The #AmericaIsKind Challenge: Day 22

The purpose of the #AmericaIsKind Challenge is simple: To remind us all that America is GREAT when Americans are KIND. After a devisive election, our country has never needed kindness more than we do right now.

Take the #AmericaIsKind Challenge today! Here’s How:

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

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

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

AND/OR

–Take the full 30-day #AmericaIsKind Challenge, where we are turning our #GratefulToGood– observing daily gratitude and turning it into acts of kindess every day for a month. You can find the daily gratitudes, acts of goods, and 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 22 of the 30-Day #AmericaIsKind Challenge:

Our theme today is LAUGHTER, and our Charity of the Day is: DonorsChoose.org, an incredible charity that matches donors directly with classroom projects.

“Founded in 2000 by a high school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose.org empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials and experiences for their students. Right now there are thousands of classroom requests that you can help bring to life with a gift of any amount…Support a classroom. Build a future.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxWPM2LMJ6I

Gratitude: “I am grateful for the laughter and joy of children.”

Even if you don’t have children in your life on a daily basis, you will likely hear the laughter of children over Thanksgiving weekend as extended family gathers to celebrate the holiday. Children’s laughter is so carefree and enthusiastic that it can’t help but make adults smile. The laughter of children reminds us to observe and enjoy the little things in life.

Good: Bring a book. Purchase or check out a book guaranteed to make the kids laugh at Thanksgiving. (My personal favorite is The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak). Check out this list of legitimately funny books for kids for a jumpstart.

Good: Teach a joke. Kids love to hear a joke they understand and learn to repeat it–even if they get it wrong half the time!. Here are 20 silly jokes for kids to get you going.

Good: Play telephone. Make a trip to the kids table and start a game of telephone. How to play telephone—just in case you forgot.

Good: Stage a silly face contest. A silly face contest is simple: players stand in a circle with one player chosen as the “judge”. On the count of 3, everyone makes a funny face, and the judge picks a winner. The winner is the judge for the next round. The more adults that play the better, because kids think it is absolutely hilarious to watch adults be silly. (And couldn’t adults all use a little–or a lot— more silly in our lives?)

Good: Support DonorsChoose.org, the charity making students happy all over the U.S. by providing educational supplies for their classrooms. You can even search for projects by keyword! I searched “humor” and came up with several projects. My favorite was “Science and History Meets HUMOR!” which only needs $179 to complete the project.

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.