Why The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Is Brilliant - And How To Go Viral

Everyone on social media has seen countless videos of people dumping ice water on their heads over the past week. Along with the video, the post says something like this: "I've been nominated to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS. I nominate <Friend 1>, <Friend 2> and <Friend 3> to take the challenge or donate $100. You have 24 hours!"

Critics say it's pointless, because dumping the ice water on your head and posting the video means you chose not to donate. Critics say this does NOTHING to help ALS. I disagree. I think it's brilliant, and the numbers prove it. In this recent article, the ALS Association announces that it's raised $10 Million in ADDITIONAL funds due to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Last year, the association raised $1.7 Million in funds between July 29th and August 16th. This year, it raised $11.4 Million and added an additional 220,255 new donors to The Association during the very same time period!

How can this be if so many people are opting to dump a bucket of water on their heads, rather than donate? The answer is simple. In the beginning of July, a large percentage of people had never heard of ALS. Now, zillions of people are dumping ice water over their heads to raise awareness for the disease. The social media posts have also morphed to encourage more donations - some ask people to dump ice water AND donate, while others offer to donate a certain amount of money for every "Like" their video receives.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral, and I'm seeing people who typically never even post on social media doing the Ice Bucket Challenge. Singers, athletes and other famous people, like Jennifer Lopez and LeBron James are participating. You can't login to Facebook without seeing videos of people dumping ice water on their heads, and millions of NEW people are now aware of ALS, significantly increasing the chance that they might become a donor.

Marketing professionals from around the world are constantly searching for the secret sauce for "going viral." It's an elusive state of being that's not easy to duplicate and often very difficult to predict. In this case, I think the following factors helped the Ice Bucket Challenge to go viral:

• Fun Factor: Dumping ice water on your head is a fun and funny thing to do in the middle of the summer. The "Fun Factor" increases an idea's chance of being shared with friends on social media.
• Quick & Easy: You can get a bucket of ice water anywhere, and smartphones make it very simple to take a quick video and post it on social media within minutes in just the click of a button.
• Relatable: Who wouldn't enjoy seeing their friend get brain freeze from a bucket of ice water (or trying it themselves?) Everyone can easily relate to this. My 8-year-old son saw his first Ice Bucket Challenge video last night and is dying to try it!
• Public Recognition: When people receive public recognition from a friend (e.g. a friend tagging them on Facebook and challenging them to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,) they are more apt to take action. This article shows a link between publicly recognizing people and an increase in donations. People are more apt to donate (and donate more money) when there's a possibility that their name will be published recognizing their donation. Similarly, calling people out on social media increases the likelihood that they will respond, especially if it's a "challenge." 

All in all, the factors above for "How to Go Viral" are just my opinion on how the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge gained momentum and went viral. So, for those who say dumping ice water on people's heads is doing nothing for the cause, I would ask them to explain how The ALS Association raised $10 Million in ADDITIONAL DONATIONS and 220,255 new donors in just a couple of weeks?

Let It Go

Last night, my daughter sang the popular Frozen song, “Let It Go” with such passion, my good friend had tears in her eyes. When I went to sleep, I think the words of the song floated through my head and planted a bunch of helpful seeds.

When I woke up this morning, I thought about Karma. I thought about something that was rightfully mine, which had recently been stolen from me by someone who I once loved. I thought about how that betrayal has been eating me up inside and how hard it’s been for me to just let Karma deal with it and move on.

Then, I thought about how I’ve dealt with difficult feelings in the past. I turn them around into something positive. I either focus on anything positive I can find in the situation, or just have faith that it’s happening for a good reason. I reminded myself that I need to LET THIS GO and move on, and trust that Karma would bring something good back to me in turn.

I envisioned myself letting 30,000 balloons up into the clouds, representing what had been taken from me, and in my mind, I watched them all float away into the distance. That thought brought me peace and made me feel like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.

I thought about how what goes up, must come down and I decided to trust that the universe would bring it back to me someday – possibly in a different form. I thought about the saying that whatever you give away will come back to you tenfold. The person who sends hate and betrayal out will receive it back, and the person who releases those feelings and sends goodness back out instead will receive good things in return. 

