Photo Credit: Kristina Britt Photography
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This is something we have been taught and try to teach our kids but, let’s be honest, words do hurt. They chip away at our confidence and self-esteem. We teach our kids to be kind to others. We teach them to treat others as they would want to be treated. But we live in a world of social media. It’s a world where people can hide behind their electronics and never understand the scope of their words. You don’t have to see the reaction of the person you called ugly and fat. You don’t have to see the tears stream down the face of the person you just called a loser or a slut. People jump to criticize someone’s clothes or hair as they sit behind their computer wearing old pajamas and their hair is a sloppy mess.
Social media has made it really easy to tear someone down instead of build them up. It’s easier to judge than empathize. It’s easier to chime in without showing any action. It’s easier to say what YOU would have done when it’s not YOUR life. It’s easier to criticize a parent instead of offering help. But why? Why is it easier to be a “mean girl”?
It’s time to take a stand. It’s time to choose the high road. It’s time to show empathy, compassion and love. It’s time to help those in need and support those that are struggling. It’s time to be honest about our own lives instead of picking on someone else’s. It’s time to embrace each other’s differences instead of mocking them. It’s time to come together, pull each other up and unite to create a better world for our children. It’s time to look in the mirror and respect the person staring back at you.
So what person will you be today? The person that says, “I can’t believe she wore that outfit!” or the person that says, “She looks beautiful!” The person that says, “I can’t believe she lets her kid tantrum like that!” or the person that says, “You’re doing a great job. I know parenting is hard but you got this!” I know which person I want to be!
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