The #AmericaIsKind Challenge: Day 15

The purpose of the #AmericaIsKind Challenge is simple:

To remind us all that #AmericaIsKind because Americans are kind.

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. If you are tired of negativity, strife & division—especially on social media—

Take the #AmericaIsKind Challenge today!

America Is Kind

Here’s How:

–On social media SHARE an ACT OF KINDNESS someone has done for you, or that you have done for someone, with #AmericaIsKind

–TAG 3-5 friends to take the #AmericaIsKind Challenge

–PAY IT FORWARD by doing a random act of kindness for a stranger

–Take the full 30-day #AmericaIsKind Challenge, with daily gratitudes, acts of goods, and our highlighted charities HERE. You can jump in or out any day…whenever you find the challenge is the perfect time to begin.

Today is Day 15 of the 30-Day #AmericaIsKind Challenge:

Our theme today is PARKS, and our Charity of the Day is the National Park Foundation:

“The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, enriches America’s national parks and programs through private support, safeguarding our heritage and inspiring generations of national park enthusiasts.”

Gratitude: “I am grateful for local and national public parks, where I can go to relax, play, pray or exercise.”

I became aware of my gratitude for our parks system when I traveled to areas of the developing world where they lack funds for basic necessities, let alone parks. We don’t think about the gift of our parks because they are so plentiful and available, but when we pause and take a breath, we can truly be grateful for the spaces that allow the healing beauty of nature to surround us.

Good: Share a quote or image about parks on social media. If you need a quote, here is one to begin with:

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.” — John Muir

Good: Find a park you haven’t visited in your area, and take a friend who needs support there. Walk and talk with your friend, letting nature heal as you help.

Good: Take someone you love and have FUN at a park: take a hike, pack a picnic, throw a Frisbee, swing on the swings. It doesn’t matter how old you are–our parks bring out the kid in all of us.

Good: Share your park experience on social media and/or with the National Park Foundation

Good: Consider donating to our charity of the day National Park Foundation

Need more kindness & gratitude ideas? We have them.Find the other days of The #AmericaIsKind Challenge HERE.

During the year I explored 30 religions, I found KINDNESS and GRATITUDE 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 America is kind because Americans are kind.