Do you ever wonder what the world would be like if it was filled with positive messages and random acts of kindness — and we showered each other with good vibes?

Elementary school Brooklynites, Talia and Gracie Shuman, decided to spread good vibes and boost happiness in their community, and they hope you will, too. Inspired by an article in Kazoo Magazine, the sisters created a poster with positive messages on tear-off tabs. Thanks to their art teacher at the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, Ms. Walsh, who helped them make copies, they were able to reach even more people.

“We put them up around school and our apartment building,” said Talia Shuman, 10. “Next thing we knew, people had torn off the tabs, and we got really excited.”

Recalling a time when she witnessed the power of spreading good vibes, Talia shared, “Our grandfather is a WWII veteran and, on Veteran’s Day, he received a plate of homemade cookies from some of his neighbors. They were intended to make our grandfather happy, but they made us happy, too, because we thought it was a really nice thing to do.”

Their project to bring happiness to their neighbors and friends has motivated them to want to do more. They’re now looking to expand beyond posters and want to speak up for others, even when it’s not easy.

Talia’s also encouraging other students to spread good vibes by “posting nice messages, helping people before they ask for help, or just smiling — especially on a gloomy day.” She says adults also can help spread good vibes by sharing positive messages with their friends.

In the fall, Talia will be starting middle school, and she wants to spread even more positive messages and good vibes there. “Because it’s middle school, I think a lot more kids will be under pressure. Even if they have a lot of weight on their shoulders, I don’t want them to feel to stressed about it. I want them to go into whatever’s up ahead with confidence.”

Talia hopes “that everybody reading this will spread good vibes, too, because the world can be a gloomy place.”

In a time when we may feel like we’re surrounded by negativity, especially from seemingly endless upsetting news, it’s important to remind ourselves of the good in the world and in our own backyards. The Shuman sisters reminded me of how each one of us can share good vibes and make a difference. If we follow their lead, we can encourage one another, making our world brighter and better.