Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Do you participate in the work "rumor mill"? Do your friends gossip among themselves? Is there back-stabbing? Has your child been the victim of a school bully? Have you or someone you know been stung my malicious gossip or rumors?

I truly believe words are very powerful and can be used in a positive or negative manner.....I hate to admit it but have participated in gossip and spreading rumors like others at work, etc.....I have experienced the positive effects as well as the meanness & pain of unkind gossip & jealousy- but no more!!

I NOW CHOOSE NOT TO GOSSIP, SPREAD RUMORS OR BE PART OF THE PROCESS. I CHOOSE THE OPPOSITE- I CHOOSE TO SHARE AS MUCH VERBAL KINDNESS AS POSSIBLE...WORDS CAN HEAL!!!

Words Can Heal is a national campaign to eliminate verbal violence, curb gossip and promote the healing power of words to enhance relationships at every level. (check out website wordscanheal.org). Below are a few of their slogans which have been made into signs:

"STOP- Unkind words!     Don't Fight > Make it Right      

Detour around Rumor...            NO BULLYING!   

STOP DISSING-start ACCEPTING!   

GOSSIP FREE ZONE      CAUTION: USE WORDS WITH CARE  "

Excepted from the site: "There are many campaigns now being instituted at businesses, schools, for TV, etc with the goal is to create awareness among us all of the power of words to hurt or to heal, and to create safe, civil learning environments. The Words Can Heal message teaches that we can improve their lives and our community by speaking with truth, compassion and decency.

The youth program has been designed to not only create awareness that what we say and how we say it matters, but to also create "behavior shift" through adoption of the Words Can Heal pledge and year-long reinforcement by parents, teachers, character committees and students themselves who work with their peers to create an environment of respectful, ethical words.

This message is for all but focusing on the youth who will someday be the leaders of tomorrow- Its goal is to communicate with everyone with respect, tolerance and integrity through the practice of positive speech. The curriculum teaches students to honor the "fundamental value and dignity of all individuals."

WHAT IS EVERYONE TOOK THE PLEDGE?:

*I pledge to think more about the words I use.

*I will try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself, and work to eliminate it from my life.

*I will try to replace words that hurt with words that encourage, engage and enrich.

*I will not become discouraged when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a better place is hard work.

*And I am pledging to do that, one word at a time.

INSPIRATIONAL KIND WORD QUOTES:

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."  -- Mother Teresa

"The best thing to do behind a person's back is to pat it."

"In the use of words, quality is more important than quantity."

"The worst boss anyone can have is a bad habit. The best boss is a well trained conscience."

"I always try to plant a flower wherever I feel a flower will grow."     --Abraham Lincoln

"Words have the power to echo forever -- make them good ones. "

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WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE? 

WILL YOU HELP ELIMINATE VERBAL VIOLENCE? CURB GOSSIP? AND SHARE KIND & HEALING WORDS WITH OTHERS ALWAYS?