When someone mentions Florence Nightingale, who was born this week in 1820, one particular image likely comes to mind: A caring presence, head covered by a shawl, holding a lamp as she ministers to patients in the dark. The “Lady with the Lamp,” as she was known, still serves as a symbol for nurses everywhere.
But for every hour Nightingale spent burning the midnight oil to help a sick soldier, she likely spent another up late doing something else: working on some of the world’s first explicitly persuasive infographics. In addition to caretaking and advocating, Nightingale was a dedicated statistician, constantly gathering information and thinking up new ways to compare and present it.
On the eve of #WonderWoman’s release, I thought I’d share this. A dear friend of mine purchased this tin toy as a gift for me a few weeks back, from my friend @dinipaul’s yard sale. While I truly dig the tin toy, the real surprise in the package was the accompanying illustration. You see, the tin toy was broken, and my friend’s young daughter, who spends her time designing robots and other fantabulous contraptions, set about trying to determine exactly what was going on with the tiny metal pachyderm. Please read all of the notes to her father, my friend, and consider what fantabulous contraptions she may deliver in our future if we continue to nurture and support her and all of the kids like her, who have fantabulous futures ahead of them if we don’t fail in our vital obligation to consider them. The fantabulous future is yours, Eliza. Thank you for showing me how to fix what’s broken and get the ball rolling again.
