fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Meet the Minnesota Freedom Fighters
By: William Connell Cawthon Jr.
Tags: Society, Guns, Minnesota, Protests, Community

Dave Gershgorn’s short article about the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, a group of Black men who have taken up arms to protect their community in Minneapolis, linked to an article on The Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately, the Times article is behind a paywall.

There are lots of articles about the Minnesota Freedom Fighters, especially in local media, such as the one here.

The appearance of Mr. Gershgorn’s piece is very timely, considering that the Minneapolis City Council just voted to reduce funding to a department that is already 166 officers short of its authorized strength, despite the soaring rate of violent crime in the city.

This Minnesota Freedom Fighters are reminiscent of the armed Black Panthers who entered the California Assembly in 1967. Their demonstration was to let the legislators know that if they couldn’t rein in the excesses of the Los Angeles Police Department, the Black community would form its own law enforcement department.

Rather than do anything about the LAPD, the legislature quickly passed the Mulford Act, which made it illegal for anyone to openly carry a loaded firearm (concealed carry had been regulated in California since 1915). Ronald Reagan signed the bill, something he later said he regretted.

Keep in mind that the Minnesota Freedom Fighters are no different than the majority of the armed groups the media spent the summer vilifying. They are there to provide protection. They aren’t the Boogaloo Bois any more than the Minnesota Freedom Fighters are the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Also keep in mind that the one group least surprised by this development is gun owners. We’re happy to see the growth of gun ownership among Blacks; we make a big deal about it, viewing it as a long-awaited embrace by Blacks of all of their civil rights and liberties. We applaud the efforts of Maj Toure and Black Guns Matter.

We also oppose racist gun control laws. Those among us who are familiar with the evolution of modern gun control know it has its roots in racism, whether it’s Blacks, Orientals, Hispanics, or Italians. We know that gun control measures often impose significant extra costs, adding to the burden faced by economically challenged groups which include a disproportionate percentage of Blacks. This is most glaringly obvious in states that consider themselves to be progressive.

The Minnesota Freedom Fighters are fulfilling a need. They are stepping up and stepping in to protect their community at a time when police resources are stretched.
Fear comes before a rise.
By: Jennifer Obijuru
Tags: Fear, Courage, Nigeria, Protest

Fear is a tricky emotion; it creeps up on you when you least expect, and if you let it, it will spread like a cancer; rigorously around your body, eating you up bit by bit until you are nothing but yams; crippled.

I remember the first time I learnt about the #EndSars protest; my first emotion was fear. Fear for the people going out to protest, fear for myself because I knew I also had to.

Why I had to? I was tired of the fear. See I have grown up in Nigeria learning fear; Fear that I’d disappoint my parents in school; Fear that I wouldn’t be good enough for a man; Fear that if I didn’t give my body I wouldn’t pass that test or exam or get that job; Fear that no matter how much I worked I’d still not be promoted or given a raise: Fear that I won’t pass that visa interview just because I am Nigerian.

Nigerians are raised in fear because that was all our parents knew. The Government of Nigeria has ruled its populace for about 60 years with fear albeit it is a democratic country.

So, when this fear of protesting numbed me at the early stages, the only thing that got me out was the tiredness from living in fear and of course a gentle nudge from Charm; a university friend. I started up on twitter; retweeting and liking to keep the hashtag trending and then I felt like I needed to go out there too.

The first time I made an attempt was on Sunday, 11th of October. I was going to walk from my place, Oniru, to the Lekki Toll Gate and I started to walk but the sun was too harsh and the more I realized I was walking alone to a protest, the more doubtful of myself I got and so I went back home. I knew I was just scared and so I made a plan, I would call my friend; Grace. She was most likely to go for things like this. She is what I like to call a proactive activist. I did call her and I was right. She had been there and would be going back in a few minutes and so we made arrangement to go together.

Getting there I got a mix of emotions. The number of people out made me happy; the kind of happy that could make one tear up. That first day at the protest ground was all it took for me to overcome my fear. I saw people that must have been scared just like me but braved it and just like everything I have read or heard on fear, that’s all it took to overcome fear; doing regardless. The guy in a video who stood up to a man in uniform regardless of the threat to his life was not fearless. He just stood his ground regardless of his fear.

The numbers of protesters have increased since then because just as fear is contagious, courage also is and I can’t wait to see what we will do with this country now that we are learning to handle and overcome fear collectively. So, anytime you feel fear, know that you are about to do something great if you do regardless.
BREAKING: Cincinnati Prosecutor Urges Ohioans to contact legislators to urge Abolition of #DeathPenalty!
By: Death Penalty Action
Tags: Mike Dewine, Budget, Protest, Peace, Ohio

BREAKING NEWS: Hamilton County Prosecutor Urges Ohioans to Contact Your Legislators to Abolish Ohio’s Deaths Penalty!

