Connecting in the Digital World: Lessons from Elmo’s Check-In
In a surprising turn of events, Elmo, the beloved red Sesame Street character, recently took to social media to check in on his followers. A simple yet heartfelt question was posed: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” Little did he know that this innocent inquiry would unleash a flood of brutally honest and sometimes cynical responses, revealing a deeper undercurrent of emotions experienced by people in the online community.
People shared everything from feeling low to sharing happy moments like a sunny day in Florida with turtles. Even brands and celebrities joined in, bringing humor to the conversation. But underneath the jokes, it showed that many folks are dealing with tough feelings like sadness and Anxiety. Behind the online banter and humor, the comments unveiled a genuine struggle with Mental Health issues, highlighting the pervasive feelings of existential dread, Depression, and anxiety that many individuals experience. Sesame Street, recognizing the need for emotional well-being resources, responded to Elmo’s post with links to videos and activities geared toward promoting well-being, particularly for children.
Elmo’s check-in and Sesame Street’s response remind us how vital communication is for mental health. It’s a call to talk openly about how we feel and offer support to one another, especially in the digital world where humor can hide real emotions.
So, let’s be like Elmo and keep checking in on each other. In the digital age, where emotions are often masked by humor and sarcasm, a genuine “How are you doing?” can make all the difference.
Remember, whether online or offline, you’re not alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out for help. Resources are there, and reaching out is a courageous first step toward well-being.
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Julienne B. Ryan began her professional career at age five when she did TV commercials and learned important things like “the teamsters always eat first,” her social security number and how to endorse checks for bank deposit.
Ryan studied psychology in college because she wanted to understand humans. She conducted her “field work” in a variety of roles, hearing the phrases “merger synergies, reorganizations, downsizing and rightsizing for change” more times than she cares to mention.
Later she enrolled in an Ivy League graduate school where she paid oodles of money to validate her prior on-the-job learning experiences. However, she did learn to name drop up-to-date theories and trendy psychologists with alarming ease.
Ryan evolved into working in “Talent Management,” a fancy way of saying “try to find people and keep them moderately happy.” With inadequate budgets and staff allocations, she had to find creative ways to encourage her staff to work effectively. These ranged from begging and borrowing resources, improvising childcare, telling stories and even giving snacks as rewards. She tried to convince herself that working a bazillion hours and “multi-tasking” equaled achievement.
Her work took place in cubicles, conference rooms or, with luck, in offices with a door. Occasionally she would make the time to emerge from her allotted real estate to really talk to people. Ryan learned something transformative in the process:
Yes, she was effective. But not because she used fancy theories – or gave great snacks. Ryan’s success, her staff believed, was a result of her uncanny knack for weaving storytelling with humor to motivate and encourage them. Crucially, they encouraged Ryan to de-emphasize “that normal HR stuff” and focus on bringing her unique storytelling skills to a broader stage.
Thanks to them, Ryan continues to collect, connect and tell stories in her work helping people find their “true selves in the world of work.
She is the author of the humorous, all true "The Learned It In Queens Communications Playbook - Winning Against Distraction!".that now includes a workbook and is available at booksellers across the globe..
She is a guest contributor to The Procurement Foundry, LifeBlood, and the global storytelling community.
Certifications include
Accumatch (BI) Behavior Intelligence
Narativ Applied Storytelling Methodologies
Collective Brains – Mentorship Methodologies
