Every town I have visited these past four years have had a monument honoring the men and women from their community who have given their lives while protecting our freedoms. I like taking some time at these memorials to reflect on the significance of their sacrifice. These memorials serve as reminders to all of us. They are one way to keep the memory alive.
Spending time honoring those who gave their lives is a great way to show respect and a nice way to set an example for children.
Memorial Day or weekend for that matter can serve to remind us of these Heroes but it can also serve to remind us to make a habit of honoring them all year long.

The bicycle helmet I have worn on my head for the past two years sums up the passion I have for helping to make kid’s lives better. I have just recently discovered the creative design of my helmet and feel it fits the Ring Our Country with Kindness ride, perfectly. Overcoming bullying with kindness is quite possibly the best non confrontational method to achieve a peaceful solution to any aggression.

A safety pin has so many uses in a survival situation. It can be used to take out splinters, mend clothing or gear, to make a finger splint, replace a zipper puller, use as fishing hooks, wound closure, pin a shirt sleeve to a shirt to make a sling, to get knots out of your fishing line, use on a blanket to make a sleeping bag or as part of your shelter. There are hundreds of uses, this is why you will see safety pins as a part of the best survival kits.
An alarming statistic was recently published by the Centers for Disease Control with regards to suicide. With all the resources being poured into social services and all of the agencies available to individuals, the United States, annual suicide rate still increased from nearly 36,000 to over 38,000 individuals during the past several years. The biggest increase was in the 50 – 59 year of age group. Nearly all other age brackets remained about the same.
Each and every one of us is the safety pin in each other’s lives. We are all here to hold each other up when we are about to fall. There are many people struggling to get by, it is up to all of us to provide the friendship and comfort needed.

Bicycle Patrol Police Officer Brett Kaczmarczyk of the San Francisco Police Department has worked in the Haight/Ashbury neighborhood for 12 years. I’m sure he has seen just about everything. This haven of tourists and individuals, from every walk of life, are the very fabric of this bohemian enclave. Hats off to the men and women in blue who “keep the peace” here.
I have ridden The Kindness Bicycle down this street on a few occasions, talking with shopkeepers and locals. The consensus is, that it is all about the children. No matter who the individual may be, people want to see a safer world for children. Many of the homeless and transient souls who walk the streets here, have led difficult childhoods and are supportive of my ride, hoping that other children don’t have to endure such challenging upbringings.

Michael MacNeill, Vice Chairman of The Respect Institute, spoke proudly as he told me of the work being done by this organization.                               Their mission is to make respect the status quo, giving youth and their influencers the tools to redefine respect and build self-respect so they can break cycles of disrespect and thrive.

• Practicing respectful and nonviolent communication, integrity and accountability. Being mindful of our impact and intentions as leaders, giving and receiving honest feedback, and staying true to our organizational outcomes in all our activities. We believe: How we get there matters. Developing self-respect and mutual respect skills for all individuals to foster their ability to thrive.
• Self-respecting individuals’ powerful ability to create more respectful relationships, homes, schools, communities and workplaces.
• Creating social change through partnerships with allies in communities nationwide.
• Including diverse voices, expertise and experiences in our work—all change is created through relationship.
• Walking our talk by constantly practicing The Respect Basics to improve our self-respect, relationships, self-efficacy, community and future, and supporting the self-care of those who work with us.
• Using resources thoughtfully to make the most wide-reaching, sustainable impact possible on the people and organizations we serve.
• Continuously learning and evaluating our work and behaviors to create an effective and nimble organization that makes a meaningful and measurable positive impact on the people and communities we serve.

There is something about the California lifestyle that suits Bogart in a big way. Actually, he loves all the coastal waters of the United States. From Maine to Florida and all along the Pacific, Bogart loves the water. The slower pace seems to bring out the laid back side of Bogart as we go about our daily interactions with people.
One look on his face sums it up. It’s gonna be hard to break the news to him when we start heading east.