Recently, I went to the Jon Bon Jovi Concert. Yes, it was fantastic. Yes, he was hot. Yes, I loved it.

But he also had a simple message. At the beginning of the concert, he came out wearing a sticker over his black t-shirt. The sticker said I support Boston.

Like the rest of us, he thought the bombing was senseless, but instead of encouraging people to hate or to retaliate, he encouraged people to offer kindness. Not to the bombers, but to each other. Or maybe this would transfer to them as well. I don’t know. You’d have to ask Jon.

Jon said to stop hate, we have to start with kindness. Because if you’re kind to one person and the person passes this kindness on, then this breeds love. Yes, it’s a small step, but it’s a step and maybe a very important one.

Over these last few months with the bombings in Connecticutt and Colorado, people have been asking what can I do to stop this. Some people have bought guns, others have pushed for the death penalty, others have festered a need for revenge, but all of this leads back to hate. Hate breeds revenge. Revenge initiates disaster. When will the cycle stop?

I was one of those people caught in this cycle. Thinking of those innocent people dying, people’s lives changed forever, I was angry. I wanted to hurt the shooters and now, the bombers. Jon made me think. It’s such a simple message. What small kindness can I do for someone without expecting anything in return?

There’s a commercial that shows his simple message. I can’t remember what they were selling, but I remember the message. People would watch someone help another and then that person passed it on to someone else.

In our busy lives, mine included, what can we do to start the chain of kindness? This isn’t to gain anything back or to even expect a thank you. It’s one way to start a ripple of kindness. 

Thank you, Jon. For planting a seed of hope. I, for one, want to spread his message. Love does conquer all.