You would think that an October blog would be entitled “orange,” or “brown” or “yellow.” It’s become clear to me however that October is a “pink” month. In the past week alone, I’ve seen football players with pink cleats, women with pink extensions, and children wearing pink t-shirts to school. Pink has an ever-increasing presence on the autumn palette.
As important as I believe the “pink” message is, today’s words are not about it specifically. Rather, I think there is something important we can learn from pink’s evolution as a primary fall color.
A few individuals launched “pink.” Yet today, millions of people – regardless of age, gender or “story,” – are part of “pink.” If we can be “pink,” we can be other colors too.
I suppose what I’m talking about is “movement-making.” The word “movement,” however, can be daunting –so daunting perhaps that it stops people in their tracks before they even “start” what’s important to them. That’s why I like to start with “moments.”
At work and at home, countless opportunities for moments arise each day:
- Stand-taking on an environmental issue at the dinner table
- Perspective-sharing on bullying with colleagues during your lunch hour
- Story-telling about a homeless person in a classroom
- Action-defending in the wake of your participation in a rally
- Alternative-suggesting when you disagree with a colleague’s assumptions
- Pin or bracelet wearing anywhere, in the company of anyone
There’s “power” in numbers. The more moments one strings together, the more capacity he/she has to launch something even more colorful.
It goes without saying that movement- launching, even its “momentary” stage, requires some basic human characteristics.
- “Hate” and “love.” Moments first depend on at least a whiff of intolerance and then the passion to do something about it.
- Impatience and patience. One moment does not a movement make. It’s critical to balance one’s restlessness for immediate human or situational change with the ability to allow people and things to take their “organic” course.
- Speaking and listening . Moments depend on a strong voice to incite attention and energy. Too loud a voice, however, deafens the champion and renders his/her audience mute.
- Holding on and sacrifice. To be successful “in the moment” means to hold on tightly to one’s truth. That grasp often requires letting go of other life/work “essentials” if only “momentarily.”
Nancy Brinker was one of “pink’s” architects. Inspired by her sister, Susan G. Komen, her new book tells their story. I suspect I will learn more about the moments that launched her movement when I read Promise Me. In the interim, if a story, idea, or perspective that lives in you has color-creating potential, consider the following :
- What’s the issue that is on your mind?
- What personal or professional meaning does it have for you?
- How and with whom do you create moments of attention, learning and action around this issue?
- What stands in your way?
- If you could pick any color to reflect your efforts, what would it be and why?