National Stop Bullying Day
Let's Stop the Violence in Our Lives
Many years ago, I joined a Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) group in my church. Our mission was to add a lift to people's attitudes and brighten their day by giving unexpected positive messages, sweet treats, or free labor. We learned in our research that people's immune systems are strengthened by giving or receiving an act of kindness. Even more amazing, the mere act of watching an act of kindness provides a similar boost. As an aside, Random Acts of Kindness week starts on February 14!
As we were looking for ways to promote and identify our RAK group, I came across a local Kansas City group called STOP Violence. They had created a large yellow button that said, "KINDNESS is contagious...catch it!" I bought a number of these and have worn one of my own for years, intermittently. The idea is to pass them on to people you catch being kind.
STOP Violence offers classes, programs, and booklets to help high school children learn how to control their anger and increase their tolerance so that violence doesn't become an option. STOP Violence is part of a larger KC organization called Synergy Services, which began in 1970 as a shelter for homeless or runaway youth. Today, their programs include: crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs throughout Greater Kansas City. As a sample of their services and a reminder we can all use on the Internet, here is a link to a one-page list of tips to avoid cyber bullying.
February is the month we celebrate love, not just with Valentine's Day, but with these other lesser known days for practicing the Golden Rule. Let's all work to reduce the amount of violence in our writing, speaking, and thinking. Try giving some unexpected kindness to those you meet this month and see if you don't feel better. Remember: Kindness is contagious...catch it!
REFERENCES
http://www.heyugly.org/NationalStopBullyingDay.php
http://www.barbaraglanz.com/ideas/archives/kindness.html
http://www.synergyservices.org/?page=Main_Our_Services_Stop_Violence
Published by Mike Oberg
I am a retired engineer who enjoys photography. I post slideshows of my pictures and write articles on a range of topics. My daughter Maria Roth and my wife Mary Oberg are both AC contributors. View profile
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38 Comments
Post a CommentMy kids are all in grades school and they always witness some of their classmates being bullied by seniors. The smaller kids, the fat kids, the ethnic types, and even the queer types. We are all by God and kids should know that we are all the same. I am a very protective parent and I don't want my kids to be bullied or get hurt. My friend told me that I should register my kids to SafeKidZone because it is also her way of protecting her children. It's a panic button alert on our kids' cell phone that when they encounter an emergency, they're being bullied or threaten by their classmates, they will just press the panic button and their trusted friends and family members will be notified. If the situation is life-threatening, the incident will be escalated to the nearest 911. If you want to check out, this is their site http://Safekidzone.com/
If schools implemented a program every day, instead of once a year, that promoted kindness, maybe we'd see less bullying.
Important piece.
This is a great way to promote awareness. I'm with you on spreading some kindness :)
I love your ending! Kindness seems to be disappearing at a rapid rate! Super article!
Mike this article is a wonderful public service act of kindness on your part. Namaste.
We need to educate and prepare our children early against bullying of any sort. I remember being accused of breaking a simple marble piece when I was young and the accuser in school terrified me by threatening to report to the police if I did not pay him a huge sum! I just did not know how to handle that at the age of ten. I hear of boyfriends threatening to post nude photos of their girl friends in the cyber world and blackmailing them no end. Bullying and blackmailing are twin dangers that wreck mental peace anytime, especially at vulnerable ages. A very relevant topic. Great reporting on kindness too, Mike - siva
A very inspirational message!
Just yesterday I saw a news story about two kids who were being detained for lighting a young man's hair on fire during their bus ride home from school. What is different in the children of today versus when we were children?
As long as there are kids, there will be bullying. Glad to hear of programs targeting kids to deal with such bevaviors. As many that work, as many don't. For those kids, they just grow up to be grown-up bullies with bigger problems yet.