Putting my one day vacation in my rear view mirror, I headed west toward Michigan. The Kindness Bus is usually the slowest vehicle on the freeway, nearly everyone passes me. I love the fact that I no longer have to rush to get everywhere. Being able to take my time when I travel, allows me to have the opportunity to talk with people when I stop to eat or gas up. Two people I was honored to meet were Dan and Ashley from upstate New York. They were admiring The Kindness Bus when I returned from paying for gas. It was refreshing to meet such caring, young adults. They are on their way to Oregon to get involved in some great community efforts. With the rest of their lives in front of them, they are going to accomplish loads. I love the fact that there are so many in their generation, being so pro-active in local and world issues. They are going to spread the message of kindness throughout their lives.
Todd and Cynthia were the two of the first people I met when I got out of the bus in Ann Arbor. Within minutes of meeting them, they extended the hospitality of staying on their farm on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. This is such a big help when I am traveling, as it is one less thing I have to think about when I arrive in a new town.
The campus was filled with thousands of students and I was able to park The Kindness Bus in some key spots. I interacted with a couple of hundred students on this short day, a number of them already were aware of One Million Acts Of Kindness. I love how this message is starting to spread.
I stayed out until the light of day started to dim and headed to Todd and Cynthia’s farm. A home-cooked, home-grown meal was being prepared when I arrived. Cynthia grows most everything and the freshness was evident in every bite. Ann Arbor is one friendly hometown.
All day long, this Ohio boy was helped by people from Ann Arbor; kindness knows no rivalry.
Please help us spread our message of a Goal of Kindness to schoolchildren across the country. Your donations are crucial to making this a reality.
Mail donations to:
One Million Acts Of Kindness
PO Box 770054
Lakewood, OH 44107
You can also donate through PayPal:
Bogart is my travel companion on The Kindness Bus Tour for the next ten years. We will be on the road traveling to campuses across the country. Bogart is a eight year old Boston Terrier. He is a great people dog... he loves meeting new people. I am Bogart's fourth owner in his short 8 years of life... Not because of him but because his three previous owner's lifestyles changed after they took him in... Lucky for me!! Bogart is the luckiest, most spoiled dog on the face of the earth. He loves the bus and he loves to travel. Please come and visit him when we are on your campus.
The Blue Bird Corporation donated this amazing bus to One Million Acts of Kindness, allowing us the continue this initiative. It has been painted to closely resemble the original Kindness Bus. It will last well beyond the ten years of this mission. A very big thank you to Blue Bird from Bob Votruba and Bogart too!!
The original Kindness bus has been donated to a professor at Virginia Tech who will use it on campus and at schools in the Blacksburg area. The Kindness Bus will continue to inspire and comfort residents, students and visitors in that area for years to come.
One Million Acts Of Kindness is a goal. A goal for each person to individually perform One Million Acts Of Kindness in their life. Can you imagine a greater goal for one's life? It is a constant mind-set of kindness every day of your life for the next fifty-five years. Doing for others and kindness in your heart for everyone. It is my wish that you will dedicate your life to a charity... finding the passion in your heart for something or someone in need.
As a father of three college age kids I am concerned for the world in which all kids will live. A great way to create a safer, more caring world is for everyone to start their lifetime goal of One Million Acts Of Kindness. So I bought a bus, had about sixty family members, friends and neighbors help paint it and began a ten year journey with my Boston Terrier, Bogart, to college campuses across the country hoping to convince as many of you as possible about this much needed movement for this world. I love you guys too much to sit back and not do anything about this. Let's start a kindness movement in this country today to change the direction this world is headed!! You are the change that this world needs.
I have also been a recipient of Cynthia and Todd’s kindness. They are truly wonderful people, the sort who make this world a better place. How ironic you found each other! Carry on with your wonderful work, I hope to come across your bus in my travels!
Thanks for visiting Ann Arbor. Blogged about it to help spread your message. Check it out at:
http://dharmaspoon.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-kindness-coming-to-town.html