$8 million per minute for Superbowl Halftime advertising airtime. That would buy 320,000 people clean water & sanitation for LIFE! (modified Tweet with statistic from Water.org)
In addition to the largest football game of the year, the Superbowl is the largest annual human-trafficking event in the United States. Approximately 10,000 women were involved in sex-trafficking during the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami. (Source article - worth a full read)If either of those statements don't create a pit in the bottom of your stomach, you can probably stop reading. I'm well aware that I come from a place of incredible privilege, and an abundant culture where I can focus on what I want verses need, but this is taking it a bit too far.
Like most people in the US, I will be gathered with friends eating delicious food and drinking beer around a TV tomorrow. I care very little about the outcome of the football game, but the social opportunity that accompanies it is one of my favorite traditions of the year. Just like saving excess food won't solve world hunger issues, not watching the Superbowl won't give water to those in need, or keep sex-trafficking from happening. These are big problems, and we need big solutions.
Working in the nonprofit sector with STLF, I felt like I was contributing daily to making the world a better place. I love my job, and do believe hiring talented young people into an ethically run, innovative corporation makes an impact on individuals - but it's not solving global issues of water scarcity and sex-trafficking. I write about these issues today to increase awareness, and invite you (no matter how you spend your 9-5 time) to join me in living a "Charged Life" and focusing my energy to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.
The Charge is one of the reasons I started writing (the link currently offers a free copy, with $7 shipping). It suggests we can each live a "Charged Life" if we choose to. It asks, "Am I living my truth and actualizing my potential? Am I living an inspired life and inspiring others?" My answer to those initially was yes - but as with most things I say out loud, I aim to prove it. The book recognizes that those of us living in abundance with the opportunity to focus on our wants, can have strong and enduring levels of positivity in our heart and soul, a determined mindset where no one can hold us back, and stay motivated to do meaningful work. In living a Charged Life or being Chargers we accomplish more, achieve more, serve more.
Chargers are:
- Open and observant in the moment
- Future oriented
- Challenge seekers
- Deeply interested in, and authentically connect with, others
- Self-reliant
- Creatively driven
- Meaning makers
Tomorrow as I watch the Superbowl, I'll continue to think about how we get to systemic change in water scarcity and crimes of sex-trafficking. For today, and every day that follows, I'll continue my journey to being a Charger - accomplishing, achieving, and most importantly serving as best I can.
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