So that’s it, Taylor Swift’s ERAS tour has ended after two years of being on the road. Please do not mistake me for a SWIFTIE. Saying this made me ponder. Is it that bad to be considered one these days? My roommate is a SWIFTIE. Over our time together, I have gleaned some insight into the philosophy of this collective. A few important points that resonate with me are the underlying themes of kindness, sharing, and inclusivity. These values seem to be what this next “ERA” will be focused on. All are aligned with humanity’s best practices.
Maybe Taylor Swift is so popular because humankind desires a sea change in the collective mindset. With that, these next blog posts will look at some recent social media influencers who practice these values regularly.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER #1
It wasn’t easy to know where to start on my search. So I created a social media call-out request for contributions. Noticing this my sister suggested a recent social media influencer whose name will resonate with some of you. @MDMotivator on Instagram, who is Zachery Dereniowski. He has 11 million subscribers collectively over the three major platforms: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. His motto is “Kindness is cool.” This mantra was at the top of a crowdfunding link on Instagram which supports individuals who spread kind acts. He states, “Kindness is not just a choice; it’s a lifestyle. Every act, big or small, creates a ripple effect of positivity. Join us in making the world a brighter place.”
Pre-Med Student Takes a 180 Degrees
Like many influencers, his fate was determined by an initial post on YouTube. In September 2021, from his parent’s basement, he uploaded a video. Overnight, it received 20 million views. The question I had was where did it begin? Dereniowski was in medical school in Sydney, Australia when COVID struck. In short order, he injured his leg and lost his girlfriend of six years. He was alone and suffering from depression. Fortunately, he sought help and was advised to journal his feelings. After some reflection, he decided to take a year off from medical school and fly home to Ontario to live with his parents. From that first viral video post, he never looked back.
What motivated Dereniowski to attend medical school and now to be a content creator is a desire a to help people. Initially, he struggled with the thought of leaving medical school due to societal expectations. But he started asking those hard questions like: “Is this the path for me? What’s my purpose?” This was the beginning of his transformation. While in medical school he was doing social media posts off and on based on his feelings of vulnerability. These part-time mental health “PSAs” gave a new meaning to helping others when realizing the effect it had. Unfortunately, he hadn’t recognized the change and plodded forward on his university track.
Seeing the Light Again
Suddenly, the wall of depression hit him hard. It was then that things needed to shift. Finally, the move home mixed with the content creation created this “right” path. Everyone has a point that creates the essential “why” that turns their life around and gives them purpose. In SeeChangeMaker’s recent blog article and interview with Kathy Harms, some considerations for those life-changing moments are covered.
Once, he was on track an abundance of opportunities arose such as collaborations with celebrities and organizations. But it isn’t the fame that is most important but the giving and connection to others. It is the lifting up of others that really brings richness to @MDMotivator’s life. During his interview with Otter PR , Dereniowski related one of his initial videos about the idea of “those that have the least give the most.” In this narrative, he explains:
“Well, the first time I saw someone, I see it every day now, those who have the least give the most. It was I think October of 2021 I just started making videos. I had a sign that said who do you wish you were with right now this guy comes up to me he blurts out, my ex…
…the idea that someone gave up their home gave their last few bucks or changed because there was someone who’s more in need and not because it was a video just so nonchalantly it blew my mind to see it in real time because I know you hear it or maybe you see it on social media but seeing it in real life and then that just repeated hundreds of times”.
A True Sense of Purpose
These are the moments that created a true sense of purpose and hope says Dereniowski. Similarly, his response to this idea is that “I truly believe humanity is good and people are good and there’s a lot of good out there and when you are good you draw in a lot more good in you.”
His humility and overall belief in the goodness of humanity resonates through every video posted, action taken, and human helped. In the Otter interview, the suggestion that all this is about him brings a response of “no” with an addendum. Dereniowski reminds us that throughout the process there are so many contributors. For instance, the man on the street who chose to talk to him, the crowd-funding contributors, and the prop donors, all are links in one big chain; a chain of kindness.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER #2
In this next autobiographical narrative, we look at a young millennial teacher. Ms. Natalie Ringold caught my eye while I was scrolling around on Instagram. Her moniker is: always.upper.elementary . Her teaching style has brought ongoing kindness, mindfulness and passion into and outside of her classroom.
While social media influencing probably wasn’t on her radar, it became a way for her messages to spread around the globe. The “30 Second or Less” rule Instagram reel got her the most traction. Now, it’s being shared using various language translations as well.
This viral video discusses how words matter. For instance, when a person is about to say something to someone about changing something about themselves, she says” remember your words have power”. So, if that something can’t be changed in 30 seconds or less, refrain from saying it. As you can see from the post, she gives easy and relatable examples for the fourth graders to understand.
Beginnings
Growing up in Minnesota, USA, she always desired to be a teacher. So in her interview with PopSugar they ask about her educator influences. Ringold mentions that Kate Lutgen and Blake Christiansen were the two she remembered the most. She establishes that Lutgen saw potential in her and ultimately “changed the trajectory of her life.” These are those moments in people’s lives where relationships decide pathways forward.
Displays of compassion and kindness have translated into her career. When reflecting on her teaching, she says it’s “the heart-to-heart conversations, the relationships, the connections we make together as a class and all of the learning” that’s what really sticks. These are some of the joys and rewards that keep her on this path of sharing and caring.
Final Thoughts
Kindness and empathy taught in the early years should be an essential part of school curriculum. Ringold has managed to incorporate these elements onto social media platforms where all others can access it. So, wherever people are in their teaching career or in their lifelong learning process, this young sage is there. During an interview with People Magazine she comments that “… there were so many other people who weren’t even teachers commenting on the post, saying like, ‘Adults need to hear this message.”
With these two social media influencers we can see how “KINDNESS IS COOL”. Who wouldn’t want to send these vibes into the global universe? Stay tuned for the next upcoming post where we delve deep into some mindful influencers, who really didn’t need a platform.
OTHER REFERENCE LINKS:
Zachery Derenowski – Windsor Life Article
