Awesomeness

And then it was over.

More than twelve weeks, countless IMs, text messages, tweets, blog posts, direct messages, e-mails, phone calls, volunteers, supplies, bus trips, plane trips, Kinko’s runs, first winds, second winds, and third winds (I can’t tell you how much work went in after midnight) led up to the inaugural SM4SC fundraiser in Boston.

And it was outstanding.

For the entire night, the thoughts in my mind shifted between three major themes:

• I’m so glad to be here tonight, to be here to support Gradon and Jane Doe and make this event come alive.
• There are some freakin’ amazing people in Boston.
• I can’t believe this is *really* happening.

These thoughts speak to a lot of things – most notably the power of social media, the good hearts, minds and thoughts of people who genuinely care, and the fact that we can come together to use our collective will to make something bigger than ourselves.

And I think that’s what it’s really about.

The collective good. Doing things that benefit everyone. The “we’re all in this together” spirit. The fact that even divided by distance, passion and love know no bounds. People make all the difference.

We all had different reasons for contributing to SM4SC, and different ways of contributing. And I had a wonderful time meeting so many amazing people, who said such kind words about what we were doing, and about me specifically.

I was especially inspired by how people gave unconditionally. And how gestures small and large online resulted in tangible results in person.

My favorite thoughts of the evening:

• The kamikaze run to get Gradon’s gift ready – it was a surgical operation in the back of the Harvard Club, and I’d like to thank the surgeons: Shelley, Maria, Courtney and Rebecca for helping to make it happen.
• One single sentence: “Talk. It could save someone’s life“, delivered as part of a very moving talk by Toni, from Jane Doe.
• Pure unadulterated sillyness.
• Being able to offer some amazing prizes, and the fact that the Dell laptop prize went to @pamelump, who’s about to have a little one of her own.
• How a momentary crisis about “registration” was solved within mere seconds by three of the classiest and most awesome women on Twitter.
• All of the amazing people I got to meet.
• Meeting in person and watching Meg Fowler and Gradon Tripp meet each other, and share in pure, sweet, wonderful love.

I’d like to again thank EVERYONE who was involved.

I hope that everyone can keep the spirit of giving going – for themselves and others. It doesn’t take a big event, a large contribution to give, in fact, the small acts that are shared between us everyday can start a revolution.

I can’t wait for the next SM4SC.

sm4sc post-game report on 12seconds.tv