I was thrilled to see ActiveRain reach the 200,000 member mark. I thought it was brilliant to see the "200,000" made up of members' profile pictures. I actually spent 30 seconds looking for my picture in that collage - was I the only one who took the time to look? It got me thinking; why do I long to be part of something bigger than me? I know, I know, it should be "than I" but grammar aside, what is that about? It's about grocery shopping yesterday & smiling warmly at the shoppers wearing their Chicago Bears gear with pride & anticipation of today's game with our mortal rival Green Bay Packers. Any other Saturday you'd see people pass quietly & maybe get a nod of acknowledgement - but not this playoff weekend. Complete strangers are smiling broadly & even throwing out their scoring projections while waiting in the checkout line. It goes to show how powerfully the blue & orange bind Bears fans everywhere. BTW, I predict a close game against a worthy opponent resulting in a Bears victory fueling by a fierce running game, 20-6 - GO BEARS!!!
I spent a day this week at a team building event by Drum It Up & their platform was around drumming in a band & how critical every member is to the success of the band. We made noise together & "found the songs" & I particularly enjoyed the interpretation of our hectic days via percussion. I was fascinated by the rhythm of others' days & how much a steady beat can elevate a mood! I took that with me all day & started thinking about how seemingly small contributions make a big difference. Think about the flute player in a marching band & those fantastic halftime formations. Making sure she travels 10 yards then diagonal to line up with the other woodwinds doesn't sound that sexy but, when all 140 members of the marching band move as one to create figures that can best be seen from the 24th row of the stadium, that flute player's tiniest movements now matter in the greater scheme of things.
Look at KW's annual RED Day. This year Keller Williams Realty has designated May 12 to Renew, Energize & Donate in our local communities. Some offices have food drives to support local food pantries, others spruce up community facilities with paint, landscaping & elbow grease. I don't remember ever cleaning my own house with the same vigor with which I attacked the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, the site of our office's RED Day focus last year. I saw people pulling weeds in the rain & scrubbing light fixtures & windowsills that had not seen a deep cleaning in years - why you may ask? Because when we stepped back & looked at the building, looking shiny & new, it was astounding to see the pride of the artists who walked through the door. They held their heads a little higher as they entered to practice their arts & we helped that happen - and it felt exhilarating! I can't draw a straight line with a ruler or make music with anything other than my iPod but I felt like I helped those artists that day.
Look at the Susan G Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure. Walking 60 miles is not something most of us take on lightly, if at all. I can't tell you how many people walked for this cause nationally last year or the year before that but I can say that every year I have more people ask for my support as they walk or volunteer to help the participants or raise funds to support their team. Who would think that walking 20 miles a day would cause a flood of pink ribbons in participating cities & on products from yogurt to postage stamps? That's the power of volume, the crush of participation, the undeniable influence of peer pressure used for its highest good.
My challenge to each of you is to find what you are passionate about this year - whether it's a charity near to your heart or a cause that makes you gasp when you hear a news headline - and get plugged in. Give time, give talent, give support, and give your voice. It's amazing what can happen when your passion goes viral!
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