This is, in fact, true. Tuesday morning I was invited to participate in a press conference by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, a long-time ally. IJPC staffer Jessie Franks led the event releasing a report on the high cost of the death penalty to Hamilton County residents. Check the report for yourself. I was quoted by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“If the citizens of Ohio want the law changed, they should contact their state representative and let him or her know,” [Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters] added. “However, I am bound to follow the law and I will continue to do so.” Abe Bonowitz, of Death Penalty Action, said it’s unfair that rural counties don’t pursue death penalty cases because they can’t afford them. But large urban counties, like Hamilton County, do because they have the tax base. Bonowitz said a life without parole sentence should be considered “death in prison.” “We can be safe from dangerous offenders and hold them accountable without executions,” he said. “It’s what we do the vast majority of the time.”

After the press conference I found an email from my friend Holly in Cincinnati with news that Governor DeWine has declared lethal injection to be over in Ohio. Suddenly I am on the phone with the Associated Press. And:

Opponents of Ohio’s death penalty called on lawmakers last month to enact a capital punishment ban during the current lame duck legislative session. They repeated that demand Tuesday. “It’s time for the General Assembly to just end the death penalty in Ohio and repurpose the funds wasted trying to execute people into programs to better serve the needs of murder victim families,” said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action director.

So there you have it. The Governor and the Prosecutor….

WE CAN DO THIS IF WE ALL TAKE ACTION TODAY AND INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN WITH US:

OHIO RESIDENTS:

Write Your Ohio Legislators to Pass SB 296 to Repeal Ohio’s Death Penalty.

Write Governor DeWine to Support Repeal of Ohio’s Death Penalty.

EVERYONE EVERYWHERE:

Sign the petition to Governor DeWine urging him to lead the death penalty repeal effort.

Many thanks!

— abe

Abraham J. Bonowitz

Director, Death Penalty Action

PS: Five federal executions remain scheduled in the coming weeks, and Death Penalty Action is leading the grassroots opposition. Sign and share our new petition urging president Trump to halt the executions.

PPS: Please share our posts on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Instagram too!
URGENT: Call the White House to Help Save Brandon: Plus, Protests Planned Across the Country!
By: Death Penalty Action
Tags: Social Justice, Deathpenalty, Protest, Trump, Clemency

Brandon Bernard is scheduled to be executed at 6pm on December 10, International Human Rights Day. Take Action Now.

This is URGENT. There is reporting that the US Clemency Attorney has recommended clemency for Brandon Bernard, who is set to be executed at 6pm tomorrow, on International Human Rights Day. Please respectfully and politely call the White House to urge that President Trump follow the recommendation by granting clemency to Brandon. After that request is made clear, please separately add your request that President Trump stop all of the pending federal executions. Here is the number for the Switchboard: 202–456–1414. Politely give your comment to the operator. When they transfer you to the comment line, well, you know.

ALSO…

“Powerful.” “Prayerful.” “Well done!”

The Human Rights in Crisis: U.S. Federal Execution Spree Virtual Conference continues with panels today at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.

The Human Rights in Crisis: Federal Execution Spree Virtual Conference continues this week with “Wrongful Conviction Wednesday” with two internationally known human rights icons: Helen Prejean and Amanda Knox. Click here for all of the details, to join the growing list of sponsors, and/or to register to receive the ZOOM link.

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ will address the issue of the federal execution spree (1pm EST).

One-on-one interview with the federal prosecutor who helped keep Brandon Bernard and Christopher Vialva on federal death row and is now fighting to #HelpSaveBrandon (3pm EST).

Amanda Knox will speak about her own experience with wrongful conviction, the community of exonerees she has become a part of, and the network of organizations working to free the innocent (5pm EST).

Kwame Ajamu, Chairman of Witness to Innocence, will speak today, which happens to be the 6th anniversary of his full exoneration from the conviction that sent him, his brother and their friend to death row more than 40 years ago. In their honor, please donate to the WTI exoneree support fund. (1pm EST)

Speakers related to the cases of Julius Jones in Oklahoma, Rodney Reed in Texas, and Troy Davis (executed despite strong indications of innocence in 2011) will speak today as well (5pm EST.

IF YOU ARE IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA, join the local protests at noon at the Department of inJustice, and at 5:30pm at Black Lives Matter Plaza. (Masks, distancing, etc. Signs, t-shirts provided!) Details are here.

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Click Here to Help Us Do This Work.

Many thanks!

— abe

Abraham J. Bonowitz

Director, Death Penalty Action

PS: Five federal executions remain scheduled in the coming weeks, and Death Penalty Action is leading the grassroots opposition. Sign and share our new petition urging president-elect Biden to speak out against the executions.

PPS: Please share our posts on Twitter, Facebook, and now on Instagram too!
Pro-government accounts use old images to depict Ugandan protesters as hooligans
Tags: Uganda, Politics, Twitter, Protest, Social Media

In early November 2020, pro-government accounts in Uganda started tweeting #StopHooliganism in an attempt to paint anti-government protesters as violent thugs. Protests broke out in the country after famous singer and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, was arrested on November 3, just minutes after being certified as a presidential candidate in next year’s election.

