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by Toni O’Keeffe Can small acts of kindness change the world? According to the organizers of the 2011 World Kindness Concert they can. When Brock Tully envisioned the World Kindness Concert more than a decade ago, he imagined people coming together, with open hearts and a passion to change the way we live and celebrate the human journey. Eleven years later, the annual World Kindness Concert continues to grow and has become the catalyst for thousands of people seeking to create a kinder, more compassionate planet. After a cycling expedition across North America, which Tully refers to as “the journey back to his heart,” Tully was inspired to commit himself to kindness. “I was concerned with how disconnected and violent society had become,” he says. “The vision for the World Kindness Concert was to raise awareness and to inspire the active practice of kindness.” According to Tully, society at large underestimates the power of a kind act. “Single acts of kindness, a smile, a compliment or offering a helping hand to a neighbour all have the potential to grow roots and blossom into something spectacular. It is so easy and simple to be kind,” Tully says. “You don’t need money; you only need an open heart or a desire to open your heart. Both the musicians and the audience tell us they feel their energy rise to a joyful and peaceful state during this event. It is wonderful.” Research has proven acts of kindness have a positive effect on the immune system, the mind and on the production of serotonin, which is known to regulate our mood, appetite and sleep, and which also supports cognitive functions. From this perspective, being kind is a healthy choice. Jonas Falle, concert producer and CEO of Vancouver-based Moon Coin Productions, describes Brock Tully as “incredibly inspirational,” adding, “the World Kindness Concert is one of the most important events that our company supports. The opportunity to be involved with an event that will bring light into the world and create positive vibrations around the planet is very gratifying. This is more than a concert. It is a global movement towards finding solutions that will eliminate violence and create a kinder, safer world.” According to Falle, “people want to make a difference; they just don’t know where to start… during the concert, we will provide suggestions and put out calls-to-action to help people start to become the change they seek.” An important objective of the concert is to make it affordable for people to attend; ticket prices are remarkably low, starting at just $37. Any surplus from ticket sales is re-invested into initiatives that help foster kindness, awareness and compassion, including the anti-bullying and youth empowerment program Kindness ROCKS. (www.kindnessrocks.net) In addition to being inspired to create a kinder world, concertgoers will be treated to an extraordinary line-up of talent, including Juno award winner and BC Entertainment Hall of Fame inductee Shari Ulrich, pop-music sensation Dirty Radio, Canadian singer and TV host Michael Vincent, the world renowned ABBA stage show ABRA Cadabra and many more. “There is a shift taking place in the world and within all of us,” Tully says. “We are waking up to the possibilities of what we can be as individuals and as citizens of the planet. The time to unite people and inspire human connectivity in positive ways is now. We hope that this year’s World Kindness Concert in Vancouver does just that.” – November 4, 2011 World Kindness Concert, Centre for Performing Arts, |
Looking forward to this!
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