Children have so many answers to the questions that we all seek.

Recently I decided to volunteer with Mrs. Klecker's 5th grade class. My intention was to share the vision of kindness that I seek in the world and have them teach me what they know about kindness.

Together we all learn.

First we talked about why kindness is needed in the world. Here are some of their answers:
- there are a lot of lonely people in the world
- to help children that are sick feel better
- it helps to make people smile
- nice people are more fun to be around

Next we talked about kind acts to do.
-Make friends with someone who is always alone on the playground
-Give someone a high five and tell them "nice job!"
-Pick up something that was dropped
-Help parents clean the house (I REALLY like this one!)
-Give someone a hug or smile
-Say hi to the mailman

Then they drew pictures of people being kind.
-two kids playing monopoly and one alone "Do you want to play with us?"
-knuckle bumps
-two people sharing a hug
-someone doing dishes for their parents
-a person giving a dog a treat (dogs need kindness too!)

I'm learning a lot more about kindness and how much it's needed in the world. Start a conversation with a kid. Keep the conversation going!

You might surprise yourself how much our kids can teach us when we're willing to learn.

March would have marked my sister Paula's 43rd birthday. She died in a car crash in 1990.

Actually she lived with a brain injury for a week before she died. Her last living kind act was to donate her organs.

It was because that she was brain dead that she was able to give these gifts. Many people do not know this.

There are very few of us that will be in this place to be so kind as to literally give our heart away as our last kind act.

If you're not a donor, you might want to consider it.

If there is the chance that your brain dies before your body, I hope you are as lucky as I am to know what kindness is.

Kindness is a gift that we give ourselves so that we can share with others.

Kindness is knowing that you are not "broke" and therefore don't need anyone to fix you.

Kindness is changing the world within you before going off to change the world around you.

Kindness is not something that we can take for granted or is expected of anyone.

Kindness is not something that is experienced by everyone.

Kindness is not something you force on anyone.

I learned a lot from Paula and the many other kinactors that have crossed my path. 

I'm reminded of the song by Kenny Rogers, "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. You got to know when to walk away. Know when to run." Paula would change the words to songs. Her version was, "You got to know when you want ice cream and know when you want none."

God only knows that I like my ice cream but sometimes I need to walk away. It's the kindest thing I can do for myself.

I'd love to serve up some ice cream but I know that not everyone wants it or needs it.

Does this make sense to you?

I'd also love to hear where you think kindness is most needed in the world.

If you haven't already done so, please sign up to receive my favorite traveling kindness gift on the home page at www.kinactor.com

Connect with the kinactors (kind actors) and post if you are in in the comment section down below or email Lisa@Kinactor.com to help us meet our goal of KINDNESS EVERYWHERE.

Mission:
1. Create kind acts
2. Connect during Kindness Week (first week monthly)
3. Collaborate to expand the vision

Goal: 1000 new kinactors monthly to spread kindness everywhere.

Connect with the kinactors for a KINDNESS FLASH MOB every month on the 7th at 6PM. Details will be posted at www.kinactor.com or follow us on facebook.

If you are a TRAVELING KINDNESS recipient , thank you for letting us know how many initials are on your card.

Kindness can and will be everywhere with people like you leading the way. We can all learn so much from each other as kindness is passed along. Share where kindness travels.

Please share. Pay it forward. Go global with the Q Kindness Challenge! (Keep notes and post them in the COMMENT section following this post to receive the next level's challenge).

 LEVEL ONE Q Kindness Challenge

1.       Let someone go ahead of you

2.       Call someone to wish them well (have no other agenda)

3.       Write a kind note to tell someone they’ve made a difference in your life and why

4.       Share something that has meaning to you

5.       Compliment someone sincerely (preferably someone you don’t know well)

6.       Treat someone anonymously (it can be something as simple as sharing some pennies)

7.       Write about your kindness challenge HERE at kinactor.com (kind actor connector)

Post in the COMMENT SECTION to receive the NEXT LEVEL.