Wine, who is part of an advocacy group seeking to remove President Yoweri Museveni from power, was arrested again on November 18 for allegedly flouting coronavirus prevention regulations. His arrest sparked violent protests and unrest in multiple cities across the country, with 54 people killed by police and security agencies, according to police spokesperson Fred Enanga.

The group of Twitter accounts worked to present Wine and his supporters as destructive hooligans. However, many of the images used as evidence of violence allegedly committed by protesters were lifted from old news articles about protests and riots in the country, some dating back to 2011.

#StopHooliganism

The #StopHooliganism hashtag trended after media reported Wine was arrested on the two dates in question, as pro-Museveni accounts attempted to paint protesters as violent thugs and hooligans.
Is hate a fear of not being loved?
By: Pk Stories
Tags: Compassion, Love, Kindness, Poem, Hate

Is hate a fear of not being loved?

Do we hate because we don’t dare to love?

Is love too hard to do — for you?

Yes love can hurt you

But hate can burst you

Hate eats you up

Love lifts you up

So why do so many people choose hate over love?

Why are we so afraid to open up?

Let love lead the way

Up, up and away

When all comes to an end, what do we regret?

The love we didn’t share — with everyone we care

But for whom do you care?

Every human being has a place here
Service
Tags: Service, Neighbor, Kindness

I am a spiritual being, I am defined by my quest for kindess and positivity.
Compassion: A Stance of Benevolence and Understanding
By: Rose Mejia
Tags: Compassion, Benevolence, Compassionate, Kindness

“Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.” — Mason Cooley

Photo by J W on Unsplash

Things are not always the way they seem. Just from the surface, we may believe that we know enough about a person to make a clear judgment of who they are. But have you ever measured how much of a person’s life you miss when you only scratch the surface? The emotional reactivity on display is never the real projection of the closely knitted individual deep inside; the hurt inner child that just wants to be seen and heard.

Time and time again you’ll confront a person who’s malevolent and bitter. Who curses at the world and finds a reason to be angry at everything that transverses their path. Who acts on impulse instead of thoughtfulness. Our human mind automatically calculates this person’s qualities. We create labels and categorize them into these personality-like compartments. We jump into predisposed assumptions and stereotypes. But how habitually do we question what this person is going through? What levels of pain and suffering are actually being projected? What unhealed wounds do they relive every single day? What flashbacks, memories, and traumas are replayed over and over again like a broken record? The point is, we will never know. And it is this exact reason why we must hold compassion and be compassionate. Because we never know. Boundaries and limits should still be placed to respect oneself and one’s needs. But a second in a person’s shoes may make a difference by presenting the bigger picture.

Photo by Julien de Salaberry on Unsplash

For most individuals, traumatic events or chronic stressors often lead to a weakening in the cognitive or emotional mind. It may lead to distorted thoughts about themselves or the world around them. It may make it difficult for them to act rationally, logically or mindfully. They may begin to lose hope or live in a fear-based mindset.Their emotions may be in control more often than not. Even the smallest of triggers may onset a major emotional reaction. They’re susceptible to practicing self-sabotage, self-harm, self-hatred, and self-resentment, which is later projected in their behaviors and words.

Everyone leaves a footprint in the sand. But we often fail to see how far others’ heels may go. In carrying compassion, we may feel the person’s load through an open heart instead of a stance of pity. We can walk in their shoes with an ultimate awareness of their suffering and misfortunes. And allowing a gust of kindness and generosity to flow from a place of true affection that isn’t embedded in empathy. You’ll see that compassion still allows for a distant stance to exist, but one that is easily bridged by benevolence.
How Words Can Heal
By: Scott Westerman
Tags: Inspiration, Motivation, Kindness, Words, Covid 19

One of the unexpected positives I’ve discovered in the midst of this horrific pandemic is how words can heal.

At a time when physical proximity can be dangerous, many of us are telling one another how much we care.

As I’ve read accounts of Covid-19 survivors, there are thoughts they share in common.

“Have I been a good person?” and “I never told others how much they meant to me.”

We have temporarily lost the ability to hug those we love and shake hands with colleagues. Don’t miss the opportunity to put your affection and gratitude into words.

Kind words are therapeutic to both the sender and the recipient.

Consider making a list of the people who have been important in your life. Write that letter or email. Make that phone call. And tell them.

Too often, we reserve praise for funerals. I wish my sister and my parents could have heard the words their many friends told me at their memorial services. We go through life wondering if we have added value to the world. The truth is that each one of us has. Our reach extends well beyond our inner circles, often in positive ways we never knew about.

Why not craft some therapeutic gratitude for someone who has been important to you?

The praise formula is simple: Be specific. Be sincere.

“I’ve been thinking about that time when I was in a pretty bad spot. You were there with reassurance and support when it felt like hardly anyone else was. I’ll never forget that kindness.”

That can be an opener to meaningful conversations that can be life changers.

One person can help you sing the song in your heart when you have forgotten the words.

One person can inspire another to keep trying at the very instant they feel like giving up.

One person who radiates kindness and gratitude will find it reflected back.

At least one person has filled one of these roles for us at some point along the way. Now is a good time to thank them.

