“My place is of the sun and this place is of the dark. I do not feel the romance, I do not catch the spark…. and I will not be a pawn… for the prince of darkness, any longer.”
-Indigo Girls, Prince of Darkness
This week something pretty incredible remarkable amazing happened. One blogger wrote a beautiful piece in response to recent tragedies and atrocities happening in the world. Another blogger was posting about these same events on FaceBook. The two had a conversation that inspired this:
“How cool would it be if we could get 1000 bloggers on the same day to write posts about compassion, kindness, support, caring for others, non-judgement etc.? (Date to be decided.)
We could call it 1000 Voices For Compassion.
Who’s in?”
And thus began a movement. 1000 Voices for Compassion. A call for bloggers to join together on one day to speak out in the name of compassion. To stand up to the bullies and the killers and the harmers and the haters. To make the voices of the good drown out the insatiable voice of negativity and hatred.
That was five days ago.
Within 48 hours 500 bloggers had joined the movement. Today, 690. People are moved by what Yvonne and Lizzi started.
Most of us write because we have to. Often we write about things that move us. Things we care about. Things that we think maybe need to be heard. Some of us have been floundering under the oppressive weight of heartbreak over everything that we’re reading and hearing and seeing in the world. Most of us want to do something.
And what do we do?
We write.
We write, damn it.
Because words matter.
Words change minds and change lives and words have power.
And all of our words together?
Just imagine.
So, this is my plea. If you’re tired of the negativity that permeates the news and social media. If you’ve grown weary of all the violence in this world. If you’re tired of the “us” and “them” mentality and want to be a part of “we.” If you are ready for things to shift, for something to change… then write. Speak. Be a part of this movement.
Maybe it will help.
Maybe someone someone will hear us and feel wrapped in the comfort of knowing that people care.
Maybe someone’s hardened heart will soften just a little.
Maybe positivity will breed more positivity.
Maybe all of us together will be heard.
Maybe we can convince the “us” and the “them” to join.
Because your thoughts might add to the thoughts of others who want to create change. And if enough of us join in eventually we’ll be heard. Eventually those trudging through life will hear our concert of thoughts and lift their heads and open their hearts.
So please, join in. All of you have something to say. All of you can be a part of something good.
Let’s do this.
When: February 20, 2015
How: Write a post about compassion. What it means to you. How has it affected you? How we can bring more of it to those who need it. Really, there are no rules, just as long as it’s about compassion.
Participate: via FaceBook go to this link and request to join.
via Twitter, post and use the hashtag #1000Speak
*If you’re not on Facebook but would like to join you can let me know in Comments, below, and I’ll add you to the mailing list.
48 Responses
FRIST!
Yay!!! Just so you know, I’ve caught myself almost saying “first” in real life.
grrrrrr…. “frist”
I MIGHT have done, once or twice… 😉
Hahahah BOOM! Also LOVE THIS! Completely. And I’m grinning because some of the hooks you’ve used are ones I’ve used in the *gulp* vlog!
Owwww. You wrote this very well indeed, G – thank you 🙂
Thank you sweet Lizzi. And THANK YOU (wink. you know what I’m talking about. squeeeeeeeee!!!!) When will we get to lay eyes on this vlog? Is it part of Tamara’s? I can’t wait to see it…
Well if I PRETEND I know what you’re talking about, then great, but I’ll take the wink and the idea that I’m on the inside of this (even though secretly I’m now a bit lost, probably because it’s been a long day and I’m tired and my brain is sluggish)
The vlog is…well, I don’t like it much. YES it’s part of Tamara’s. But she (and a few others) have said it’s alright, so I HOPE that it will be…
Yes. Words matter! What is it I say? Every social movement that ever existed started with a few people talking? Somethin’ like that.
Good that you went sparse with this one, word-wise. That had to be a challenge. The one-line paragraphs are effective, and the passion comes through for sure.
We are so on the same page about this stuff, so consistently, it’s a little scary.
And now you get a reblog 🙂
Ha! I think this is the shortest post I’ve ever done! And wordiness would not have been helpful here. It actually wasn’t a challenge. It was easy to make this short. If only I could figure that out with everything I write!
And isn’t it funny how we think alike about these things? I think that’s why the first post I ever read of yours was about a cause you were promoting and participating in (NSA overreach, correct?) I was like “YES! Someone who is passionate about important issues!” And now look at where we all are. Pretty cool.
And thank you for the reblog!
Yar. Very cool indeed. Is that my first thing you ever read? That was a crazy weekend. First time I ever genrated a thread over 40 comments with a post of my own.
Reblogged this on Just Gene'O and commented:
Since Gretchen is the one who brought #1000Speak to my attention, I have been looking forward to her sounding off all week. And she has. Yes, words matter. (I’m shying away from calling it a movement in my own writing. Honestly, I am doing this because I just want 1000 bloggrs to write about compassion. But I will let you in on a little secret. The things I haven done this week, and the order I did them in, are very much informed by my study of social movements and organization. Now raise your hand if you did not know, or forgot, that I am trained in political science 😉 )
I AM IN … feet first : D
I’m so glad! Welcome!
