Cooking and eating while living on the road can be challenging when you have no refrigeration or running water. Having a one burner camping stove forces one to be creative in simple ways. It also creates an opportunity to eat fresh, raw foods which have become the biggest part of my diet…which is a good thing.
Having an opportunity to use a full kitchen comes my way every so often and I “seized the day” recently, by cooking up a feast for San Francisco friends, Rob and Sharon.
To me, the most comforting of comfort food is a Thanksgiving meal with all the fixins’. Cooking everything from scratch can be very therapeutic and the best thing is, is that it takes the better part of the day. There was no better way to give my knees a rest for the day and to bring comfort to me, inside and out, by cooking up some comfort food for friends.
Here’s to being thankful, every day of the year.

When I drive The Kindness Bus or ride The Kindness Bicycle I get my fair share of looks and sometimes hushed comments. Most, if not all of the audible  comments are positive. Very few audible comments are directed at me in a negative tone. Every now and then I will overhear a hushed comment that is made in conversation amongst passersby that is negative and I feel like addressing it, so it is a learning experience for all parties involved.
A couple of months back, I was in a hurry first thing in the morning. I needed to be on my way and out the door but needed to be clean shaven. I was spotted by a two couples about my age while I was using a pink Lady Bic razor while I rode. Now I agree it was probably quite a sight for them…but they were reading the “Overcome bullying with kindness” sign on my bicycle and still felt the need to make a hushed comment.
“Did you just bully me?” was my comment as I rode up to them. After a fun conversation, we were all in agreement that using negative, hurtful words is bullying.
The thought was, a child in school who does many good things, day in and day out for years, does one embarrassing act and because of the Internet and before you know it is the butt of the joke for the entire community.
Yes…gossip is bullying…and it is easily spread.

Playing a rare afternoon, weekday baseball game, I rode across San Francisco, to AT&T Park, to make conversation with as many Giants fans as possible. I got a lot of visibility but very few conversations. People, when they are on their way to a sporting event, have one thing on their mind, getting to their seat. I guessed wrong but still made an impact as I received a lot of “atta boy” praise.
Julia from London stopped by for a chat, she is going to spread word of this mission throughout her country. Kaleem who is visiting from Mauritius was equally as enthused.
Among the crowd were families of all types and size. Dads and moms taking the time to take their children to a baseball game. In the eyes of their children, they are the real giants.

On the corner of the Panhandle in San Francisco, an eight block long park that adjoins Golden Gate Park, bike traffic, foot traffic and vehicles make their way past The Kindness Bus all day long. When I get back from my rides, I like to tether The Kindness Bicycle to the back. As if one of them by themselves isn’t enough of a conversation starter, the two of them certainly is.
Because painted buses are somewhat of a common occurrence in this town, especially by the Panhandle, a mere few blocks from the Haight Ashbury neighborhood, having The Kindness Bicycle there, helps define the importance of the mission.

Bogart is always on the ready. Having him around keeps me going…he’s like the Duracell bunny…nonstop!!
He is so much the key in connecting with most people when we are out together. Conversations ensue because of his presence.
He is well rewarded and looked after every step of the way…and he should be. He is therapy to everyone who interacts with him. He is my wingman on this 10 year mission. When I have a hard time getting motivated for whatever reason, he gives me the look like the one above. The phrase is one of my favorites, just two small words that have a big impact, “Let’s go!”

This town is one of my favorite stops in the bay area, especially on the weekend. This quaint little town fills up with people taking the ferry or riding their bike across the Golden Gate Bridge a few short miles from San Francisco.
I took The Kindness Bus for the two days and connected with as many people as possible. Thank you to Charlie of Philz Coffee and Melissa for the hospitality and for rolling out the “red carpet,” it is so nice when people make you feel right at home in their town.
Chris and his son Colin stopped by from Mill Valley, a few miles to the north. They got word of our visit and made the trip down. Thank you to Michael Mac Neill for the help with overnight parking and the financial support.
Jay, a student from Seoul, South Korea, fell in love with The Kindness Bus and its “messages for the world.” She wrote on its body, “May your heart be filled completely with love.” That sums up, perfectly, what The Kindness Bus Tour is all about.

I was invited to the home of author, Nance Cheifetz and Peter Grazier former CEO of Teambuilding Inc for a wonderful  dinner and brainstorming session this evening. They sat in on my presentation at Sutro Elementary earlier this week. Their work in helping individuals achieve greater good in their lives applies to what I am doing in a big way. Needless to say, I was all ears. Thank you to the two of them for taking the time to help improve my mission.
Nance has written a number of books, and a week ago she gave three of them to me, to see if I could use them in my work. One of the books. Monster Watch, is a direct connect with my Bullying ride. Visit her website for these valuable educational resources.
www.wizdomworksbooks.com