In this time of reflection, affirmation can heal the soul.

We are hearing over and over again that we can make a difference by staying home. Your words can make a difference, too.

So speak up.
“When Emotions Collide” S01E03 — “Enough is enough?”
Tags: Love, Relationships, Kindness, Life, Girlfriend

image by kubaparis

When she pulled another “Vanishing Act” on me, I decided that I’d had enough of the games, lies, cheating, and theft.

I ended the relationship by packing up all her things into two heavy-duty, XXL black garbage bags and posted them on the porch.

Upon her return, I didn’t let her in the house and said, “Darling, you must leave now. Do not come back. Don’t contact me. Hope you have a better life and find whatever you are looking for.”

She showed no outward reaction.

I guess she knew that I knew everything now. Without making a scene, she stoically hoisted the black trash bags into a waiting motorcycle taxi (trike).

image by pexel

She never waved goodbye, or even bothered to look back.

And as I watched the trike disappear into the night, I heaved a deep, melancholy sigh.

image by pexel

Even though my mind knew I had done the right thing, my heart was screaming at me to go chase after her.

“Marine! Maintain!” I told myself.

And for once, reason trumped emotion.

I simply kept reminding myself that the whole situation with her was a lost cause.

She wouldn’t, or maybe couldn’t, change.

From a very early age, she had learned how to easily use men to get whatever she wanted.

She was an expert at manipulating others with her charms.

Feeling no remorse, she never batted an eye when she purposefully, and literally, screwed people over and over again.

image by pexel

I wasn’t going to tolerate another “lie, cheat, and steal cycle” again — ever. Nope. No freakin’ way, buddy!

That was over four and a half years ago.

But now, out of the blue and in the worst condition I could ever imagine, she appears on my door step.

Why?

What did she want?

It was obvious she was tired, hungry, dirty, and desperately needed someone to talk to.

image by pexel

Aw shit!

In spite of all the complications that could possibly arise, I knew that I had to do the right thing…

By JaiChai

image by author

This is YOUR TORUM INVITATION!

base by hot.rsquare

Excerpted from: [“Suckers and Samaritans. Same Thing?”] ( https://steemit.com/love/@jaichai/suckers-and-Samaritans-same-thing) — JaiChai 2017. Revised 12–26–2020. Simultaneous multi-site submissions posted. All rights reserved.
In Praise of Courtesy
By: Scott Westerman
Tags: Inspiration, Self Improvement, Kindness, Understanding, Courtesy

Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash

Remember when courtesy was part of what defined a good human being? If there is one personality trait I wish I could bring back to the forefront of humanity, it would be civility.

“Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart,” wrote Henry Clay

Madame de Stael called it “the art of choosing among your thoughts.”

Author Amit Kalantri sadly notes that, “Politeness is the first thing people lose once they get the power.”

That doesn’t have to be the case.

It’s possible to be courteous and still get your point across. The British have been courteously insulting one another for centuries. And sometimes the passion connected to the strength of a belief can boil over.

I recently found a poem I wrote in elementary school to help me remember what to do when someone lost their temper.

“Courtesy and sympathy go hand in hand when we seek first to understand.”

A courteous disposition can be contagious. To paraphrase St. Basil, “Plant courtesy and reap friendships.”

But sometimes, it’s just plain hard to be courteous, when it feels like the world around you is anything but.

Bryant McGill puts this into perspective. “Courtesy is a silver lining around the dark clouds of civilization; it is the best part of refinement and in many ways, an art of heroic beauty in the vast gallery of man’s cruelty and baseness.”

Kipling begins and ends his famous poem “If” with these words:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And — which is more — you’ll be a Man my son!

It most cases, courtesy is an easy thing to manifest. Give it freely, widely and often. You never know when that gift might be just what someone needed at just that moment.
Serv
Tags: Service, Kindness

Today I will be in service to others. What I can I do to help?
Together, We ARE the Light!
By: Teza Lord
Tags: We Are One, Love, Light, Kindness

Together, We ARE the Light!

In this season honoring Light

We can help remind one another

That the Light within is reflected

outwardly

… in our eyes, in our acts

… in our kind thoughts!

Thank you, dear world,

for giving us so many opportunities

to share our Light.

This Light is LOVE

#love #weAreONE teZaLord.com
How about Fixing your Stuff first and daily Leadership!
By: M. Sajid Mehmood
Tags: Leadrship, Just Start, Kindness

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Last night I woke up with a strange notion but very meaningful. It was not about leading the world or having the power but it was about being the leader on daily basis. Before joining the Amal Academy I used to believe that leadership is something having a multinational company or having a lot of money and power or someone who leads the team but actually it is something more than this. And the strange thing is this we all want to be a leader to change the world but no one wants to be a leader who changes himself. Let us change the world by changing ourselves. Now I am gonna ask you a very small thing to do and the change will only start from here. You might seem it ridiculous but believe me, the real change only comes from small things but with consistency. Let us start by fixing our messy rooms!

