Think Kindness Blog

Africa Day One

Currently I am on a plane cruising over 30,000 feet above the earth. When I arrived, I was handed a warm face cloths, given 3 meals thus far, and have access to unlimited drinks and peanuts. . . but underneath us is a world of ‘life’ much different than one I am flying in. I recall last year sitting in Tumaini (the orphanage) assisting a female student with her English homework. The assignment was to draw a line connecting each word to a noun, verb, adjective, pronoun, etc.

I sat watching her complete the assignment with no help from me until I she drew a line connecting ‘life’ to verb. I asked her why she thought life was a verb. She stated, “Life is the way we make things great. It’s our living diary that we write in everyday.”

. . . I let her answer stand.

Underneath my plane LIFE is happening. In America, it seems easy to put blinders up to world occurrences as the stress in our personal life increases. While I may be stressing about packing my bags, getting my oil changed, and designing a poster for our Golf Tournament, others are hoping their baby is born into the world healthy, or for the children we are about to see. . . that a warm meal makes it to the table.

This past year I’ve tried to really focus on getting Think Kindness and my life to the next level. I’ve worked hard to surround myself by smart people, work diligently, and make every attempt to stay positive and toss every thought of “giving up” and ‘throwing in the towel” to the wayside. (which has been tough). Sometimes it seems impossible to truly ‘make a difference’. But after my past trips to Kenya, my life has more purpose. The children have graciously put things into perspective. So this past year I’ve decided to focus on changing my mindset and be thankful for every stress my life encounters. While in my eyes they seem huge, I always remind myself that no matter what happens I have two of the most amazing parents at my side, the bestest of friends, a roof over my head, clean water to drink, and an education to carry me forward.

The world I am about to enter. . . is the complete opposite.

Lord help me make the biggest difference I can.

-Brian

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kindness

As I travel around the country, I am joyfully astonished how many people truly want to make a difference in the world. But the biggest question they have is, HOW?. Well, it is time to take action. You don’t need to be a Martin Luther, Anne Frank, or Mother Theresa to change the world. . . or better yet, change your community. So, let’s start with the homeless – a common thread among thousands of U.S. cities.

The world of the homeless seems very far from ours — but in some ways it is quite near. For any of us, the loss of a job, the death of a spouse or a child or a severe physical disability could be the route to total despair. These are the very tragedies have happened to many homeless people. Struck by personal tragedies, the people in shelters across America, have lost their homes and been deserted by the families and friends they once had. What can you do to help them? Well, here are 35 idea’s:

