A campaign inspired by the tragic loss of 50 lives in Christchurch, March, 2019
50 SHADES BRIGHTER
Acting together to light up the darkness
ONE DELIBERATELY POSITIVE ACT A WEEK FOR 50 WEEKS
WHO?
This project is for anyone who has felt disempowered or overwhelmed by acts of bigotry, racism and hatred no matter where and when they take place. This is for anyone who wants to make a difference.
WHY?
We are joining with those who believe an act of darkness is not the final word. In fact, this can be a beginning, an awakening, an opportunity to ask, “What sort of world do we want to live in?”, and to do something toward our vision for a better world.
HOW?
Commit to 50 positive acts over 50 weeks. Regular emails for the first few months will keep you inspired and give you plenty of ideas for action. Connect with others who are also taking action. Be assured your details won’t be shared with anyone.
Sign up and make the world brighter – it’s totally free
When you sign up you get 20 email reminders, inspiration and ideas direct into your inbox
‘I’m going to be gently, but absolutely defiantly, resisting the urge to fall into dismay, complaint, hatred and anger.
I’m going to take action instead.
I really hope you join me.’ Toni
WHAT SORT OF THINGS COULD YOU DO?
Here are a few ideas to start:
Donate to a charity that’s doing cool things
Sign a petition (or two or three)
Visit a lonely elder in a nursing home
Pay ahead for a stranger’s coffee or pre pay a credit at the local op shop
Give flowers strangers
Have coffee with someone you’ve lost touch with
Spend time mentoring a young person
Volunteer with your local refugee group
Host a multicultural dinner in your home
Write a thank you letter to someone, maybe a bit longer than Marilyn’s
Donate your skills to an NGO, an elderly person or single parent
Compliment and thank the service people in your life. You could also tip extra
The possibilities are endless
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- They don’t have to be related to any specific event, religion or country
- They just have to have a positive impact on someone, a group or the planet
- Most of them should be free or cheap to do
- Most of them should be relatively easy to carry out
- Ideally the majority of the 50 don’t take a lot of time to do – you don’t want to become overwhelmed and abandon the project
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I’ll be sending out multiple ideas every week and you’ll be able to find more in our Facebook group
Feel free to suggest more ideas (contact form at bottom of page)
GET KIDS AND FAMILY INVOLVED
This is the perfect project to do as a family, or with nieces and nephews, and I predict the benefits within your family and for any involved kids will be priceless.
Pick up plastic at the beach or in a park
Volunteer as a family in a soup kitchen
Bake something nice for a under-visited neighbour
Write a letter of thanks to a teacher
CONNECT AND SHARE
After you sign up you’ll get a welcome email and thereafter ONE email a week for the next 20 weeks. They’ll keep you excited, accountable and contain more suggestions for things you can do.
You can also join our Facebook Group 50 Shades Brighter to be inspired and hear what others are doing. Be sure to share your great ideas and the acts you’re doing with the group.
Love this project? Please share this page, and tweet about it.
ONE DELIBERATELY POSITIVE ACT A WEEK FOR 50 WEEKS
We each hold enormous potential, huge power to make a difference and be the change we want to see
YOU CAN SHAKE THE WORLD
I CAN SHAKE THE WORLD
however
TOGETHER, WE CAN REALLY GET SOME MOVEMENT
Sign up and make the world brighter – it’s totally free
When you sign up you get 20 weekly reminders, inspiration and ideas direct into your inbox
THE SHORT HISTORY of 50 SHADES BRIGHTER
My name is Toni Powell (you can find out more about me at bottom of this page) – after the shooting in Christchurch I felt overwhelmed, powerless and carried a feeling of doom and sadness deep in my soul. While these are all appropriate emotions given the circumstance they aren’t going to serve me, my family or my community in the long run. I have learned that I just tend toward bitterness and outrage if I sit with that stuff for too long.
I started thinking about what response is useful, helpful in the face of horrific incidents such as the Christchurch shootings? I was wondering:
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- How can I make a difference?
- How can I be some sort of light in what feels like deep darkness?
- How can I turn my disgust, anger, fear, sadness, overwhelm, sense of hopelessness and vengeful thoughts into emotions that serve others?
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I didn’t want to become hate-filled or apathetic so I decided I would do something in the opposite spirit to this mad, vile spree – actually 50 deliberate somethings.
I began doing deliberate positive acts and within a few days, it occurred to me that others may also want a practical way to bring some good out of this tragedy.
Thus 50 Shades Brighter was born.
The shootings in New Zealand were the straw that broke the camels back for me – this project isn’t limited to one event though. This is a practical, gently defiant and empowering response to every act of hatred, violence, bigotry, racism and intolerance that is happening, or has happened, anywhere.