Want Change In Our Country? Start With The #AmericaIsKind Challenge

We want to spread kindness, gratitude and acts of good while highlighting the work of great charities.

We want to start a wildfire of kindness and positivity online and in everyday life. So if you are tired of negativity, strife & division—especially on social media—There are two ways to take the #AmericaIs Kind Challenge:

#1: On social media, SHARE an ACT OF KINDNESS you have witnessed with the tag #AmericaIsKind, then PAY IT FORWARD by doing a random act of kindness for a stranger. TAG 3-5 friends to take the #AmericaIsKind Challenge to keep the acts of good going.

And/Or

#2: Participate in the 30-day #AmericaIsKind Challenge, where we are turning our #GratefulToGood by practicing gratitude and acts of kindness every day for a month. You can find the daily gratitude, acts of good, and highlighted charities HERE. Jump in or out any day…whenever you find the challenge is the perfect time to begin.

#AMERICAISKIND Day ONE:

Theme: Education Charity of the Day: DonorsChoose.orgGratitude: “I am grateful for the ability to read this sentence, and for all the teachers who helped me along the way.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND Day TWO:

Theme: Pets Charity of the Day: The Humane Society of the United States. Gratitude: “I am grateful for the love of a current or former pet.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND Day THREE:

Theme: Nature Charity of the Day: The Audubon Society. Gratitude: “I am grateful to be able to experience the beauty of nature.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND Day FOUR:

Theme: Family Charity of the Day: The Ronald McDonald House. Gratitude: “I am grateful for the love of a parent, child, or grandchild.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND Day FIVE:

Theme: Health Charity of the Day: The American Red Cross. Gratitude: “I am grateful for my beating heart, which give me life.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY SIX:

Theme: Communication Do-Gooder of the Day: The World Needs More Love Letters. Gratitude: “I am grateful for my ability to communicate and in doing so, make a positive difference in the life of a loved one, co-worker, or stranger.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY SEVEN:

Theme: Difficulties Charity of the Day: Project Semicolon. Gratitude: “I am grateful for the difficulties & challenges that made me who I am.” See post for Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY EIGHT: #Election 2016

Theme: Freedom Charity of the Day: Rock the Vote Gratitude: “I am grateful to have a voice.” Act of Good: USE IT! VOTE. See post.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY NINE:

Theme: Freedom Charity of the Day: The Wounded Warrior Project Gratitude: “I am grateful for the military members who fought for my freedoms.” Act of Good: Send a letter of thanks to a soldier or veteran.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY DAY TEN:

Theme: ARTS Charity of the Day: ARTWORKS Gratitude: “I am grateful for the arts in my community.” Act of Good: Make something—anything!— a card, a flower arrangement, a painting, a Lego sculpture for a friend who could use some cheering up.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY ELEVEN:

Theme: Water Charity of the Day: Water.org Gratitude: “I am grateful for access to clean & safe drinking water.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY TWELVE:

Theme: Laughter Charity of the Day: ComedyCures Gratitude: “I am grateful for the ability to laugh.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY THIRTEEN:

Theme: Libraries Charity of the Day:The Little Free LibraryGratitude: “I am grateful for the ability to laugh.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY DAY FOURTEEN:

Theme: Music Charity of the Day:Music Unites Gratitude: “I am grateful for music that moves and inspires me.” Act of Good:Donate an unused or unwanted instrument

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY FIFTEEN:

Theme: PARKS Charity of the Day:National Park Foundation: Gratitude: “I am grateful for local and national public parks.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY SIXTEEN:

Theme: HOME Charity of the Day: The Compassion Collective/Together Rising: “I am grateful for my home.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY SEVENTEEN:

Theme: FRIENDS Charity of the Day: Big Brothers Big Sisters of AmericaGratitude: “I am grateful for true friends.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY EIGHTEEN:

Theme: HUGS Charity of the Day: Embracing the World Gratitude: “I am grateful for real hugs.” Acts of Good

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY NINETEEN

Theme: SCIENCE Charity of the Day: The National Girls Collaborative Project Gratitude: “I am grateful for the night sky, and for all we know about our solar system thanks to scientists.” Acts of Good or…tweet thanks to @AstroPeggy

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY TWENTY

Theme: MENTAL HEALTH Charity of the Day: Johns Hopkins Research Study on Major Depression Gratitude: “I am grateful for my mental health.” Acts of Good.

#AMERICAISKIND DAY : DAY TWENTY-ONE

Theme: FOOD Charity of the Day: The International Basket Brigade Gratitude: “I am grateful to be able to put food on the table for my family this Thanksgiving- and every other day of the year. ” Acts of Good

#AmericaIsKind: Day TWENTY-TWO

#AmericaIsKind: Day TWENTY-THREE

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-FOUR: Thanksgiving

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-FIVE : Black Friday

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-SIX

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-SEVEN

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-EIGHT

#AmericaIsKind Day TWENTY-NINE

#AmericaIsKind Day THIRTY

If you are tired of strife and division, if you are exhausted by negativity, if you are ready to TURN THE TIDE, Use the challenge to:

Remember everything for which you are GRATEFUL.
Use your gratitude to DO GOOD and change our country, one act of kindness at a time.
Remember that #AmericaIsKind because Americans are kind.

During the year I explored 30 religions, I found that KINDNESS and GRATITUDE are present in every faith. In spite of our many differences, these qualities unite us.

Later, through a yearlong battle with clinical depression, I discovered that practicing KINDNESS and GRATITUDE are two of the scientifically-proven ways to defeat depression and increase happiness.

Coincidence? I don’t think so!

I came up with the #AmericaIsKind Challenge as a way to inspire the practice of kindness and gratitude, unite Americans with the things we have in common, help others who may be struggling with depression, and to remind us all that America is kind because Americans are kind.

Reba Riley is the author of Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: One Woman’s Desperate, Funny, Healing Journey To Explore 30 Religions By Her 30th Birthday, the 2016 memoir Elizabeth Gilbert calls: “Hilarious, courageous, provocative, profound…Reba Riley brings the light for seekers of all paths. If Eat Pray Love had a gutsy, wise, funny little sister, it would be Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome.” She is a motivational speaker, blogger, and television contributor. You can find her online on Facebook Instagram Twitter