1. Understand who the homeless are – Help dispel the stereotypes about the homeless. Learn about the different reasons for homelessness, and remember, every situation is unique. Learn to not judge and instead, be curious.
2. Educate yourself about the homeless – A homeless person may be someone who lost their job, a runaway child, or someone with a mental illness. One of the first steps in helping people is to see them as individuals and to find out what they need. Notice them; talk to them. Most are starved for attention.
3. Respect the homeless as individuals - Give the homeless people the same courtesy and respect you would accord your friends, your family, your employer. Treat them as you would wish to be treated if you needed assistance.
4. Respond with kindness - We can make quite a difference in the lives of the homeless when we respond to them, rather than ignore or dismiss them. Try a kind word and a smile. They are used to everyone turning a cheek to avoid eye contact, rather give them a hello and ‘Good Morning’.
5. Develop lists of shelters - Carry a card that lists local shelters so you can hand them out to the homeless. You can find shelters in your phone book.
6. Buy Street Sheet – This biweekly newspaper is sold in almost every major American city and is intended to help the homeless help themselves. For every paper sold, the homeless earn five cents deposited in a special savings account earmarked for rent.
7. Bring food - It’s as simple as taking a few extra sandwiches when you go out. When you pass someone who asks for change, offer him or her something to eat. If you take a lunch, pack a little extra. When you eat at a restaurant, order something to take with you when you leave.
8. Give money - One of the most direct ways to aid the homeless is to give money. Donations to nonprofit organizations that serve the homeless go a long way.
9. Give recyclables - In localities where there is a “bottle law,” collecting recyclable cans and bottles is often the only “job” available to the homeless. But it is an honest job that requires initiative. You can help by saving your recyclable bottles, cans, and newspapers and giving them to the homeless instead of taking them to a recycling center or leaving them out for collection. If you live in a larger city, you may wish to leave your recyclables outside for the homeless to pick up — or give a bagful of cans to a homeless person in your neighborhood.
10. Donate clothing - Next time you do your spring or fall cleaning, keep an eye out for those clothes that you no longer wear. If these items are in good shape, gather them together and donate them to organizations that provide housing for the homeless.
11. Donate a bag of groceries - Load up a bag full of nonperishable groceries, and donate it to a food drive in your area. If your community doesn’t have a food drive, organize one. Contact your local soup kitchens, shelters, and homeless societies and ask what kind of food donations they would like.
12. Donate toys - Children living in shelters have few possessions –if any– including toys. Homeless parents have more urgent demands on what little money they have, such as food and clothing. So often these children have nothing to play with and little to occupy their time. You can donate toys, books, and games to family shelters to distribute to homeless children. For Christmas or Chanukah, ask your friends and co-workers to buy and wrap gifts for homeless children.
13. Volunteer at a shelter - Shelters thrive on the work of volunteers, from those who sign people in, to those who serve meals, to others who counsel the homeless on where to get social services. For the homeless, a shelter can be as little as a place to sleep out of the rain or as much as a step forward to self-sufficiency.
14. Volunteer at a soup kitchen - Soup kitchens provide one of the basics of life, nourishing meals for the homeless and other disadvantaged members of the community. Volunteers generally do much of the work, including picking up donations of food, preparing meals, serving it, and cleaning up afterward. To volunteer your services, contact you local soup kitchen, mobile food program, shelter, or religious center.
15. Volunteer your professional services - No matter what you do for a living, you can help the homeless with your on-the-job talents and skills. Those with clerical skills can train those with little skills. Doctors, psychiatrists, counselors, and dentists can treat the homeless in clinics. Lawyers can help with legal concerns. The homeless’ needs are bountiful — your time and talent won’t be wasted.
16. Volunteer your hobbies - Every one of us has something we can give the homeless. Wherever our interests may lie — cooking, repairing, gardening, and photography — we can use them for the homeless. Through our hobbies, we can teach them useful skills, introduce them to new avocations and perhaps point them in a new direction.
17. Volunteer for follow-up programs - Some homeless people, particularly those who have been on the street for a while, may need help with fundamental tasks such as paying bills, balancing a household budget, or cleaning. Follow-up programs to give the formerly homeless further advice, counseling, and other services need volunteers.
18. Tutor homeless children – A tutor can make all the difference. Just having adult attention can spur children to do their best. Many programs exist in shelters, transitional housing programs, and schools that require interested volunteers. Or begin you own tutor volunteer corps at your local shelter. It takes nothing more than a little time.
19. Take homeless children on trips – Frequently, the only environment a homeless child knows is that of the street, shelters, or other transitory housing. Outside of school — if they attend — these children have little exposure to many of the simple pleasures that most kids have. Volunteer at your local family shelter to take children skating or to an aquarium on the weekend.
20. Volunteer at battered women’s shelter - Most battered women are involved in relationships with abusive husbands or other family members. Lacking resources and afraid of being found by their abusers, many may have no recourse other than a shelter or life on the streets once they leave home. Volunteers handle shelter hotlines, pick up abused women and their children when they call, keep house, and offer counseling. Call your local shelter for battered women to see how you can help.
