Today is Blue Monday - a day when we're all meant to be hurled into
a whirlwind of depression, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Call me
crazy, but haven't the past six months been kinda like that? Things
just suck. Not even the whole "Yay it's Bush's last day!" can remedy
that. Yes, Obama will be our president as of tomorrow - but that's not
going to pay your electricity bill is it?
It's been said
time and time again that in hard times like these, people need to
*help* each other. That we need to be a little more understanding and
compassionate. That we should take a bubble bath with our neighbors.
However,
I get the impression that a lot of these people think that "being
helpful" actually means "asking for favors" or "receiving with out that
whole giving part". Is your neighbor being any nicer to you lately? Mine sure isn't. (And if you're reading this, stop closing the gate on me!)
Maybe we've lost site of what the "give and take" concept
actually looks like, because the people who run our government and financial institutions don't
exactly get it either. They want your money. And if they can't take your money, they'll simply take your car. Or your house.
And, no, you can't have a mortgage. No, you can't have a
loan. No, you can't pay in installments - just a lump sum - by tomorrow. But you can have this parking ticket. And this overdraft fee. And this fine for
not being able to pay your credit card bill on time - never mind if
it's simply because you were laid off before Christmas.
Humans, we really are simple creatures, aren't we? And at the end of the day, we're really not that hard to please.(Happy Meal, anyone?)
So,
would it really kill those who run our country and own the companies who
are seemingly unaffected by this "credit crunch", this "recession", to
try and do something to cheer up the mass amounts of unhappy people?
A little bit of effort can bring a whole lot of joy to so many people.
Take for example The T-Mobile Dance in Liverpool Street Station last week:
Did that not just make your whole day?
Did it not make you want to send it to about eight of your friends?
It's
extraordinary, isn't it? And what a simple concept. A bit of music, a
bit of rehearsal, and a surprise dance routine in the most ordinary of
places - a train station...
Sure T-Mobile probably just wanted a video online to *go viral* and push the G1- but they did so much good in the process! I absolutely love it.
What
if every big company like T-Mobile tried to do something to raise the publics spirits? What if they put in just a little bit more thought
that, "Right, we'll put some hot girls in some tight tops and have them
pass out free shit to the people coming out of Tube stations..."
What about music! Dancing! What about flowers? Laughter? Bright colors! Compliments!
In
our busy adult lives, everything becomes pretty mundane. They become
even more unbearable when the world seems to be going down the toilet
right before our eyes. So, being surprised by something positive,
even silly, would make our day that much easier, wouldn't it?
So, who's next?
Coca-Cola? Sony? 20th Century Fox? Microsoft? Samsung? Blackberry? Apple?
Bring
it.
We're not asking for hard cash or a free iPod. Just make us smile.
Give us something cool to look at or experience.
It's good for your
brand, good for potential customers and consumers, and even better for
the soul.