I love Millridge School in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. I have visited this school four times and every time it seems to get better. Anita Davidson arranged for my visit today and organized nine classrooms of students to be treated to a presentation of “Where’s Bogart?” Every previous visit to this school included Bogart, except today’s.
Today, I updated the students on this summer’s Kindness Bicycle Tour and what Bogart did while I was pedaling cross country. While I talked, three very humorous photos of how Bogart enjoyed his summer vacation were projected on the screens in every classroom. Bogart, to the delight of the students, was shown in a swimming pool, sitting in a lounge chair and celebrating his birthday.
We also talked about Bogart’s book series and read his first book to all of the students. The students have been learning about writing books. They were excited to learn that some of the colorful letters they had written to Bogart from my previous visits were sent along with Bogart’s book to many publishers. These letters show the great interest in the Bogart book series.
Thank you Millridge School.

Love, used as a verb in your life is when it is most powerful. Actions of an individual, when performed with love from the heart, can be moving for everyone involved.
In about five weeks, One Million Acts Of Kindness Weeks begins, as groups of people from across the world volunteer to help to make their part of their world a better place because of their actions. Please take the time to sign up to take part in this very important week. Make love a verb in your life.

The photo in today’s blog was on a bus shelter I drove by a couple of years ago. It had such an impact that I had to circle the block to get a picture to capture its powerful message.
Fathers do matter! Having positive male role models in children’s lives is imperative.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has done extensive studies on the powerful impact a father has on his children, starting as early as birth. The website is well worth reading.
Traveling across the nation for the past several months and talking with thousand of people I have come to realize just how important a positive message can be to children, when imparted by a father. One of the most important learning lessons is the witnessing of the love a father shows to his wife. Parents interacting in positive ways in front of their children, will have healthier, more emotionally stable children, it is a proven fact.
Fathers matter…and of course, mothers matter too!

Getting involved in a peaceful way to spread your message, is a great way to  help this world. While in Santa Monica this past December, I met a woman who is taking a stand on how all of us should treat each other. She is convinced that common courtesies need to make a return and that this will lead to much bigger improvements in our society. Kindness is one of those character traits that naturally create courtesy in the individual. Starting in her own community, she wishes to see her idea spread across the globe. I am all for it.
The Kindness Bicycle Tour for Heroes begins in less than 2 weeks. I am taking a route across the southern United States. If you live in this area, or know someone who does, please send me an email about some places that I should visit in your town.

If you don’t already, start believing in yourself today. There is an entire world out there that needs you. Take some time today to evaluate what you like to do and find a way to use that passion to benefit others. The power of one person is incredible. Show your passion to the world. Someone will notice and your message will spread exponentially. The ability to connect with the rest of the world, because of the Internet, opens up your ability to spread your gift to everyone.
After 9/11 2001, I started a program called, Sow Only Seeds Of Love which spread around the world. The Internet was one of the contributing factors in this message spreading globally.
The photo is of one of my stickers, which was taken in the Bahamas by a man from Virginia who was in an art show in my hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

When talking to my audiences I like to inform them that I hope to inspire each and every one of them in attendance. One of my talks, centers on the fact that at some point in everyone’s life, each one of us will have the opportunity to dedicate the remainder of our life to a charity. The opportunity doesn’t happen too often in one’s life so it is imperative to stay aware of your own personal calling. Being cognizant of this, you will know when the timing is right for you. To me, there are 5 criteria which must be met before you can dedicate the rest of your life to a charity. I like to refer to it as having the POWER. The acronym is as follows;
P = Passion. You must have incredible passion for what you want to do. I use the analogy that you would jump through the TV screen to hold the baby who is suffering.
O = Opportunity. Every now and then the window of opportunity is open for you to do whatever you wish with your life. Your responsibilities are minimum and no one or thing is relying on you to hold you from doing what you wish.
W = Want. You have to want to help with your whole heart. You have to care so much, that you would give up your comfortable lifestyle and live amongst those you wish to help, even if it means having to live in the conditions of a third world country.
E = Educated. You have to be educated in every facet of what you are about to undertake. It has to be a win-win situation, where everyone benefits. I use the example of drilling wells in Africa. If you drill wells to bring water to villagers of a town but the water takes from the aquifer and another nearby village’s wells dry up because of your drilling, it is not a win-win for everyone.
R = Resources. You have to have the money or money from others to support your efforts for a lifetime. Oftentimes, you have to sacrifice various aspects of what comfort level you are accustomed to, to have the resources to provide for those you are helping.
Once you have the POWER, you are ready to go take on the world.

On Monday, the promotion of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week begins in earnest. One of the most rewarding benefits for me is that I am able to see One Million Acts Of Kindness spreading around the world. Having people from 22 countries take part in One Million Acts Of Kindness Week shows to me how powerful kindness can be to all of the world.
Help to spread kindness around the world by taking part and signing up for this very important week.
One Million Acts Of Kindness Week begins in 38 days.