Yes, I am of the belief that one of the treasures we need to stay connected with are our seniors. Every opportunity to visit seniors which is offered to me is always looked forward to with enthusiasm, for there is a good bit of knowledge learned, today was no exception.
Outside of the Senior Center, even before entering, I had the pleasure of meeting Kelly de Long, the manager, who thought the message of One Million Acts Of Kindness would resonate with her group.  Janice, the senior’s nutritionist, who took the time to pose with Bogart was equally enthused.
Upon meeting the group, who were busy playing cards, I had the chance to talk with individual small groups and tell them of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week and the goals which are being accomplished by persons taking part in this week’s endeavors; every senior expressed their approval.

The 2nd annual One Million Acts Of Kindness Week begins today. What better way to spread kindness than to start with one person, you.
A favorite quote of mine, Carpe Diem is one of the most profound statements to inspire the individual. Take inventory of who you are and what is possible for you to accomplish in your life and doing it this very moment. “Seize the Day,” the interpretation of Carpe Diem, stresses the urgency of the transformation of the individual, for tomorrow is guaranteed to no one.
Respect, one of the cornerstones of an individual’s characteristics is one of the transformational “seizes” we can embrace and live out the rest of our “days” as role models to everyone. With respect, comes nearly every other positive attribute.
A desire of mine for One Million Acts Of Kindness is that a transformational “seize” will spread to all cultures around the world, whether they be religious, political, racial or any other division we as mankind have created, and that only respect for all others grows from the seeds being sown by this mission.

The Kindness Bus Tour will begin it’s third year this coming summer. I couldn’t have picked a better time or a worse time to begin my journey. A better time, because of what I am finding to be true, is a want for more kindness in everyone’s lives, more now than ever, across the world. A worse time, because of all of the very best friends who have passed in this very short time, 5 of some of the closest friends one can have.
Chuck came into my life nearly twenty five years ago. He entered my life how he entered everyone else’s life, you felt you had known him your entire life after the first minute of conversation. “I feel like we should become life-long friends” were the very first words he spoke to me as I dipped my infant son Alex’s feet into a pool at a club we had both just joined. That is the way Chuck was, he led his life acting upon on the words he spoke. One could always count on him for support as a friend and a business mentor. He was passionate about everything that was important in his life and he shared all of that passion with everyone. He was such an important part of my life as I looked to him as a compass for matters needing his guidance. He was one million acts of kindness in action in his life with family, friends and even strangers. He was one of the biggest cheerleaders of this mission and was always one I could turn to on a particularly challenging day.
I will carry Chuck’s “moral compass” with me as I continue on this mission. I now have the power of 5 new angels offering protection and guidance as The Kindness Bus’ mission hopes kindness becomes your “life-long friend.”

The photo in today’s blog is a flyer from a presentation by a group of high school students named “Expect Respect,” from the Jewish Family Services Association. This presentation was the perfect opportunity for a parent to bring their children to learn about one of the most important issues a teen faces, dating abuse and violence. I don’t think I have ever been more impressed with a group of high schoolers, than I was tonight. Wow!
The statistics of relationship abuse are staggering, to say the least. When a young adult is abused by a partner, oft times the person will “go underground” with their feelings, telling no one about the abuse. Most times even the friends of the victim won’t tell authorities until it is too late.   This abuse is bullying on a private level. Bullying, to gain “control,” and coerce the victim to do what the perpetrator wants. Telltale signs of abuse to look for, were shown to help friends and family realize when a victim intervention needs to take place.
Many students this evening, had heard about One Million Acts Of Kindness and thought it would be a way to combat, well in advance, dating abuse and violence.

One week from today will begin the most important journey in many people’s lives; people who are going to make One Million Acts Of Kindness their personal, lifetime goal. If you had a chance in your life, to make as many people become the best persons they could possibly be, would you do it? If it took just a couple of hours to tell all your family and friends about a lifetime goal that could have a profound impact on their lives, could you please do it? The impact of everyone having a lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness is a game-changer. This world could use it now more than ever. Incorporate a One Million Acts Of Kindness goal for your own life and family’s life as an example for the rest of the world to see.
Please send the following email to as many people as you can, instructing them to send it to everyone they know around the world.

One Million Acts Of Kindness Week is February 14-20, 2011.Kindness begins with children. A lifetime goal of kindness will helpstudents put an end to bullying others. We are working to spread the word about this mission across the United States, with the hope that it grows globally. We are hoping to have people from every country in the world participate in this 2^nd annual event. Please help us by sending this information to everyone you know, throughout your state, across our country and around our world. I hope that kindness spreads throughout our country and then to the rest of the world. Everyone across the country can play a key role in making this happen. Please visit our website, to research the kindness goals we are working to spread on campuses nationwide and to register the kind act you will do for another, during One Million Acts Of Kindness Week.  Students are also urged to print from the homepage of our website, one of the Kindness Certificates with their name, as a reminder that they have taken a lifetime pledge. More then ten thousand Kindness Certificates have been printed from our website. The Kindness Certificate is a powerful teaching tool for educators. Every student across the country should  learn the benefits of having a constant mindset of kindness.

We hope, because of you, that kindness spreads across the world. www.onemillionactsofkindness.com

For the sake of children everywhere, please help with spreading this message of kindness. I am hoping every student in the United States will take the Kindness Challenge and hang a Kindness Certificate on their bedroom wall.

Thank you,

Bob Votruba

thekindnessbustour@gmail.com

1 (216) 870-7772

In-classroom programs like One Million Acts Of Kindness are having an immediate impact on students in the schools I visit. Educators voice their approval at any new idea which can make their classrooms safer and One Million Acts Of Kindness is no exception. From K-12, having a daily, year-long kindness program can keep students focused on learning while working towards short term and long term kindness goals. A constant mind-set of kindness at the earliest of age is imperative to combat the explosive nature of one student or a group of students bullying another.
I have heard from hundreds of you about being able to view the puppet show, “The Power of One.”. It will be posted in video form on my website and Youtube for educators to use as a teaching tool in the coming weeks.
The message of One Million Acts Of Kindness is starting to have a reach around the globe, with dozens of countries represented by some of their citizens taking part in One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. My email/calling about “Bullying be Gone” to PTAs on the state level is having great success. Please pass the word of a lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness to anyone and everyone you know. Thank you, Bob Votruba

The Kindness Bus doesn’t have a satellite dish for television reception, or a radio for that matter and that is a good thing. 24/7 news seems to have become part of our culture. Internet news,  television and radio are everywhere we look. It is almost as if we are hearing too much news in our lives; we are becoming a country of 2 very different opinions on almost every issue. Everyone should express their opinion when they feel passionately about an issue, but still have respect for someone with the opposite viewpoint. There seems to be no middle ground or dialogue discussed much anymore. Our nation is becoming further divided at a time when the world is in turmoil, just when we should be growing closer, growing stronger, growing kinder.
Lead only with a kind mind from this point forward in your life. If we are to become a closer, stronger, kinder people, it depends on each and every one of us, individually. Start with yourself and spread by example this important message of kindness to everyone you possibly can.