21. Teach about the homeless - If you do volunteer work with the homeless, you can become an enthusiast and extend your enthusiasm to others. You can infect others with your own sense of devotion by writing letters to the editor of your local paper and by pressing housing issues at election time.
22. Publish shelter information - Despite all of our efforts to spread the word about shelters, it is surprising how many people are unaware of their own local shelters. Contact your local newspapers, church or synagogue bulletins, or civic group’s newsletters about the possibility of running a weekly or monthly listing of area services available to the homeless. This could include each organization’s particular needs for volunteers, food, and other donations.
23. Educate your children about the homeless - Help your children to see the homeless as people. If you do volunteer work, take your sons and daughters along so they can meet with homeless people and see what can be done to help them. Volunteer as a family in a soup kitchen or shelter. Suggest that they sort through the toys, books, and clothes they no longer use and donate them to organizations that assist the poor.
24. Sign up your company/school - Ask your company or school to host fund-raising events, such as raffles or craft sales and donate the proceeds to nonprofit organizations that aid the homeless. You can also ask your company or school to match whatever funds you and your co-workers or friends can raise to help the homeless.
25. Recruit local business - One of the easiest ways to involve local businesses is to organize food and/or clothing drives. Contact local organizations to find out what is needed, approach local grocery or clothing shops about setting up containers on their premises in which people can drop off donations, ask local businesses to donate goods to the drive, and publicize the drive by placing announcements in local papers and on community bulletin boards and by posting signs and posters around your neighborhood.
26. Create lists of needed donations - Call all the organizations in your community that aid the homeless and ask them what supplies they need on a regular basis. Make a list for each organization, along with its address, telephone number, and the name of a contact person. Then mail these lists to community organizations that may wish to help with donations — every place from religious centers to children’s organizations such as Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
27. Play with children in a shelter - Many children in shelters are cut off from others their own age. Shuffled from place to place, sometimes these kids don’t attend school on a regular basis, and have no contact with other kids. Bring a little joy to their lives by taking your children to a local shelter to play. Plan activities such as coloring, playing with dolls, or building model cars (take along whatever toys you’ll need). Your own children will benefit too.
28. Employ the homeless - Help Wanted – General Office Work. Welfare recipient, parolee, ex-addict OK. Good salary, benefits. Will train. That’s the way Wildcat Service Corporations Supported Work Program invites the “unemployable” to learn to work and the program works! More than half the people who sign on find permanent, well-paying jobs, often in maintenance, construction, clerical, or security work.
29. Help the homeless apply for aid - Governmental aid is available for homeless people, but many may not know where to find it or how to apply. Since they don’t have a mailing address, governmental agencies may not be able to reach them. You can help by directing the homeless to intermediaries, such as homeless organizations, that let them know what aid is available and help them to apply for it. If you want to be an advocate or intermediary for the homeless yourself, you can contact these organizations as well.
30. Stand up for the civil rights of the homeless - In recent elections, for example, volunteers at shelters and elsewhere helped homeless people register to vote . . . even though they had “no fixed address” at the moment. Some officials would not permit citizens without a permanent address to vote.
31. Join Habitat for Humanity - This Christian housing ministry builds houses for families in danger of becoming homeless. Volunteers from the community and Habitat homeowners erect the houses. Funding is through donations from churches, corporations, foundations, and individuals.
32. Form a transitional housing program - One of the most potent homeless-prevention services a community can offer residents who are in danger of eviction is a transitional housing program. These programs help people hang on to their current residences or assist them in finding more affordable ones. The methods include steering people to appropriate social service and community agencies, helping them move out of shelters, and providing funds for rent, mortgage payments, and utilities. For information, contact the Homelessness Information Exchange at (202) 462-7551.
33. Write to corporations - Some of the largest corporations in America have joined the battle for low-income housing. Through the use of the tax credit or by outright grants, they are participating with federal and state government, not-for-profit and community-based groups to build desperately needed housing in Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and dozens of other cities. Contact various organizations and ask them what they are doing.
34. Contact your government representatives – Our legislators rarely receive more than three visits or ten letters about any subject. When the numbers exceed that amount, they sit up and take note. Personal visits are the most potent. Letters are next; telephone calls are third best. Housing issues don’t come up that often, so your public officials will listen.
35. Push for state homelessness prevention programs - While states routinely supply aid for the poor and homeless, many do not have programs provide funds and other services to those who will lose their homes in the immediate future unless something is done. Homelessness comes at great financial and human cost to the families who are evicted or foreclosed.

