Meanness is easy. But it doesn't help.

So this sign made it into my news feed last week:

I find that sign offensive, mean-spirited and unhelpful.

For the record, I think this one is, too:

Depending on your political leanings, maybe one of those made you chuckle. A release valve, perhaps, for pent up anger and frustration. Or the sweet satisfaction of your "side" getting in a dig at the other, whether crude and distasteful or not.

If I'm honest, I experienced that too.

But neither of these signs would I want to put out into the world.

Messages like these don't help bring about any of the changes I actually care about. They don't help me feel more connected to or grateful for my neighbors. They don't help me get curious or learn anything new. They don't help me explore new perspectives or think about solutions. They don't inspire me to be courageous or creative, or try to imagine what's possible. They don’t help me be a better person, in any way.

Instead, they perpetuate meanness. And I don't think anyone wants more of that.

The people I know, from all political persuasions, want other things. They want more kindness. More wisdom. More fairness. More joy.

The problem is, you don't get more of what you want by criticizing people who don't offer it.

The only way you get more of it is by finding it yourself -- and then sharing it.

If you want to see more beauty in the world, for example, you need to seek out and create beauty. During the pandemic, artist Alex Cook has been using his front yard to create different paintings and stick sculptures each week, like this one, which I find incredibly beautiful.

If you want more lightheartedness, then you need to find and share that. Someone near me keeps putting up signs like these on their fence, and I love them too:

And if you want to experience more kindness, that starts with you too. Recognize it. Appreciate it. Extend it. And if you're the yard sign type, share it that way. I've now got 20 different messages you can choose from, including these:

The language we use is powerful, and the First Amendment gives us amazing freedom over what we say and how we say it.

We can use our freedom to fight and criticize the "enemy" -- ensuring that we will be quick to find (and make) enemies everywhere. Or we can use it to express what we stand for -- making it more likely that we'll find and create that.

What do you want to see more of right now?

Where are you already seeing it?

How are you already being it?

Whatever it is, please keep focusing on it, and please share what you're doing.

We need all the positive role models we can get.