Then, I thought of the Frozen song, “Let It Go.” I pictured those balloons floating away again and reminded myself that it was time to move on…

Excerpt from Let It Go:

“My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I’m never going back,
The past is in the past

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go…”

 

Poem For Tenfold (Author Unknown)

Whatever you give away today
or think or say or do
will multiply about ten fold
and then return to you

It may not come immediately
nor from the obvious source
but the law applies unfailingly,
through some invisible source
Whatever you feel about another
be it love or hate or passion
will surely bounce right back to you
in some clear (or secret) fashion

If you speak about some person
a word of praise or two
soon, tens of other people
will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul,
not secrets of the brain
Kind ones bring us happiness
petty ones, untold pain

Giving works as surely
as reflections in a mirror
If hate you send, hate you’ll get back
but loving brings love nearer

Remember as you start this day
and duty crowds your mind
that kindness comes so quickly back
to those who first are kind

Let that thought and this one
direct us through each day
The only things we ever keep
are the things we give away.

- Author Unknown

 

 

 

My NEW Online Dating Profile

Hello! I'm looking for a relatively attractive guy who likes to have fun. If you drink excessively, do drugs and/or like to date multiple women at the same time, while telling them all that you want to be in an exclusive relationship with only them, I will probably fall in love with you in about 2 minutes flat. I'm a messy, disorganized single mother of three young kids who likes to get drunk at times and participate in extreme mud adventure races to forget my troubles. I've been legally divorced for about a year now, and I'm looking for that one guy who I can completely devote myself to, while expecting absolutely nothing in return. Still reading? Wink at me or message me...I promise, you'll have the time of your life! ;)

Big moments for me this year...

Big moments for me this year...
(in no particular order)

1. Zachary and Annabelle ran their first 5Ks with me, not because I suggested it or encouraged it, but simply because they wanted to be a part of everything that running has brought to my life.
2. I touched Richie Sambora's AND Jon Bon Jovi's hands during concerts!!!
3. I bought my house, even though I had to go through the entire mortgage process twice.
4. I finalized my divorce, closing one of the most difficult chapters of my life.
5. I ended a relationship with someone who I loved very much - twice.
6. I finished the last 2 miles of a Spartan Race with a broken ankle, not skipping one obstacle or burpee!
7. I re-learned what it's like to have to wait for your paycheck to come in before you can pay a bill or buy Christmas presents.
8. I learned that prayer and positive thinking can get you through even the very worst of times.
9. I cried at work in front of my co-workers - more than once.
10. I've proven to myself (and hopefully others) that what does not kill us really does make us stronger.

Happy New Year, my friends!
XOXO

Green grass, and other realizations about Divorce...

Something occurred to me this weekend. I think I might possibly be unintentionally glamorizing my Divorce. I think my Facebook posts about all of the crazy mud runs, night clubs, casinos, concerts, and other escapades are painting a story that's really not true, and I wanted to set the record straight.

Divorce is ugly. And Divorce with kids involved is a nightmare I can't even put into words. This year on Thanksgiving, I will be eating dinner without my kids. They are 3, 5 and 7 and they will not share Thanksgiving dinner with their mother. Last year, I spent Christmas day in tears, because my kids weren't there to share it with me. I miss family events at school on nights when I don't have custody.

I have 3 sweet, beautiful little children who mean the world to me, but I miss out on 40% of their life. I don't get to tuck them in every night and I don't get to be a part of their every day life. I feel like I've failed them because I couldn't keep my marriage together.

Divorce, and mainly just not having my kids with me every day is an ugly nightmare from which I'll never wake up. So, what do I do when they're not with me? How do I avoid the sickening feeling I get when I am at my house by myself without my kids and missing them like crazy? I do all of the things I didn't have time to do when I was with my kids full time - all of the things I dreamed of doing when I was with my kids 24/7 and felt like I had zero time for myself.

