The Power of Random Acts of Beauty and Senseless Kindness

I don't watch TV very often.  For some reason it always has its purpose.  I was watching 20/20 about bullies in school.  What was very interesting was what the bullies had to say:  they all wished some teacher, parent or other adult had stepped in and stopped them.  One of the reasons they continued to bully others wasn't just the fear and lack of self esteem that was driving them but that it was so easy to get away with.

I found myself saying to the girls on Saturday:  Art of the Dance is a non aggressive, bully free zone.  No punching, no pushing,no demeaning comments, no yelling or shouting out derogatory comments at each other.  This was a place of kindness and compassion towards others.  No mean girls here.  We have had them but not now and not in the future.

Art of the Dance will always be a bully free zone.  Things do happen at break or in the parking lot or backstage that I don't see.  If you or your dancer ever feel they have been bullied by a mean girl, come talk to me and I will put an immediate end to it.

All this reminded me of that wonderful campaign a few years ago:  Random acts of beauty and senseless kindness.  Looks like we could use a little more of that.  The one educator they interviewed who made the most sense said:  We do not present our children with images of kindness and we do not teach them compassion.  Adolus Huxley said the most important thing he has learned in life is to be kind.  Something for all of us who love our children and care about their future to think about. 

I know we live in a time and place where we may not always be safe and we may be placed in a situation where good judgement would require anything but kindness.  So long as we can instill good judgement in our children, small drops of kindness and compassion can create a sea of change.