Did you know you're important?
Seriously. You ARE! When you don't show up, people notice.
When you vote, it matters. When you don't , it matters.
When you smile at someone, it matters. To them, to you, and maybe even to the stranger who witnessed a little kindness.
When you step in and help... it matters.
When you stand up and speak... it matters.
Every action is a pebble. Enough pebbles can start an avalanche.
The things I do aren't just for me. They're for you, too.
And if something I say, do, or create inspires you to pursue your next goal—or rediscover one you thought you'd forgotten—that matters.
Because somewhere, someone is watching you do the same.
You matter. What you do matters. And you never know whose life you might change simply by showing up.
I believe showing up matters. Sometimes that's volunteering, sometimes it's speaking up, sometimes it's lending a hand when nobody's watching.
I don't have pictures of myself collecting and handing out suitcases and coats for the homeless... because I wasn't doing it for clout.
I don't have video of helping Special Olympics kids put on bicycle helmets while wearing my racing gear... because I wanted them to see that they could be like me (back in the day!) and belong to a team just like ours.
I don't have a collection of pictures teaching women how to hold a line or take a corner in a bicycle race... because I was a little busy. LOL.
The closest I come to recording what I do is in my podcasts and vodcasts and my FridayNightLightsSLC Ride (information at https://www.ridingwithcici.com ) where I am more concerned about connecting than capturing.
But you get the point.
We matter most when we're working to elevate the world around us... even just a little.
Over the years, I've been involved in causes and projects that matter to me. I'm sharing a few of them here, not because I think I've done anything extraordinary, but because maybe something will resonate with you.
And maybe you'll find something worth getting involved in, too.