My bed in a messy condition

As in our society men are not accustomed to clean their rooms by own. We always leave our rooms in a great messy condition and expect from our moms and sisters that they will clean it. But why we do not do this by ourselves? Aren’t we who made our room dirty? So let us make the change from our rooms then we would talk about changing the world.

My Bed Room After fixing all the Stuff!

I decided to embrace this change in my life. I took 20 minutes from my busy schedule to fix my mess. It is true that I had not done this before because I did not value this but after doing this I realized this is just a small thing to do but will make you organized and disciplined for your coming life. It is just the practice to develop a well-defined personality. Moreover, this is an act of kindness and leadership. From now I will not be a burden to my mother for fixing my mess. This will ease my mother’s life. Same as we have multiple opportunities around us to show our leadership skills but we ignore them. Because we do not value these things in our lives. But these small acts of kindness can actually change the world.

I did mine and took the responsibility of cleaning my room on my own when you will adopt this change?
I Declare 2021 the Year of Kindness
By: Lisa Beth Wright
Tags: Self Improvement, Kindness, Word Of The Year, Personal Growth, Spirituality

There is a trending article in one of the larger Medium publications talking about making 2021 the year of self.

Isn’t that how we got into this mess in the first place?

I may never be a “top writer” on Medium, and that’s okay.

I would rather write what I am passionate about than the self-indulgent clickbait that seems to permeate this site.
We all Overdue a GIFT!
By: M. Sajid Mehmood
Tags: Compassion, Immersion, Kindness, Gifts, Thank You

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The journey of life is not too easy but full of hurdles. And if you believe you can complete this journey without the support of anyone then you are totally wrong. In our lives we fall, we rise again and this cycle continues till our death. But when we fall we need someone’s support to rise again and if you have these people in your life to encourage and support you in a difficult time then no one can be more blessed than you.

When we quit they motivate us to rise up, or when we feel lonely they become our partners, they are like hope and turn our tears into happiness. So now it's the time to show our gratitude and say Thank you to them for what they did for you.

“Gratitude is the open door to abundance.” — Anonymous

“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” — David Steinall-Rast

Today I decided to give my overdue gift. Giving an overdue gift does not mean about sending him/her an expensive watch or phone but your gratitude for what he did for you. I found one person in my life who really helped me and supported me at the time of need in my life. Even I can say he would be the reason for all of my future achievements. If he was not there to support me at that time, then I was not studying at GIFT University and my journey of success begins here.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

I just thanked one of my supporters and now I am relaxed and grateful and feel internal peace and happiness. Now it’s your turn to find at least one person from your past and send him/her a Thank You GIFT Card because sharing is caring.

“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in.” — Kristin Armstrong

Good Luck with your future endeavors!
Power of Words (Appreciation and Love)
By: S Hasan Alavi
Tags: Love, Hope, Kindness, Spread Positivity, Power Of Words

Captured by: Hasan Alavi

Have you ever notice the strength of tiny little things you do, or a gesture you make, or say, just to comfort someone, to give hope. Well, it you do notice, every single of us is going through something, and trying to make it through. there are a lot of people with different personality traits. Some are introvert others are extrovert. whether or not, we see someone struggling but deep behind our knowledge of knowing someone, they really are struggling, and some have already given up, and still struggling not to fall.

Little words and greetings of love and appreciation like (thank you, how are you, you look great, sorry, miss you and many more) can change someone's life…..yeah! you heard it right!, what starts here (heart), changes the world. These (words) are simple but amazing healers. How miserable someone's day is, how broken somebody is, how struggling life is for anyone, from a homeless person to person with every (worldly) thing but the connection of self love, self satisfaction, the lift of hope, the support of encouragement may change the life of several thousands people. It is reciprocated from one to other and from other to several other and from those to more, any carry on…. The thing to ponder is that your words could really put someone in calmness, can give someone hope, an encouragement to try again, a love to carry on, a smile to make their day pass…. but do we care for that? starting from me to you….. we should be the GIVERS as God selected us for this mission of healing others. But how do you know you are selected?, well if you are reading this than it is more than just an invitation that God made you read this and wanted you to help the world. Its enough sorrow and evil out there, and yeah we can’t change everything and everybody's life, but we can, by changing them, by supporting them with no other cost, just a cost of love, effort and true intentions of words (spoken or unspoken).

So choose wisely, the words you say, the way you speak, and hold onto patience when somebody is outrageous, believe me, they will come back, we don’t know what they are going through and what’s pushing them. It has a chain effect, it reciprocate, so reciprocate goodness, hopefulness, love, support, encouragement, positivity….. you don't know, may be you would have save just even a single soul from giving up on dreams, life, relationship or anything worthy. NOT JUST THE NEGATIVITY HAS A CHAIN EFFECT, CHAIN EFFECT IS APPLIED TO POSITIVITY AS WELL. So spread positivity, Be the Healer, the Giver…. Be the reason for someone’s LIFE, without evening you or them even knowing, just God. Let’s spread it in every heart.

