One Million Acts of Kindness » Kindness

Ouch!

tim — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:54:50 +0000

Having to have oral surgery is low on everyone’s list, except perhaps the surgeon’s. The pain of yesterday’s surgery was masked by some sort of wonder drug making me wonder where I was at times. Getting up and out this morning was short-lived. I went to a venue where a talk by local county government officials took place and promoted my “Cleveland, The City Of Kindness” campaign, I received 82 positive responses vs no negative responses.
Not to miss an opportunity of President Obama coming to Cuyahoga Community College in Northeast Ohio, I headed to this campus and positioned myself where no one else was standing with my Let’s Make Cleveland “The City of Kindness” sign, as his car passed by my sign in clear view, he did a double-take. I’m putting him down as a “yes” to my campaign.
I was contacted today, by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to do a short article on One Million Acts Of Kindness for their website. I am honored beyond words. Not bad for a three hour day.

A Year Later, Nirvana Found!

tim — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:59:32 +0000

It has been just about 1 year since I started the Kindness Bus Tour and a few thoughts come to mind.

I’ve spent the last 12 months traveling to places I have never been to and seeing people who I have never met and who never expected to see me. On a daily basis, I encounter a few challenges and usually the first one is finding a parking place on a campus that has the visibility to enable me to talk to as many students as possible. Lately, much of my day also includes interviews and speeches. I like that a lot. I also find a creative spot for a picture of Bogart that I can include in my daily blog.

By day’s end it’s time to find a bite to eat, an overnight place to park the bus, and get some sleep. My continued thanks to Wal-Mart for allowing campers to park in their lots overnight, since that is where I often settle down. If I cannot find a Wal-Mart, a truck stop has fit the bill.

Evenings are spent with some housekeeping chores and writing my blog on my Blackberry. If I’m lucky, I can find a laundromat nearby and an Anytime Fitness center where I can get some exercise and a shower.

By the time I’m ready to turn off the flashlight, it has typically been a 12 to 16 hour day. Just another day of the most rewarding work I have ever done.

I’ve become adjusted to living without some of the things I took for granted most of my life such as hot and cold running water, a television, a kitchen, a full bathroom, and others.

Life on the bus has been without amenities, yet very comfortable once I got used to it. My 5 miles per gallon, 60 miles an hour “carriage” has been (so far) easier to maintain than I anticipated. I soon came to the realization that the only items I will ever need are on the bus and I now understand that “Having few possessions is actually a luxury.”

All in all, it has been a year of hard work and incredible rewards. People have embraced the Kindness project beyond my expectations and I can see that this effort is still only in its infancy. I can’t wait to begin year 2 and add a childrens’ series of books, a newsletter and many more things to continue the spread of Kindness.

I have loved every minute, I have found Nirvana.

Downtown Cleveland, Ohio

tim — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:49:35 +0000

“Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign reached out to thousands today. The main walking route to the entrance to the Cleveland Air Show was where I chose to interact with as many people as possible. While walking by, people took the time to sign or answer the survey verbally. This unscientific survey is so one-sidedly favorable, it shows how much, the residents of this area, want a positive national image of Cleveland. I talked with so many people this Labor Day Weekend that my voice started to leave. Many families with children talked with me about their goals for the future, all of them included kindness.
The Kindness Bus Tour was afforded a couple of great parking spots near the Air Show. Thanks to the Coast Guard, the Cleveland Police and Caitelyn and Oz at a local hotel, for allowing me to park in areas of high visibility.
The “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign survey numbers are currently; 4,623 for and 32 against.

St. Rocco’s Festival

tim — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:26:04 +0000

Hoping to spread some kindness to this near-west side area of Cleveland was the reason for my visit to this church festival. At last year’s festival, news reached me of a teenager who was beaten and stomped by 20 other teenagers just for the thrill of doing so.
I called Father Mike, the Pastor of this church, and after hearing of my mission, he told me to please bring The Kindness Bus and he would find room for it somewhere on site. When I arrived, he approved parking The Kindness Bus at the front and center of the festival. The reaction to my being at the festival was met with thank yous from nearly everyone I spoke with. Kindness will prevail.
I then headed downtown, to a few of the Saturday night hot spots and then to Little Italy. The response was overwhelming to the “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign, as not one single person, all day long, disagreed with it. I also have begun to ask people being surveyed if they know what the current motto of Cleveland is, no one has guessed correctly.

