Group hopes to inspire kindness
By Jason Reagan
reagan@wataugademocrat.com

Some local folks are hoping a tour de force of stickers and posters could pay forward a nationwide wave of kindness set to surge on Friday.

It all started a few weeks ago. A local business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, watched the 2000 film “Pay It Forward” with one of his sons. Based on the novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the movie, starring Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment, chronicled the effort of a young boy to change the world with one fresh idea after being given the assignment by his social studies teacher.

The boy creates a plan to do one kind deed for three people and urge them to “pay it forward” by performing their own acts upon three more people — a kind of spiritually beneficial pyramid plan.

The Boone-based man was so inspired by the film’s message, he began to question how he might make a difference in Watauga County.

After discussing it with his colleagues, they decided to form “People for Good Habits.”

The group’s sole purpose at this point is to promote uplifting habits by distributing posters and bumper stickers urging people to “Practice Kindness and Courtesy.”

“We’ve all gotten in such a rushed and stressed style of life,” the anonymous man said. “We seem to have forgotten what most of us grew up learning: normal kindness and courtesy towards others.

One group organizer offered a familiar example: traffic snarls in downtown Boone. He noted that people often get so caught up in trying to get from point A to B, they forget to show others basic decency — often refusing to allow others to enter the roadway or refusing to help a distressed motorist.

“We’re creatures of habit and products of our environment,” the man said, adding he believed human beings were basically good and simply needed a reminder.

The group hopes to reinforce that reminder on Friday, Aug. 17 when it will ask local businesses and organizations to help display 500 posters and 1,000 bumper stickers. Several local merchants have agreed to hang posters and reflect the message in their marquee signage.

Organizers have also asked local media to print or broadcast the reminders on Friday as well.

“If we would get into this habit, it might be contagious,” an organizer said.

“What if on Friday it’s everywhere you look?”

Bumper stickers in limited quantities may be picked up at the Watauga Democrat, 474 Industrial Park Drive, Boone.

In order to maintain the anonymity of the organizers, messages, which will be forwarded to the group, can be sent to WataugaKindness@gmail.com.

KINDNESS Ideas
1. Deliver fresh-baked cookies to city workers.
2. Collect goods for a food bank.
3. Bring flowers to work and share them with coworkers.
4. Garden clubs can make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
5. Adopt a student who needs a friend, checking in periodically to see how things are going.
6. Volunteer to be a tutor in a school.
7. Extend a hand to someone in need. Give your full attention and simply listen.
8. Merchants can donate a percentage of receipts for the week to a special cause.
9. Bring coworkers a special treat.
10. Students can clean classrooms for the custodian.
11. Buy a stranger a free pizza.
12. Sing at a nursing home.
14. Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
15. Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Have a great day!” under the windshield wipers of parked cars.
16. Have a charity day at work, with employees bringing nonperishable food items to donate.
— Source: The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation www.actsofkindness.org