In 2014, I was at a local craft fair doing photography sessions. On one of my breaks, I walked by a booth, and saw a 12 year old girl, selling these unique bracelets. This bracelets have a unique a story behind them with a great lesson built right in.
These are “Zip- It’s” Bracelets. Children that wear them are committed to a two-fold idea. Firstly, that if they can’t say something nice to someone, they will keep it zipped! However, if they see someone being bullied, they should speak up and report it and NOT zip-it.
Chantelle and her mom Gina, were there to raise funds for their grass root charity, called “F.I.B.B”, which stood for Families Impacted by Bullying. Chantelle’s older sister, Jade was affected by a group of girls while in high school in England, where she was physically bullied, to the point where she received brain damage, and life long consequences. Jade’s story and her Mom’s is featured in this book, “Ray of Hope” as well as others in Canada. It is a heart felt book that is raw, and can give us a better perspective of all sides.
This concept really resonated with me, where a simple bracelet could serve as a great reminder.
At a later date, I sat with Gina and created “Be Your Own Hero”. A photography session, where children, adults and families, dressed up in caps, masks, pettiskirts, arm bands, and crazy super hero socks, that I provided, to create their own hero, and to stand up as a positive force, in a negative environment.
Here is a fact – Bullying happens to someone in Canada every 7 minutes on the playground, and just think of how often it could happen in a work place, and in other environments, as it comes in a variety of forms.
I had a good friend, that had a heart transplant. At times, she would use an electric motorized cart when shopping in a store, some people would be snide and make rude comments that she was too healthy and shouldn’t be using it. Just like this guy, running to high school classes, wipes out his energy, as he has a congenital heart defect, no one can tell of his battles he has physically inside.
Henry B Eyring said, “When you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” and if we take Roger Dawson advice, “Treat everyone you meet as though they are the most important person you’ll meet today”, just think of the difference we can make one on one, and on the sidelines! We can make a difference in every person we meet!
Let’s start a movement, an everyday awareness, with these zip it bracelets, you can buy them here!
Miss Chrissy