I love the logo and yes it’s amazing how this idea has grown so quickly. I first learnt about it from Gene’O and I was of course interested immediately. THIS is what we need to show the world right now. This is what the world needs right now… a big fat warm hug all over it 🙂
P.S: Can we use the logo in our posts? Is there a link or do we just copy and paste?
Copy and paste. The whole point of the logo is to spread the idea. The images are also posted in the facebook group, but no idea how to find them except scrolling through. That is a very busy group right now.
And thank Gretchen that you found out from this through me, because she shared it with me. You can also thank Diana and Sabina, who you may or may not know as Part Time Monster and Victim to Charm, because they joined up while I was at work. It was the fact that all three of them were agreeing that convinced me to write that first post.
Thank you Gene’O for answering this. I got completely entrenched in family life yesterday and had not a spare moment to answer anything!
I will never not answer that question about that particular image, I don’t care whose blog I am commenting on 🙂
Shared, reblogged, and I’m IN! Thanks for posting.
Thank you very much, Sally, even though this is not my blog! Always nice chattering with you 🙂
I’m so glad you’re in Sally! And thank you so much for reblogging!
I have read so many beautiful posts about this already and yours is another one Gretchen! Thank you!
This post is really something else, Yvonne. I have seen a few more truly great ones already, and I haven’t actually had time to read very many. But enough bloggers I pay attention to are supporting this to make me take real notice.
I think there will be more. Not sure we are quite over the tipping-point yet, but everything I am seeing tells me this idea is spreading. It could snowball on you next week.
Thank YOU Yvonne. I know your head must be spinning from all of this. Who knew that question you posed would have gotten us here in a few short days? I’m so glad you had the idea and even more grateful you didn’t hesitate to put it out there!
What a fantastic idea. Happy to be a part of it with you all. 🙂
Isn’t it a great idea? I’m so glad you’re going to be a part of it!
Reblogged this on Dale Furse and commented:
From Drifting Through My Open Mind blog
This week something pretty incredible remarkable amazing happened. One blogger wrote a beautiful piece in response to recent tragedies and atrocities happening in the world. Another blogger was posting about these same events on FaceBook. The two had a conversation that inspired this:
“How cool would it be if we could get 1000 bloggers on the same day to write posts about compassion, kindness, support, caring for others, non-judgement etc.? (Date to be decided.)
We could call it 1000 Voices For Compassion.
Who’s in?”
When: February 20, 2015
How: Write a post about compassion. What it means to you. How has it affected you? How we can bring more of it to those who need it. Really, there are no rules, just as long as it’s about compassion.
Participate: via FaceBook go to this link and request to join.
via Twitter, post and use the hashtag #1000Speak
Super excited to be a part of this! Honored to be included! <3 <3 <3
Me too! My excitement about this is making it hard to concentrate on much else!
Words do matter. Such a beautiful post – and can’t wait to see how many blog on Feb. 20!
Thank you! I can’t wait either, I think we are going to surpass 1000…
Can’t even tell you how much I love this, and how proud I am of my Sisterwife Lizzi for helping to create such amazingness.
This movement suits you exactly. Thank you for always wanting to be part of the solution. xxo
Isn’t it amazing what Lizzi sparked here? And isn’t it just like her to be instrumental in doing something like this? She’s one of those good people I’m honored to know. And I have you to thank for that my friend. (I’m trying to keep it cool right now. Can you tell?)
Awh you GUYS! It wasn’t really all that much me – YVONNE was the one with the idea. I just…crystallised some thoughts for her, I guess 🙂
I seeya, Precious *glowy*
And to echo Gretchen, I have to say thank YOU for introducing the two of us.
You do amazing, wonderful things yourself, my dear. This is just a noisy thing that I’m somehow caught up in. You do quieter, more important things, like raise Little Dude and make life work *hugs*
I’m in too. It’s on my calendar
Great! I’m so glad you’re taking part too!
I’m in.
Yay!!! So glad you’re participating!
Promote this on #MondayBlogs and #wwwblogs and you may have to change your #number. Wouldn’t that be cool.
Thank you… I think I did promote it. I just hope this whole project does something really good and takes off!
I so love this. Already thinking about my post. I love that kindness is finally getting it’s own movement…not specific kindness like anti-bullying, etc…but just COMPASSION in all its forms.
Reblogged this on Catch a Falling Star and commented:
This is a wonderful post to explain something I have become totally caught up in. I am looking forward to writing about and reading about Compassion.
I reblogged this on my Catch a Falling Star Blog. I am seriously caught up in this wonderful movement just like you are and hope to spread the fever.
Hey! Thank you so much for reblogging this! And I’m so glad you’re excited about doing this! (sorry for the late response, something screwy going on with my notifications!)
Well written! 🙂 🙂
Loved your spirit! 🙂
Thank you so much!
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