Game changers!

Margaret Mead once said, ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world . . . it is the only thing that ever has.’ And I would add, ‘especially a group of women.’ Women are a powerful lot. We are the creators of change. And when we get to work, we make great things happen.

This past week I have met some incredible game changers. While attending a fundraiser, a dazzling woman danced up to me and my companion all a swirl in aqua and orchid. She introduced herself as the ambassador of fun, Mary Lynn. She may be retired as a school teacher, but there was nothing retiring about her at all. An active member and advocate of the local Rotary Club, she attends three meetings a week. Delightfully inquisitive, she wanted to know all about us. Then she invited us to lunch as her guest at the next Rotarian meeting. Rotary is the largest global organization of business, professional and community leaders devoted to the concept of service above self through involvement in community, vocational and international projects. Their main goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. They make friends and have fun while serving others! Mary Lynn is a game changer! I will definitely be contacting my local Rotary because of her enthusiastic introduction to this organization.

By 1951 the world was in the midst of the biggest polio epidemic in history. Personally, I know two people who survived the disease. My partner's sister, Joan contracted polio as a child and so did a tennis partner of mine, Al who has since passed on. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio. I remember my mother taking me as a child to a school where hundreds of people were lined up to receive the vaccine on a sugar cube. Coincidentally, I am reading THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot. A New York Times bestseller, the narrative and history is so well written that it reads like a novel. The story is personally engaging because each of us has directly benefited by the contribution that Henrietta Lacks made to medicine unwittingly. While being treated for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins, this young mother and tobacco farmer had some of the cells from her tumor harvested and donated to a medical researcher without her knowledge. The cancer took her young life despite radium treatments. But, her cells were the first to replicate in test tubes by the millions. This became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning gene mapping and more. A medical revolution was launched yet her family cannot afford health insurance. They did not know that their mothers cells were still alive and producing until twenty years later. Part exposé of the prevalent racism in medical treatment and research at that time, it is also a warmly crafted story brought to light. Henrietta Lacks was a game changer and so is the author, Rebecca Skloot in my book.

The fundraiser I attended was for BOLDLY ME. This fantastic nonprofit was started a year ago to help people transcend the emotional trauma caused by physical and other differences due to birth conditions, medical treatments, injury and disease. They help build self esteem through counseling programs, training and recreational centers that help people love themselves and live fearlessly despite being BOLDLY BALD, BOLDLY BIG, BOLDLY BURNED, BOLDLY BROKEN or BOLDLY BORN.
The founder, Alanna Powell has left a successful career in the high tech industry to dedicate her efforts in helping people heal, cope and transcend their differences. She has alopecia universalis and is boldly bald. Alanna is a game changer! I was thrilled to meet her and her example spurs me on in my new career working with others who have alopecia.

Isn't it all about who you know rather that what you know these days? Word of mouth is still a powerful resource for connecting people and getting things done. We spread the word when there is a sale, a new store opening, or a social event of the season. I decided to spread the word about a new organization Wisdom 2.0 that I read about online at Meetup.com. So I sent the link and invited a few other women that I know want to live as game changers too!

Wisdom 2.0 Women is created to support and inspire women to tap into and live from their own internal wisdom. It is created and inspired from Wisdom 2.0 which asks: How do we live with greater mindfulness, presence and compassion in the digital age? Are you excited about having more wise, compassionate and feminine leadership in the world? Do you desire connection with others who are on the same journey of inspired leadership and embodied wisdom? This gathering is created to support and inspire women to tap into and live from their own internal wisdom. The evening will include speakers, mindfulness practices and group exercises for participants to connect authentically. Come to share, learn and be part of a community interested in the growth of wisdom and feminine leadership in the world.
I am excited about attending this inaugural event on April 30th in San Francisco and so far three other women have decided to join me.
Creating change is the name of the game!