Bless you all

Below shared is a story:

Love and the Cabbie

By: Art buchwald

if you wanted to read, you may…
A great thought! The world needs hope & kindness
By: Dr. Preeti Singh
Tags: Kindness

So — Setting the intention

for the universe

To help and to remind

Go that extra mile

Choosing Hope and Kindness

In actions and our thoughts

For Snow is on the ground

Santa is surely on zoom calls

Making holiday plans.
Youth Collaboration: Connecting Minds and Removing Conflicts
By: Bilal Siddique
Tags: Education, Kindness, Confidence, Amal Fellowship, Amal Academy

Education is a part of our life, it helps to improve our mental abilities and thinking. We all start to get education from different schools. And when we end our matriculation we have different dreams and perspectives, but we don’t have the same thinking and level of confidence.

Many social welfares start work in different areas to build schools so the children of those small areas get education and find a good path for their life. But education is not the whole thing which is used to get a good career. The other things matter as equal as education, e.g. confidence has a major impact on career growth.

In Sindh, this is the major issue as the student don’t even read the sentence correctly. As a result they lack in the confidence and quit the education and start doing jobs in their early stages. The basic problem of lack of confidence of small areas students is they have the perspective about the students who are studying in the big-name schools that these schools teach them about the ability to communicate with anyone and how to get a high level of confidence.

School Education in Pakistan: A Sector Assessment 2019 by Asian Development Bank

The matter of fact is these big-name schools did not do any of these things, these big-name schools set a platform (student weeks, entrepreneur week, functions and different assignments and projects) where each student will perform, as a result, the level of confidence and ability to communicate with anyone is enhanced.

As there is a pandemic situation and everything goes virtual so I want to work on this problem as we establish a platform where we give 3-week courses on these soft skills and make groups of mix school students so it changes their perspective by giving group project work and assignments and setting seminars. And the courses are free of cost so it engages as many students as possible.
I Used To Police Everyone’s Spelling And Grammar — It’s Quite Dangerous
Tags: Consequences, Grammer Nazi, Lessons Learned, Kindness

She put me out of the car. It wasn’t the best neighborhood. The road had no shoulder, just a ditch. I hiked to a gas station, where a bunch of men laughed hysterically at my condition. (cuts on both ankles from sprayed gravel, hip length hair plastered with sweat)
Why I’m Leaving Medium
By: Andy Smallman
Tags: Kindness, Writing, Médium, Self, Farewell

Why I’m Leaving Medium

Artwork by my friend Fish Astronaut

For those of you who follow me, I’m writing to say that I’m not renewing my Medium account when it expires on Sunday.

I signed up in December of 2017, paying $50 for a year. And I renewed in 2018 and 2019, enjoying the connections I was making and the fact that I was getting paid for my writing. Late last year, however, Medium changed how it calculates payments and suddenly I went from making enough money each month to fund a trip or two to the grocery store, to basically taking in nothing.

I don’t want to say that it’s just about money but I admit it’s the biggest factor. I try to balance my Internet expenses with where I place my time online. And I really have stopped reading other peoples’ articles on Medium, meaning I’m not receiving the value I want for my membership fee.

If this short piece gets to you and you’re interested in staying in touch, I invite you to hop over to the website where I focus my efforts to promote kindness and sign up for my eNewsletter. You can also find me on my professional website and my personal blog, both places having oodles of my writing that you can read for free.

I want to offer a huge thank you to those people and publications who have supported me, most notably Christine Bradstreet and Deborah Christensen. I hope to see many of you again.

Here’s to a wonderful 2021, recognizing that in the challenges we will find opportunities. I encourage people to focus on what you have, not on what you don’t have — on what you can do, not on what you can’t.

Salut!
12.23.2020
Tags: Love, Kindness, Friendship, Hello World, Mental Health

Growing up, I struggled heavily with mental health. I went to a school district where staff and faculty did not believe in mental health. I was told that my anxiety and my depression was a figment of my imagination and that if I just applied myself, I wouldn’t have issues. Throughout high school, I took constant blows to my self-esteem and my confidence. My struggles with depression and anxiety grew worse. My mental health got so bad that I couldn’t eat or sleep. The worst part is, nobody could see how much I was falling apart because I refused to burden others with my issues. I smiled, giggled, laughed but it was never truly genuine. I struggled for so long in silence because I couldn’t admit that I needed help. That’s why I joined Medium. I wanted a platform to spread my stories and my artwork. I will also use this platform to spread kindness, creativity, and friendship. You are not alone. You are strong, you are important, and you are loved.

Again. You are strong, you are important, and you are loved.
this version of you
By: Pam Sahota
Tags: Growth, Kindness, Bravery, Radiate Daily, Courage

Whose perception is reality? The one we hold of ourselves? Or the one others hold of us?

I had just finished a 14 hour day, one where I had to scold a subordinate and listen to what seemed to be crisis after crisis with very little patience left. I canceled dinner with my father as I was tired and beat down, angry at everything and nothing at all. I wanted to be alone. I wanted nothing to do with the plans I was supposed to make to see my niece’s soccer game that weekend. I had text messages from various friends, some asking for help, some calling to vent, none that I had the energy to return. I was anything but happy. I was anything but bright.