And here is a bonus one. . . TAKE ACTION. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone to your local food pantry or homeless shelter to say, “I don’t know how to help, but I want to . . . “ Trust me, they will take it from there.

At the end of the day I PROMISE you will gain more by giving to others than receiving.

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Written By:
Sam Ikua and Brian Williams

I just read and awesome article on mashable titled “Can Social Media Really Help Feed A Billion Hungry People?” To celebrate World Population Day, the World Food Program has launched this campaign to pair a billion Internet users with the billion-plus hungry people in the world.

It is anticipated that during the one minute you spent watching the above video, more than 145 million emails will be sent, more than 2 million other YouTube videos will be watched, $43,681 will be spent on eBay, 83,273 people will log onto Facebook, 2,083 tweets will be sent and 10 children will die from hunger.


In the United States we are shielded from some of the Global News that impacts 100’s of millions of people everyday. Currently in the Horn of Africa they are suffering from one of the longest drought seasons ever felt. This is sparking a hunger epidemic with refugee camps overflowing. When I say overflowing. . . 20,000 people overflowing!

A recent article in EuroNews stated, “In Habaswein in the far north of Kenya there has been no rain for a year. Many animals have died. Others have been taken further north in search of water. Only women, children and the elderly remain in the village.”

This is something that is happening now. I always preach that an act of kindness can be as simple as shedding light on important issues. This is me shinning that light. Do your research – go on google – how can you help? We at Think Kindness have idea’s in the works – we will let you know ours when we all the details are worked out.

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What were you put on earth to do? That’s a mind-blowing question, because
most people don’t know the answer. Lots of folks get up, go to work, come
home, eat dinner, sit in front of the television, and go to sleep. That’s
their day. That is not anyone’s purpose in life. That’s not a life at all.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not throwing blame or fault. In most cases, they
probably don’t know any better. This was how their parents lived each day;
this was how they grew up. Maybe they think this is it, this is all life
has to offer.

Well, I’m here to sound the wake-up call. 

There’s a great scene in the movie “The Matrix” between Morpheus, a
mentor, and Neo, his student. Neo has just woken up and discovered that
what he thought was reality was just a world that had been pulled over his
eyes to shield him from the truth. Morpheus wants Neo to let go of what he
used to think of as “reality”, his mundane, day-to-day existence where
his true purpose was neither recognized nor realized.

I want you to create a new world, a new reality, where you recognize that
you have a purpose for being on this planet, and realize that your purpose
is waiting for you to figure it out.

If you don’t know your purpose, then your first purpose is to get a
purpose.

When you look at the lives of the most successful people who ever lived,
you can see that they had a definite purpose and they knew it. Some
examples are:

Christ: His purpose was spiritual, and stated in John 10:10, which reads
“I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more
abundantly”.

Walt Disney’s purpose: “To make people happy”. 

Dr. R. Buckminster Fuller’s purpose: “Humanity’s comprehensive welfare on
spaceship earth“.

Henry Ford’s purpose: “To mass produce, mass distribute and have cars mass
consumed”.

Andrew Carnegie’s purpose: “To manufacture and market steel”. 

Mother Teresa’s purpose: “To care for and comfort the poor, sick, and
needy all over the world”.

I don’t want you to confuse a purpose with a goal. Goals are great! I
teach goal setting, and believe it is crucial to achieving any kind of
success. But goals alone, left by themselves, can be indiscriminate and
undirected. We can have hundreds of goals (and I hope you do), but we may
only have one purpose that we work for our entire life. That purpose
should be the underlying core that gives our goals direction and meaning.

Discovering your purpose will put your life into crystal-clear
perspective. You won’t see the world you once knew. You will see another
world, one in which you are a necessary and intricate spoke in the wheel.

The saddest places on earth are graveyards. Not because people are buried
there, but because dreams, talents and purposes that never came to
fruition are buried there. Graveyards are filled with books that were
nëver written, songs that were nëver sung, words that were nëver spoken,
things that were nëver done.

You have talents and gifts that no one else can offer. There are things
you can do that no one else is capable of doing quite the way YOU can do
them. Don’t rob this earth of your purpose by taking it to the grave with
you. You see, we all have a purpose, a reason for living, breathing and
existing. We all have unique talents and gifts that were created and given
to us to be shared. Our task is to understand this and figure out what our
purpose is. We owe it to the Universe AND to ourselves!

“You will become as small as your controlling desire, or as great as your
dominant aspiration”.

WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? You cannot find this answer in a book or a class
(Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could?). The answer can only be found
deep inside of you.

How do you find your purpose? My suggestion is meditation, or deep,
controlled, concentrated thought. I want you to find a quiet place where
you won’t be disturbed. Relax and tap into your mind, way back there in
the deepest, secret compartment of your mind, by asking yourself this
question: “If I knew my life purpose, what would it be?”

Don’t just ask it once. Keep asking this question until you get the
answer. It may not come the first day, or even the first week. But it’s
there, and it will show its face if you earnestly ask. This is like a
beacon that will attract your purpose that has been waiting for you to ask
the question.

Do this every morning and every night for 15 minutes until the answer
comes to you, and then write it down. And don’t be surprised if it comes
to you during the day, while you’re at the grocery store, taking the
dog for a walk, or tieing a small child’s belt. Be open to the answer, no matter when it comes to you.

Remember, it wants you just as much as you want it.

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By: Brian Williams

It happened again. Hope and inspiration found me in the oddest place. This time it was in the words of a sunny blonde haired 7-year-old girl. Some say, a child is the purest form of raw emotion. If you’re a parent you can only witness a child in this stage for what seems like a blink of time. It is the happiness, kindness, and pure emotion that is uninfluenced, unaltered, and in its purest form that quickly gets manipulated by commercials, media, and society.

