Be the Change

The recent tragedy in Las Vegas has impacted all of us on so many levels and I continue to send so much love and so many prayers to all who are suffering.

I'm still processing, but this incident brought me back in time almost five years to the heartbreak and devastation I felt after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  As a teacher and a mom of an 18-month-old baby, I was blindsided that December and that event changed the entire trajectory of my life and career.

In the aftermath of Sandy Hook, I realized my true purpose, passion, and vision for bringing hope to young people and empowering them to make better choices.  It has been an incredible adventure since then and it keeps changing and evolving.

This week, I decided to go with "Throwback Thursday" and share the blog that started it all.  My very first blog was not very well written or elaborate, and it had no accompanying graphic or web domain, but it was shared hundreds of times in different countries and it became the catalyst for one of the most incredible grass-roots, student-led movements ever - one that the kids called "HOPE".  More importantly, it captured a simple project that anyone can do to help balance tragedy and combat evil.

I was going to add a comment here encouraging you to swap "Sandy Hook" for "Las Vegas" so that the parallel was more clear, but I couldn't do it. When I thought about about swapping one devastating tragedy for another, I felt so sad and sick to my stomach, but I also felt a new resolve come over me.  We all need to step up our HOPE and LOVE game because it is unacceptable to endure any more of these epic tragedies.  Luckily we can ALL be more loving because it is free, simple, and makes a huge difference.  

Check out the original blog below, share the project if it resonates with you, and let me know what YOU create.

Sunday, January 13, 2013
Be the change you want to see in the world!
I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the the way things are going lately from negative attitudes at work to the negativity that is surrounding Sandy Hook Elementary. I can't help but think of all of the amazing people with their unique talent and ideas who feel hopeless and sad, especially all of the victims' families as well as the brave students and teachers who are still in that little town in Connecticut who want to move forward.

I have heard so many people and seen so many videos talking about how difficult things are going to be for them and how much they are going to have to struggle, but I know from experience that feelings of pity and sadness aren't very helpful in tragic situations. That was when I realized (with a lot of help from my friends and family) that the families, teachers, and students need to feel HOPE and LOVE - we ALL need to feel that!

So, I thought a little project might be the best way to get collective happy thoughts and positive prayers into that community and into the rest of the world since it seems that every one of us needs to start looking at things a little differently. We all have special strengths and abilities and we are all capable of love. Unfortunately, it seems that the focus is always on weaknesses and disabilities and everyone knows that negativity can only lead to more negativity.

Since I have always encouraged my students to realize that they can make a difference because they have gifts, talents, and a voice of their own, I would like everyone to help me share one of my students' favorite assignments with as many people as possible because I know it is one small, but perfect way for every individual to shine in their own special way regardless of their age, race, religion, ethnic heritage, intelligence style, or physical characteristics.

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

The world needs a few more dreamers, so I want everyone to create something to illustrate a positive aspect of their own dream. This project has no parameters and no rubric - the sky is the limit! Show the rest of the world what hope and love look like to you.

Step 1: In honor of the people who need to flourish at Sandy Hook Elementary, and any special people in your life who inspire you to celebrate life and unique abilities, I would like ALL of you to work on this project. Create something any way that makes you happy - pictures, videos, music, poetry, dance, art, research, baked goods, clothes, technology, etc. etc. etc. - the possibilities are literally endless!!

Step 2: Spread the assignment to any teachers, students, professors, artists, musicians, churches, equality organizations, civil rights activists or just fun people that you know!

Step 3: Have FUN with this and feel the HOPE and LOVE <3

Step 4: Once you are finished playing, if you feel like sharing your magic and insight, post it as a reply to this blog, post it to your Facebook/Tumblr/Instagram page, tweet about it, email it to the people in charge, and/or just hang it on your fridge.

#postiveispowerful 

You can read more about the whole HOPE story over on that original blog at Positive is Powerful and if you're more of a visual person, my son and I made a rendition of this project into a video last year, too -