I love what the Rotary stands for in individual localities and throughout the world. Groups of people joining together for the needs of others in their communities. Thirty three thousand communities in over two hundred countries.
I had the honor to speak to the Hoboken Rotary by Chris Mackin, the President-elect of this service organization, Hoboken’s oldest. It is such a joy to be able to share my stories of people who have inspired me along my travels and I love hearing about the charities that the local Rotary helps and each individual Rotarian’s passion. Today’s talk was about inspiring each one of them to do something amazing with their life, calling attention to the needs of so many people and the opportunities we have to do something about it, if we just put our mind to it.

The Kindness Bicycle / Kindness Bus Tour to raise awareness for Childhood Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence is only a handful of days away. There is so much to do before leaving on this 7,400 mile, 6 month bicycle ride. Signage is going to be important to this effort or I will look just like another guy on a bicycle. Attaching two, 24″ x 36″ to the bicycle is a bit of a challenge, needing room to sit, pedal and steer cannot be compromised. I am having some very powerfully worded t-shirts made to promote my mission as well. A motto for the mission has been coined, “Be a man, don’t raise a hand. Stop domestic violence.” That sums it up. It is as simple as that.

Having 8 sisters, I am cognizant of the well known adage, Kindness and Moms go hand in hand. This is something I witness as I travel the country seeing lessons being handed down from mother to child, one generation to the next. The best way to learn lessons as a child, is for a parent being a role model to the child. My favorite demographic is young child / parent, and the conversation which turns to a lesson as child or parent discusses a meaningful, timely phrase written on The Kindness Bus. There is quite possibly a lesson for nearly every teaching moment. The DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn is filled with families. I love to anonymously stand nearby The Kindness Bus and listen to parents ask their children what a particular message might mean to them. One such lesson was in response to a mother asking her teen age daughter about the message, “Don’t use words that hurt.” The daughter replied, “That would put an end to all cyber-bullying.” The daughter had given her mom the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Bogart is a major force in the popularity behind One Million Acts of Kindness. He is a real-life lesson to children and their interaction with him, other animals and people. When talking with young children, I point out how Bogart would be a friend to each and every one of them if he were to be with them one at a time. The lesson of each child doing the same as Bogart, challenges them to grow their circle of friends and open their hearts to those less fortunate.
The Kindness Bicycle Tour begins its 6 month, 7,400 mile ride in 8 days, any lodging assistance along our journey would be a huge help. Please look at our itinerary to see if you know anyone along the route.

The skyline of Manhattan, looking across the East River from DUMBO is a popular spot for movie makers and wedding photographers alike. Today The Kindness Bus ended up “in the can” of a movie shoot for television and a couple of wedding shoots. Thousands of people a day pass by The Kindness Bus in one of the many hot spots of this Brooklyn neighborhood, I talk to many of the passers-by when I am there. The entrance to Jacques Torres Chocolate is just steps away. Many people shopping for Mother’s Day chocolates, feel that having The Kindness Bus nearby, is the perfect compliment to the real meaning of Mother’s Day.

Driving from Padanaram, Massachusetts to New York City via Newport, Rhode Island doesn’t make much sense unless you are going for some very good coffee or you believe in magic; both of these happened to me this morning.
I can’t possibly pass by Newport when it is only twenty miles out of my way and when a good friend, Alyssa lives there and she owns The Coffee Grinder, the best coffee shop on the planet. The coffee was better than I remember and the magic was about to happen.
In 2 hours, 3 teachers and 2 parents from 4 different schools in the area are going to have me come to their respective schools next year. While taking the photo for today’s blog, Superintendent of the Seamen’s Church Institute in Newport, John P. Feld, was so impressed with the messages on the bus, that he said there is always a room to stay in, anytime The Kindness Bus comes to Newport. I came to Newport for a coffee and got a cupful of magic.
Today marks the beginning of the 10 day countdown until The Kindness Bicycle tour leaves New York City on a 6 month, 7,400 mile mission. We will be in New York these final 10 days to finalize all aspects of the trip.

Perhaps it is because I have 8 sisters, or maybe it is because my daughter went to an all girls school for fifteen years; because yesterday’s visit to this all girls school was pure magic.  Nearly one hundred twenty girls in middle school listened intently to stories of my travels and to stories of people who have inspired me along my journey. These girls were engaged with every word of my talk and asked questions as if they had Ph.Ds relative to every topic we discussed. Inspiring students of this age, to start thinking about the incredible positive changes they can make in this world, if they set their minds to this way of thinking, was the subject of my talk.
Along with the individual lifetime goal of kindness that I ask students to embrace, I ask them to look inside themselves for a passion for helping others. This group of girls is incredibly talented and involved in many great passions, some of them through Dana Hall and some of them of their own doing. I told them I didn’t hope to inspire one of them, but that I hoped to inspire the entire roomful of them. To fulfill your passion for helping others full-time, it takes timing, determination, sacrifice and resources. I hope every one of these girls considers pursuing their passion because from what I witnessed of their genuine interest in this world’s many needs, they can have a profound impact on this world going forward. I was so impressed with every one of these girls.
Thank you to the Pryor and Frechette families for sponsoring my visit to Dana Hall, it was an honor to speak at this school and one I will never forget.