CONNECT: March 27, 2015

Spoiler Summary: We are all unique in our own way. We each have a very unique combination of personal goals and desires as well as fears and vices. However, when there's something we're passionate about, we are more similar than different, and we share.

The meeting started like many do - with a "safety contact" - which is essentially a chance for each person to say something about a moment when they were particularly aware of health or safety in their day. The only difference this time was that each participant was asked to elaborate a bit on what they had been doing (or were going to do) differently in regards to health & safety.  The answers ranged from things purely safety related (such as driving related items like following-distance), to items that were more purely about health (such as early detection or healthy behaviors). Now this could easily have been mechanical.....just people filling in the time......however, quite the contrary, for most of the people in the room it wasn't contrived at all.  It was genuine and it was heartfelt - an entire room of people willing to talk passionately about health and safety and how it impacted them, what they can (or did) do to make their workplace a safer or healthier environment.  It was an entire room of people willing to (very openly) take personal ownership over actions that promote health and safety. I was thinking about it the rest of the day.....wondering why every group doesn't seem to be so open or care so much.

The next day I was with a different group entirely....theirwork is different, they have different risks and even the format of the session was entirely different.....but, about 15 minutes in, there it was again.....a person with passion standing in front of a crowded room talking about what he (and his wife together in this case) were pledging to do, to promote health & safety....in this case in their community.  Now, this was not a professional speaker or a rehearsed speech....it was a few minutes, from the gut, by a person who cared so much that he was willing to get up in front of a group and give his honest and genuine account.  I was super impressed and left wondering how different the world might be if everyone cared as much as that guy does.

And then, later in the day, I met a guy who was just about bubbling over.  When I saw him walk in the door I did a double-take.....he had clearly made some health changes.....and I said "wow, you are looking lean"....his smile engulfed his entire face and he said "I was hoping we'd cross paths....I've really been working on it"....and we talked a bit longer about how he had literally transformed himself, how much more energy he had and how his entire outlook had changed. He was charged up and feeling great....and talking passionately about it - rightfully so, I thought.  I drove home that evening wishing more people got to see in first person the power a health change can have.

So why aren't there more folks like these (relative) few? Why do so many people sit back and let the moment pass...even when they've got a fire burning inside them about something?  Why don't more people step up to the mic and put themselves out there about what they care about most?

Of course, we all know the answer already....it's about trust.  When we believe it is safe to do the healthy thing.....cool even.....then we will....but not until then.  If, when we go a bit out on the limb, we are given some positive response, we'll do it again, maybe even a bit further....enough positive feedback and it eventually becomes a habit, something that we pass on to others automatically.  

Want to take on a health-challenge? Want to make an impact? What if every time we noticed a person trying to make an improvement we simply said (in words or actions) "hey....I respect the effort you're making, Keep up the goodwork....I'm an ally"....would it make a difference?  Yes....and bigger than we might realize.

Health, Safety and Prevention are not just good ideas worth learning about, they are a way of living....a lifestyle worth promoting and sharing....with everyone we care about. When more of us who do care seek out & support those who want to, the faster caring this much becomes the norm.  ANYONE can improve the health and safety of the world around them, it only takes one step to be moving forward, and the support of allies to just keep going.

To all the individuals who have stepped up to share - thank you - we all benefit from your passion.