Right before you are about to get angry. Stop. Breathe. It’s all good. I am SO grateful that this challenge is taking place for a number of reasons, Get Smart would just like to UP the ANTE a bit.

When I was a kid I happened to be a big baseball fan. I had read a book about Lou Gehrig  and wrote a paper on it. So for me, ALS has always been something I knew about and cannot even imagine what it is like to have a chronic fatal disease. This article is first and foremost in honor of those who suffer.

Part of Get Smart’s leadership initiative is to teach service as a way of life. Therefore, it is our responsibility to invite people into a conversation (not a right/wrong, good/bad conversation) about important issues that the ice bucket challenge brings to light. Before you get your boxing gloves on with “it raised all this money and created awareness,” let’s look at this whole picture. To look at something critically is not to criticize but to say “Hey I want to think about this from all angles.” It does not mean someone is negative (a common misperception) I was labeled negative a few times when I questioned the challenge and to call me negative is almost as ridiculous as saying Sharkanado 2 is going to by up for an Oscar or Emmy (is it a real movie??) this year….

When you work in a school for 10 years, you begin to notice something called TEACHABLE MOMENTS. I ironically got TAUGHT by some of my former students and Get Smart gals. I was all about “hey don’t criticize — it raised all this money!” BUT I had an open mind, and MY OWN get smart gals, Kate and Nicole CHALLENGED me to think. See a challenge makes you THINK not just do a stunt. So here is my ode to Kate and Nicole and just some things to THINK about — not fight about, not freak out about.

So here is some FOOD FOR THOUGHT and some perhaps commonly misunderstood pieces to this. F Scott Fitzgerald (YES the Great Gatsby dude) said:

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

So everyone just calm down. Open your brilliant mind and just consider a few things. It’s OK to disagree. Conflict can be healthy if it educates and creates change! If you really want to BE AWARE about ALS this does not come from knowing it exists. It comes from informing yourself. If you did a video or are going to – then become deeply aware to honor the people who suffer from this horrible disease and to truly inform yourself beyond being freezing.

1. Know how it started! The challenge was started by former Boston College baseball star Pete Frates who suffers from the disease and has lost the ability to speak. His voice lives on in the completely viral nature of this campaign. Read about him and his brave fight here!

2. Consider donating in some creative ways that take a little more effort. I do not want to go into an organizational lesson about how large charities run, but this is where you want to do your homework. Since so much money has gone to the larger charities, lets change up the game? I could go on and on. Therefore Get Smart has searched Go Fund Me pages so you can donate DIRECTLY to people who have ALS and who are suffering both physically and financially. Please consider checking out the following people and giving to them. These are just a few. If you want to find others search “Go Fund Me ALS” in google and come up with a bunch. Afraid some aren’t legit? You will have to trust. Here are two we selected:

Help Matt, father of 2!

Matt is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the football team there.  After graduating from Cal U, Matt embarked on his career as a firefighter.  He is a seven year member of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire based out of 32 Engine & Truck in Spring Garden. He was diagnosed seven years ago with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The affects of this horrible disease have left Matt with many obstacles to overcome in his own home. The proceeds from this are going to help the Onyshko family with many of their needs and upcoming costs. Donate here!

Help Rob, Father of 3!

Along with the many physical and emotional challenges for Rob and our family, there are financial burdens associated with the tools, equipment & medical expenses that we need to help Rob live with and fight this disease. Recently Rob was fitted with a PEG Tube (Feeding Tube) and the nutritional supplements we have chosen to help him thrive are not covered by our health insurance. Donate here!

3. Don’t let awareness STOP after the ice! Seeing as we have now reached a point where Oprah has already dumped ice on her head, I’d say you’d be living under a rock if you didn’t know about the challenge by now. A challenge needs to be HARD — to stretch you. So I challenge you to become aware before you make a video. If you make a video, reflect a bit and share WHY you have chosen to participate. You have a whole 24 hours, you can dedicate some time to get aware beyond knowing.

4. Parents have a conversation with your kids before they treat the whole thing like a circus trick. I watched a young boy go through the motions of the challenge this past weekend. This kid is BRILLIANT so I was able to have a good conversation with him before he did it. Teach children what awareness really means and discuss the disease before they do the video.

5. Follow it up with some kind of actual service. Visit a veteran’s or nursing home or volunteer with someone who is immobile or ill. This is to deepen your awareness of what it is to lose your health.

6. Take actions to celebrate that you are well. Run, walk, do jumping jacks, or take a spin class. Be grateful for the gift of your arms, legs, and more!

7. Stop fighting on Facebook but do NOT be afraid of healthy discourse. AVOID personal attacks. People are allowed to disagree and no one is saying it’s all bad or it wasn’t super inspiring! It is really ok to have different points of view. This is normal, healthy and human. My friend of over 20 years Michelle and I disagreed on the ALS challenge last night. Instead of warring we talked on the phone and planned a girls wine and painting night — agreeing to disagree!

8. Remember that making a video doesn’t secure you a place in heaven. If after you do this you just act like a jerk to your neighbor or beat up your little brother, you cannot call “ice bucket immunity.” Attempt to be great and make a difference everyday, not just in front of the camera.

Ok people – Stay awesome

xo

Steph