I’m sitting in a coffee shop in New York City so it seemed I would be failing somehow as a writer if I didn’t take this time to post on the blog.
I’m here for the Mashable Social Good Conference where I’ll hear from a ton of fascinating speakers about all the ways in which they are working to change the world.
Usually, I come to these things greatly inspired and leave in a cloud of shame that I am not doing enough. The problems all seem so huge and the solutions so simple when they’re summed up in 12 minute key note speeches. For some reason, rather than inspiring me to go home and find my way to change the world, these types of conferences often just make me feel useless and small. Like I don’t have the magic “thing” these people do that helps them be game-changers.
But today is different.
No, I haven’t figured out how to end world hunger or use my twitter account to restore the ozone layer or bring back the white bengal tiger. What I have done is experienced the magic of knowing I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.
The last two weeks, I have kicked off the program for adolescents that I have been working on for a year. Both opening nights, each with over 100 students and their parents, went very well, in that the feedback I received was that of people who left inspired to look at things anew.
I have no idea where this will lead. Ultimately I have no idea if anything good will even come of it. What I do know is that when I stood there last night in front of all those families and spoke to them about the passion I have for creating a community of thinkers and doers by allowing these kids a safe place to question and discern and grow, I felt a peace I’ve rarely ever known.
I knew I was where I was supposed to be, doing what I was meant to do, even if I’m not quite sure exactly what it will be in the end.
It is not a giant step, but it feels like an important step, one which I arrived at by following a call. So, even if it’s not solving world hunger or vaccinating an entire country, it is something. And something is always better than nothing when it comes to changing the world.
