RenoVous

 Did you know the Care Bears were initially designed for greeting cards?  Illustrator Elena Kucharik worked for American Greetings in 1981.  Jack Chojnacki was head of the toy and licensing division, and he recalled an immediate "aaaaah factor." The toys were introduced in February 1983 at New York City's Toy Fair.  Cabbage Patch Dolls were also showcased that year. Parker Brothers got on board and released six books before the release of the first television special. The original 10 Care Bears were joined by their Cousins in 1984, and in 1985 they got a feature film. It was the highest grossing animated film outside of the Disney market. Today celebrates their mission, that "sharing is caring," so share your care!

 Mahayana is a branch of Buddhism, and today they reflect on the past year. Also known as Vesak, the holiday commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. In the Mahayana belief, anyone can attain enlightenment through practice, wisdom and compassion. Anyone would be welcome to the temple for prayer sessions, meditation, and lectures. I see "Joyful Chanting" on our local's calendar. It is also a day for charity and community, the sharing of good wishes and kindness with others.

  Pink is calm, nurturing, and kind. National Pink Day is a day to stand against bullying. In 2007, a couple students at Central Kings Rural High School saw one of their classmates being bullied for wearing a pink shirt.  So they went to a discount store and bought a bunch of pink shirts to pass out at school the next day, encouraging everyone to wear one. Pink has long been associated as a girl color, but in the early 20th century it was actually more common for boys.  The shift occurred after World War II, when "Rosie the Riveter traded in her factory blues."  From there, even feminine products were wrapped in pink. In the 80's, parents were able to learn the sex of their babies in the womb, and gender-specific clothing became more popular, including color coordination. But the point is, anyone can and should feel comfortable enough to wear pink. So if you see someone wearing pink today, give them a smile.

  Following Black Friday's consumerism and even Small Business Saturday, not to mention Cyber Monday deals, Tuesday seeks donations. "Every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give." While organizations are looking for monetary donations, it can also mean material donations to local resources, such as Family Soup Mutual Aid.  Not only do they host dinners, but they collect and distribute clothing, hygiene products, harm reduction tools, and provide other forms of outreach. We also have a series of Karma Boxes around town.  Someone recently shared some nice reminders for donating to food banks or pantries: I have some clothes and some protein bars that I need to drop off.  I actually have an appt downtown this afternoon, so I'm making a mental note to grab those things when I go. You can also donate your time, helping a neighbor, making someone smile.  :-)

  Celebrating scribbles! "A story about kindness and inclusion." The main character is Scribble, and he teaches his drawings to accept each other, and themselves, for who they are.  This inspires their own creativity.  Art can come in many forms and anyone can be encouraged to be an artist. And so I was reminded of some doodle art I've been holding onto since high school. It may be a children's book, but the message is for everyone. Encourage, inspire, scribble!!

Things you can do: 1. Send an uplifting text to a friend or family member. 2. Let that guy merge into traffic with a wave and a smile. 3. Include intentional moments of kindness, laughter, and delight in your daily routine. 4. Go slightly outside your comfort zone to make someone else smile. 5. Share a compliment with a friend or co-worker. 6. Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in a while. 7. Treat someone to a cup of coffee "Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change." - Bob Kerrey "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain "What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?" - Jean Jacques Rousseau "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life aroun...