It’s National Pickle [Pledge] Day

Eat a Pickle, Don’t Be a Pickle

I use Van Holten’s pickles for events because their whimsical sense of humor captures the spirit of The Pickle Challenge

Today is National Pickle Day! That makes it a great day to take The Pickle Pledge: 

I will turn every complaint into either a blessing or a constructive suggestion.

That does not mean you minimize real problems or put on a happy face when you have very good reasons to be unhappy. Quite to the contrary, it means instead of just whining you take the initiative to do something about it.
The problems created by the pandemic, the economy, growing incivility and polarization are very real. Many people have experienced emotional trauma – that too is very real. 

The Pickle Pledge won’t make those problems go away and the promise cannot erase the emotional trauma.
What it can do is help people stop circling the emotional drain. It can help people replace a sense of helplessness with a spirit of determination. It can remind people that for all that’s wrong in the world there is still a lot to be thankful for.

This simple promise can be life-changing. It has been for me, and I’ve heard from many others who tell me that it has been for them.

And when adopted by an organization, The Pickle Challenge can have an immediate and lasting impact on fostering a more positive culture. That too is something I have seen often. 

That shift in mindset has never been more important than it is right now. 

Over the next year we will be pivoting The Pickle Challenge for Charity, which has raised over $100,000 for charities selected by participating organizations, to raise money for causes that support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of caregivers who have done so much, and who have sacrificed so much, to care for others during the pandemic. 

My goal is to raise millions of dollars for caregiver mental health by challenging people to eat a pickle – the same way the Ice Bucket Challenge raised millions for ALS by convincing people to dump buckets of ice water on their heads. 
Trust me, I’ve done both – eating a pickle will be much more pleasant and the cause of supporting our caregivers is every bit as important. 

By the way: there is some research showing that a pickle a day can reduce anxiety. That’s true! 

An Amazing Pickle Jar Creation!

I’ve seen thousand of decorated pickle jars in The Pickle Challenge for Charity. The one featured in this 18-second video was created by an RN at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is one of the most gorgeous creations I’ve yet seen. Check it out!