Well, ya know, every year, on the third Thursday of October, folks all over the world get together for somethin’ called Spirit Day. Now, you might be wonderin’ what that is, so let me tell ya. It’s a day for standin’ up against all them bullies, especially for the young ones who might be havin’ a hard time just because of who they are. It’s all about showin’ support for people in the LGBTQ+ community, those folks who might get treated bad just ‘cause of who they love or how they feel inside.
Spirit Day started back in 2010, when a young gal from Canada, Brittany McMillan, decided she’d had enough. She seen how some poor kids, like that Tyler Clementi, were bullied so bad that they didn’t even wanna live no more. So, she thought, “Well, we gotta do somethin’ about this!” And that’s when Spirit Day was born. Brittany and a bunch of other folks wanted to make sure that them kids out there know they’re not alone. It’s a day for sayin’, “Hey, we see you, and we got your back!”
Now, the whole idea behind Spirit Day is simple but powerful. Folks wear purple, ‘cause purple is the color that represents “spirit” on that rainbow flag you might’ve seen before. The rainbow flag, well, it stands for all the different kinds of people out there, no matter who they love or how they identify. Purple, in particular, stands for “spirit,” and that’s why it’s so important on this day. When you wear purple, you’re sayin’ to the world, “I don’t put up with hate. I don’t put up with bullies. And I support all kinds of people, no matter what.”
So, every year, on that third Thursday in October, millions of folks all over the world, young and old, wear purple. Whether they’re at school, at work, or just out and about, they wear that purple with pride. And let me tell ya, it don’t matter if you’re straight, gay, or anything in between, Spirit Day is for everybody who believes in kindness and respect for all folks. You see, it ain’t just about wearin’ a color; it’s about showin’ you care. It’s about remindin’ folks that no one should be treated bad for who they are or who they love. And it’s a way to let them know they can always talk to ya, ask for help, or just feel safe in your company.
Now, I reckon some folks might be thinkin’, “Well, I don’t know if Spirit Day really does much.” But let me tell ya, even if you don’t think it’s changin’ the world overnight, it’s still makin’ a difference. When someone sees all them purple shirts and knows that folks are thinkin’ of them, it gives ’em a little bit of hope. And that hope can be the difference between feelin’ down and feelin’ like they can keep goin’.
But it ain’t just about that one day, neither. Spirit Day is a reminder that every day, we gotta do our part to make the world a kinder place. Stand up for folks who can’t stand up for themselves. Don’t let anyone feel like they’re less than. No one should feel like they gotta hide who they are or be afraid to live their truth. And even though Spirit Day is just once a year, that spirit of support and kindness oughta be something we carry with us all the time, don’t ya think?
So, if you’ve never heard of Spirit Day before, well, now you know. And if you have, maybe this year you’ll think about wearin’ some purple and spreadin’ the word. It don’t take much, just a little bit of color and a lotta heart. And who knows? Maybe you’ll make someone’s day a little brighter just by lettin’ ‘em know you care.
And let’s not forget why we do all this. It’s ‘cause every person, no matter how they identify, deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We all got our own struggles, but we don’t gotta do it alone. So, let’s wear that purple, let’s speak up, and let’s remind the world that kindness and love will always win over hate and cruelty.
Tags：[Spirit Day, LGBTQ+, bullying, support, wear purple, anti-bullying, kindness, respect]
