Well, actually, it's silicone.  Silicone gel.  Rubber silicone?  Who cares.

 
As of today, I've been wearing a LIVESTRONG wristband for exactly 1,228 days - since the day it first came out - without ever removing it from my wrist.  It's been through showers, flag football, the Pacific Ocean and college parties diligent study sessions, and still looks the same as the day I bought it.  Not a single sign of wear.

 
But the other day, it encountered its toughest test to date: a 5 year-old on a temper tantrum.  Quite possibly one of the scariest things known to any 23 year-old without kids.

 
Two weeks ago, while I was coaching my basketball team of 5, 6 and 7 year olds at the YMCA, a young boy ran through our practice, stole the basketball from one of the players, and ran off to the playground with it.  I walked over, asked for the ball and brought it back.  Then he did it again.  I recovered the ball, again.  Then he heads our way for a third go-around.  I gently put both hands out to stop him from taking the ball.  I couldn't let this go on all day...

 
He glared at me, like...Chucky.  Then he stuck two tiny fingers around my LIVESTRONG wristband and continued to stare directly into my eyes.  He was going to rip off something I had not voluntarily removed in 3 years - it was as much a part of me as my fingers and toes.

 
What would you do if, for no apparent reason, someone attempted to destroy something of yours that was easily replaceable, but infinitely meaningful?

 
After some light coaxing, and help from other parents who were around (as his were nowhere to be found), the boy finally let go.

 
This got me thinking - why has "living strong" become so important to me, and millions and millions of others?  Why did it take something as simple as a $1 wristband for me to derive motivation and inspiration from the simple things in life?

 
This blog is about simplicity.  The LIVESTRONG brand has successfully employed a strategy of simple associations to transition from a popular trend to a sustainable movement in only 3 years.  It uniquely impacts groups of people, as well as individuals.  It is an ideal combination of content and creativity, in:

one word,

one color,

with immeasurable impact.

It's not just a yellow piece of rubber.