All political opinions aside, it’s no secret that much of the country is feeling a bit shell-shocked and disillusioned in the wake of a long, vicious campaign season and an election night that left us all on the edge of our seats.
Just signing into Facebook means stepping into a war zone of comments, opinions and emotions. It’s hard to know how to feel about all of this. Of course, everyone has a right to their opinions. And sometimes, people need a way to release their anger, fear and frustration. Others use it as a way to spread messages of hope.
I’ve become frustrated with social media before. I’ve quit, changed my mind and come back, like so many others have.For me, social media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s an amazing way to reconnect me with friends I’ve lost contact with over time, and it’s connected me with new friends and colleagues and given me more insight into the minds of my friends and family. But on the other hand, there’s no doubt that there’s a negative side to these social tools. I’m sure you see it every day as well.
Instead of feeding into the negativity, I’ve decided to take a stand. No, I’m not running for president in 2020! I’ve decided that even if I can’t change the world in one day, I can change the life of one person.
With that, I introduce you to my RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness). I’m making it a personal quest to perform a random act of kindness every day, and especially when I’m having a bad day. We hear so much about what divides us, but little on what unites us. And I still believe there is common ground to be found. I think “RAKs” can help find that middle ground again and return to the common sensibilities that most of us have always known and loved.
And by the way, that doesn’t happen in elections. It happens each and every day through personal interaction, kindness and respect – no matter who you vote for or what your opinions are. Besides, nothing turns your attitude around like seeing the effect of kindness spread to others. It doesn’t have to be something big, just a small simple gesture that gives another person a smile. That’s all. It’s a start.