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Let the healing begin' was the message as people gathered at the Country Mall in Budaiaya to join in an inspirational full-day campaign known as 'Who I am makes a difference'.
Eight Mansions together with Conscious Connections and Country Mall worked on making the event a success.
The campaign is about honouring and acknowledging one another with blue ribbons, a movement started by Helice 'Sparky' Bridges in the US in 1980.
Helice created the 'Who I Am Makes A Difference' One Minute Blue Ribbon Acknowledgement process to teach children and adults how to show their appreciation, respect and love for one another.
She gave out blue ribbons which could be donated to anyone from friends and family to people in the street to show appreciation.
This simple act of kindness has had wide reaching effects increasing grades and raising self-esteem by showing that compassion and positive attention can be the keys to making a difference.
Touched by Helice's achievements and the movie 'Who I Am Makes A Difference', feng shui consultant Janet Chua of Eight Mansions decided to carry on the Blue Ribbon tradition in Bahrain.
Janet, 37, from Budaiaya, said: "I believe in doing good. In Feng Shui we practice how to better ourselves and through that help others.
"I received an e-mail that talked about 'Who I am makes a difference' and the 'Making a Difference' movie. The movie was so touching and it really was something.
"The movie introduced me to the blue ribbon system and it demonstrated how people were giving out the blue ribbon, honouring and acknowledging those that feel unappreciated and making them feel good about themselves.
"We want to honour those that are taken for granted such as the janitor, the security guard ... everyone. That little gesture (the blue ribbon) can mean a lot to an individual and change their life.
"It is this change of appreciation that we are trying to create in Bahrain now."
Even Janet's children, Dylan, 11 and Scott, nine, took part in spreading the love. Dylan a student at St Christopher's School was constantly speaking over the mall intercom to remind people of all the fun activities for the day.
He said: "I am very proud of what my mum is doing and I think this is a great idea."
Visitors at the Country Mall received free blue ribbons, were able to watch the movie on the ground floor and participated in various wellness activities that were planned throughout the day.
World famous Reiki Master Frank Arjava Petter gave an informative talk and demonstration on Reiki while Radio Bahrain DJ Krazy Kevin presented the Blue Ribbon grand award ceremony.
There were also treatment rooms which demonstrated crystal healing, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese tuina massage, reflexology, yoga and feng shui. There was also a Brain Gym stall, kinesiology and a tai chi and wu shu performance. The treatment rooms were extremely successful and received a lot of positive feedback.
The third floor near the food court featured a Chinese tea and tonic food stall along with stalls filled with organic food, yoga wear and books.
Participants also had their blood pressure and blood sugar checked by the nurses from Bahrain Nursing Society.
The entire funds raised during the day are being given to RIA (school for special needs children), the Palm Association and the Bahrain Nursing Society.
Pupils from St Christopher's and the British School volunteered to help make the day run smoothly.
Hannah Fischer,12, and her sister Bronwin, 13, St Christopher's students from Isa Town, worked at the Palm Association stall selling cook books.
Hannah said: "I am hoping we can sell enough books to raise a good sum for the Palm Association, RIA and Bahrain's Nursing Society."
Another stall which received plenty of attention was the 'Make-a-wish balloon'.
British School student, Omar El Menofy, 14, from North Sahla, said: "We have been selling a lot of these balloons. You basically buy a balloon for a dinar, we hand you a voucher, write your wish on it and then we release all the accumulated balloons every two hours.
"My wish would be good health for my family and friends."
Around 500 of those 'wished-upon' balloons were released from the third floor of the Country Mall. Let's hope all those wishes will come true and that people will pass on the Blue Ribbon system to make the kingdom a better place.
