The Kindness Challenge

 
Pouring a bucket of ice water on yourself
Swallowing a spoon of cinnamon
Walking over a pyramid of milk crates
Trying to jump over a speeding car
The more ridiculous
The more dangerous the challenge
The more views, likes and comments
I guess for some
Social media is the validation they need

Somewhere along the development of this technology
We lost the sense of human sensitivity
Of connection
Now we’re algorithms and equations
Looking for fifteen minutes of fame

Narcissim creeps in
When the ego is inflated by numbers
By artificial compliments and praises
Beauty then is only seen on the surface
And less by the character and soul

When I hear of little girls with fragile self esteems
    who are hurt by internet trolls – I get mad
Or confused boys pressured into bad behaviors
     by idiots hiding behind screens – I get pissed
But mostly
I get sad at how cruel this world has become

Perhaps we need the kindness challenge
Doing something nice
Something kind
Something generous everyday
Genuinely
Not posting it to social media to gain views
But doing it because it’s heartfelt

And maybe the result will be
A sense of happiness
Of enlightenment
Of accomplishment for the human race