I sat down with Tara Ijai to find out more about how she came to start the Love Glasses Revolution. It began with a meme her brother sent her in an effort to comfort her in 2015, at a time when hate crimes against Muslims were up 67% in the United States, and she was feeling unsafe in her headscarf. It took her on a path she never expected – inspiring thousands of “Love Rebels” around the world.
Meet Tara Ijai
In 2015, I became depressed over the state of affairs. Political rhetoric was out of control, hate crimes were up 67% and things seemed dismal at best. One day after reaching my breaking point I called my little brother Brad and I cried on the phone for almost 2 hours about all of the negativity. My brother didn’t know what to do or say but he sent me a meme. It was a picture of a little guinea pig wearing heart shaped glasses and it read “I can’t see the haters with my love glasses on”.
It was at that moment that I decided to go out and buy a pair of heart shaped glasses. I felt like it was a shield to go out in the world and that if anyone said or did anything negative to me, I would be ready. However, that is not what happened…not even close.
I would wear my love glasses to the grocery store and it never failed that someone would say, “Oh I love your heart shaped sunglasses!” and I would respond “they are my love glasses!” and then they would ask “Where can I get some?” Each and every time I went out I would have an interaction and it was often times around my glasses. Things started to change and I looked forward to going out and find new people to meet and share a kind word or a smile.
Don’t miss the BONUS episode with Tara Ijai
Tara shares how she came to marry her husband of 21 years – they lived on different continents and met in person for the first time the day they got married!
They’re pretty boring, and maybe even messy, but if you would like to read the unedited show transcripts they’re available for you
I love Tara snd all that she is doing! We need a Love Revolution and she is an inspiration to so many!