I'm Back...And I Need Your Help!

On March 18th, 1995, after retiring from the game 2 years prior and playing baseball within the White Sox organization, Michael Jordan returned to the game he loved with a fax that simply read "I'm Back."  Well it may not have the same gravitas (or outdated technology), but I am here to say that after a few delays to my comeback (similar to another famous Chicago Bull), I am back in the kindness game.  Seeing my 20 month old daughter perform a random act of kindness really got me itching to get back out there and do things for others.  The plan has always been to start my next mission of doing a random act in each state (State of Kind) and so starting today, I am going to get off of my butt and begin the process.  Due to how expensive and time consuming it would be to travel to each state, it will take longer than a year, but I am dedicated to bringing kindness from sea to shining sea (Hawaii and Alaska too).  However, I am going to need some help with all of this, so I am looking for some help.  As with 366 Random Acts, I am going to be taking suggestions from all of you for random acts in each state.  I'll also need help in terms of coordination once we decide what to do in each state.  I would love to involve as many followers to this blog as possible, so please feel free to join in!

One of the first things I am looking to do involves helping someone with a disability complete a race/5K/Triathlon, so if anyone, anywhere knows someone, please let me know (366RandomActs@gmail.com). 

Day 366...

My Inspiration: Then and Now

 "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
 -Ferris Bueller

The above quote comes from one of my favorite movies of all time.  It also perfectly encompasses how I feel after this whole year and how I will live my life moving forward.  My emotions are going crazy right now thinking that the year is over.  I am happy and proud that we were able to complete all 366 acts without missing a day.  I am saddened by the fact that it is over.  I am shocked by just how quickly the year went by.  I am excited to see where 2013 and beyond takes my family.  This year we have suffered through the loss of loved ones, the arrival of babies, new friends both here and overseas, and old friends and family returning to our lives.  These random acts have allowed me to connect with people across the United States and the world, and it has made me realize that, while there is more kindness around us than I could ever have imagined, there are still more opportunities to make a positive impact in people's lives.  Throughout this year, I have been asked 4 questions more than anything else: "Which random act is your favorite?" "What are you going to do on January 1st?"  "What are you doing with the dime per follower?" "What is going to be the 366th act?"  I have either played coy when asked these questions or flat out said that I wouldn't answered them.  Well, it's the last day, so I guess I am going to have to answer them.

"Which random act is your favorite?"

I have the hardest time answering this question because, honestly, it is extremely hard for me to pick just 1 act that is my favorite.  I compare it to asking a parent which one of their children is their favorite.  It really is impossible to pick for me.  Acts that really stand out for me are Day 8, Day 14, Day 213 , Day 235 and Day 330.  But honestly, although those really stand out, I still cannot pick a favorite. 

"What are you going to do on January 1st?"

This is probably the question that I have been asked more than any other.  Usually I just jokingly say "Sleeping in" or "I'm going to turn into a jerk and do 365 Random Acts of Unkindness," but that isn't the truth.  Here is what I can tell you as to my plans as of now.  I need your help.  While I won't be doing a different random act of kindness each day, I don't want the idea of everyday kindness to end.  Therefore, 366 Random Acts will become an open forum for people to send their acts of kindness.  They don't have to be different.  They don't have to be grand.  They just have to be kind.  So let's have 'em.  Whether you are doing a random act yourself or have had one done for you, send your stories of kindness to 366RandomActs@gmail.com.  The reason that I cannot commit to doing a different act each day is because I am going to be doing something different that I can't confine to a year.  Starting in 2013, I will be doing a different act of kindness in each of the 50 states.  I am guessing it might take me a couple of years to complete all 50, but you will be able to follow here on the blog.  In advance of traveling to a state, I will put out a call for everyone's help, as I want the acts to be huge.  So be on the lookout for the first State of Kind.

"What are you going to do with the dime per follower?"

As of now, between all the social media outlets that I have committed to donating a dime per follower, the random acts community is near 10,000 people.  Thankfully, this doesn't count the nearly 450,000 people that have visited the site this year or else I would be broke.  When this journey first started out, I figured that I would find a charity to donate the money to at year end.  However, I have found so many incredible charities that I have donated to throughout the year, it would be impossible for me to pick just one.  While almost $1000 is a good amount of money, I want to make sure that it goes towards something where a life or lives are truly impacted, and I'm not sure a few bucks here and there really would.  However, I think I have found a way that it can go towards something truly positive.

"What is going to be your 366th act?"

The money from the dime per follower pledge is actually going towards my 366th act.  My whole year was inspired by my daughter.  Seeing her face while she played around on the ground 1 year ago today gave me the idea because I knew I had to change the world around her in a positive way.  Now, I see her running around the house, playing and talking up a storm, and she continues to inspire me.  But another question people have asked is "What are you going to do for your future children?" and I was taken aback because...well...what the hell am I going to do for my future children?!?!  Then I had an idea, and like any good husband, I got permission from my wife to start to turn this idea into reality.  My 366th act is going to be for Isla, but it is also going to be for my future child.  That is because Day 366 will be my future child.  For my final random act of kindness, my wife and I will begin the process of adopting a sister or brother for Isla.  We will be putting the dime per follower pledge towards the adoption process, so we have each and every one of you to thank.  I felt as though this was the best way to use the money to truly impact a life.  I know I made it a rule to do my acts on the day I posted them, but you'll have to forgive me on this one.  It will definitely take a little longer.

So there it is.  366 Random Acts of Kindness.  I want to thank everyone who has made this possible;   my daughter, my wife, my family, my friends, my nanny who is family now, my boss and coworkers, and all of you.  This has been the most incredible year of my life, and none of it would have been possible without all of the love and support of have received from all corners of my life.  While this is the end of one journey, it is the beginning of another.  Please continue to spread kindness.  We are going to be the change that this world needs.  Let's start now because as Ferris says, "Life moves pretty fast."  Danke Schoen.

