Archive for January, 2010

Change Your Retirement Plans

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

I am about to begin my fifth month of this ten year mission and a few unexpected things are taking place. I talk primarily to college kids during the course of the week, a lot of them, an average of three thousand kids. I also am talking to hundreds of older adults during each week. I am hearing from a great number of kids about how they are incorporating One Million Acts Of Kindness into their daily lives. Some of them have begun to work on the lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness. I am finding this to be very rewarding. The part I didn’t count on was the level of interest by older adults. Not that I did not think that they would embrace this movement, but I have now been told by three adults that they have been inspired by this movement to change their retirement plans to a lifetime of service. Wow‼   Change their retirement plans to a lifetime of service. What an unbelievable direction this movement is taking. I never counted on this. This is almost beyond comprehension for me. I am only a guy and a dog traveling the country in an old painted up bus. So now you have me thinking. How many more will there be in ten years of this movement?  Now I’m inspired. Inspired to see, just how many retirement plans that this movement will change.

***Calling all seniors…You and your lifetime of skills are needed The people of this country need your help more than ever. Get involved with the passion you may have for a charity. So many charities have had to cut their budgets because of declining donations. Make a difference by donating your valuable time and experience. Call to see where you are needed. Open your heart to those in need.

Bogart

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

bogart-standing

I have been blessed to have many dogs as family pets during the last thirty-five years of my life. Every one of them was a true pleasure to have in my life. Each one of them was always considered a member of the family. The enjoyment of having a dog like Bogart can hardly be put into words. Day in and day out, he is ready to show his appreciation. He is a trooper when it comes to traveling in a bus across the country and meeting with thousands of students a week. He is a trusty companion who loves to show his dedication to me. Bogart is a such a celebrity on campus, as word is starting to spread from friend to friend. He is even going to be on the cover of a dog magazine this month. He even seems to ham it up when a camera points in his direction. What a pleasure it is to have found him. It is hard to believe that one of his previous owners was going to put him down. Visit your local animal shelter today and find your “Bogart”.

Minor Milestone

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Somewhere in South Carolina, the roads are more pleasant to drive on because of this movement. One of my new friends near Greenville told me of an accomplishment which she attributed to One Million Acts of Kindness. She told me she didn’t like to drive with her husband because of a life-long driving habit he has. At the drop of a hat, he will wave one of his fingers at another driver who doesn’t drive to his liking. She has been after him for years to be less animated with his hand gestures. Nothing has worked and she had given up hope quite some time ago. A few days after we left town, she called me to tell me of this and that he had approached her and said, “I don’t know what happened, but ever since Bob came to town with that bus, I have stopped being so impatient with people when I drive”. He told her he was “cured”. Chalk one up for The Kindness Bus Tour. The more I think of it; maybe this was a major milestone.

College Hunger

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Seeing hundreds of Michigan State students in line for food handouts on a recent television segment, called attention to the need for all of us to help each other. The report was about how widespread hunger is becoming in our nation. College campuses are not exempt. Students were in line to receive the basic, essential staples to get them through a few days of having nothing to eat until they received their paycheck from a part-time job or assistance from home. I was shocked to learn of this. As Bogart and I traveled from campus to campus, I never imagined that this problem existed. I do now. If students have to stand in line to receive food donations on college campuses, I am sure there is a need everywhere. If you are in a position to help others, give to them what you can. Volunteer, or donate to your local food bank today.

Another New Year !

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Part of my inspiration for this ten-year journey comes from the lyrics of a song sung by John Lennon. “So this is Christmas and what have you done… another year over and a new one just begun”. Year after year, this song would play and it would be a reminder to me of how I was going to make a difference. Year after year, I didn’t. This is the time of year when we all get a new starting line put in front of us, we set goals to better ourselves and the world around us. In a way, this song was my starting line. I finally realized that one gets only so many starting lines in one’s life. It was time to start the race.