I stopped by to see my friends at the Cuyahoga County License Bureau at the corner of Emery and Richmond Roads. The three women who run the operation have embraced the project so much they have decided to promote it in their churches, all on Cleveland’s East side. They want to do whatever they can to get the message out.
So much crime going on, this is the message they want to pass on to everyone. It’s contagious, I tell you, contagious.
Onward and upward…carrying the message forward.
The most incredible thing happened today. In a fantastic show of support, a good friend called and told me she had spoken to her attorney and instructed him to include “One Million Acts of Kindness” in her will. “It’s not much,” she said, but the idea was one that really took me by surprise. That sure helps my belief that there really is a message worth carrying forward to whoever will listen. I can’t think of anything more sincere and supportive.
I had a couple events that broke the pattern of love and kindness I’ve been used to over the last few weeks. Late yesterday afternoon, Bogart and I were driving in the bus when I must have changed lanes too quickly. The driver in the car next to me had to put on his brakes, not on an emergency basis, just a fairly quick braking action. He then pulled up next to me and as he went by I thought he was going to give me a friendly wave, as many people do. He waved alright, but it was only a “single fingered wave.” Huh? What…..was…..that? Was that what I thought it was? The bird? He flipped me the bird! Now, there’s a first for me. That certainly deserves a mention in the blog for sure.
I got to thinking about it and really wondered what caused such a profound reaction, after all it wasn’t like I almost killed him or anything like that. I was thinking about how ironic it is to be flipped the bird in a bus that says all over it, “One Million Acts of Kindness.” Strange, very strange, indeed. Then it came to me: It was late in the day, he was wearing a Cleveland Browns jersey, and the Browns had just lost the home opener for the 9th time in 10 years. Poor guy, looks like he’s in for a long sad season and a lot of innocent people will be paying the price. I’m glad Bogart didn’t see it.
Then, sometime in the middle of the night, someone threw a tomato at the bus. Hit it smack in the middle of the back door. I’m not too sure what the message is there, maybe the guy just really hates tomatoes.
I attended an art/cultural festival in Tremont, Ohio at the request of Darla and John, who were gracious enough to let me stay at their house Saturday night. The bus seems to act as an attractant, and the people were incredibly interested in what I’m trying to do.
Earlier in the week, I had the good fortune to meet and speak with a young lady named Maggie, who is president of the student council at Chagrin Falls High School, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. As a result of our discussion, during the festival, the president of the senior class and a friend came up and said, “You talked to Maggie, and we would like to make OMAK our senior project.” I thought that was one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time. Implementation plans are now in the works……and the beat goes on. My special thanks to Julie, Bob, and Lorraine for there wonderful help and attention. I’m seeing every day in one way or another that this project is becoming contagious.
Out of the blue I received a call from a high school student in Tucson, Arizona who is running for class president. He requested 500 stickers for his campaign. How he got wind of the OMAK work I don’t know, but I can see that word is getting out.
Case Western Reserve University. I had a terrific visit, I must have talked to 400-500 students, all seemed to love the idea and embrace the One Million Acts of Kindness (OMAK) concept. Gary, an Economics professor, stopped by to discuss the project; he was totally supportive of the idea and offered a few suggestions I may use in the future.
This seemed to me to be a campus with some serious students. While many stopped to chat, they all seemed to be going somewhere and had no time to stay very long. Most stayed just a minute or two, short visits, but very sweet.
Increasingly, I have been asked what my schedule is and what campuses I intend to visit.
There is really no way of knowing exactly when I will be on any given campus. Some campuses may be added to this list. The only sure dates are Atlanta area by Thanksgiving and Tampa area by Christmas week. I thought I would have been to Dayton by now but have only reached Ashland in four weeks of travels… all as a result of good things happening.
I spent the day in Ashland, talking to as many people as I could, it was great seeing all the interest this project is generating.
Friday night I met a young man who was in this country a grand total of 15 days. He came from India and after talking to me about the Kindness project, he told me I had the most important job in the world. I was pretty impressed with that. He told me that he had already emailed over one hundred of his friends. Later, a very large student came up to me and asked for a sticker. He gave me a hug, truly a gentle giant with a big heart.
It was a busy Labor Day Weekend for Bogart and me. The folks I Oberlin were great. Many people came forward to offer support and ideas to keep things going and even help spread the word on acts of kindness. Invitations to brunch and dinner are reinforcing my feelings that my message is working. My thanks to Joe and Danielle at Full Circle Fuel for the help they gave me in keeping the bus in working order.A family picnic in Medina, Ohio on Saturday was a great time for me to reconnect with some family members who I haven’t seen in a long time. My niece and nephew from Arizona were there and it turned out to be great weather on a great day. My family also enjoyed painting their own thoughts of kindness on the bus.
