Dr. Maya Shankar

And I was really lucky, actually, because I was the summer before college.

And I was really lucky, actually, because I was the summer before college.

I was helping my parents clean their basement as a dutiful daughter does.

I was helping my parents clean their basement as a dutiful daughter does.

I was actually supposed to be in China that summer touring with my musician friends, but instead I was with my parents.

I was actually supposed to be in China that summer touring with my musician friends, but instead I was with my parents.

But I was helping them clean their basement and I stumbled upon a book on how the mind works.

But I was helping them clean their basement and I stumbled upon a book on how the mind works.

And it detailed the incredibly sophisticated machinery behind our ability to perceive and learn language.

And it detailed the incredibly sophisticated machinery behind our ability to perceive and learn language.

And I remember up until that point in my own life, I had taken for granted my ability to comprehend language and produce language.

And I remember up until that point in my own life, I had taken for granted my ability to comprehend language and produce language.

And it was fascinating to have the curtain pulled back and to fully understand what was behind this skill that I had taken for granted.

And it was fascinating to have the curtain pulled back and to fully understand what was behind this skill that I had taken for granted.

I mean, I think so many of us can be really hard on ourselves in daily life, very critical of ourselves.

I mean, I think so many of us can be really hard on ourselves in daily life, very critical of ourselves.

But when you learn about the mind, you will feel like you're crushing it all the time.

But when you learn about the mind, you will feel like you're crushing it all the time.

You will be in total awe of what our minds are capable of.

You will be in total awe of what our minds are capable of.