One of the most memorable people I met this year was Nawang Khechog. He is a very proud and spiritual man from Tibet. He and I talked for an entire afternoon about spreading kindness throughout the world. He wrote on The Kindness Bus some of the most important words for all of humanity to embrace. “Om mani padme hoong” which translated, basically means, “May no being know suffering and may all be kind to each other.”
It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Sometimes the simplest of messages are the most profound.
Happy “Om mani padme hoong” New Years, to everyone!!

Novelist Amelia E. Barr, whose writings continue to inspire us over a century later, inspired me today.
I met a woman named Ell today, she was carrying a tote with the quote, “Kindness is Always Fashionable,” emblazoned on the side. I had to travel outside the coffee shop I was in, to tell her about One Million Acts Of Kindness. It was amazing to me that she already had known about The Kindness Bus and had told me she had taken pictures of it this past spring. I guess a girl with such a “quote on a tote” would be very likely to have a picture of The Kindness Bus on her cellphone.
Rachel Roy is one of those individuals at the top of her game in the world of fashion, who realizes the importance to give back when she sees a need. In 2010 when the floods in Pakistan devastated that country, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless, Rachel raised money by designing a simple tote bag and donated the profits to charity. This year the tsunami in Japan had an immediate effect and will be affecting residents of that country for generations to come. Rachel has once again created a “tote with a quote” for all of us to buy to support the victims of this tragedy. Thank you Rachel Roy! You are a One Million Acts Of Kindness hero. Visit the charity page on www.rachelroy.com to play a role in helping one of the charities she supports.

The Kindness Bus Tour for wounded warriors, firefighters, and police officers begins in Santa Monica in 22 days.  Bogart and I will be traveling 4,000 miles across the country once again and ending in Jacksonville, Florida.  Any donation to help defray our travel costs would be greatly appreciated.

Quite often, during the course of our lives, events or people who adversely affect us are the determining factors which cause us positive growth. It is up to each one of us, as individuals, to create good from undesirable circumstances. Living through life-changing events such as the tragedy at Virginia Tech, which was the impetus to my founding One Million Acts Of Kindness, force us to make decisions as to how we wish to proceed with our lives, hopefully for the greater good.
When will you draw your personal line in the sand and say “enough already” I am tired of the apathy for other’s suffering in the world and the indiscriminate hatred because of one’s beliefs? When will draw your line in the sand and start a personal, internal belief system of caring for those who are hurting? When will you go forward with only love in your heart for everyone? What will it take for you to see how much you are needed to help this troubled world? Will you do it in this lifetime?….or will you wait too long? Find your passion for what you love to do and by which others can be comforted, saved, fed, clothed, loved,etc… You can decide to do this on the very next breath you take.

I met Richard Goodwin while in Boulder, Colorado this past fall. Richard is a man who asks questions and evaluates how much passion you put into your answers. He commented on how much passion I have for One Million Acts Of Kindness and for The Kindness Bicycle Tour.
Richard has a lifelong passion for helping others and helping to promote peace one individual at a time and one country at a time around the globe. He is involved in many charitable endeavors with a focus on philanthropy. To say he is a kind, giving man is a huge understatement, his philanthropic heart supports over 130 charities. He knows the karma of giving of himself and giving of his wealth.
Oasis of Peace is a community in Israel where Jews and Arabs choose to live together in harmony, promoting peace for the greater good. Richard is deeply committed to peace all throughout the world and Oasis of Peace has been an example for the rest of the world for 25 years. Accepting people’s different cultures and backgrounds through education and communication will help to end violence around the world, Richard believes. Visit; www.oasisofpeace.org to learn about this amazing dream that became a reality because of Richard’s devotion.
Thank you Richard for your interest in, and support of, One Million Acts Of Kindness.

The Kindness Bus Tour for wounded warriors, firefighters, and police officers begins in Santa Monica in 24 days.  Bogart and I will be traveling across the country once again and ending in Jacksonville, Florida.  Any donation to help defray our travel costs would be greatly appreciated.

Tomorrow marks the end of Hanukkah. It is an eight day celebration. Holidays such as Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, bring families and friends together to share good times. All holidays should be celebrated, these are special times for families. Use the opportunity of having children around to teach them the importance of acceptance and inclusion of others and their beliefs. We are all different and we are all the same. We should celebrate the differences of other’s nationalities, race and creed.
Celebrate others’ beliefs by wishing them the best of their culture and religion. Say “Happy Hanukkah!” Say “Merry Christmas!” Say “Happy Kwanzaa!” The most important thing is to learn about are the positive values each religion and culture teach. Kindness, gratitude, love, atonement, forgiveness, acceptance and charity are but a few. Learn, so you can teach the children of your family, and of the world, these values of all religions.

On Christmas Eve, my son Alex and I went to the Veterans Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. With the upcoming Kindness Bicycle Tour For Heroes less than a month away and the fact Cleveland is my home town, I felt compelled to stop in to talk to as many people as possible. ICU nurses, Jennifer and Mary took the time to talk with me about how coming back to visit when the hospital has a full staff and I would be able to visit and talk with some of these modern day heroes would be greatly appreciated. I will return to this facility before I head back to the west coast for my 4,000 mile ride.
I met Reba even before I entered the hospital, she is a very proud mother of a Marine. Her son Titus is stationed in California. The pride of those in the armed services runs deep especially in a hospital environment.
Before leaving, I made a YouTube video of the art project local high school students have created for the hospital, it is worth viewing online or in person.

My favorite lyrics of any Christmas song is from a duet sung by Bing Crosby and David Bowie in 1977. It sums up everything One Million Acts Of  Kindness is hoping accomplish.

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we’ll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He’ll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be, can it be