I am not a parent. But last month I got to witness this in its most innocent form first hand.

I was at a local elementary school during their after school program. One of the children in the room accidently spilled his orange juice. Without hesitation the surrounding students began to assist with cleanup. But what was really astonishing was the next chain of events.

A young girl instantly placed the boy’s cup in the upright position, opened her orange juice and poured half of it into his cup. Then slid it back to his tray without him noticing.

“That was very nice of you.” I whispered.

She just smiled.

“Let me ask you a tough question. Now that you just did something really nice for someone, would you say your cup is half full or half empty?”

Thinking I would stump her with the question, she responded without hesitation.

“It doesn’t really matter. If it is half full I am blessed because I have some to share. If it is half empty, I am blessed because I have room for more, and more means more to share.” She smiled and instantly took a sip of her orange juice.

I was speechless.

Many people don’t think that our world can be made a better place. There is either more bad things happening than ever before, or there is just better news coverage than ever before. Someone recently asked me, “Being a ‘motivational’ speaker and all, would you say you’re more of an optimist or pessimist in terms of where our city is heading?”

If you look at everything that is going wrong in our community and world you can’t help but be a pessimist. But once you look at the thousands of people dedicating their lives, money, companies, and prayers to improve it, you can’t help but be optimistic.

Our little 7-year-old sipping orange juice has chosen to live in a world full of opportunities, not limitations. It doesn’t matter if her cup is half full or half empty, it all ends with kindness. A lesson we all should take to heart.

Half Full or Half Empty

MONTHLY KINDNESS CHALLENGE:

Hand write a short note for someone expressing your love, gratitude, or appreciation. Place the note in their jacket pocket, under their windshield wiper, or next to their favorite coffee cup. Make it a random surprise. Go to Facebook.com/ThinkKindness and share your strategy and/or their response.

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Written by: Ali Zucker

This past weekend, I went to visit friends in a little town in Duvall, Washington. This week, Duvall was initiating a “Random Acts of Kindness” week where they encouraged citizens to be kind in any way, shape or form. My friends and I decided to spend Sunday handing out hot chocolate to workers on the street, picking up nails off the street, picking up trash, and collecting shopping carts from parking lots. It was amazing to see peoples’ reactions. Our small gestures had an effect on people, and they all left smiling and expressing their gratitude. All of our activities cost little to nothing, and yet they had the power to improve someone’s day. Anyone can do something kind for others, no matter how big or small it is.

The following is a website which encourages Random Acts of Kindness and provides some ideas that you may be able to incorporate into your daily life:

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/suggest.html

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ROOTS OF HAPPINESS

“The Roots of Happiness” Documentary trailer.
Coming Spring 2011.

Director: Matthew Schultz
Executive Producer: Kelly Abella – Brian Williams
Producer: Kelly Abella
Writer: Ryan Abella
Song: “Happiness” by Jessica Frech

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by: Jade

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency.”-Caroline Kennedy

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see”-Mark Twain quotes

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.”-Seneca

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”-Dalai Lama

“Write injuries in sand, kindnesses in marble”-French Proverb

“Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits, Take care of your garden And keep out the weeds, Fill it with sunshine Kind words and kind deeds”- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world.”-Annie Lennox

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Currently I am sitting in a concrete room. It has 30’ x 15’ wall beige walls. . Medal chairs line the floor boards, flickering florescent lighting hurting my eyes, and power plugs every 8 feet (only 50% of them work). It is 10:30 at night and the children have just finished their studies. Tomorrow, they awake at 5:30 AM, breakfast at 6:00, walk to school at 6:45 am and attend school till 5:00 pm!

The 6th, 7th, 8th graders are studying for there for exit exams that will allow them to attend high school the following year. . . if they pass.

Today I sat beside Grace as she studied for her exams. If you watched the documentary, she is the one that wrote the poem at the end. (she is doing amazing btw). She asked, “Can you help me with my studies?”

“Of Course”

She slid me this word problem across the table. “Geometry” I said. “Lets see, if you find the square root of that number, times this number, it should equal your answer.” And then I gave myself a mental pat on the back! . . but wait, I just told her to find the square root, how do you find the square root without a calculator. AHHH – !

Luckily, she was testing me. . . she said I was correct, but she did the whole problem by hand, every SINGLE step of an equation. Then she said, okay your turn. She wrote a number down and told me to find the square root. – I got it right! – Then I realized, she was teaching me! I loved it – so humbling.