 Receive the next level challenge once this is complete.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Limits of Liability: Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor has no responsibility whatsoever for injuries, losses, or damages of any kind that result from entrance into the Contest or receipt, acceptance, possession, or use of any prize. Sponsor assumes no liability for lost or misdirected entry forms regardless of the circumstances. Sponsor maintains no control over the personnel, equipment, or operation of any air, water or surface carrier, ship line, bus or limousine company, transportation company, hotel, restaurant, or other person or entity furnishing service, products, or accommodations as a part of the prize package (the “Other Suppliers”). Sponsor shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience, or other irregularity that may be caused or contributed to (1) by wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any of those Other Suppliers or any of their agents, servants, employees, or independent contractors, (2) by any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, instrumentality, service, product, or accommodation that is owned, operated, furnished, or otherwise used by any of the Other Suppliers, (3) by the wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any other person or entity not an employee of the Sponsor or (4) by any cause, condition, or event whatsoever beyond the control of Sponsor.
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the Contest at any time if the integrity of the Contest is, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion, compromised in any way. By entering the Contest, entrants release and hold Sponsor harmless from and against any and all damages and claims of any kind in connection with the Contest or resulting from entrance in the Contest, or receipt, acceptance, possession or use of any prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for an alternative prize of equal or greater value in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.
All entries become the sole property of Sponsor, and Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any (i) lost, stolen, delayed, damaged or misdirected entries or for any failure of the website during the Contest period, or (ii) any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure or delay of any e-mail or entry to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or (iii) any combination thereof including, but not limited to, any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or other equipment related to or resulting from entrant’s participation in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Contest should a virus, bug or other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor corrupt the security or proper administration of the Contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution.

Winner Responsibilities: The winner is solely responsible for the reporting and payment of any tax liabilities incurred as a result of or relating to the awarding or use of any prize. In addition, by entering the Contest, entrants affirm that they have read, understood and accepted these Official Rules.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Limits of Liability: Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor has no responsibility whatsoever for injuries, losses, or damages of any kind that result from entrance into the Contest or receipt, acceptance, possession, or use of any prize. Sponsor assumes no liability for lost or misdirected entry forms regardless of the circumstances. Sponsor maintains no control over the personnel, equipment, or operation of any air, water or surface carrier, ship line, bus or limousine company, transportation company, hotel, restaurant, or other person or entity furnishing service, products, or accommodations as a part of the prize package (the “Other Suppliers”). Sponsor shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience, or other irregularity that may be caused or contributed to (1) by wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any of those Other Suppliers or any of their agents, servants, employees, or independent contractors, (2) by any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, instrumentality, service, product, or accommodation that is owned, operated, furnished, or otherwise used by any of the Other Suppliers, (3) by the wrongful, negligent, or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any other person or entity not an employee of the Sponsor or (4) by any cause, condition, or event whatsoever beyond the control of Sponsor.
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the Contest at any time if the integrity of the Contest is, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion, compromised in any way. By entering the Contest, entrants release and hold Sponsor harmless from and against any and all damages and claims of any kind in connection with the Contest or resulting from entrance in the Contest, or receipt, acceptance, possession or use of any prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for an alternative prize of equal or greater value in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.
All entries become the sole property of Sponsor, and Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any (i) lost, stolen, delayed, damaged or misdirected entries or for any failure of the website during the Contest period, or (ii) any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure or delay of any e-mail or entry to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or (iii) any combination thereof including, but not limited to, any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or other equipment related to or resulting from entrant’s participation in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Contest should a virus, bug or other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor corrupt the security or proper administration of the Contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution.

Winner Responsibilities: The winner is solely responsible for the reporting and payment of any tax liabilities incurred as a result of or relating to the awarding or use of any prize. In addition, by entering the Contest, entrants affirm that they have read, understood and accepted these Official Rules.

PLATINUM level sponsor:  13 total gifts of $100 or more per month.

GOLD level sponsor: 7 total gifts of $100 or more per month.

SILVER level sponsor: 13 total gifts of $20 or more per month.

Post for prizes! prizes awarded each month for six or twelve months. The addtional prize will be for an act of kindness to the Chief Instigator of Kindness, Lisa Metwaly.
    
BENEFITS: Your company NAME featured on the website www.kinactor.com as a sponsor of the Global Kindness Initiatives. FONT size for the PLATINUM listing is TWICE the size of the gold and silver sponsorship and HIGHER up on the page.

Both Gold and Platinum sponsors will also have links to their websites.

Traveling Kindness on a Stick
OPPORTUNITY for SIX GOLD SPONSORS for 5000 Kindness on a Stick Fans*
Participants are asked to take a photograph of themselves and a new friend somewhere around the world holding their kindness on a stick fan and send it in to be posted on the kinactor website for prizes.

BENEFITS: Your Company NAME and website seen by people around the world on the back of the fans. Logo, tag line and link to your website added for full sponsorships.

        $700 investment per sponsor slot or $4000 total for full sponsorship.