The Kindness Equation

Happy February!

(Grab some coffee cause this post is kind of long ...)

Today I woke up thinking about kindness. And it felt good. So while my husband is out kindly picking up donuts, I thought I'd share some of those thoughts.

This weekend, the nation will spend unimaginable sums of money on one of America's favorite annual events, the Super Bowl. It's the championship game between two professional football teams. I'm not really sure where they're playing, but I know that my team, the Packers, didn't make it this year. It's not a big deal to all of us, but it's a big deal to a lot of people.

Just once, I think it'd be cool if all of that money went to charity

 instead of to our recreation and entertainment. 

Because sometimes things don't add up and people need kindness and help more than football. Take this wrestler from Georgia with downs syndrome ... Kim from CA and Jennifer from Canada both sent this link last week, so I'm sending you there first ... go on, I'll just freshen up my coffee.

Another one of my scouts texted this article to me because she knew it'd score a touchdown. And it did! If you've missed this post about a math teacher who has been working to intentionally change her classroom climate since Columbine, you must click {here}. I'll be here when you get back.

Did you go read it? That teacher knows that kids need the kindness equation as much as math, too! 

My friend Lee also knows the equation. This weekend, he'll combine kindness and service with the big game. You see, he's got a ministry for the homeless in Houston and he goes downtown every Wednesday night to visit with them, pray with them, give them hope. He takes his girls along, and anyone else who will go with him. On Sunday, he and some buddies are throwing a Super Bowl party for those people. In a field, on a borrowed big screen run by a generator. So that these friends, for whom life just hasn't been kind, can escape for a bit and enjoy a one-of-a-kind Super Bowl party. Some of our school family members were able to send along individually-wrapped treats so that they'll have treats like Oreos, candy bars, Ritz bits and more to snack on during the game. I can't wait to hear all about it.

This week I read about some teens who also know the kindness equation. I first saw the project posted on the Hood's Kindness Revolution Experiment page by Principal Joelle Hood. Their kindness solution was simple; take signs of encouragement to the street and share inspirational thoughts with passersby. Click {here} to go there; I'll wait. It's part of Laura Lavigne's Happiness Sprinkling project and it's got our school's name all over it! My friend Laura has already offered her junior high choir students. Singers with Signs ... love it!

And speaking of signs, The Joy Team is putting out billboards with kind messages.  Have you seen this one?

It's quite a sign, don't ya think?

Wow ... imagine the infinite potential that 

your kindness equation could eventually net.

And while kindness knows no calendar, I think February is the perfect time to double, triple, even quadruple our 

intentional kindness efforts.

Why not start this week during National School Counseling Week,

 then keep going during Random Acts of Kindness Week.

  

Phew ... told ya it was kind of long ... here's to a SUPER weekend.