Later that night our team stayed up talking as the children’s voices clatter off the walls before bedtime. Apparently, all of us had similar stories. All of us got tutored! . . . Except for Nicole, she was the lucky one that got to read a book with someone. ☺

I can easily attribute their level of education to their constant studies. Last year, over their summer break, they were studying 3+ hours a day. Currently, they attend school from 7-5 PM and study again from 8:30 – 10:00 PM. But why? Well, today I had another punch in the gut by a child named Zeacheal.

After high school let out several students invited me over to play sports with them. After about an hour into our games, a student walked out of the principal’s office with head down. Five players immediately ran over to him for comfort. I was only curious to know what happened. At first, I thought he got into trouble. But the look on his face was far different than that.

As they were talking I continued to play volleyball with the others that remained. Soon, I got spiked on and the ball went dashing down the red dirt road and landed by the feet of Zeacheal. As I walked up, he only had 1 friend remaining by his side. The look he gave me was one of both pain and pleasure. Pleasure to see a “mazungo” (white person) – and the pain of something that arose from a meeting with the high school management.

I stopped for a moment and remembered that I had an old Magic Trick that my dad bought me when I was a sophomore in high school. Its called Scotch and Soda. (google it). In brief, I asked him to hold out his hand, gave him a $0.50 piece, a copper penny, and made the penny disappear and turn into a Kenyan Schilling.
And POOF! – YES! – I got a smile out of him.

Now the other volleyball players yell at me for forgetting to toss the ball back at them.

Zeacheal and I decided to walk together back towards the Tumaini Orphanage. As we walked, kicking the rocks through the red dirt, he opened up about his story.

“My house is right down there, would you like to come see it?” he said.

“Unfortunately we can’t, we are meeting with the elders tonight, but maybe tomorrow?”.

He smiled.

“Tell me about your family Zeacheal”. . .

The pain came back to his face. . . . he was silent for 50 paces . . . we kept walking and kicking rocks.

“What was the news the principal gave you?” I asked.

“My family is really poor. My mom and my dad are disabled and can not work. It is hard for them to leave the house. I wanted to ask the principal if I could repeat Form 3 (junior year) to improve my grades to hopefully get into a college. But when I met with him he said that he couldn’t allow me to do anything unless my parents paid the balance on my schooling.”

“I thought High School was free? It cost you money to go to school?” I asked.

“Yes, we’ve paid 2,400 Kenyan Schillings, but we owe around 1,700 more. To get the money, every Saturday I sneak into my neighbors garden and pick the vegetables and sell it on the streets in Nyeri Town to pay for school.” He looked at me really quick. “Don’t tell anyone”.

“Ha don’t you worry – I won’t, your secret is safe with me! Zeacheal how are your grades right now?”
“They are C’s. I know I can do better. But at night I have to care for my family. I can’t study because we have no power at night. That is why I asked to repeat Form 3. If I repeat it one more year, I think I will do even better”
We soon parted ways and Zeacheal and I have set a date to tour his home and meet his family. But right now I am sitting in a solid brick room – knowing that a child is being threatened to be kicked out of school unless he can pay 1,700 schillings! . . . $19.97

Matt Digesti and I both heard part of his story and we will be going together to meet him and his family. Without hesitation Matt said, “Ha – I think we can get him 1700 shillings to get an education”. We are excited to present him with this gift. We have also set aside other items to bring him and his family for our visit.

Currently, outside of these concrete walls are hundreds of kids in his same scenario. Yes, I realize I do not have the capability to cure the worlds education problem, but I do feel blessed that Matt , the team, and our supporters back home are making a difference in the ones that we can.

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f I had wings I would fly all of these children to loving families. Ones that will treat them to Ice Cream Sunday’s, fun filled holidays, water fights, hot chocolate, grandparents, board games, and a loving family pet. . . If only I had the wings.

Today I sat down during their fellowship service, a service 100% ran by students. At 8:00 o’clock sharp, every student heads to the hall and takes a seat. A drum made out of cow hide starts striking a tune, and 100 children start to sing. For over 2 hours, song, dance, clapping, prayer, smiles – and love. It was beautiful. We were surrounded by children’s singing prayer. . . it was amazing.

As I was listening, my head down, my eyes closed, taking to heart every noise around me. A 7 year old girl named Ann crawled up on my lap. She rested her head on against my arm and grasped my index finger. – No words were exchanged, just comfort.

At this point I was holding back tears (and still am as I as I type this to the light of my Netbook screen on my bed).