I run in races, I climb mountains, I run through fire, I go out to clubs, and I act like I'm in my 20's again. On Facebook, you see the muddy pictures, the restaurants, concerts and trips. But, you don't see the tears hiding behind my smiling face. Every bit of the jet-setting lifestyle I share with my Facebook friends is really just a coping mechanism for the loss I feel when I'm without my kids.

Those of you who don't know me well only see the little clips of my life that I choose to expose to the online world. I only share the ugly parts of my feelings with my circle of Divorced friends, because there's no way anyone could possibly fathom what it's like, unless they've been through it themselves. And I also don't want to bring anyone down.

I could wallow in sadness about what I've lost, or I can consciously choose to focus on whatever good I can pull from this experience. I post about the good things, and I choose to focus on the good things, make the most of my "me time," and learn to accept the bad things instead of letting them bring me down (at least when I can - I'm not always good at it).

I recently told a friend that Divorce is a horrible nightmare that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. She was talking about my "new life" and how amazing it seemed, and I think she was a little jealous. It's understandable. She's a full time mom with close to zero "me time," and the grass looks so much greener over on my side of the world. What she doesn't realize is that I'd give it all up in a heartbeat to have my kids with me all of the time.

The grass isn't greener on the other side. The only way to get green grass is to do your best to water your own.

What’s My Excuse?

A little over a year ago, I saw a picture of a man with 2 prosthetic legs finishing a Tough Mudder, with the caption: What’s Your Excuse? I saw another similar picture of a runner with the same caption. This week, a picture of a fit mom with 3 young kids has been circulating through social media with the same headline: What’s Your Excuse? 

These pictures inspire me to make a plan instead of making excuses if I want something. Almost anything is possible in this world if you do what it takes to get it. Yet why does “doing what it takes” often seem impossible? Because it's usually really, really HARD! 

The concept of "doing what it takes" is different for everyone. For someone with a fast metabolism, it might take less effort. For someone with a slower metabolism, or other circumstances, it may take more effort. But it is possible. The question is, does "doing what it takes" fit into your life and does it make sense with everything else that's going on in your life? Another thing to consider is that "doing what it takes" doesn’t always make you happy (or mean that you’re happy).

This picture was taken of me a year and a half ago, when I was in my best physical condition. It was 4 days after my marriage fell apart. I was smiling and strong on the outside, but absolutely miserable on the inside. For years, I was in an unhappy marriage and slowly sinking into a deep depression. About 6 months before this picture was taken, I started working out because I needed a distraction from the mess my life was becoming, not because I wanted to be fit. I found that exercising made me feel better about myself, gave me something to work towards and kept me sane through a really tough time in my life. The physical side effects were just a bonus in my mind.

I would have given anything to linger in bed with a man who loved me on Saturday mornings, instead of setting my alarm early to get up for boot camp. But, that wasn’t my reality. If given the choice, I’d pick sitting on the couch eating a pint of ice cream and watching a movie with my soul mate, over running on the treadmill late at night so I could get that “runner’s high” and feel happy inside, instead of miserable. Some people self-medicate with food, drugs, alcohol or even sometimes work. The truth is, we’re all usually struggling with something on the inside, and our outside appearance rarely matches our feelings on the inside. Hence, the sayings: “Don’t judge a book by its cover” and “fat and happy”.

The mom who posted the picture, asking: “What’s Your Excuse?” was just trying to make people understand that it’s possible to get fit, even with obstacles in your way – whether they be having young kids, having no legs, or something else. Her intent wasn’t to tell people that she’s better than they are. I don’t look like the superhero in that picture anymore, but I’m settling into my life now and actually really happy.

I’m a single mom with 3 wonderful kids, a job that I love and a boyfriend who makes me feel special. I’d rather carry around a few extra pounds and feel loved and happy. I'm still running and conquering all kinds of crazy races, but that's just part of what makes me happy. That’s MY excuse. But that’s just my choice. Everyone has a choice, and that’s what makes this life so amazingly beautiful.

Tough Mudder - Round 2!

