When Caitlin Prater-Haacke received a message on her Facebook page telling her to kill herself, she didn't retaliate - she got positive.  She took out a marker and some post-it notes and stuck positive messages on every locker in her high school. When that action didn't sit well with school officials of George McDougall High School, who reprimanded Caitlin for littering, the entire community showed their support by embracing her idea. Even the city council of Airedrie, Alberta, declared October 9 Positive Post-It Day!

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  • Liam

    aAMAZING!!! I love this! I'm gonna plaster the underground with this! Mwaha

  • laurel brookes

    What a difference a response can make. Instead of reacting to negativity with shrinking and going into victim, Caitlin chose to use it as a platform for creativity and love. Kudos to you, Caitlin

  • Carol

    I love it when people take precedent over poor vision.

  • Loni

    She did not become a victim! She turned the energy around! And apparently she did this twice, ie reprimand form fo littering? WHAT A STRONG, WISE PERSON SHE IS!!

  • Sippie

    I love it that her community had the same courage and insight that she did and rose up to support her in defiance of her narrow-minded high school officials. I hope they learned from her ...and I bet they did! Well done, kid! You rock!

  • Kristin Pedemonti

    Responding with love is always the answer, even if it might be a challenge. Caitlin's project is fabulous and one I've replicated with college and high school students. Here's to sharing kindness. One never knows the battles another may be fighting. No one is born a bully. Hurt people, hurt people. Sharing kindness to all involved can often turn around a situation. You may not see it right in that moment, but the ripple effect is there and is powerful.

  • Sandy

    Well done, Caitlin! Look how your amazing response inspired so many people!

  • Manuela

    Lovely way to handle a tricky situation - respond with love. You might like to read and use this special blessing for victims of bullying: A blessing for victims of bullying by Pierre Pradervand, author of The Gentle Art of Blessing Bullying is an extremely common form of violence. It starts at a very young age and it occurs in daycare centers, on and off school grounds and college campuses, at social and sporting events. This is a worldwide problem, but in the US alone, 2.1 million school children in grades K-12 are bullies, and 2.7 million are victims of bullying. Bullying is linked to 75% of all school shooting incidents and young people suffering from bullying are up to 9 times more likely to contemplate or commit suicide. We bless the children and teens who are being bullied by their peers, in their peace, their serenity, their strength, and their courage. We bless them in their understanding of their divine nature as children of the universe entitled to love and respect. We bless them in their recognition that whatever insults and injuries are hurled at them, they are always surrounded by a loving Presence that will guide and protect them and never abandon them. We bless them in their wisdom to seek help when facing hatred and intolerance from their peers. We bless them in their refusal to accept labels that would demean and humiliate them. We bless them in their courage to resist the temptation to retaliate, feel victimized, or even consider taking their own lives when pressures get too hard. We bless the witnesses of bullying, no matter what their ages, in their refusal to condone, participate in, or encourage any bullying. We bless them in their ability to take intelligent steps to stop any abusive conduct, and above all we bless them in their capacity to see the innate goodness in themselves, the victims, and the perpetrators. And finally we bless also the ones who bully that their innate goodness as children of God, hidden behind a mask of fear or aggression, will guide their thoughts and actions. November 2015www.gentleartofblessing.org

  • S V Ramakrishnan

    Such a sweet courageous girl. You always need the courage to do the right thing, and what is heartening is the community has appreciated her and more importantly followed her post-it notes even in the work places. Wish her to remain positive always all her life. Thank you, dear.

  • Brian

    Thanks Guys...Positive Post it day it is then :o)...as a wise Teacher once expressed eloquently: "Yeahhhhyyyyy"...Love and respect. Peace

  • Jo Ann

    Caitlin is a very strong young woman who has taken something negative and turned it into a positive experience! Shame on the person who did that to her!!! She may not ever find out how many lives she possibly saved by sending such positive vibes to people she may not even know!!! Fantastic job Caitlin! :)

  • Craig

    I have stroke - I need to remind me "happy"

  • Patjos

    Thanks Caitlin. Children can be so wonderful, caring and loving. Thankfully we have an abundance of them too, showing us the way, carrying forward our light! Be awesome, guys!

  • emanuel boyd

    Actually Caitlin took The unconventional approach of turning the other cheek. And she held her ground despite opposition from established "pillars of society" She is both compassionate and brave. The world is a better place because of Caitlin's action

  • Deepak

    Thank you . Much appreciated . " Be the change you wish to see in the world " Gandhi .

  • Jeffrey Farrar Dean

    Spread The Good Feelings Everyone, All This Kindness From A Youngster

  • Eliane

    good work Caitlin! ... inspiring even here in Belgium (Europe)

  • Lucia

    What inspired you about this video?“Evil cannot and will not be vanquished by evil. Dark will only swallow dark and deepen. The good and the light are the keenest weapons.” ― Nora Roberts, Heaven and Earth

  • Shelly

    Caitlin---You're a ROCKSTAR!!!

  • Bradley

    Love and kindness will always trump hate and negativity. Thank you, Caitlin for your beauty <3.

  • Cynthia

    Caitlin Prater-Haacke, you are beautiful! You are powerful! Confronting hate with love. Shine on.

  • Page 1

  • Follow Caitlin's Positive Post-It Day Facebook page, and the Positive Post-It campaign that it has spawned.
  • DoSomething.org harnesses the extraordinary energy of teens to effect social change.
  • Go ahead - leave some anonymous positive notes for friends, family, colleagues, and strangers - you will all have a better day! :)

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