But on my walk home, I ran into a friend I had not seen in a year or two. We started talking. He told me about how his wife was recovering from an illness, and now the kids were not doing so well in college. How he hoped to retire soon and see all the places he had not seen of the world. I offered my best for his wife, joked that his kids took after him, and recommended a hotel in London where I stay every time I go back. Then, I told him about my promotion, my nieces, and how, yes, I was still coaching youth basketball and that we had won last year’s championship. We talked for hours on the street corner, without sense of time.

As we went to part ways, he stopped and just shook his head in disbelief:

“I just have to saw wow… when I first met you, damn, you were cold. Too young to be so cold. You have always had a heart of gold, but back then it was dipped in ice, surrounded by barbed wire, hidden from everyone but those you chose to let feel it. But this version of you? This version, your smile reaches your eyes again, were they always so blue? Your laugh is contagious, how does anyone stay mad around that laugh? And you are open, warm, selfless, leading with that heart of gold, not hiding it behind that self-erected armor. This version of you — the one that seems to have learned to love again? — this version may be my favorite. I’m jealous of those who get to see it every day, and in my age I can say, I’m definitely jealous of the man who will be brave enough to accept it, for he will be a king.”

I stood in that spot after he departed, floored. I never thought of myself as open, warm, or selfless. I never really thought of myself as anything really. I was just me in any given moment, doing what was needed. But for the first time that day, I did not feel impatient. I was not tired. I walked on air as I called and rescheduled dinner with my father for the next day. Responded to those texts, making sure those of mine were okay. Bought a blue shirt to match my niece’s soccer uniform…

It is okay to grow. To find different versions of yourself. To figure out who you are. But it is never okay to forget who you are.

#radiatedaily

Originally published here on radiatedaily.com

image source: pixabay
Don’t Forget YOUR Gift
By: Jerry Del Colliano
Tags: You, Kindness, Gift Yourself, Be Kind To Yourself, Love Yourself

Why do we vividly remember every insult that is directed our way?

Why do we then go on and believe them?

And why do we keep repeating such nonsense?

On the other hand …

Why not recognize positive input about us publicly?

And use it to confirm the good things we already know are part of us.

And why not repeat on an endless loop all the good and dismiss all the bad?

There is no law that requires us to participate in dragging ourselves down.

The one gift you don’t want to forget this year is to love the person you are and stop helping the jealous and arrogant from getting into your head.
roots
By: The Sweet Byte
Tags: Love, Kindness, Ancestors, Spirituality, Self

Often times, I feel more alive than other days. Not in that way, but I mean that some days, I actually think about the fact that my body is a magical conjuction of all the right things. Blood, cerebral matter, flesh, spirit, Self. I am many components, yet somehow they all function FOR me. They exist solely within me. These elements serve to carry me through life gracefully. Aiding me as I go along solely because my body is all I have.

Similarly, this blood flowing within me is one I share with those who have graced the Earth long before me. The reason I am here, is them. The reason you are here, is them. The blood running through us is theirs. What, who, and where we are is all but a reflection of our ancestors decisions. Picture one domino falling then the rest following, without meaning to. It’s seamless. We are in sync with them.

Life is but a complex, everlasting, vast miracle. Everything and nothing. That is life. That is you. When I move on from life, I leave my blood here in the form of my Sun (my son). I stay, yet I’m not there. Through creation and correlation, I am there. As are they, our ancestors. They are around and they are within.

This is but mere appreciation for what I was given, for being human and for being present right now. As we should all be, because we are a product of much more than we can comprehend/much more than can be told all at once. I am overtly filled with gratitude and love for the the blood that runs within me, that makes me me. My blood is special and unique to me, as yours is to yours. I am a miracle. You are a miracle. Treat yourself as such. Treat others as such. Life is too swift to be filled with anything but love, which is the most monumental state of existence.

(art found via tumblr user @gradientvoid13)
What will you do today?
By: Christopher Boardman
Tags: Choices, Gratitude, Creativeprocess, Kindness

What will you do today?

Will you check in on someone who is fighting Covid alone?

Will you offer a kind word to someone you disagree with?

Will you remind yourself to be patient if you are frustrated?

What will you do?

Will you make the choice to work within your limitations?

Will you choose to make the best of the bad?

Will you choose to reach out if you are overwhelmed?

What will you do?

Will you choose to smile instead of frown?

Will you choose to love instead of hate?

Will you choose engagement over ambivalence?

What will you do?

Will you choose to be aware of the intent behind your words and actions?

Will you choose to be grateful?

Will you choose to live a day of joy?

What will you do?

Will you see the good in people?

Will you act with kindness without seeking validation?

Will you remember that you are loved and that you love?

Life is finite. If we are lucky we get 29,000 days. The energy we bring to every waking moment is our choice and our choice alone.

What will you do?