On June 1st, 2013 I completed my 2nd Tough Mudder. There were so many differences between this one and my first one. But, for the purpose of this blog post, I'll focus on the ones that I remember most vividly.

Completed this obstacle on my first try
this year. Last year, it took 3 trys
to get up that wall!

I completed the course in 90+ degree heat.
Last year, it was 30 degrees when the race started, and there were icicles all over the barbed wire. Every time I completed a water obstacle (and there are a ton of water obstacles in Tough Mudder,) I was more and more chilled to the bone. I don't think I've ever been as cold in my life as I was at my first Tough Mudder!

This year, I was sweating in 90+ degree heat, but the sun was shining, and those water obstacles were fabulous and refreshing. I was actually happy that I couldn't get all the way across the monkey bars or the rings this year, because that meant I got to fall into a cool and refreshing (although somewhat smelly) water pit. I didn't even care that several people had probably used those water pits as their alternate port-a-potty option for the day. That water felt soooo good!

I didn't train nearly as much this time.
When I registered for my first Tough Mudder, I was seriously concerned about injuring myself, and I had doubts that I'd be able to complete the course. It looked so crazy and difficult, and it was something I couldn't picture myself doing well. I had no idea how those people in the videos were able to get through those obstacles, and I wasn't taking any chances. I trained like a maniac, attending every Tough Mudder class I could fit into my schedule at the Y and I even hired a personal trainer for extra help.

After having completed the Tough Mudder once before, along with several other races, I got a little lazy with my training. I was was a little nervous about how I'd do this time with less training, but I still got through the course without too much trouble and kept up with the people in the front of our group. I even did better on some of the obstacles this year. Maybe it was because I wasn't fighting hypothermia!

The Electric Eel was completely different!
The Electric Eel is an obstacle where you army crawl on your belly through a pond of water with live electric wires dangling throughout. There's no way to avoid the wires and no way to know which wires are live. So, you randomly get shocked throughout this obstacle - and it HURTS! Some people even black out from those shocks. Last year, I got shocked like 5 times during that obstacle. 

This is a picture of me getting shocked last year!

This year, I didn't get shocked once going through The Electric Eel. Some people said they got shocked, but most people said they didn't feel anything. There was a lack of water in parts of the pond this year, maybe that's why. The water kept evaporating from the heat, so during much of this obstacle, I was army crawling over black tarp that was a zillion degrees from the sun and burned my arms like crazy. Last year, I was screaming from the shocks, and this year, I was screaming from the burns on my arms. I must say, I prefer the burns to the shocks though.

Walk The Plank was much more controlled.
The "Walk The Plank" obstacle is an obstacle where you climb up to a 15-20 foot platform and jump into either a natural or man-made lake. Last year, the volunteers/staff at the top of the plank were yelling at everyone like drill sergeants, and telling them to "find some real estate and jump."

After a Tough Mudder death in West Virginia a few months ago at this very same obstacle, it appears Tough Mudder has made some changes to how this obstacle is run. This year, I think the plank was closer to the 15 ft. height than the 20 ft. height. Also, when I got to the top of the plank, there was a volunteer/staff member in between each platform, who looked you in the eye, asked you if you knew how to swim, asked you if you were OK, and told you to wait until the person in front of you surfaces and starts to swim away before jumping. It was calm on top of the platform this year, but still very scary!

I finished the course in significantly less time!
This year, I was running with the group at the Y who takes Lindsay Peters' boot camp class. These people are beyond fit, because Lindsay kicks their butts on a weekly basis. She also has a great fitness blog. Running with the boot camp crew made a huge difference in my time this year, because they were always moving and doing their best to get through the course as quickly as possible. I have to say, I prefer the constant moving and running, as well as the added bonus of finishing much more quickly.

All in all, I have to say, I enjoyed this Tough Mudder significantly more than my first one, but that first Tough Mudder will forever hold a place in my heart. It's what drove me to start becoming active and helped me to find a healthy way to relieve stress during a difficult time in my life. That first event gave me the confidence to attempt and finish a Marathon that year, which was something I would have previously thought was never possible for someone like me. And for that, I'll be forever grateful.