I had the pleasure of meeting Patti and her husband Bill, from Kentucky recently, for but a brief amount of time. In this short amount of time, Patti imparted the importance of spreading kindness to everyone around the world, the sooner the better. We couldn’t have been more perfectly aligned in agreement. Bogart was the object of her affection as we talked and discussed One Million Acts Of Kindness and its possibilities. It was clear to me at that time, that she knew the need for a shift to global kindness consciousness.
I saw Patti again today, she was standing a block away, next to The Kindness Bus, talking with a family who appeared to grow more interested with everything she talked about with them. As I sat and watched from a distance for about a minute, I could see how natural it was for her to talk to strangers about this much needed change for humanity.
I talked with her at great length after she finished her conversation. She is now a much needed ambassador for One Million Acts Of Kindness and her generosity to my mission is a huge help to reach thousands of people as we make our way north over the course of the next few weeks. Thank you Patti.

No matter the language or country, kindness means the same thing. Native Spaniard, Beatriz, is living in the United States and loves The Kindness Bus. She thinks that one of the greatest movements that could spread across Spain is a message of kindness. I agree wholeheartedly.
Beatriz has taken it upon herself to be a One Million Acts Of Kindness ambassador by spreading the news of my mission to her friends and family.  The words she wrote on the bus, “Paz y amor parasiempre,” sum up what is needed everywhere. Thank you Beatriz for helping to spread this most important message across the pond.
The Kindness Bicycle / Kindness Bus Tour begins in forty-five days, please take time to peruse the information located above this blog.

Corinne gets it!! Corinne is only 7 years old and she is wise beyond her years. I met Corinne and her mom and dad recently. They were having dinner at an outside patio when The Kindness bus passed by their table. Having to negotiate some tight parking in the restaurant lot, gave Corinne and her dad time to walk to my parking space and greet me and Bogart as we exited The Kindness Bus. Corinne came to meet me to ask me a question. She told me that she had outgrown her stuffed animals and asked if I could do her a favor and take them to children at the next hospital we visit. She wants to make sick kids happy. Powerful stuff from the mind of a seven year old.
How many opportunities slip us by as adults, where we could have reached out to help someone and we chose not to lend assistance. Maybe the kind gesture of a 7 year old can help all of us to see the need of so many, across the world. Thank you Corinne for opening our eyes a little more.

First hearing of the MOMS Group at Holy Angels parish in Bainbridge, Ohio, I was told by my friend Tim Rocco, that this wonderful group would do some amazing things. I witnessed that fact by the thoughtfulness and dedication to the cause of One Million Acts Of Kindness with the benefit they had at ThornCreek Winery,last week. Megan Grippi led this group, with her hard work, in putting together a night to remember. Megan and Greg Wasinski even did some advance PR work by giving an interview on Q104, a local radio station. The MOMS and friends came out to support my mission, it was such an honor. Thank you to everyone in the community involved in making this event a reality.

The excitement is starting to build. The Kindness Bicycle / Kindness Bus Tour begins in about 7 weeks, 7,400 miles and 6 months of the mid-section of the United States ahead of us. Bogart is ready! Every time he sees me get on my loaner bicycle, he jumps behind the wheel of The Kindness Bus. Bogart, you don’t have a bus driver’s license!!
I am learning all about the comfort amenities that can be installed on a bicycle. This soon to be, 3 score frame, needs all the comforts it can acquire. The most important to me is the obvious, the bicycle seat. I don’t know who decided it would be a good idea to make a gel filled bicycle seat, but if that person didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, he or she was short-changed big time.

Assistant pastor of The In Church, Ted Taylor, knew what The Kindness Bus’ message was the moment he parked next to it at a local coffee shop. He read most of the messages and then had to find the driver. He and I discussed the “Reader’s Digest” version of One Million Acts Of Kindness and he told me of some of the great things his group is accomplishing. They have a LYN, Love Your Neighbor group which is doing wonderful things for the community. Ted is excited about the prospects of bringing One Million Acts Of Kindness Week to his LYN group and participating in 2012. It is not too early to sign up for the week and you can do so on the homepage of our website.
Ted has a favorite kind act he likes to do all the time; he likes to save his “ones and fives” he gets as change from his cash purchases. He looks for a cause to be the beneficiary of his generosity when he feels the amount is large enough. I’m guessing you know what mission he supported with those “Ones and Fives.”

A new addition to The Kindness Bus has one of the most prominent locations, it is next to a message which means very much to me.  A personal message I wrote very early on in the journey is on one of the rear windows, it says; “Father of 3 children wanting a safer, more caring world for all children.” It means so much to me that I signed my name to it.
I met a family a few weeks ago, and it is what the father said to me which had the biggest impact; “Change something negative into something positive every day of your life.” A role model for his children with a powerful mantra to live by.
Two fathers wanting the very best for the future of their children, for all children, just saying it a little differently. Two identical messages.