What will your ripple effect be?

​I fell asleep last night texting with a group of friends who are coming from all over the country this weekend to run in one of the Richmond Marathon weekend races. It will be nice to catch up with them - to receive much needed hugs - to swim (and run) in their laughter.

COVID robbed us of this chance last year, which will make this reunion extra special. A lot has happened in so many of our lives since we were last together.

Just seven years ago, I wasn't a runner. I didn't know any of these friends. And I'd never heard of the woman who brought us all together.

In January of 2014, Meg Cross Menzies was hit and killed by a motorist while she was doing a training run for the Boston Marathon. In the aftermath - family, friends and total strangers from all over the world came together one Saturday and ran in her memory.

The lingering ripple effect has become known as Megsmiles.

It's important to define that ripple - at least it's important to me. It would be easy to believe - given all the running we do - that the ripple is defined by the MILES.

MegsMILES.

I would argue that running is simply a vehicle. Running has become a vehicle for this group of beautiful people to spread SMILES all over the world.

MegSMILES.

I have watched this group spread love and goodness to each other; I've watched them spread it over causes and hardships near and far. I've watched this group celebrate complete strangers as quickly as they celebrate one another.

I've watched this group show up; in fact, they may have introduced me to the power and beauty of the simple act of showing up.

This group has confirmed for me that changing the world is not impossible. It's taught me that changing the world rarely starts with the desire to change the world, but with a smile directed at someone who least expected that to be the smile that changed their world.

It starts with a small act of kindness.

When people tell me stories about Meg - they always start by celebrating her kindness, not highlighting what a gifted runner she was.

That speaks to the power of the ripple effect.

It also has a powerful way of speaking to me, of challenging me, of asking me, how will my own ripple effect be defined?

It's comforting, and a bit frightening - yes - when you come to understand your ripple effect will most likely ripple from the little things you do - not the big things you too often chase after to define your ripple.

Comforting, because we are ALL capable of the little things.

Frightening, because we can no longer hide behind the idea that changing the world is a job much too big for one person. Frightening, because possible quickly slips into responsible if your interest is in protecting and feeding and growing and guiding love in the world.

It will be nice to have so many friends showing up in Richmond this weekend.

It will be nice to be reminded that the simple act of showing up has a ripple effect; maybe the ripple the world needs most.