Thank you to one and all, who helped to make this year’s One Million Acts Of Kindness Week a huge success. With the help of many of you, this week continues to be an annual event. I couldn’t do it without you. My sincere gratitude.
From Bangladesh to Australia to India, the interest in this week is continuing to grow globally. In the US, schools, businesses and organizations are participating in growing numbers each year. One of those businesses, Life Care Centers of America, participates every year. Their business grows every year, adding to the totals of their level of participation. My contact, Paul Zani, is a very big help in making this happen each and every year. Thank youPaul!!
Next year, we are shooting for the sky for One Million Acts Of Kindness Week 2013.
Today’s photo was taken by Jaye Azoff. It is my favorite b&w photo of The Kindness Bus Crew.

I have yet to figure it out, but nearly everyone rides their bicycle faster than I. Discounting the streamlined aerodynamic features of The Kindness Bicycle, I am still one of the slowest cyclists on the road.
Near the end of my “century” ride yesterday, I was stopped by Steven Carre, a Marine, who spotted the WoundedWarrior sign on the bike. During our powerful conversation, Steven also told me he owns a bicycle shop, called Bike Effect. He looked at The Kindness Bicycle and told me he would like to make it ride as good as it was designed to perform.
This morning I stopped by Bike Effect. www.bikeeffect.com A large group of cyclists was assembling for a road ride. Steven introduced me to many of these great men and women. I also had the pleasure of meeting Alison, the other owner, Larry, who was assigned the honor of masterfully transforming The Kindness Bicycle to like-new condition and Scott, one of the other professional mechanics. The Kindness Bicycle was the “beast” among these high tech, precise machines the other riders were sporting. I saved face with saying to one of the riders, “just as it is with life, it’s not about the equipment you have, it’s what you do with that equipment.”
During my day of “recovery,” I stopped at a very popular outdoor workout areas in this town. It is a place of very fit people. I took The Kindness Bus and just let things unfold on their own. Some incredible conversations took place. Two of the most important were with local teachers. Toby, a local 1st grade teacher says she is always looking for great programs to bring into her classroom; One Million Acts Of Kindness fits the bill she said. Noelle and her friend Amy stopped by. Noelle is a former school counselor. She now teaches kindergarten and was tickled pink over the Kindness Certificates and One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. If both of these teachers “run with the kindness ball,” great seeds of kindness can take hold in their students lives. I love letting kids know that they are part of “The Kindness Generation.”

On a scale of 1-10, today was a 12.
My day started in the early morning hours, with my weekly call to Bill Bennett’s Morning in America radio show hosted by Seth Leibsohn. This program has a huge national audience and is sensational way to get the word to everyone about the real Heroes in today’s society; Wounded Warriors & Police and Firefighters killed in the line of duty. What a nice interview by Seth as he allows me to give his audience weekly updates.
If you had to pick the weather for a “century” ride, today’s weather was just that, perfect! I rode for 13 hours and went 101 miles. I will always ride an extra mile on a “century,” just in case the newly calibrated odometer is off by a little. This ride, without a doubt, was the most powerful ride I have ever taken on a bicycle. So many cheers, so many people applauding and so much interest in this ride and who it was for, made me realize the unbelievable interest in those who are Wounded Warriors.
If you are looking for a cause to get involved in, one of the best causes you will find is for those who protect our liberties and freedoms. Wounded Warriors need you!!! I’m hoping the same enthusiasm I was met with on my ride will be representative, of those of you who read this. Thank you for what you will do for Wounded Warriors, moving forward.
A wonderful photograph of me carrying The Kindness Bicycle down a flight of stairs, taken by Kibiwot Limo, made its way to the front page of the Santa Monica Daily Press.

The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare Center has over one thousand volunteers who give of themselves to veterans who have given so much of themselves. Marianne Davis is coordinator of those one thousand volunteers and when she heard about The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes, she insisted that I come to the dinner/dance and bring The Kindness Bicycle for all to see.
The roomful of Veterans, family members and caregivers were all smiles and so complimentary. 25 Bruin Belles an All Girls Service Association from UCLA were there to help with the greeting of all attendees and created some wonderful party favors. One of my favorite moments was when two veterans, Richard and George, pictured above, were on the dance floor dancing with at least a dozen Bruin Belles, smiling from ear to ear.
Tyrone, a Sergeant in the Army had recent surgery on his foot and you never would have known it, as he was on the dance floor for every song. Even the less medically complex surgeries are still needed to be performed with perfection.

Sometimes the obvious is the least apparent. Here I am, once again, on a cross country bicycle ride, scheduled to end on a specific date in a specific place. Then, in looking at my travel schedule, I realize I have overlooked the most obvious.
The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is scheduled to end in Jacksonville, Florida on June 21st. I was then going to head up the east coast and spend a good deal of my summer in New York City promoting One Million Acts Of Kindness to people from across the world who travel to that sensational city. It then dawned on me that the ONLY place and time to finish The Kindness Bicycle Ride for Heroes is in New York City on September 11th.
I will be promoting Kindness and Heroes for the world to see!!

Valentine’s Day always occurs during One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. That fact makes it all the more of a special week. Next year I will concentrate on groups of organizations, schools and businesses across the globe. I love when one call or email can convince a person in charge of making a decision to encourage the participation in this important week to those belonging to a group.
After my ride today, I contacted over 50 Girl Scout councils across the United States. With the interest in Girl Scout groups taking part in this year’s week, I am hoping the interest may spread to many other troops next year. Businesses with many offices across the country will be on my list of contacts as well. I am looking for anyone and everyone who can help to make next year’s One Million Acts Of Kindness Week am overwhelming success.
Today’s photo is collection of individual paintings, which are part of a larger installation called “Pulses of the Heart,” by artist Tara Dixon. Sales of the artwork will be used to support One Million Acts Of Kindness. The exhibit is installed at Oriens Living in New York City.

I can think of no better way to start One Million Acts Of Kindness Week than to have The Kindness Bus in front of a school. The Kindness Bus transported two school girls and one of their moms to Wilbur Elementary School in Tarzana, California. The two girls, Kayla and Eva, acted as Kindness Ambassadors by handing out Kindness Stickers to many of the students, as they made their way into the school.
Thank you to those who have signed-up and continue to sign-up for One Million Acts Of Kindness Week. You are making a lasting impression on the world.