Changing The World One Ark° At A Time
I think Irish people are pretty darn nice, and generous too. I noticed this straight away during my first few days in Ireland and I still believe this to be true years later. Just a few weeks ago, I was in a news agents in Tipperary, and there were eleven separate charity donation boxes – yes, eleven. And I bet you each and everyone of those boxes had donations because people in Ireland generally do care about others. Even if you have only a little to give, it’s more than others have, right?
The other morning I caught the tale end of a radio interview with a guy called Cameron Stuart (a native of Hollywood near Belfast) talking about his movement, Act of Random Kindness°. At the very end of the interview he said that, and I’m paraphrasing here, he’s glad that he discovered how to live his life for other people at such a young age (he’s 19 or 20 now). And instead of being my cynical American old self, I decided to believe Cameron and find out more about his movement.
Cameron designed a line of t-shirts for his movement with a mantra on it to inspire people. It reads:
So I have this idea, I’d love you to join me … I’ve started this clothing line with a purpose other than profit. The name, the movement – Acts of Random Kindness°
The idea – one ark° every time the clothing is worn. [That's] it. Buy a stranger a coffee, give up your seat on the bus. Just make someone’s day, it’s up to you how you ark° on it.
The idea is that whenever you wear the t-shirt, you’re reminded to perform an act of random kindness – also simply known as an ark°- in any manner you prefer. Each act, no matter how big or small, changes the world in some positive way. The t-shirts, by the way, look really nice and are produced in an ethical factory in China of Cameron’s choosing. The design is unobtrusively placed on the back – yet you want to look at it – and there are all sorts of style options to chose from. (I think I’m going to get one or maybe someone will get me one for Christmas as their ark°?) You know, I really like this idea. And while I did think it was sort of corny and unrealistic at first, I’m on board now. After perusing the ark° website, it seems that Cameron and his team are passionate, fun-loving, and caring people. And at the risk of getting cheesy here myself, the ark° ideologies are right: At the end of the day, doing things for others is undoubtedly way more fulfilling that living your day selfishly.
To read more about the Act of Random Kindness° movement and to view their shop, click here.
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