She is wearing a dress and a wool sport coat and a hat with star shaped sun glasses. She’s as cute as can be.

I remember being 6 years old and sitting the same way with my Grandpa. Sitting on his lap and looking at how big his hands were compared to mine. I remember the feeling of being embraced by true love.

It breaks my heart thinking that this is a rarity to Ann.

The next day we heard a story told by one of the members of the church. It was about a boy that had a hunch on his back. He was an orphan child, nobody to love him, nobody to care. The priest went out and asked one of the parents of his congregation to treat the boy as if it was her own son.

With one son of her own already, she agreed.

His hunch grew with time. She told her biological son, “Never ask him about his hunch. I MEAN NEVER!”. Her son agreed.

As they grew up, years went by and they were inseparable. Playing futbol, studies, reading books, and watching meteors during late august nights.

One night as they sat beneath the stars, the boy got the courage to ask him about the hunch on his back.

“How did you get your hunch?” the boy asked.

“God gave it to me.” He replied.

A moment went by.

“Well, what is it?”

“It’s my wings.” – - “Wings?”

“God gave me wings, so one day I can be with my mom again. When I get strong enough, they will burst out and I can fly to heaven to be with her again. I’ll be able to just fly away.” He said.

###

I realize how blessed I am to have amazing parents, family, and friends. To Ann, she doesn’t have a hunch, but she does have wings. Tonight, they placed her on my lap, embraced my finger, and sang prayer.

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Reno Toyota and Think Kindness have partnered up to do monthly random acts of kindness. Each month, we are asking members from the community to nominate someone who’s car is deserving of a random act of kindness. Our Kindness Crew dives through all of the nominations to select one recipient who will not only receive a FREE CAR SERVICE, but will also be challenged to PAY IT FORWARD.

If you would like to nominate someone  - CLICK HERE.

Check out last months act of kindness:

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By: Rebecca Olsen

We should all be more kind,courtious and respectfull towards our fellow neighbors. Always give a smile too,for it may make someones day and lift their spirits,for we may not know how their day is going or what they maybe dealing with. All in all,be kind and respectfull to others,while smiling and you never know,there maybe friends to be had. Acceptance,kindness and respect,all under valued and seen less of these days. So as it has been said….Be the change you want to see and the world will open up to thee.

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Our Kindness Crew was back in action with Helping Hands!

Over 28 Homes – 20+ contractors and dozens of volunteers – watch what kindness can do!

Want to more information about the kindness crew? Go to: www.ThinkKindness.org

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By: Rebecca Janes

So in my searches of the internet for Random Acts of Kindness, I found this website called PoliteStranger.com. Its a great place for you to go to SHARE an act of kindness that you have witnessed or experienced and its a place where you can go to read other people’s experiences and to get that smile in place for the next stranger you will meet. Not only are we pushing for everyone to THINK KINDNESS – it would be great if some of it was documented too. Good luck everyone! And don’t forget to pay it forward.

Here is the website:
http://www.politestranger.com

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By: Jade Sheldon

Fable of the Porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever -  many animals died because of the cold.

The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together.

This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other.

After awhile they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen.

So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.

This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companion, but the most important part of it, was the heat that came from the others.

This way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story:
The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but the best is when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person’s good qualities.

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By: Brian Williams

Today I met with some local CEO’s about upcoming charity events. One meeting in particular stood out as I walked into his office and he was reading about a fellow executive in the New York Times. He said, “It’s amazing how someone can reach such success and then fall apart so quickly.”

When a high-profile leader fails or a leading corporation self-destructs, the repercussions are far-reaching and often leave us asking, “How could that happen?”  - These are my thoughts:

#1: A Shift in Focus

A clear focus dictates a leader’s goals and strategies, aligning all activity toward a central mission. Clarity of focus allows a leader with the confidence and sense of purpose to successfully hone in on his mission.

Leaders stumble when their focus drifts or becomes divided. Many leaders flounder when they stray from their strengths and shift focus on opportunities or challenge that they just are flat out ill-equipped to pursue. When a business executive is faced with a variety of business options, they may lack the very decisiveness to commit to any one of them.

During the Vietnam War, the focus of the America’s wartime leaders wavered between two extremes—total military engagement or complete withdrawal. The instability that resulted from lack of choosing a indistinct course of action led to the disastrous consequence of a decade of bloodshed.

#2: Poor Communication

Leaders who lose the ability to articulate their vision and values are doomed to stumble sooner or later. Inconsistency in communication paralyzes an organization.