Ashland Thanks/Cleveland Kindness

tim — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:09:22 +0000

After a late night arrival in Northeast Ohio last night, this morning I took the time to reflect on all of the wonderful events we fit into 2 days time, all 7 of them. Wonderful events and wonderful people; Dr. John Stratton, Sara Garska, Sue Guiher-Huff, Brian Wells and Nate Bebout, are but a few.
Heading to downtown Cleveland, I “lucked” into the #1 parking spot between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and The Cleveland Air Show. The Kindness Bus and “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” was very well received. People from Cleveland and others visiting Cleveland, were quick to lend their support. Peter and Marianna, doctors from Boston were very interested, they even remembered seeing the bus in New York City earlier this summer. Two young men from Sweden, traveling across the US, thought the proposed motto fit Cleveland to a tee. A couple from Hungary, with two children, “love the friendly people here”.
The Air Show and the Rock Hall’s 15th birthday brought many people to Cleveland; some of the local “Rockers” gave a thumbs-up of approval of the proposed motto; “Cleveland, The City of Kindness”. The current survey stands at 2,341 for ; 24 against.

Hey Bogart, You Are Famous!

tim — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:46:15 +0000

At Ashland University Bogart is BMOC. He made big points on our visit last September and he’s doing it again this year. This pet-friendly campus doted all over Bogart once again. PAW; Peers for Animal Welfare volunteer, Courtney Long heard we were returning to campus and went out of her way to find us. Piper another student found her way to Bogart as well. She also, proudly displays one of our stickers on her car from our previous visit.
Today I worked at The Center for Non-violence, talking with the community about kindness in education, business and community. We brainstormed ideas to spread kindness in our lives and growing One Million Acts Of Kindness.

The Well, an AU ministry, was led by Nate Bebout, a Seminary Intern. Nate had me interact with his message to show how kindness is for everyone.
Ashland University was a huge success for One Million Acts Of Kindness. I hope to be back in the near future.

Ashland University

tim — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:46:51 +0000

Being able to speak at this University is an honor I have been looking forward to for the past 6 months. Dr. John Stratton, who heads the Department for Non-Violence, and I have been planning this day since then. In response to a terrific level of interest, Dr. Stratton added a second day to my visit. This was really a dream coming true for me, and maybe, just maybe, my Kindness mission is having an impact and is truly making a difference. It’s my hope days like this will happen more frequently as The Kindness Bus Tour carries on. Student extraordinaire, Sara Garska, who handled most of the logistics for my visit, helped me work the crowd for three hours at the student union. Many students remembered our visit from last year’s Kindness tour. Kurt, one of those students, was once again very complimentary about my mission. We were then whisked away to help teach an English class at the University and then work with a middle school class at the Ray Kroc center near the Ashland campus.
The main event for me was my 70 minute talk in the evening to a very appreciative audience, followed by a discussion group. Thank you Ashland University.

Kindness at Case

tim — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:12:29 +0000

Almost a year to the day that I first visited Case Western Reserve University, this year’s visit was twofold, promoting “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” and One Million Acts Of Kindness. Ten or so students remembered my visit from last year and were happy to see me once again. In the short three hour visit, I surveyed more than 300 students. The opinion was nearly unanimous; 285 students loved the idea, 1 was against and 2 said maybe. People of all ages are loving Cleveland being promoted as “The City of Kindness.” Since the beginning of my campaign 5 days ago, over 2,000 people favor my idea with less than two dozen opposing it. I never could have guessed how positive the feedback would have been.
A student named Abbott from Wisconsin, loved the fact that Cleveland has such friendly people. Another student told me that she had just read the article about One Million Acts Of Kindness in September’s issue of Cleveland Magazine. Word is starting to spread.

“Just What This City Needs”

tim — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:50:32 +0000

The interest in “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” grows with each passing day. I started the day with a quick visit to the historic West Side Market and talked with most of the vendors. Melody, the owner of Mel’s Deli was quick to show her interest because of her caring heart. She puts her heart and soul into her business and her customers.
Arriving downtown, I was able to talk with Teresa from the narcotic/gang impact unit of the Cleveland Police department, she shared many pertinent thoughts about reaching kids at an early age. Amanda, with her dog Oliver, was one of the 500 people I surveyed today. Amanda works for the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, she is going to try to arrange a visit by The Kindness Bus Tour to her organization.
The totals are approximately 1,800 agreeing with my mission and 19 not agreeing. One of my favorite conversations today was with a woman in her 70s who has lived in Cleveland all of her life, she said “This is just what this city needs.”

West Side Market

tim — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:29:30 +0000

Cleveland’s West Side Market was the perfect spot for The Kindness Bus Tour to visit this Saturday. Thousands of locals and visitors were here to do their shopping and I was able to locate myself near the main entrance. People from across northeast Ohio and a few surrounding states came here on this beautiful day. People of all ages, from all walks of life stopped by to learn of my mission. I was able to talk with 500 people today about the “Cleveland, The City of Kindness” campaign. Thus far, in 3 days I have surveyed approximately 1,300 people; 1,250 agree wholeheartedly and 15 don’t agree. People want something better for this city, their city, in very big numbers.