Next, I was able to go back to Cleveland and volunteer at the Salvation Army cooking some hot dogs and burgers for the people there. I think the Salvation Army is one of the unsung heroes in our midst. On then to Case Western Reserve University where I found a virtually empty campus. Undaunted, I decided to go to the Little Italy section of Cleveland where I ran into some truly great people. I was lucky enough to find Darla, who manages the Achievement Center for Children in Cleveland and her enthusiasm was instantaneous. She bought 250 of the “One Million Acts of Kindness” stickers and also invited me to meet many of her associates in the Tremont area of Cleveland’s near West Side this weekend. I’m really looking forward to that.
All in all, I had a terrific visit in Little Italy. I had great discussion with at least 50 people, took some pictures, and got some valuable ideas. Across the street was an apartment with some lofts on the third floor. 3 students came out to see what the attraction was, and one of them remembered me from my visit at Kent State. He came down and invited me to a party that night to carry on the message. I was sorry I couldn’t go but he said he’d do his best to create some interest and he took some stickers to pass around.
I realize it is still early in the project, but the interest has really been unbelievable. I’ve had people follow the bus to talk to me, some asked if I could speak at their high school, and some have just come out to find out more about what’s going on. I feel badly that I can’t accept all the invitations I’ve received, but timing and scheduling just won’t allow it.
Bogart has certainly been a big hit at every stop along the way. Our new campus flyers, “Where’s Bogart?” with his picture should add to the fun and interest. Onward and Upward.
I arrived in Oberlin late this afternoon, at a farmer’s market, no less. It turned out to be a great move because I was immediately greeted by many people who were interested and enthused about what I was doing. My welcome included a tour of the city with a long time resident Glenn, dinner invitations, a free minor repair of the bus, and an interview in the Oberlin newspaper. It’s clear that politics have no meaning in the message I’m bring to these communities.
Tomorrow I’ll be volunteering at the local animal shelter and I hope I’ll be able to bring along a few students to give me a hand. All in all, it has been a great reception, the weather has been terrific and the people have responded beyond my expectations. Their enthusiasm is contagious and I’m really starting to think I’m on to something. I’ve been invited back in a couple weeks to meet with more people who may offer some ideas on how to “spread the word.” I’ll certainly be there for that.
Please help us spread our message of a Goal of Kindness to schoolchildren across the country. Your donations are crucial to making this a reality.
Mail donations to:
One Million Acts Of Kindness
PO Box 770054
Lakewood, OH 44107
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Bogart is my travel companion on The Kindness Bus Tour for the next ten years. We will be on the road traveling to campuses across the country. Bogart is a eight year old Boston Terrier. He is a great people dog... he loves meeting new people. I am Bogart's fourth owner in his short 8 years of life... Not because of him but because his three previous owner's lifestyles changed after they took him in... Lucky for me!! Bogart is the luckiest, most spoiled dog on the face of the earth. He loves the bus and he loves to travel. Please come and visit him when we are on your campus.
The Blue Bird Corporation donated this amazing bus to One Million Acts of Kindness, allowing us the continue this initiative. It has been painted to closely resemble the original Kindness Bus. It will last well beyond the ten years of this mission. A very big thank you to Blue Bird from Bob Votruba and Bogart too!!
The original Kindness bus has been donated to a professor at Virginia Tech who will use it on campus and at schools in the Blacksburg area. The Kindness Bus will continue to inspire and comfort residents, students and visitors in that area for years to come.
One Million Acts Of Kindness is a goal. A goal for each person to individually perform One Million Acts Of Kindness in their life. Can you imagine a greater goal for one's life? It is a constant mind-set of kindness every day of your life for the next fifty-five years. Doing for others and kindness in your heart for everyone. It is my wish that you will dedicate your life to a charity... finding the passion in your heart for something or someone in need.
As a father of three college age kids I am concerned for the world in which all kids will live. A great way to create a safer, more caring world is for everyone to start their lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness. So I bought a bus, had about sixty family members, friends and neighbors help paint it and began a ten year journey with my Boston Terrier, Bogart, to college campuses across the country hoping to convince as many of you as possible about this much needed movement for this world. I love you guys too much to sit back and not do anything about this. Let's start a kindness movement in this country today to change the direction this world is headed!! You are the change that this world needs.
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