Small Talk

September 11, 2011 »

Leveraging The Love

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of a day that forever changed our lives.  I was very proud to be joined by a co-worker and three friends as we rode our bikes for 25 miles for a great organization called Beyond the 11th.  Team HealthTalker contributed more than $5,000 to show our support.

My sister-in-law, Susan Retik-Ger, founded the organization in 2003 and sparked a new movement to change the way people think.  Rather than focusing on the differences, Susan emphasizes the importance of focusing on the similarities - people are people, and we are all interconnected.  She deserves all the credit in the world for what she has accomplished, turning hatred into optimism, sorrow into positivity, and hopelessness into prosperity. 

As I rode through a cluster of Boston suburbs on the ride this afternoon, I couldn’t help but think about the importance of community.  It’s what helped Susan emerge from darkness back to light as she received so much empathy, love, and assistance from friends and strangers alike.  And it was from that show of support that she was inspired to start her organization that has helped thousands of women in Afghanistan who are not supported in a community the way people often are in America.

Many people who think community default to the idea of the online community, of people converging on the web in total anonymity to trade information and exchange ideas.  But the real communities - where people who know each other come together to share life’s moments, to interact, and to engage - are the ones that are so significant to the fabric of our lives.  It’s where the conversations happen, where the influence begins, and where people’s lives are improved through active participation.    

We know how difficult it can be to spark a new movement. Congratulations to Susan for creating something so remarkable, for helping so many in need, and for giving people plenty to talk about in communities around the world.

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