Happy New Year. While many of us are more than happy to leave 2017 in the rear view, we did want to point out some worthwhile content you may have missed at the tail end of last year. In late December, Legal IT Today (LITT), the quarterly publication published by the global legal technology news and resource site Legal IT Professionals, gifted us issue #20 chock-full of thought provoking articles including a Q&A-style section on 2017 musings and 2018 hopes. Several LITT 2017 contributors including me responded to four questions sharing their thoughts as we move from 2017 to 2018. I encourage you all to download and read the entire issue (and this article), but wanted to single out a favorite answer.
In response to "What's the most inspiring thing you have heard this year?", Hélder Santos, Senior Business Technology Manager, CMS Legal Services EEIG, highlighted something non-#LegalIT/business related but an amazing "this is why I believe in humanity" moment from the world of sports. He shared a moment from an April UEFA Champions League soccer/football match between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco which was postponed after a pre-game bomb attack near the Dortmund team’s bus. "The game had to be postponed at short notice until the next night, but many of the away fans from AS Monaco did not have an additional night’s hotel booking. Shortly after news circulated about the number of people stuck without a place to stay, the Twitter hashtag #bedforawayfans began trending, helping to connect marooned supporters with locals who opened up their homes to them. There was no official request or organization behind it, it was just an idea that sprang up among fan groups before spreading via social media. It ended up reaching far and wide," noted Hélder.
I too am a passionate and dedicated soccer supporter and remember this moment like it happened today. As a German national, I was particularly inspired by the acts of kindness and goodwill being displayed by the local Dortmunders. I witnessed a similar situation closer to home here in Atlanta in December when a freak (and unplanned) power outage left 1000s of travelers stuck at the world's busies airport in Atlanta. After 5+ hours of being stranded, a out-of-town college football player who had participated in a bowl game the day before, started walking away from the airport looking for a close by hotel to spend the night. While on his trek, the young man was flagged down by a local news crew who had noticed him on the side of the road. They interviewed him about his experience, challenges and needs live on location at a local gas station. Within 10 minutes of the broadcast, a number of local good Samaritans drove to the station to offer their help and resources to the cast-away. Again, a similar story to Hélder's, and more proof that 'social' is the new village and often humans don't get enough credit for being kind, selfless and generous.
I toast to that and to more moments in 2018 that will inspire us to think, share and act.
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