My friend Paul made a Facebook post last week about “positive gossip.” It grabbed my attention. Paul’s perspective often captures my attention because he’s a “Kingdom Advancer.” He’s advancing God’s Kingdom on a daily basis as he teaches in the Chicago area and he is intentional about living the Jesus way. I’m gonna share his post here:
“I’ve been thinking about a line from George Saunders, shared during his convocation speech at Syracuse University for the Class of 2013. He challenged graduates to be “good and proactive and even somewhat desperate” in seeking a more generous way of seeing others. That idea has stayed with me.
So here’s a small experiment for 2026: what if we practiced positive gossip? Not the whispered kind, but the kind where we intentionally notice what’s good in people and say it out loud.
I see the power of this every day in the classroom. When students hear their effort recognized, when someone’s growth is named, or when kindness gets more attention than mistakes, something shifts. Confidence grows. Risk-taking feels safer. People rise.
What if we carried that same mindset beyond school? What if we shared stories of quiet leadership, perseverance, or someone choosing kindness when no one was watching? What if we assumed better intent and led with generosity, even when it takes effort?
This isn’t about ignoring what’s hard. It’s about choosing generosity over cynicism and being just a little “desperate” to see the good, because maybe that’s exactly what this moment calls for. Here’s to making encouragement louder, kindness more visible, and generosity contagious in 2026.”
What do you say, Vital Men? Are you IN? Will you join me in engaging positive gossip this year?
