Would you bring food to your starving grand-mother if it only took 15 minutes?
Last winter, a 90-year-old neighbor of my Canadian brother passed away from hunger in her home in one of Montreal’s posh neighborhoods. Winter temperatures in Montreal can drop below -40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the ice may lock seniors inside their homes for weeks.
Life wasn’t as cruel when my parents moved their small family into the neighborhood. Instead, we were invited to a party at a neighbor’s home, where my parents got to know everyone by name.
Then, this Summer, my kitty-corner 70-year-old neighbor, Jesse, passed away in his home alone. Jesse was a pleasant man, looking ten years younger, who always had a thoughtful word for his neighbors. Unfortunately, Jesse had no known relatives, and the home’s owner also passed away, leaving no known relatives.
If you aspire for more from life, and if you desire to be the one person to bring back joy, laughter, and connections in your neighborhood, then...
This least pleasant post of mine may also be your most hopeful post today.
Here’s why!
A 15 minutes global event takes place on November 13 in every neighborhood where someone like you takes a stand against such heartache and spreads kindness instead.
It’s the Global Dance for Kindness, founded by Orly Wahba, a Brooklyn, NY, teacher, to advocate for kindness worldwide. It quickly became a leadership opportunity for many of its team leaders.
This short viral video, Kindness Boomerangs, is based on real-life stories from Brooklyn, NY, and will show you the joy and enthusiasm that permeates all of Orly’s projects through her non-profit LifeVestInside.
Dance for Kindness is seeking group leaders to bring kindness to their neighborhood during its worldwide freeze mob flash dance this November 13.
Meet Gail, Samantha, Leta and Miriam from Canada and the US!
Meet Fred from Ayer, MA!
Meet Mihaela from Switzerland, and Khanim from Azerbaijan!
Meet Rosemary from Peru!
Meet H'ava from the West Indies!
Meet Vee Jay and Roshan from Mauritius!
After two years of only digital events - Dance for Kindness is back and kicking into high gear! With 15 countries already on board, join songs and dances all under the banner of kindness this coming November!
What is even wilder is that it's been ten years! LifeVestInside is celebrating a #DecadeofKindness, and we'd love to get as many people involved as possible:) Check it out, or shoot Orly a message. I can't think of a better time than NOW to inspire the world to join together and recognize that even though we may not agree about everything, we can agree that kindness is crucial to a pathway forward.
After all, it's kindness that keeps the world afloat!
On November 13th you will either be doing the same thing as usual, or you will be breaking new grounds by advocating for a better world, more joyful, more just, more equitable.
Which one will it be?
You get to chose!
