Who Influenced You?

At last week's 8 Minute Ripple our creative exercise was quite powerful. We asked our Ripplers to think of the person who most influenced their life, handed them a blank sheet of paper and some crayons, and asked them to draw them. The simple act of handing adults crayons and paper are always met with a heavy dose of skepticism, especially by our newbies, but everyone took the task to heart and got to work.

Our creative exercises are often the anchor that drives home the experience of engaged connecting in a way that is hard to explain. We ask our Ripplers to share their pictures in sort of a show and tell format at the end of the formal Rippling in part of the evening we call Adult Swim. The stories that are shared, the laughs and smiles that spontaneously happen, and the pride that bubbles to the surface as people show their often amazing renditions of whatever the creative exercise assignment may have been nothing short of amazing. Most Ripplers express that if they felt connected during the Ripple, they feel absolutely bonded with their new Ripple friends when they hear the heartfelt stories that are shared during the final portion of the evening.

On this particular night we instructed everyone to share their story and if possible take their picture and send it to the person whom they've drawn. The stories, the emotions that crept to the surface as our Ripplers told their stories about who their pictures were about and why they had made such an indelible mark on their lives and careers were indescribable. In fact, to say it was powerful would be a severe understatement. It was clear that it was a night that most people would not soon forget.

Then I got a post on our Ripple Central Facebook group over the weekend. It was from our Ripplers, Kali Priestley Rourke, asking if I had seen this short little video and if it had somehow inspired the creative exercise from last week's Ripple. It hadn't, in fact, I hadn't yet seen the video but watched it with wide-eyed enthusiasm. After watching it, I could see right away what a perfect tie-in it was to what we'd all just experienced.

I am so grateful Kali' shared it with me and could not wait to share it with you as well.

We all have powerful influences who shape who we've become. Most of us don't take the time to reflect on just how important those people are to us, let alone share with that individual what a profound impact they have made in our life. Perhaps after watching this video, we'll all be inspired to take action and create a Ripple of gratitude so they will know.

Ripple On!!!