Lyme — It's become reflexive now in our society, this race to social media to see who can produce the most platitudes in the wake of abject human tragedy.

Kobe Bryant's death has certainly triggered the requisite "you never know" and "live life to the fullest" and "make the most of every day," as if on cue. The guess here is that the words ring hollow if we return to normalcy in a few days, indicating that we know all the words to spew ... we just don't know what they mean.

So, if we're truly serious now about "making the most of every day," we can perhaps extract ourselves from self-indulgence and achieve true happiness and fulfillment in the best way possible: start helping others. We can begin as early as today.

Example: Jim Cavalieri, the principal at Lyme Consolidated Elementary School, has an idea whose tentacles can reach more than 50 schools and help a bunch of kids in the process. He wants elementary and middle school kids from Saybrook to Stonington and as far north as Griswold to wear sports apparel this Friday — the last school day before the Super Bowl — in effort to raise money to complete the Miracle League Field in East Lyme. The field will be a space where children with physical, cognitive and developmental challenges can participate in sports of all kinds in a welcoming, non-competitive atmosphere.

Cavalieri sent a letter to all the schools in question earlier this month that in part read, "Fundraising has been happening the past year or so, and The Miracle League of Southeastern CT Committee has raised a significant amount towards their $500,000 goal. I am hoping that the students of southeastern Connecticut will push the amount towards completion. Every dollar donated will go directly towards the construction.

"The goal of the day would be to ask the students in your building to donate at least $1.00 to wear a sports jersey, shirt, or hat to school. As your students enter school that day, have your staff and student leaders' stand at your front doors and collect the donations."

Cavalieri said subsequently, "We're asking for a dollar or more, but it could be 10 cents. Doesn't matter. What matters is the kids and staffs show support for this. Whatever we get, we get."

Adult and parental support of this is paramount for several reasons. Batting leadoff: It sets the right example for kids. Because let's face it: If our kids see us immersed in our phones and oblivious to the world, how do you suspect they're going to grow up?

"My kids went through Waterford schools, where they have 80 hours of community service as a (high school) requirement," Cavalieri said. "Not to make light of that, but I've felt since I've been an elementary guy (a principal of 18 years) that helping others should be part of the fabric of the child.

"If we can get kids in that 5-10 age range to understand that giving back in any manner — time, money, toys, clothes — that it becomes who they are, versus having an 80-hour requirement and then who knows if they do anything after that? We try to teach 'whatever you can do to help others' here and hope it becomes part of who they are. We need them to do more at this age to have them understand the right thing is to help."

Again: This couldn't be easier. Wear sports apparel and give what you can. If you need more information or logistics, e-mail Cavalieri at jcavalieri@region18.org.

"I was at a fundraiser for the field last year at Filomena's. It was the first I'd heard of it. My brain started moving. I realized this was all about kids — so why not have kids help kids?" Cavalieri said. "We crafted a letter with our fifth-grade leaders, to go from Saybrook to Stonington up to Griswold — roughly 52 schools elementary to middle. Some high schools are in because of their Unified (sports) programs. Take the model of Pajama Day (wear pajamas and raise awareness and donate money to fight childhood cancer) and challenge your own kids to donate money.  There is no prize. The prize is helping other kids. Everyone can be part of the process."

They sure can. It's called education in its most practical form.

Give what you can.

It sure beats a bunch of words.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro