Making Kindness a Mission

At Barnes Martial Arts we do more than pay lip-service to being kind to others ... we walk the talk. Kindness changes lives -- it can ease the pain of sickness; lift one out of a blue mood; change the course of a bad day; and a gentle smile or an act of kindness and compassion has been known to literally save lives.

That is why, each month, in conjunction with the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation -- a NATIONAL organization dedicated to spreading the message that Kindness can change the world -- our Studio has committed to undertake a "Kindness Mission".

Each Mission will be a project or activity that we will perform AS A GROUP, as a school, and that will have a wide-ranging impact on our community.

It doesn't have to be complicated or a huge gesture to accomplish this, but it DOES have to be something for which there is a NEED. Kindness can take many forms, grand or subtle -- helping someone carry groceries; holding a door for another person; a compliment; organizing a fundraising event for someone suffering from an illness; rebuilding a neighborhood after a natural disaster; smiling at someone who is having a terrible day. 

A big community like ours means a big opportunity to make a big difference.

For instance, our March Kindness Mission Theme was: "Community!" On Saturday, March 29, thirteen volunteers gathered at the Studio at 10:00 AM to clean up Murray Street.

It was a dreary overcast day, and we defied the rain, splitting into two groups; one headed up Murray street toward Kingston, the other group heading down Murray street toward Swoyersville. We started out by walking up one side of the street, then when we got to the end, we crossed over to the other side and worked our way back to the Studio.

It took us just under two hours to clean the streets, sidewalks, and even a few front yards along the way. And, oh the things we found!! -- paper, plastic bottles, loose change, a pool noodle, monopoly money, about 10 million cigarette butts, a bone (!) and ... a "lobster" (ask the kids!). 

I have NEVER seen kids get so excited about cleaning up trash!!

By the time it was over, we had filled two and a half 33-gallon garbage bags!! 

Afterward, back at Barnes Martial Arts everyone got to enjoy delicious pizza and soda, kindly donated by Pizza Bella in Forty Fort. They heard about our Kindness Mission and went above and beyond!! My sincerest thanks also to Pizza Bella! You guys rock!

So I just want to say thank you, one more time, to all of our students and their families who made our first Kindness Mission such a success. It was a LOT of work, but it was worth it because we really helped to make our community a better place. I am proud to be your teacher. 
We may be a small studio, but we are mighty!!

In the months to come, as we continue to grow as a school, we will take on new and exciting Kindness Missions. By making Kindness a habit, we have a direct influence on the future. 

Here are a few pictures from the event. More pictures and details can be found on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barnesmartialarts