeaway from an incredible journey, it would be to do whatever you do passionately, as loving what you're doing makes it feel like you're always on vacation (19m54s).
Passion drives people and brings beauty into life, which can be found in many things, not just in art galleries, but in everyday life (20m16s).
It's essential to stop, listen, and use your senses to appreciate the beauty in life, as these senses are something everyone already possesses and just needs to utilize (20m40s).
Ultimately, life is beautiful, and people should live it to the fullest and appreciate its beauty (20m52s).