CREATE CHANGE. AMPLIFY THE GOOD. SEND A THANK YOU.
Creating change does not just come from dealing with or overcoming the worst things in life; change comes because we are also paying attention to and building on the best things in life.
So here it is friends, 2017 has brought with it some tough headlines and there is A LOT we need to do. There is a lot we need to mobilize around in this new environment that we find ourselves living in. We need to keep calling and emailing and marching.
I think we also need to do something else. We need to say thank you to the people who are standing up and doing what’s right.
Saying thank you is one of the best ways I know to create positive change – it’s one of the ways we can pay attention to and build on the best things in life. Amplify the good.
Reminding yourself what you have to be grateful for can change your perspective and open you up to seeing and hearing new solutions. Saying thank you to someone not only positively changes the chemistry in your nervous system but it changes the chemistry in the person who hears it as well.
I sent a note to my friends and told them I was starting a hand-written thank you campaign for all of the men and women who are standing up and doing the right thing. I asked for recommendations for the thank you list.
This is by no means an exhaustive list but if you want to join in – pick a name or two off the list below and send them a note. I pulled many public addresses off of my co-pilot, Google, they are listed below. All you have to do scroll through the list, pull out your pen and grab a stamp. You can print out pre-made thank you cards or use your own. Download the thank you here
Here are some of the people I want to thank:
Sally Yates, a true hero who was fired for having the courage of her convictions, something we want all of our kids to grow up and be able to do.
Thank you to all of the Mayors in the sanctuary cities, especially our Mayor in Boston, Marty Walsh, who reminds us that Massachusetts was the first to legalize marriage equality and that “we will not back down, we will make sure our President knows he is supposed to represent all people.”
Thank you to Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski who opposed the education secretary nominee after receiving so many calls from their constituents.
CEOs like Howard Schultz (Starbucks), Brian Chesky (AirBnB), Mark Parker (Nike) and Logan Green (Lyft) for bringing corporations to the conversation and demonstrating to their current and future employees what it is like to work for a company that has their backs.
Congressman John Lewis, a man of legitimate action, for his tireless commitment to civil rights.
Jim Acosta, Dan Rather, Charles M Blow, HA Goodman, Nomiki Konst for continuing to write real news. And, Andy Borowitz for helping us to remember to laugh.
I want to thank Senator Elizabeth Warren who had been vocal throughout the election and continues to speak up. She was at her best at the march in Boston when she said; “We come here to stand shoulder to shoulder to make clear: “We are here! We will not be silent! We will not play dead! We will fight for what we believe in!”
Thank you John McCain & Lindsey Graham for coming together to say; “We should not stop green-card holders from returning to the country they call home.”
Thank you to the four federal judges who issued stays against the executive order: Judges Ann Donnelly, Judith Dein, Leonie Brinkema and Allison Burroughs.
I am happy to say that it is a very diverse list of names – crossing party lines. You may see a name below and you may not agree with it – that’s okay, someone felt they deserved thanks, I am focused on amplifying the good. If you think there is a name missing, please add it in the comments!
I have now used up all of my beloved Rosa Parks stamps but it felt like the right time to let them go. If you do decide to write, I promise it will make you feel better, and you will make someone’s day.
With gratitude,
Kelly
To send a note to Former AG Sally Yates
Comer Yates Atlanta Speech School 3160 Northside Parkway NW Atlanta GA 30327
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 NY, NY 10017
Judge Ann Donnelly US District Court 225 Cadman Plaza East Courtroom 4GN Brooklyn, NY 11201
Ruth Bader Ginsburg US Supreme Court One 1st St NE Washington, DC 20543
Judge Leonie Brinkema Albert V Brian US Courthouse 401 Courthouse Sq Alexandria, VA 22314
Judge Judith Dein John J Moakley US Courthouse 1 Courthouse Way Suite 2300 Boston, MA 02210
Judge Allison Burroughs John J Moakley US Courthouse 1 Courthouse Way Suite 2300 Boston, MA 02210
Senator Elizabeth Warren 2400 JFK Federal Building 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203
Cecile Richards President, Planned Parenthood 123 William St, 10th FL NY, NY 10038
Kym Worthy Wayne County Prosecutor 1441 St Antoine St Detroit, MI 48226
Anthony Romero ACLU 125 Broad St, 18th FL NY, NY 10004
Chad Griffin HRC 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW Washington, DC 20036
Senator John McCain 218 Russell SOB Washington, DC 20510
His Holiness Pope Francis Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City ROME
Sentator Lindsey Graham 290 Russell SOB Washington DC 20510
Dan Rather GC Publishing 1290 Ave of the Americas NY, NY 10104
Mayor Bill de Blasio City Hall NY, NY 10007
Ellen Degeneres Ellen Degeneres Show PO Box 7788 Burbank CA 91522
Senator Chuck Shumer Leo O’Brien Building, RM 420 Albany , NY 12207
Mayor Marty Walsh City Hall Square, Suite 500 Boston, MA 02201
AG Maura Healey One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108
Mayor Jorge Elorza 25 Dorrance St Providence, RI 02903
Congressman Gerry Connolly 2238 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515
Congressman Don Beyer 5285 Shawnee Rd Alexandria, VA 22312
Mayor Ed Murray Seattle City Council 600 4th Ave #7 Seattle, WA 98104
Governor Terry McAuliffe Common Ground for Virginia PO Box 1475 Richmond VA 23218
AG Mark Herring Office of the Attorney General 202 N 9th St Richmond, VA 23219
Senator Ed Markey 225 Dirksen SOB Washington DC 20510
Senator Al Franken 309 Hart SOB Washington, DC 20510
CEO Mark Parker Nike HQ One Bowerman Dr Beaverton, OR 97005
Senator Bernie Sanders 332 Dirksen SOB Washington DC 20512
CEO Howard Schultz Starbucks Coffee Company 2401 Utah Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134
Senator Cory Booker 359 Dirksen SOB Washington DC 20543
Congressman John Lewis 100 Peachtree St NW #1920 Atlanta, GA 30303
US Representative Seth Moulton 1408 Longworth HOB Washington DC 20515
Representative Joe Kennedy 434 Cannon HOB Washington DC 20515
CEO Brian Chesky AirBnB 888 Brannan St San Francisco, CA 94103
Senator Susan Collins One Canal Plaza Suite 802 Portland, ME 04101
Senator Lisa Murkowski 522 Hart SOB Washington DC 20510
CEO & Founder Logan Green Lyft 2300 Harrison St SF, CA 94110
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard 1433 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515
Judge Timothy Black Potter Stewart US Courthouse RM 815 100 East 5th St Cincinnati, OH 45202
Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy 1237 Longworth HOB Washington DC 20515
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi 233 Cannon HOB Washington DC 20515