Ginger Schlanger
24 November 2016
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Like a lot of people, Elizabeth Cassidy has been moved to tears this year by the violence that occurs on a seemingly daily basis. “I started to make a list of all the places deeply affected by hate and I realized that it is all over the world,” says Elizabeth. “This was not the world I wanted to live in.”
Elizabeth is a long-time writer, artist and perennial peacemaker. So she did what many artists do – she channeled her emotions into her work and imagined how she might make a difference from her little corner of the world in New York. She started small, literally.
“I came up with this idea – Little Love Letters: A Peaceful Revolution,™” says Elizabeth, “and it became my purpose. I took four of my large paintings and had them printed onto business-card size, hundreds of each. On one side of the card is my artwork, on the other side I either wrote a little love note or used quotes from some of the most passionate, powerful voices.”
She started leaving the Little Love Letters in public places, anonymously, and wondered if anyone would notice. “Could one person’s efforts push through the world’s broken heart to offer much-needed love? Would others join me or had everyone become too cynical?” she remembers asking herself.
The reaction to Little Love Letters: A Peaceful Revolution™ was immediate. When Elizabeth posted her idea on Facebook,100 people asked to become members of the Revolution and that number quickly doubled. She began mailing small stacks of Little Love Letters to people all over the U.S., Canada and England. “I was just thrilled that the movement resonated with people,” she says.
At every opportunity, Elizabeth shares her appreciation for all of the Peaceful Revolution members, and feels so grateful to have such amazing women and men who want to help spread some love and peace into their community. At last count, Elizabeth has sent out 15,000 Little Love Letters. The Facebook group has hundreds of members, and followers on Twitter and Instagram number in the thousands. “Without the support of everyday people, there would be no Peaceful Revolution,” she says.
Elizabeth has received dozens of notes, emails, tweets, and testimonials from people telling her where they have placed the cards and how the little notes have sparked connections and conversations, like this one:
“I brought my packet of love notes to our favorite coffee shop. I placed a card on the table behind me. A lovely woman sat down and eventually we started chatting. Later, she discovered the card and had her husband (who has the beginnings of Parkinson’s Disease) read it… I realized that I had an entire extra packet of cards with me. I immediately knew they were for her. So now she has them and could not be happier. She said she doesn’t get out much, and that us meeting was a blessing.”
“People say that I started a movement,” says Elizabeth, “but that’s not quite right. We started a peaceful revolution together. And we are not going to stop spreading love and peace. My hope is that we will continue to grow until everyone knows that their lives matter to all of us. That’s my true purpose.”
Want to join the Peaceful Revolution?
Elizabeth’s plan is simple. She sends small stacks of Little Love Letters – now in 14 styles and growing—to anyone who requests them. (You can join the Peaceful Revolution on the website.) There is no cost to join, and all printing and mailing is supported by Elizabeth or through donations.
“All you have to do is leave the cards in public places so others can find them and take the Peaceful Revolution message forward,” says Elizabeth.
People have left the cards in supermarket carts, on buses, in doctors’ offices, hair salons, yoga studios, restaurants, public libraries, colleagues’ desks – anywhere you think someone will find them and be touched.
“What I really love about Little Love Letters: A Peaceful Revolution™ is that my art and my words found my purpose…my cause,” says Elizabeth. “The Peaceful Revolution was just waiting for me to show up.”
Purpose has a way of finding us…it drives us, empowers us, and as in Elizabeth’s case, helps us find a way to make a difference and try to make sense of our world.
What does it mean to you to be “powered by purpose?” Leadercast 2017 is all about being Powered by Purpose: every detail of the experience is intentionally crafted to inspire and engage you in surprising and meaningful ways. Come to Leadercast 2017, or attend one of hundreds of host sites, and discover the steps you can take to uncover your purpose, to reconnect to your why, and to truly live, work and play in this world, Powered by Purpose.
