As each of our kids starts back at school, or college, or work, or for those going to each of those places for the very first time, we all hope that each interaction they have on their first day is met with kindness and an invitation into each new community.

Luckily, we don’t have to just hope. we can build, each of us can, and do the work necessary to strengthen the environments in which we live, work and play and make them kinder.

The Born This Way Foundation have announced the launch of the 21 Days To Be Kind Campaign. Science says that doing something for 21 consecutive days helps turn it into a habit. That’s why the Born This Way Foundation is inviting everyone to join them in establishing kinder habits and building a culture of kindness by putting kindness into action each day from September 1st to September 21st – being kind to your community, being kind to your body, and being kind to your mind. They are inviting schools, colleges, corporate and non-profit partners, and more to take part, putting kindness into action in their own environments.

We know that being part of a kind environment – in your classroom, in your workplace, in your community – makes a difference. It makes a difference for your mental health, it makes a difference for your productivity, it makes a difference for your social connections.

And why are you are hearing about this from us, from Bel and Bunna’s Books?? Well, we are the launching ground for this campaign. This is important to Bel. This should be important to all of us. Our shop is a safe space, a child friendly space, a space that hopefully promotes kindness. We have, with the Born This Way Foundation, planned 21 days of kindness, starting on Monday 20th August, when the Acalanes School District high schools return to class, the day before our elementary and middle schools return.

* On Monday, August 20th from 3 PM – 6 PM, we’ll kick off #BeKind21 with kid friendly kindness activities – we are writing thank you cards to the firemen who are bravely & unselfishly battling the awful fires in our State. We will be talking about what we can do be to be kinder in our local community. We will be looking at our 21 day plan of daily kindness actions. Oh – and we will be offering some books that focus on Kindness and Mindfulness at a discount.

* On Wednesday, August 29th, the Born This Way Foundation team will be in town, and we’ll be hosting a Kindness Storytime from 3 PM – 4 PM. This is going to be a huge amount of fun, and something that shouldn’t be missed.

*Over the Lafayette Art and Wine Festival Weekend (15/16 September) Bel and Bunna’s Books will be Kindness Central. Check in on our website and Facebook page nearer the time to our wonderfully busy timetable!!

* As the #BeKind21 culminates, on Monday, September 17th from 3 PM – 6 PM, join us to congratulate and celebrate the children and families that participated in the #BeKind21 campaign.

This is a big deal for our neighborhood. In a time when grown ups aren’t perhaps as kind as they could be, let us help our children and young adults lead the way. We know that being part of a kind environment – in your classroom, in your workplace, in your community – makes a difference. It makes a difference for your mental health, it makes a difference for your productivity, it makes a difference for your social connections.

The Born This Way Foundation, Bel and Bunna’s Books, and over 2,000 organizations and schools in the United States invite you to participate in this campaign, to spread the word and to join me in doing everything that we can to make this back to school season the kindest yet.