A Kindness Revolution

Instead of anti-bullying campaigns,

let's have a

Kindness Revolution,

teach children to have compassion

for babies and animals,

for the disabled and vulnerable,

for other children

and for themselves.

Let's hold workshops in every school

where kids share who they are

and the pain they carry,

so all may see

that each of us has 

our challenges, our fears,

our own burdens and heartaches.

Let's teach them to look each other in the eye,

human to human,

to reach across the divide 
of perceived differences,

to honor the samenesses 
of being human

in this world.

Let's teach them to say, 
"I see you, friend,

and I'm here for you."

Let's take our Revolution to the streets,

march singing, holding placards that say

Occupy Kindness,

through the main street of town, 

drums beating, smiling, singing,

inviting the homeless, the elderly,

the abandoned and unwanted animals

to join our parade.

Let's make a place at our table,

in our worlds,

in our hearts,

for Hope, and then

serve it up in heaping spoonfuls

to every child who needs a hug,

every oldster who needs a smile,

every homeless dog who needs a friend.

If we hold a Kindness Revolution,

and everybody comes,

the bullies will all be transformed

into children in pain,
who have lost their way,

to whom we'll hold out our hands

and invite them to the party.

Kids, the video above is about the KindActs movement, centered in Vancouver, B.C., founded by Brock Tully, whom I am proud to call my friend since 1980. Brock has devoted his entire life to spreading kindness in the world. He holds an annual Kindness Concert, which totally rocks out with great feelings, and has programs happening in the schools to help kids get back in touch with their hearts.  I love what Brock says in the video: "Bullies are not bad people. They have just lost touch with their beautiful hearts."

Posted for dVerse's challenge: to write about bullying for Anti-Bullying Awareness Month. I think the only way bullying can stop is when there is enough love that the pain stops, inside the hearts of those who bully. And that takes all of us.

Namaste.