Can't we all be a bit kinder?

With social media giving everyone and their brother a chance to post their every thought, we’re getting bombarded with unkind remarks for the littlest offenses and for things people say that couldn’t possibly hurt us in any way.  What brought this to the forefront for me was the recent Oscars telecast which I really liked this year.  I like Ellen DeGeneres and thought she did a good job hosting because she took the formality away from an often stuffy event in a mostly kind manner (her Liza Minelli joke was not her usual type of humor). 

When she started the selfie with Meryl Streep, it grew into a Tweet heard round the world.  I liked the way it happened because she made it fun and truly wanted to include a bunch of big name celebrities who she has met and connected with on her daytime show.  I thought it was fun, I thought it was genuine, I thought it was sweet.  Those celebrities became like the rest of us in that brief moment, clowning around and having fun despite the billion or so people watching.  It turned into a $3 million donation to Ellen’s two favorite charities which I really love.

Now the more cynical people reading this could come up with a bunch of alternative meanings for what I just said – she was pandering to celebrities, she was getting a kickback from Samsung.  I can’t even think of any more because my brain doesn’t work that way.  I look for the best in a situation rather than the worst which affords me a happier mindset and from the recent research I’ve read on the how negativity affects the cells in the body, a happier and healthier body.

The incident I really felt bad for was the moment when John Travolta mispronounced Idina Menzel’s name before she sang.  I noticed of course but felt bad for him.  Something obviously happened – he got nervous, he wasn’t feeling well, he froze, the teleprompter was off – something.  But he has been vilified like he murdered someone.  Now you can have your name Travoltarized.  Why? Is it because he’s not young anymore?  Jennifer Lawrence fell twice and we think it’s cute.   Is it because he’s not in any current movie or TV show?  We tend to only celebrate those on top.  I’ve heard nothing but great things about John Travolta from the people who personally know him.  What did he do that was so bad to deserve the crushing comments he’s receiving on Facebook, Twitter , the entertainment shows? 

Is this who we want to be as a society?  We’re like the observers in the Hunger Games where we select a few chosen people to adore – for a short time – and then we celebrate their failures.  We don’t like when someone takes a shot at us but we sit behind our electronic devices and hurl shots at the person who had the latest misstep.  It’s part of the reason so many good people won’t run for office, or won’t step up to help when needed.  They don’t want to be noticed in this world that tears people apart who dare to try.

As a passionate child advocate after years of working with teens, I worry about how this affects our kids.  They are always watching the adults around them to see what they do and say.  How about giving them a new lesson?  I’m part of a national organization called “Thank a Shining Star” where you have a chance to recognize people who do good deeds, who give good service when you shop, who just make the world a better place.  I invite you to join and get out there and spread a little love.  It’s easy, it’s free, and you’ll love the way it makes you feel to give out those cards.  All you have to do is go to www.ThankaShiningStar.com and order a batch of 20 cards.  It’s totally free including postage because the people who started this program really want to see a positive shift in our world.  Go out and make someone’s day…and your own.