How Kindness Inspired Leeza at the 2024 Rose Parade

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted" -Aesop

I think when we take care of the little things, the big things tend to work out. Kindness is not a little thing, but we sometime underestimate its power and its ability to push us forward. I love the idea of starting out the new year by re-focusing our lens on life. 

As I hosted the storied Rose Parade this year from beautiful Pasadena, I was especially drawn to the float from The Boys and Girls clubs called "Kindness Is Free".  The whole idea was to inspire a global audience with a message of compassion and respect. 

We've reached a critical moment with that message- is not just nice, but urgent. Hate-speak and bullying are at an all time high at schools and it's all too easy to look the other way and ignore those among us who need a smile, a touch of warmth or just an acknowledgment that they exist . In our senior populations, kindness comes in many forms, often just listening to the stories of a life that came before is the best way to honor a person.  At Leeza's Care Connection, kindness is one of our core values, so it makes sense that this float resonated with me! 

The float was , as they all are, resplendent in colorful florals, showing a purple elephant offering an umbrella of shade to a little mouse, but what touched me were the 35 or so "Kindness Ambassadors" walking or riding along.  These young faces pierced through the crowd, eager to cultivate kindness and inclusion in the next generation.  Their message came with an urging for those watching the parade to take a "kindness pledge" online. .. Three simple commitments to remind us that kindness is a choice and when we make it together, it's a force magnifier.

Guess what?  Lots of people took the pledge. 

If you 'd like to take it, you can find it at kindnessisfree.org.  

Thanks to Artistic Entertainment Services for creating this whimsical float carrying a serious message and gratitude to the West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside Boys and Girls Clubs for delivering it so beautifully.  We get what we focus on, so let's focus on kindness.