Day 365: Got The World To Sing A Song

366 Random Acts of Kindness was an idea that started out on the couch inside of a tiny little place in Chicago.  I expected this blog, which was used just so I could document my acts for Isla, to be followed by friends and family.  Due to the power of social media, it has grown to be read by hundreds of thousands of people in 129 countries around the world.  I don't say this to pat myself on the back because I don't think that it really has anything to do with me.  I think the reason it has grown is because of the need for positivity all around the globe.  The 24 hour news cycle is a constant reminder of all the wrong happening in the world, and this blog (and others like it) is a reminder that all is not bad out there.  

Not too far back, I put out a call to the 366 Random Acts community all around the world.  I needed their help with an act.  I gave them instructions on what to do, but I didn't tell them exactly what it would be for.  Well now, they, and everyone else get to see because today, for my random act of kindness, I got the world to sing a song together and it is dedicated to everyone around the globe.  These videos are more specifically dedicated to John Bascom, Miles Austrevich, the lives needlessly cut short in Newtown, Aurora, Chicago, Syria and anywhere else, and to anyone that has gone through struggles this year.  A lack of computer editing skills and a fear of copyright lawyers kept me from editing it all together, but here is the 366 Random Acts community singing "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles.

P.S. If you would like to add your own version, just let me know at 366RandomActs@gmail.com.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

My Family At Christmas

Hollywood, California, USA

Grenada 

Stokesly, North Yorkshire, England

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

 Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, Thailand

West Seneca, New York, USA

Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Canada

Mexico

Seattle, Washington, USA

Rome, Italy

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Tuscany, Italy

Day 364: Reached Out And Set Up An Introduction

This year has been a life changing experience for me and I have really grown as a person.  I've learned that some things are way more important than others, grudges only weigh on you negatively and letting bygones by bygones helps with closure.  Those themes weighed heavily on my decision for my random act today.  I've commented on here before how my father and I don't really communicate except for a few texts here and there.  He hadn't reached out to ask to see Isla and that confounded me.  I figured, rather than continue to be angry about it, I would be the one to take the next step.  So today, for my random act of kindness, I reached out and set up an introduction.  I am looking to introduce Isla to my father soon, so we will see how that goes.  A lot of things have happened in my life and in the lives of many others that made me realize that our life is finite and we shouldn't live it angry.

Day 363: Made A Donation In The Name Of Miles Austrevich

Sorry for the late posting.  We have been traveling back from California all day.  Luckily, Isla Bean was a good girl for the most part.  There was a marine on our flight that kept her attention and made her laugh.  As if he hadn't done enough for me and my family by serving, he went ahead and helped us keep our child from having an outburst as we waited on the tarmac for an extra half an hour.  Well tomorrow is the visitation for friend of the blog, Miles Austrevich.  If you want to learn more about Miles and his bravery up until his last day, you can do so by reading this letter his father, Len, wrote after his passing.  In a couple of conversations in the past, Len had mentioned how much Miles loved a camp for kids with cancer that he attended.  The camp serves as a diversion to the illness, and as a way for kids suffering from this dreaded disease to build bonds with others in the same situation.  One Step Camp started in 1978 with 40 kids, but has now grown to serve upwards of 300+ kids as they go on different life changing excursions.  So today, for my random act of kindness, I made a donation in the name of Miles Austrevich to the Children's Oncology Services Inc. One Step Camp.  If you would like to join me in doing so, donations are accepted here.

Day 362: Helped Grind Out Hunger

Santa Cruz is a really cool, really chill town.  It is known as Surf City U.S.A., and while the surfing is king here, skateboarding is just as big a part of the culture.  In this town, home to Santa Cruz Skateboards, it is common place to seeing people get to wherever they need to go by way of skateboard.  Now I am not one that has ever partaken in skateboarding outside of slipping and falling on my butt a few times, but I am always in awe of skaters both professional and amateur.  Today, I went by a place that was using the uniting power of skateboarding to make a change in the world.  Grind Out Hunger is a non-profit organization started by skateboarders with the intention to help decrease childhood hunger and malnutrition by 50% by 2015.  They look to do this by mobilizing the youth of greater Santa Cruz county (whom they reach by skate shows at schools around the area) to raise money and food through their school.  This evening they will have an event in association with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the National Basketball Developmental League, and I am going to help donate to that event.  So today, for my random act of kindness, I am going to help grind out hunger by donating to said organization.  It is our last evening in California, and while it has been a great trip, I am ready to get back to Chicago for the last few acts.

Day 361: Bought Movie Tickets For The People Behind Me In Line

My cousin Cameron and I had a long day hanging out in greater Santa Cruz.  We hit up the Capitola Mall.  We went to Downtown Capitola, grabbed a couple slices of Pizza My Heart, and ate them on the beach.  We hung out in Santa Cruz, checking out the new basketball stadium and the interesting crowds that Santa Cruz is known for.  We decided that we wanted to make a true Man Date out of it and went to go see a movie (Side note: The movie was Django Unchained and I highly recommend it.  Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz, and Sam Jackson were awesome.).  While we were in line, I noticed a mother and son behind us who were trying to decide what movie they wanted to see.  Since the conversation reminded me of one I would have with my mom (except that deciding which movie would be replaced with whether or not to go to the theater), I decided I wanted to do something nice for them.  So today, for my random act of kindness, I bought movie tickets for the people behind me in line.  They really appreciated it, and had actually intended on using a gift card.  They asked me why and I told them it was just a random act of kindness.  I told them if they wanted to keep the chain going and pass on the gift card, that would be awesome.