Archive for April, 2013

Sutro Elementary after School Program

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

4-30-13Jeffrey Hawkins, Site Coordinator of the Presidio Community YMCA, has a group of thirty, 4th-6th graders who are in his program for 3 hours each school day. He invited me to be a part of their day and share stories about my travels and having a goal of kindness in their lives. This class who does all sorts of creative projects after school sat quietly watching a short video of The Kindness Bus Tour in New York City. A montage of photos of my travels and Bogart’s book was read.
After the talk, some of the group took me for a bicycle ride to local parks. We talked about acts of kindness as we rode. What fun! One of the boys told me every act of kindness he performed along the way, from waving to people, to helping another child on the playground. At ride’s end, the tally of his acts of kindness stood at sixteen.
Looking for opportunities to perform acts of kindness all day long is a great mindset to have.
Thank you to one and all.
Bob Votruba and Bogart too!!

Thank You to Everyone in Whitney Point, New York

Monday, April 29th, 2013

April 27th, One Million Acts Of Kindness Day, was a huge success once again. For 3 years, this event has grown larger in Whitney Point, New York. In the coming years, it will grow across the United States.
Below is an update on One Million Acts Of Kindness Day in Whitney Point:
Here are some of the acts of kindness that occurred today:
Mile markers placed around our lakeside hiking trail.
Street and roadways cleaned of litter.
Cookies and punch served at the grocery store.
Gift cards randomly passed out.
Open house at the fire station so community members could drop in to say thank you. New members were recruited.
Flowers were planted.
Pies were baked for neighbors.
Letters were written to community members serving overseas.
Flash mob of kindness by Middle Schoolers.
Kindness carols performed throughout town .
nature trail created.
And on and on…
A wonderful day resulting in a warm glow effect all over town!

Butter and Egg Festival

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

4-28-13What a perfect time to be in Petaluma, California, an entire community coming together for the annual Butter and Egg Festival. The well attended parade seemed to draw more than the entire population of this town. I was invited to ride The Kindness Bicycle and arrived early circling the parade route twice before the parade had even begun. Attendees to parades such as these are my favorite demographic, generations of families. I talked with hundreds of individuals and was viewed by tens of thousands. They were very appreciative of my late entry to this fun event. Bullying and Adolescent Suicide are issues people want to know about.
Maggie a 4 year old Jersey was the crowd favorite. She made it half-way through the parade and would go no further.

Altruistic Kindness Can Heal Your Hurting Heart

Saturday, April 27th, 2013

Often times I hear from people who are having a hard time with others in their lives. No matter what they do, it is never enough for the person’s liking.  My answer is below:
Keep doing only good for others with all the love in your heart, no matter how challenging it may be. Know that you are making a positive difference in many lives. Don’t look for credit or thanks from anyone no matter how kind you are to them…just keep being kind and know in your heart you are doing your very best…that is all you can do. Have self compassion…put everything you have done in the past, behind you. Learn only good from your mistakes and the good you have done. From the very next breath you take…live only a life of love.
Call (800) 273-TALK if you are troubled and need a kind, caring person to talk with.

Tomorrow is One Million Acts of Kindness Day

Friday, April 26th, 2013

4-26-13One Million Acts Of Kindness Day is always on April 27th. Challenge yourself to do as many kind acts as possible on this day.
This 3rd annual event was founded in Whitney Point, New York. This event has all the makings of growing into a nationwide event, one town at a time.
I donned my Whitney Point hoodie to celebrate early and get the word out as I rode The Kindness Bicycle.
Please, if you have a way of getting a proclamation to make this happen in your town, let me know. Your town and this country will be a better place because of it.

A Whole Lot of Writing Going On

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

4-25-13The Bogart Book series of a minimum of twelve children’s books is being worked on every day. One is in print, a 2nd one is being illustrated a 3rd and 4th are written and others are being outlined. It is great fun, but lots of work. While I was out this morning, Publisher, Gibbs Smith just so happened to be walking by as I was fixing a flat tire on The Kindness Bicycle. He, of course, was given a copy of Bogart’s 1st book, Bogart Begins His Kindness Adventure.
Stopping at a few schools to talk with Principals and Counselors of schools proved to be fruitful. With the hopes of visiting these schools in the future, I delivered information on my talks.
Today’s photo is of a wonderful mural, painted by the students of Prestwood Elementary School.

Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma Valley

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

4-24-13The temps cooled off to highs in the 70s today, making riding a joy in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. I love talking on my rides, it gives me a break and conversations are right to the point, prompted by the signs on The Kindness Bicycle. People have been so nice to me in Sonoma. It makes it easy to promote my cause when everything falls in place.
One of my stops was to the Boys and Girls Club. Chief Operations Officer, Marjorie Doran and Program Director, Kirsten Schepp were nice enough to talk with me about a future visit.