Click on this link to subscribe and learn more about Chris Boardman.
“When Emotions Collide” — S01E02 “Something’s Askew…”
Tags: Relationships, Kindness, Exgrilfriend, Life Lessons, Blog

Image by Pexel

I had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right, just slightly askew.

Soon after we began living together, she would always find an excuse that could neither be proved, nor disproved, to be away from home for a few days to a week every month.

Then our expensive gadgets started to slowly disappear.

Image by Pexel

At first, I believed our streak of bad luck was just the result of partying too hard or simple drunken stupidity (e.g., forgetting our phones at a bar, getting my freshly-ATM-fed wallet stolen, getting her handbag, containing her tablet, my iPad, and brand new jewelry stolen, etc.).

But finally I realized the truth.

She was stealing from me.

Why?

In my mind, the most common, obvious reasons were that she had another lover, or could be a drug addict, or both?

In time, I found out it was both.

She and her boyfriend were orchestrating the theft of our belongings.

She would then sell or pawn the items to pay for their expensive, daily crystal meth habit.

Image by Pexel

She had also duped the other guy in believing that she had a job abroad and could only fly back once a month.

In a way, I envied the other guy. I thought that his drug habit probably took some of the pain away; or merely kept him from experiencing it.

In other words, if he was perpetually “tripping”, he probably didn’t feel the hurt and betrayal like I did…

Image by Pexel

By JaiChai

Image by Author

This is YOUR TORUM INVITATION!

Image by Author

Excerpted from: “Suckers and Samaritans. Same Thing?” — JaiChai 2017. Revised 12–23–20. All rights reserved.
Matt I love you!!
By: Anand Choudhury
Tags: Habits, Hope, Kindness

Matt I love you!! You always rekindle my heart with positivity and hope. The world needs to listen to your brillant pieces of wisdom. We can create a better world together, if we all can incorporate these really small changes into our daily habits. Being kind is essentially the need of the hour. Thank you for enlightening us.
Inspiration.
By: Patricia Ehrhardt
Tags: 2021, Mental Health, Qigong, Kindness

Inspiration.

I’ve often found myself doing funny things, in the company of my own company. Like for real, never to be Insta’d or tweeted or facebooked, i might tik tok that shit but, I’d like to digress.

I’m doing QiGong right now, while rewatching the “rescue” scene of Outlander season one, Wentworth Prison.

I dIgress

Where does inspiration come from? Can we be inspired by what we have learned this year to make it a better one starting in a few weeks? Did we learn anything?

I am not going into politics even right now like for real\\\\, but I wonder, did we truly learn anything from the deBauchery and trash that was 2020?

I DIGress

While we ask ourselves this question, contemplate what inspires EWE. Instead of making a resolution this ano nuevo, make it a goal to be inspired. If you can’t figure out what might inspire you, maybe it’s because your role is to inspire.

And if that is the case

2021 can go one of two ways,

it can get better or worse.

Maybe, at the very least, we can try and be inspired to be better people.

Not to be grim but, it’s probably our last chance to get a do-over. So as Miss Cheryl Lynn has told us, It’s Got To Be Real yo.

Happy (to whatever extent you can feel it) HollyDaze
Mengalir Seperti Air
By: Kholisa Intan Rokhmana
Tags: Lesson Learned, Kindness, Family

A girl who loves to listen and write. Don’t worry, my life is big and full of surprises 🌃 #BersyukurSekarangAja
30 One-Sentence Compliments That Dig Beyond The Surface
By: Megan Minutillo
Tags: Love, Self Improvement, Positivity, Kindness, Lists

30 One-Sentence Compliments That Dig Beyond The Surface

Photo by Mathilde Langevin on Unsplash

1. You’re an incredible listener — thank you for letting me speak, and thank you for not talking over me.

2. You make everyone you encounter feel warm and welcome — the second you walk into the room, people are at ease.

3. Thank you for being kind — I needed kindness today.

4. Thank you for being polite — your gratitude and graciousness are beautiful.

5. When I’m with you, I feel seen.

6. When I’m with you, I feel safe.

7. When I’m with you, I feel loved.

8. I love the way you love people.

9. I love the way you love life — that kind of love is infectious in the best way possible.

10. I love the way you show up for others and the way you show up for yourself.

11. You inspire me to show up for myself.

12. You inspire me to show up for those around me.

13. You inspire me, period.

14. I admire your sense of fashion.

15. I admire your taste in art, in food, in music.

16. I admire the way you give the space for a taste that does not reflect yours.

17. I admire your sense of calm.

18. I admire how you make people feel calm.

19. I love how you are unapologetic about your ambition.

20. I love how you are unapologetic about your love.

21. I love how you own who you are — it makes it feel more natural for me to do the same.

22. I love how you laugh.

23. I love how you love to make others laugh.

24. I love how you always know the right thing to say in the darkest of moments.

25. I love how you don’t let yourself dwell in the dark moments.

26. I love how you’re always present with me.

27. I love how you’re always present with the ones around you.

28. Thank you for never taking your phone out at meals.

29. Thank you for never taking your phone out while I’m talking to you.

30. You are a miracle, and I’m grateful for you.