A Single Step

[Lucy]

It is said that all journeys begin with a single step. The same might be said of change. Therefore, in light of the recent turn for the worst some things about humanity have taken, if you could change one thing about the mindset of the human race, what would that be?

Personally, I would make love a major thing. People would not be so afraid to hug each other in a friendly way. People would enjoy the closeness with others, and everyone would be more caring to one another. Wouldn't it be great if you could just hug someone you liked without wondering if they'd think it was weird? I think hugs could solve a lot of our problems. And I don't mean that I am a sexual maniac or anything, I am referring to our natural love of closeness and human contact which has nothing to do with sexuality. We hug our families, and wouldn't it be great to be able to hug our friends, acquantences, and even strangers just for no reason? If instead of a handshake, a hug was our main greeting?

In case you're wondering just how much difference a hug can make, check out this video from YouTube:

youtube.com/watch?v=oV_gY156LOQ

[lostmaiden]

I'm on my phone and I cannot watch the video, but I believe u. I feel the same. But if it was up to me, I'd change another thing...
Two days ago a friend came to me and told me that she wants to go to another university, because she does not feel that what she choose is right for her. Frankly, I admire her for being brave and true to herself. When she talked to her mother, she told her: 'what will people say when they will find out that you are not up to it?'. Don't get me wrong, her mother is a good person, but this is what most ppl think of here. Another friend was a finalist in a tv show. She is 25 years old and at 17 years old she got pregnant with twins. After she talked on the show about her kids, people judged her about being thaughtless back then. Now, the point is that no matter what we do, people judge us. That is not fair, specialy when we try to CHANGE something. It is like they are against other ppl's evolution or something. I hate it whdn ppl judge others and I would like to change that about humanity. Don't u agree with me?

[Lucy]

Oh yes, judgement is rampant these days. I think that'd be a good thing to see go away.

It's really sad that human beings have the ability to be so intelligent and loving but they aren't. We only love those in our immediate group, which excludes billions of other people. I wish we could do away with all that and learn to just care about each other.

You should check the video out sometime, lost maiden. Made a lot of people cry.

[lostmaiden]

Then I havd to b alone whdn I watch it, because I hate to let ppl see me crying^^

[Lucy]

Have you checked out the video, yet, lost maiden?

[lostmaiden]

Lol, not yet! Once I remembered about it, but I was realy cheerful and I did not want to b sad... Sorry...

[Lucy]

No, if you cried it would be happy tears. It's a video that makes you cry with joy. Sorry I wasn't clear.

[lostmaiden]

U were right, the video is great. I'd do that too, but in my country there are a lot of creeps that would make fun of me for doing that... Or ppl that do not know english even tough they learn the freakin' language from second grade!!!

[Lucy]

Yeah, I think Australians are generally known for their kindness. Maybe I should get a group together and go to my mall to do that. It'd be interesting to see how many people would take a free hug.

[lostmaiden]

but make sure you videotape it and photograph the event! I want to see what you achieve too^^

[jehovany]

I like the video, we all needs hugs.

***hugging myself***

[Lucy]

Ha ha, you're so cute. If I was there, I'd hug you.

[lostmaiden]

Yeeey, Jehovany, you posted! I will hug you in person in a few hours^^ Hehehe

[Violet Twlilight]

You know, I did a thing at school a few months back calle: 'Challage day' what we did was a bunch of games that helped us all realize that we were the same and also different.

They talked about how hugs were very impornt to people and the more hugs you get in a day the better you feel. It really opened my eyes about other people in my classes who I juded as shallow. THey were on the outside but a lot of them were quiet deep and compasstiontae underneath.

By the end we did a game that had the whole room in tears. The two people running it told the class to stand at one end of the room, there was a line on the floor in font of us, than they said when they say something that's true for you to cross the line. And when you cross the line look back at the other's who didn't. The ones who did or didn't should send love to thoses who did. Confussing right? well I'll break it down more with a scene,

I'm in line and they says, "If you have ever had a sexist, or racist comment ever made to you, cross the line." Alot of people crossed, only three or four didn't out of about a 87 people. Than those people held peace signs to you, sending thier love and compassion. While everyone on the crossesd line side held eachother abnd the tears started to come. Than we all went back over and they asked, "If you've ever been left out and felt so alone you cried until you fell alseeep, even in the middle of the day, cross the line." I was so shocked at how many people crossesd along with me.

Than came the harder ones where it was hard to cross, they said: "If you've ever had someone hurt you phycial or metality in yor own home, cross the line." at this point I was comforting a girl until that day I'd never talked to as she cried her eyes out as the whole room looked back to see no one had not crossed the line. The last one they asked was the most painful for me to see. They asked to cross if you've had a childhood. Of course I thought everyne would cross with me, but than when only about 30 kids out of the 87 crossed the line I never felt so sad in my life.

Later we got a chage to stand up and ask the class to promise something that would make the world a better place. I first said that I wished I could give up all the parts of my childhood for them, becuase everyone desreves that. THan I made them promise to always stay true to themsevles.

Over all it was a very powerful day and I'm so glad I did it. It should be something that everyone does once a month because even though yes, many eyes were opened it , they need to be reminded. I see a lot of people in my school now acting better, but I also saw the hugs getting less and less as the weeks passed. It's sad but if we were reminded it'd change so much. So many prombles would be fixed.

[Lucy]

I agree completely. There should be more activities like that throughout the day, simply because as we grow older we care less and less about other people. It's a tragedy.