On December 14, 2012, Scarlett Lewis’ worst imaginable fear happened when her six-year-old son, Jesse, was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Her tragedy was literally the spark to being fearless, thinking big and out of the box, and to found the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement.
Shortly before the tragedy, Jesse wrote three words on their kitchen chalkboard, “Norurting Helin Love” (Nurturing Healing Love), three words are in the definition of compassion across all cultures. “Nurturing Healing Love” is also the formula for Choosing Love: Nurturing means lovingkindness and gratitude; Healing means forgiveness; and Love is compassion-in-action. When you practice these character values, in that order, you are Choosing Love.
The mission of the Movement is to cultivate empowered, resilient and personally responsible individuals who will contribute to a safer, more peaceful and loving world. It includes a social-emotional learning curriculum that is now being taught in 10,000 schools in 100 countries.
Key Takeaways
- Everyone needs SEL–Social Emotional Learning. Register to download the free curriculum, for schools, families and home, and the workplace jesselewischooselove.org
- Choose Love Movement is inspired by 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, his final acts of love, and his mother’s path of forgiveness after Jesse was killed in a school shooting.
- Courage + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love
- Scarlett wasn’t mad at Adam Lanza, she was mad for him. Every single person should learn compassion says Scarlett. That is how to prevent tragedies like this.
