In a couple of days, I am going to a book signing talk by Gabrielle Bernstein for her book, ‘Spirit Junkie.’ I learned of this author and her growing legion of followers, primarily women, and the unique way in which she gets people in believing in themselves and the realizing the huge impact their lives can have on the world in which we live. ‘A Course in Miracles’ educator, Gabby has used that experience to transform her own life, while realizing the impact it had on those around her.
Conventional is not the word I would use to describe her method of trying to inspire her followers, but her method is highly successful none the less. That is what caught my interest and how unconventional my methods are in reaching my audience. Any positive growth in an individual is good growth, it doesn’t matter how you get there, what matters is that you do.
Gabby’s first book, ‘Add More -ing to Your Life’ and her new release ‘Spirit Junkie’ are great reads and guys can learn from them as well. I am recommend -ing them highly!

Bogart is almost ready for the big screen of YouTube. Very engaging vignettes are being created about a day in the life of being Bogart The Kindness Dog. Since YouTube featured a One Million Acts Of Kindness video on their homepage for a 24 hour period, the video has had nearly 580,000 views.
I love having this type of medium to express myself. I hope all of you will visit us on YouTube. To make it easy to remember, all of the videos will be named One Million Acts Of Kindness and they will all be on TheBogartChannel. All of the videos will have different descriptive keywords.
TheBogartChannel is live!! Please visit YouTube and subscribe to TheBogartChannel. It is 100 per cent free!! It will help us spread the message of One Million Acts Of Kindness.
I will start filming these short vignettes and start posting them tomorrow.
Please tell all your friends and contacts.
Sincerely,
Bob Votruba and Bogart too!!

An early morning fog lifted off the waters of the San Francisco Bay revealing the magnificent support towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. With The Kindness Bicycle beneath me, I set off from the Embarcadero to ride this majestic structure. From its deck, I paused to take in the view of the Telegraph Hill section of San Francisco. I stopped on the far side of one of the support towers away from the noise of the traffic, in relative silence. In looking at the large number of residences in the distance, and realizing the high percentages of occurrence of Domestic Violence and Childhood Sexual Abuse, I was overcome with emotion and the direct correlation that silence has in perpetuating these two plagues of mankind.
Because of all of these factors, the 60s hit song, “Silence is Golden” popped into my head. I never really paid attention to the words of the message in the song, but when read, the message becomes clear. The lyrics are as follows:

Oh don’t it hurt deep inside
To see someone do something to her
Oh don’t it pain to see someone cry
How especially if that someone is her

Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden, but my eyes still see

Mark and his teenage son, Sam were two of the several hundred individuals who stopped by The Kindness Bus today, parked once again, in front of the Ferry Building in San Francisco. At one point, Mark touched an area near the entrance door of The Kindness Bus for his son to view. From my vantage point  inside, I could tell that he was pointing out one of my favorite writings; “Respect for women is one of the greatest gifts a father can show to a son.” A nod of approval from his son was all the assurance, for Mark to realize, that the torch he had passed to his son, he can use as a lifelong, moral compass. I gave those words, and a few others, some time to be digested and then exited the bus with Bogart to have conversation with them about one of my favorite topics. I learned from our conversation that Sam has learned many great core values from his father. It would be great if all fathers were role models like Mark.
A student who is visiting San Francisco, stopped by and showed me a picture of The Kindness Bus she had taken. Thinking that she had just snapped the photo, I was blown away when she told me she took it 2 months ago in Boulder, Colorado.
Tomorrow I resume my ride on The Kindness Bicycle.

The San Francisco Food Bank volunteers know no day off. Over 100 individuals took the time during their Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, to fill the need of those who are hungry. Parents and children came out together today, and filled over 2 1/2 tons of pasta noodles into family-size bags.
Eleazao who came by himself today, volunteered at the morning and afternoon sessions. He wanted to give back to his community; he doesn’t like to see anyone go hungry. Three women from Team Pink also joined in, helping to address the array of needs of others.
Rich, one of the SFFB workers told me of his family’s Thanksgiving day tradition. They made 50 extra meals at their house. They then travel to some of the areas that are too far of a walk from the soup kitchens for some of the homeless. They had no problem at all finding 50 people in need.
After the double session today, I headed to the crowded downtown streets of San Francisco, once again the parking gods saw to it that my needs were met; I parked right in front of the Ferry Building.

I love talking with people from every corner of the globe. The word kindness resonates with nearly everyone, in exactly the same way, no matter in what country they live. Everyone feels the world could be a much kinder place and every one of those people wants to be shown kindness more often.
Mauricio from Italy was one of those people. He is visiting the United States and travels extensively. He feels how most everyone else feels.  After a long discussion I told him I would be honored if he wrote on The Kindness Bus. He wrote in his native language, “Ferma la violenza e condividi l’amore” which translates to, “Stop violence and share love.” What a perfect addition to The Kindness Bus.
Today was a full day of interacting with hundreds of the tens of thousands of people in the downtown area of San Francisco. I found a very prime parking space on the Embarcadero near the Ferry Building. Having the opportunity to have The Kindness Bus viewed by this many people was made possible by a parking officer who said the area I parked was an area they weren’t enforcing on this busy shopping day. Thank you San Francisco.

Two words which need to be acted upon much more frequently in our society are the subject of today’s writing points.
Having gratitude and thanking those who have helped to make our everyday life a little easier is a common courtesy.
Giving to those in need is crucial to the well being of all of us. Giving of our time, giving of our help and giving of our resources is needed now more than ever.
Today, on this Thanksgiving day, the San Francisco Food Bank was filled with over 80 volunteers who gave of their time to play a part in feeding the hungry. Thank you to every one of them.
Today’s photo hangs inside the SFFB. It is of a local boy who lives in an area of town where no fresh produce is sold. The SFFB is changing all of that by providing fresh produce to his school.
May each and every one of you have a  Happy Thanksgiving day.