Lead Like a Girl...Use Social Media to Organize a Movement!

BV Thinks Pink! Dee Dee James, center, stands with dozens of pink-clad Buckeye Valley High School students in the school’s cafeteria. BVHS students organized on the Internet to wear pink in support of James, a school secretary who is fighting breast cancer. (From The Delaware Gazette, 8/27/09)

Perhaps it's because I've gotten about 3 hours of sleep for the last few nights. Perhaps it's because the woman featured in this article is a close family friend. Or perhaps it's because the kids that organized this are just so friggin' cool! Whatever the case, this article made me boo-hoo cry when I read it this morning: http://www.delgazette.com/local.asp?story=1

We often complain about "the younger generation" and they way they are constantly tied to their cell phones and facebook pages. The way they don't listen. We wonder if they'll ever be able to have quote, unquote "normal" relationships because even though they are whizzes with electronics and social media tools, they fall short when it comes to face to face interactions. And what's with the short attention span and constant need to share with the world what they're doing at this very moment? Weird.

Or is it?

Some people may not get the younger generation and wonder how they turned out this way...but they have complaints about "the older generation" too! Why can't you just let them work when there's stuff to do and enjoy life the rest of the time? Why can't you deal with change a little better? After all, there's new technology coming out every day...why can't you give up that old school cell phone for an iPhone. Oh, and learn to use facebook while you're at it...millions of other people figure it out every day. Why can't you just accept it's the new way to communicate?

This article reminds me that it's not the generation gap or changing technology that keeps us from connecting, it's our own limiting beliefs. And why would we want to stop ourselves from connecting the way they did in this little town? A student led, mini-fashion revolution spread to the staff & faculty and ended up making the first day of school one I'm sure my friend DeeDee will never forget. Imagine coming back from a summer of painful surgery & chemotherapy to a sea of pink clad staff & students saying, "we love you and support you" on the first day of school. That may be the best medicine anyone could get!

So whoever you are, young or old, ask yourself this today: How can I organize a mini-movement to show people in my life who could use a lift that there's a whole world of people out there thinking about them?

Got one? Good! Whether you call one friend and offer support or enlist the masses via your tweets today, bring the spirit of BV High School to your life and the lives of those around you. You'll be glad you did!