To translate values and vision into company culture, they must be communicated repeatedly and modeled consistently. Until an organization’s vision and values become a common refrain in the speech, writings, and personal example of leadership, they will remain empty slogans and ineffectual intentions.

The infamous collapse of the energy titan Enron illustrated the destructive results of poor communication. Certainly, Enron’s demise began with a lack of integrity, but a climate of clear and open communication could have exposed this fault. Instead, secrecy and closed door meetings overran Enron’s core value of communication and perpetuated a culture of dishonesty.

“Communication: We have an obligation to communicate. Here, we take the time to talk with one another…and to listen. We believe that information is meant to move and that information moves people.” –Excerpt from Enron’s Statement of Core Values. . . (ha like that happened!)

#3: Risk Aversion

When leaders cling to comfort and forgo change, they are virtually guaranteeing their demise. Businesses and markets are, by nature, in constant motion, and organizations must continuously risk changes in establishing new models and methods in order to succeed.

Embracing risk requires a leader to innovate and evolve. New-found technologies, variable consumer tastes, and alterations in legislation are a sampling of the scores of changes confronting today’s leaders. Leadership demands adaptability. To successfully chart the course of a company, a leader must be forward-thinking and willing to make adjustments on the fly.

Xerox pioneered a plethora of computing and printing inventions at its Palo Alto Research Corporation in the 1970s and 1980s. These inventions should have catapulted the company to record-breaking profits and corporate wealth, but risk aversion and short-sightedness sent Xerox spiraling into a market share freefall.

Lets all learn an important lesson from the mistakes of others.

1. Stay Focuced
2. Have Integrity and Communicate Effectively
3. Take Strategic Risks.

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By: Rebecca Janes

I remember being in middle school (a REALLY long time ago) and bullying happened (never to me) but I do have concious memories of it happening around me. Yet I don’t remember anyone doing anything big to stop it. Of course I remember teachers preaching the “Prevent Bullying” speech (typically at the beginning of the year). But nothing like today -where it is everywhere. Where its THE hot topic in the news. But I do agree that bullying has become an issue and not only in schools and workplaces but in private lives too. It happens to celebrities and its called stalking. It happens to children on the playground and its called bullying. It happens to teens and its called drama. It happens and it has many names.

MTV is launching a campaign targeting digital abuse. Click Here for the article discussing their efforts.

So what is answer. . . Kindness – it is the exact opposite of bullying. In fact, it is also the ultimate form of Self-Defense. It is really hard to be mean to someone that is always nice to you.

Remember to pay it forward. Always. Good luck everyone!

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Think Kindness founder Brian Williams, was featured on this months issue of Reno Passport. During Brian’s interview with Reno Passport editor, Michelle Montoya, he claimed, “So many people want to make a difference, they just don’t know where to start.” She immediately replied, “Seriously. . .” then both of their wheels started to churn.

Michelle and Brian came up with a challenge called, GIVE ONE. The thought is to see how many people could inspire everyone they spend Thanksgiving with to donate $1 to inspire kindness throughout the city.

“It is easy to give money to charity, but it is even harder to inspire someone else to give. . . that’s what makes this a true challenge. But during Thanksgiving we have so much to be truly thankful for. Let’s pay it forward. . . with just $1″

To get officially involved with the Give One campaign – join their Facebook event: CLICK HERE.

Take a look at the article here:

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By: Ali Zucker

Without any medical explanation or warning, Nicholas Vujicic came into the world with neither arms nor legs.Now at 27 years old, this limbless young man has accomplished more than most people accomplish in a lifetime. Nick recently made the massive move from Brisbane, Australia to California, USA, where he is the President of an international non-profit organization; Life Without Limbs, and also has his own motivational speaking company; Attitude Is Altitude.

Check out his website @ http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

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Don’t wait for people to be friendly, show them how. ~Author Unknown

By: Karen Dixon

How can we expect people to know what kindness, love, and giving looks like – if they’ve never been shown it?

People are usually concerned with their problems and lives as they go about their day and rarely stop to think about the people around them.

I propose this: The next time you are at the grocery store and see a woman pushing a stroller, trying to exit the store – hold the door open for her. When you ask someone how their day is - actually listen. They might need someone to hear them out and possibly give advice.

It’s these simple acts of kindness that people recognize and appreciate. Hopefully, the next time they see someone who needs a hand carrying out their groceries – they can pay their act of kindness forward.

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