My third time through this beautiful coastal area of California in the past 18 months and it just improves every time. I look forward to visiting with the friends I have made on each visit. Bogart and I enjoy seeing familiar faces and places. This entire coast is rich in beauty and friendships for me.
Hays and Cheryl of Cheryl Fudge Fashion Camp, are always a big help with parking and hospitality. Michael of Townsend and Associates always looks forward to updates and spreading the word about this mission. Simon and Jen are equally enthusiastic. Thank you to Spring Hope for the delicacies and the parting gifts, Don Pardo. She is a big help when I am in town. I wished that I had more time to get together with everyone I know in this area, next time I’ll make it a point to stay longer.
Fred, a local therapist pulled over in his car. “This is very good!,” he said.
Thanks to John for meeting and treating me to lunch on my way up the coast.
Riding The Kindness Bicycle on this coast is everything good, all rolled into one.

Kay is a beautiful homeless woman I met today in Santa Monica. Everything she owns, is what she is carrying in today’s photo. I met her as she was reading the writings on The Kindness Bus, “looking at all the good stuff,” she said, a big smile filling her cherub-like face. We talked for quite a while as she told me about her life. She has only done good for others her entire life. She has led a clean life, free of drugs and alcohol, but a series of events has put her on the streets. Her downfall she says is that she allows others to take advantage of her and she ended up with no way to support herself. She doesn’t hold any animosity towards other and that is how she stays so happy and up on her luck. It always can be worse she says.
She offered me a bottle of juice as we parted ways, offering me something she needed for herself but offered it up anyway, for me to have during my bicycle ride. I politely declined.
Off she went, happier than most people. Off to freshen up in the public restroom and catch a bus to church on this Sunday morning.

Most schools across the country are doing an incredible job of zero tolerance when it comes to bullying. They are doing an even better job of creating a culture of kindness on their campuses. Character building is something students are learning from their very first day of school. It should not be left up to the schools exclusively, to deter bullying. It is primarily the job of the parents. In a lot of ways, many parents are not doing enough to know what their children are doing on the Internet and on social sites. Parents need to be the first line of defense when it comes to bullying and cyber bullying. Character building at home, partnered with what the schools are doing, can go a long way in the nurturing of a child. Some parents just need to start parenting.

One of my favorite things to do when I am in Los Angeles, is to have lunch with Superior Court Judge John Kralik. Today was that day.
Our initial connection was because of the book he wrote, A Simple Act of Gratitude. It is a story of how his life was changed by writing a daily thank you note to someone who he interacted with. It was a yearlong mission to write 365 thank yous, but it really has no end date.
I have been inspired by Judge John Kralik’s book and his mission. I have some custom cards made for me by artist, Nicole Wright and am now on a mission of gratitude, by sending hand written thank yous as I make my way around the country.
I recommend, A Simple Act of Gratitude. The link below will take you to his book on Amazon. It will change your life for the better.

One of my favorite books to read to my children when they were young was Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney.
Miss Alice Rumphius, found the way to make the world a much more beautiful place was by planting lupine in her town. Wherever she would walk, she would scatter lupine seed on the ground. The results were amazing and are an example of what one person can do to make a change in this world. Today’s photo is of a wonderful field of flowers in Malibu. Someone certainly had a great idea like Miss Rumphius.
Yesterday, in talking to Shannon and her father, Gary, I used the analogy of the beauty of one person spreading love throughout the world. It is up to each and every one of us to make the world as beautiful as we can. We can all even spread some flower seeds throughout our towns for all to enjoy.
My ride took me to Malibu today and its rolling hills. I stopped at a few schools that were out on break, but left material for future visits. At the Webster YMCA Club House Sharon, a very supportive mom was happy to see The Kindness Bicycle. she and her child saw a piece about the Ring Our Country with Kindness ride on TV. Word is certainly spreading.

Gary and his daughter Shannon were driving to her school in the morning when they saw The Kindness Bicycle roll up to an intersection they were at. They loved the signs and and beeped and waved, as did many other people in their cars.
This evening, they were shocked to see The Kindness Bus parked in a different neighborhood. I just so happened to roll up on The Kindness Bicycle while they were there.
A beautiful conversation ensued. Shannon and her father took time to read nearly every message. The results had a powerful impact and had great meaning to the two of them. So much good can come to your life if you stop and enjoy the beauty and be a part of the beauty.
Shannon has such a caring heart and is going to make this world a much better place because of it. Gary, her very proud father, is the kind of role model and positive influence every child should have.

Pat Lyden, Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Alliance, (SPEA) says the common thread for most, if not all suicides is depression. Her organization is the “gold standard” in educating kids about what to do when depression strikes or thoughts of suicide take hold. Everyone should visit the SPEA website to know how to help someone in need.
Equally important is to know the phone number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 800-273-8255
If you are hurting, know that that you are loved. Hang on to life with all your might, a much better life will come to you. Be a hero to yourself !! Also know that you are SO important to someone.That someone is quite possibly someone you have yet to meet. Know that life always gets better…it does. An assumed insurmountable current issue you may be having a problem with can be overcome with time. It always does. Please hold on and get beyond the bottom of the wave…the top of the wave is coming for you, to ride the rest of your life.
Today’s ride in Carlsbad and Oceanside was perfect in so many ways. This California coast is such a beautiful place, second only to its residents.
The surf shop in today’s photo, on the California coast in Carlsbad, is owned by a woman named Sandra D…honest!