Tina's blog

One of my favorite stores, Michaels, is celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day today by giving away more than $100,000 in gift cards in its stores and on Facebook. This is the craft store's way of saying thank you to its customers and encouraging them to get into the pay it forward spirit with DIY gifts. Gift suggestions and step by step project instructions are given on their Share the Love page. And don't worry if you're not the artsy-craftsy type. Michael's makes it easy!

Post a comment on Facebook or visit one of their stores to enter.

On this special day we celebrate LOVE, I wanted to share with you the story of Johnny Barnes, Bermuda's friendliest man. Johnny has made it his mission to tell everyone that passes by the Foot of the Lane roundabout in Hamilton, Bermuda, "I Love You." Why? Nobody can really answer that question. But there is no doubt he is an island living legend. The islanders spent $70,000 on a life-size bronze statue of him blowing his kisses in the air just to honor their beloved brother. You can catch him just about every day from 4 am to 10 am spreading love from his happy place smack dab in the middle of the morning traffic commute. He's the guy greeting the world with a wide smile, often giggling, and blowing kisses.

Matt Morris made a short film called Mr. Happy Man, about Johnny. I promise this will make your heart sing on this Valentines Day!

"We human beings gotta learn to love one another." Johnny Barnes

What a hero! Texas radio personality, Hector Lepe, uses his morning show as a platform for paying it forward. Last week, he got to feel what it is like to be on the receiving end of kindness paid forward.

There was an article in my local newspaper today, The Kingwood Tribune, about an 89-year-old high school substitute teacher in our town. Being a substitute is an underrated profession (I tried it b.r.i.e.f.l.y), I can't imagine doing it at the fragile age of 89! ! Pretty much a lion's den if you ask me. I knew this man had to be special.

Remember my Need Kindness Suggestions post from a couple weeks ago? We'll Ryan Garcia should get plenty of help with ideas since he was featured yesterday on Inside Edition. It's always nice to put a face with a name so I was glad to see Ryan in action doing his "kindness thing". The piece even gave him a new title... America's Nicest Guy. Congrats Ryan!

Social media outlets used as tools to bully is a common topic making today's headlines. So it is always a refreshing twist to read about teens using blogs, Facebook, or Twitter to spread positive gossip. St. Peter High School in Orleans, Canada, didn't just dismantle this illusive problem, but converted a negative Twitter account spreading rumors into a student-established site to post compliments about other students.

What a great title for a film about a mugging victim using what most of us would consider a terrifying confrontation, as an opportunity to help a troubled teen. I heard about this short film project currently being shown at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and my attention was caught. The creative mind behind this work is Roy Hathon, a young film director/producer hoping to create a kinder climate through motion picture.

Today marks day 253 that Kirk Sinclair and his wife, Cindy, have been trekking across the USA to bring attention to the problems of housing, health, and hunger. The Sinclairs are certainly not alone in their strong commitment to help others by crossing the states, bringing publicity to the kindness cause. I've posted similar stories within the past few months about long distance travel by car - the American Bear project, by foot - Walk4Good, and even by cab - the Kindness Cab, all recording epic travel adventures in their blogs for great causes regardless of the mode of transportation.

This story may have moved me because I'm on day 5 of a fasting cleanse and the idea of eating a muffin is my greatest desire at the moment. Or maybe because it's about 3 retired men who are using their golden years to create a kinder world. Probably both.

I found this video on Storytellers for Good, a platform for telling human-interest stories that inspire. Three men, Frank, John, and Jack taking retirement and kindness to a new level. You're gonna love these guys!

THE MUFFIN MEN from Storytellers For Good on Vimeo.

I read about Make It Do in The Daily GOOD newsletter a few days ago. The article was about a 2012 resolution that Meg Hourihan created in which she has promised not to buy anything unless she has worn it out or used it up. Meg not only decided to do this for 2012, but she is sharing her purchases on her website to hold herself accountable by justifying every investment to the reader. Her goal is to reduce a pattern of over-consumption.