Today is just Thursday, and that’s the point
International women’s day is past. And I am sure we all thoroughly enjoyed the corporate updates, particularly from the companies that pay women 35p to the testosterone-laden pound.
Today is the day that matters. Today is the day that is real.
Today is not pride, so your corporate logo won’t be tastefully adjusted to accommodate a rainbow flag.
It is not black history month, and your one brown colleague hasn’t been photographed in weeks.
You’ve probably removed the sunflower from your company Twitter handle, and as for Syria, you don’t remember if the war is over but you know it was bad.
Today is just another day.
And that’s the point.
Today is the day that matters.
Today is the day that is real.
And this may be the shortest #LedaWrites ever.
But here it is.
Don’t say ‘I am sorry you feel this way’. Be sorry it happened or be quiet.
Don’t say ‘I am an ally’ and wear a lapel pin. Go to battle with me or be quiet.
Don’t say ‘isn’t this awful’ and move on. Do something. Or be quiet.
It’s not that I don’t value words. It’s just that I can’t use them.
I can’t use them to feed anyone, shelter anyone, shield anyone or comfort anyone.
Today is a day like any other. A day not dedicated to reminding you to care.
So today, do something. I don’t care how small. Buy the Big Issue. Say good morning to your neighbour. Donate to the Red Cross. Stand up for your colleague when they are told to have a sense of humour after they bristle at abuse. Abuse that may be invisible to you although the hurt it caused wasn’t.
I don’t care what you do on this Thursday that isn’t anything other than Thursday.
Just stand up for something.
Stand for something.
And tomorrow, do it again.
#LedaWrites
Leda Glyptis is FinTech Futures’ resident thought provocateur – she leads, writes on, lives and breathes transformation and digital disruption.
She is a recovering banker, lapsed academic and long-term resident of the banking ecosystem. She is chief client officer at 10x Future Technologies.
All opinions are her own. You can’t have them – but you are welcome to debate and comment!
Follow Leda on Twitter @LedaGlyptis and LinkedIn.
