The photo in today’s blog was on a bus shelter I drove by a couple of years ago. It had such an impact that I had to circle the block to get a picture to capture its powerful message.
Fathers do matter! Having positive male role models in children’s lives is imperative.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has done extensive studies on the powerful impact a father has on his children, starting as early as birth. The website is well worth reading.
Traveling across the nation for the past several months and talking with thousand of people I have come to realize just how important a positive message can be to children, when imparted by a father. One of the most important learning lessons is the witnessing of the love a father shows to his wife. Parents interacting in positive ways in front of their children, will have healthier, more emotionally stable children, it is a proven fact.
Fathers matter…and of course, mothers matter too!

Getting involved in a peaceful way to spread your message, is a great way to  help this world. While in Santa Monica this past December, I met a woman who is taking a stand on how all of us should treat each other. She is convinced that common courtesies need to make a return and that this will lead to much bigger improvements in our society. Kindness is one of those character traits that naturally create courtesy in the individual. Starting in her own community, she wishes to see her idea spread across the globe. I am all for it.
The Kindness Bicycle Tour for Heroes begins in less than 2 weeks. I am taking a route across the southern United States. If you live in this area, or know someone who does, please send me an email about some places that I should visit in your town.

If you don’t already, start believing in yourself today. There is an entire world out there that needs you. Take some time today to evaluate what you like to do and find a way to use that passion to benefit others. The power of one person is incredible. Show your passion to the world. Someone will notice and your message will spread exponentially. The ability to connect with the rest of the world, because of the Internet, opens up your ability to spread your gift to everyone.
After 9/11 2001, I started a program called, Sow Only Seeds Of Love which spread around the world. The Internet was one of the contributing factors in this message spreading globally.
The photo is of one of my stickers, which was taken in the Bahamas by a man from Virginia who was in an art show in my hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

When talking to my audiences I like to inform them that I hope to inspire each and every one of them in attendance. One of my talks, centers on the fact that at some point in everyone’s life, each one of us will have the opportunity to dedicate the remainder of our life to a charity. The opportunity doesn’t happen too often in one’s life so it is imperative to stay aware of your own personal calling. Being cognizant of this, you will know when the timing is right for you. To me, there are 5 criteria which must be met before you can dedicate the rest of your life to a charity. I like to refer to it as having the POWER. The acronym is as follows;
P = Passion. You must have incredible passion for what you want to do. I use the analogy that you would jump through the TV screen to hold the baby who is suffering.
O = Opportunity. Every now and then the window of opportunity is open for you to do whatever you wish with your life. Your responsibilities are minimum and no one or thing is relying on you to hold you from doing what you wish.
W = Want. You have to want to help with your whole heart. You have to care so much, that you would give up your comfortable lifestyle and live amongst those you wish to help, even if it means having to live in the conditions of a third world country.
E = Educated. You have to be educated in every facet of what you are about to undertake. It has to be a win-win situation, where everyone benefits. I use the example of drilling wells in Africa. If you drill wells to bring water to villagers of a town but the water takes from the aquifer and another nearby village’s wells dry up because of your drilling, it is not a win-win for everyone.
R = Resources. You have to have the money or money from others to support your efforts for a lifetime. Oftentimes, you have to sacrifice various aspects of what comfort level you are accustomed to, to have the resources to provide for those you are helping.
Once you have the POWER, you are ready to go take on the world.

On Monday, the promotion of One Million Acts Of Kindness Week begins in earnest. One of the most rewarding benefits for me is that I am able to see One Million Acts Of Kindness spreading around the world. Having people from 22 countries take part in One Million Acts Of Kindness Week shows to me how powerful kindness can be to all of the world.
Help to spread kindness around the world by taking part and signing up for this very important week.
One Million Acts Of Kindness Week begins in 38 days.

Occasionally an opportunity presents itself, where it is logical to add a new quote to The Kindness Bus. That is the case in adding a new quote to one of its rear windows. People passing by The Kindness Bus on the road, view it from behind and usually pass me on the left, making the left rear window a very prime location.
One major event which took place to The Kindness Bus, over a year and a half ago, has never been addressed. In the summer of 2009, The Kindness Bus visited all 49 firehouses in Manhattan. The most powerful visit was when The Kindness Bus rode down the ramp to the firehouse in Ground Zero. This most important event will now be mentioned on the left rear window.
Having heroes to learn about, keeps the memory of these heroes ever present in the minds of all of us. Students, as well, in the schools I visit, need to know about these heroes. The Kindness Bus will now help to accomplish this.

One Million Acts Of Kindness was featured 2 years ago, in the AARP newsletter which was sent out to its twenty million members. I received over  twelve hundred emails because of the article, most of them wishing me well, some of them wanting to know more about The Kindness Bus Tour and still others offering a place to stay if I was ever to make it to their town.
Heading west from Colorado on The Kindness Bicycle this past October, I received an email from Rob and Sharon from San Francisco offering a place to stay if Bogart and I ever made it to their town. Two years ago Rob and Sharon read the AARP article and decided to hang it on their refrigerator, it has remained there since, offering them a side dish of kindness, every time they reached for the refrigerator door.
After several emails back and forth, Bogart and I arrived in San Francisco to the delight of Rob and Sharon. They are huge dog lovers and are some of the kindest individuals on the face of the earth. Needless to say, The Kindness Bus Tour was a perfect fit. This past summer and for these 2 weeks, Bogart became the most loved dog on the face of the earth. He had a blast, being able to pretty much have the run of the house, this suited him well, as most everything on The Kindness Bus is off limits to Bogart for the sake of safety.
For these sixteen days and nights, Rob and Sharon opened their home to me, including the extended Thanksgiving weekend with their family and friends. At visit’s end, they had adopted me and Bogart into their family. We are truly honored. Thank you Rob and Sharon.