We absolutely LOVE the word ‘relentless.’ In 1968, as a 19 year old college sophomore, Dr. Kent M. Keith
 wrote a document called the Paradoxical Commandments. To our delight, we stumbled across it the other day and, although the word ‘relentless’ is never used, it is the very definition. The truth is, it’s easy to [...]

Ecstatic cries of glee & general merriment abound… that’s what! That’s right, yesterday, Life Lift – The Oprah Blog, gave Boom Boom! Cards a shout out via a great post by Amy Shearn –> Start A Revolution: Say Hello – Boom Boom! Cards and the Kindness Revolution. After we finally calmed ourselves a bit (and [...]

Current publicity mentions. Be sure to scroll down to see the list in it’s entirety. May 2012 Oprah’s Blog: Life Lift Start a Revolution: Say Hello – Boom Boom! Cards and the Kindness Revolution Review   March 2012 One Smiley Monkey Boom Boom! Cards leave kindness wherever you go! Review Simply Stacie Boom Boom! Cards [...]

In hindsight, it seems so obvious, but back in 2000 when Catherine Ryan Hyde published a simple yet powerful novel called, Pay It Forward, no one, least of all her, could have anticipated the impact the story would have. Flash forward a dozen years, and the term “pay it forward” has become a staple in [...]

So, it turns out that being kind doesn’t just make you feel good and deliver some great health benefits, there’s another pretty powerful side effect: it furthers civilization. How cool is that? According to Italian author, Piero Ferrucci, in his book “Survival of the Kindest,” “One of the reasons behind the success of evolution is [...]

Congratulations to our “Boom Boom! Birthday” Giveaway Winner: Nicole Vosburgh! Thanks to all who entered our “Boom Boom! Birthday” Giveaway! We can’t tell you how amazing it was to read all your answers to the daily questions! Thank you for sharing with us the GOOD in your every day and showing just how much there [...]

This time of year can feel a little bit like “no man’s land.” The freshness and promise of the New Year has worn off… the days are damp, dark and seemingly move at a snail’s pace. The trek towards spring seems like the impossible journey. It’s easy, at this time of year, to start wondering, [...]

In a beautiful, sunny, Mexican island lies a true pay it forward tale. What started as a few fun and relaxing vacation trips turned into a whole new life adventure for Maggie and Tom Washa. Regular visitors to Isla de Mujeres, Mexico, Maggie, in particular, was touched by the warmth and generosity of the island’s [...]

As we embrace the fresh excitement of a new year, we can’t help but reflect on 2011 and what an incredible year it was. We’re overwhelmed with gratitude for the part you’ve all played in making the world a kinder place. Because of you, not only is kindness cool again, there’s so much more of [...]

What a great way to kick off the holidays! We are elated that Windy City LIVE gifted Boom Boom! Cards acts of kindness kits to their audience this year. If you didn’t get a chance to tune in, we want to be sure to include you in this awesome Boom Boom! moment right here on [...]

We absolutely LOVE the word ‘relentless.’

In 1968, as a 19 year old college sophomore, Dr. Kent M. Keith
 wrote a document called the Paradoxical Commandments. To our delight, we stumbled across it the other day and, although the word ‘relentless’ is never used, it is the very definition.

The truth is, it’s easy to get discouraged. Even easier to give up. It’s insidiously easy to stop believing in what you do, who you are and what you bring to the table. Trust us, we know. And yet, we all somehow find the guts to forge on because somewhere, deep down we know the right, the good and, in fact, the ONLY thing to do is be relentless.

This is true for us as individuals as well as for capital “U” Us. We MUST be relentless. Relentless about community. Relentless about caring. Relentless about kindness. Relentless about love.

When it comes down to it, the success of our civilization depends on one very simple thing: the relationships we build. Each and every one matters, from a simple interaction in the grocery store to the conversations of our world leaders… it is these collective interactions that create both our individual worlds and the world we all share.

Sure, there are forces that will try to break our spirit, mock our efforts, diminish our hopefulness, undermine our acts of kindness. And, as hard as it is, be relentless anyway!

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

- Dr. Kent M. Keith

Thank you for not relenting.

 

Download the new Boom Boom! App to join the uprising of guerilla goodness™ through on-the-go acts of kindness reporting SANTA CRUZ, CA – December 8, 2011 – Boom Boom! Revolution is proud to introduce the free Boom Boom! App which allows iPhone and iPod touch users to easily share the acts of kindness experienced in [...]

Ecstatic cries of glee & general merriment abound… that’s what!

That’s right, yesterday, Life Lift – The Oprah Blog, gave Boom Boom! Cards a shout out via a great post by Amy Shearn –> Start A Revolution: Say Hello – Boom Boom! Cards and the Kindness Revolution.

After we finally calmed ourselves a bit (and called all our family and friends), we were overwhelmed with a huge sense of gratitude.

It’s been an amazing journey as Mary Beth and I, two 40 something’s with the notion of making kindness fun & cool have found ourselves in the male dominant world of tech start-ups. We’ve learned a lot, worked really hard, played equally hard and continue to prevail despite tremendous odds.

And so, when acknowledgment like this article comes a long… it quite simply gives us a huge boost of emotional fuel.

In the spirit of Boom Boom! as well as Oprah’s new Thank You Game:

Amy, Oprah, lotus823 & all the other folks who made this happen,

Thank You!

A blog post may seem small, but to us it’s really quite big. In fact, it’s the very core of what we believe at Boom Boom! Cards… that it’s the small things, the small generosities and everyday acts of kindness that can truly have huge impact on people’s lives, on the world.

 

 

Today our kindness conversation takes us to the UK where Louise Burfitt-Dons, co-founder of Kindness Day UK, had this to say: “Across the UK there are countless individuals who are kind, courteous and brave in the face of adversity. Many require no recognition, or receive it. However, we need to remind those who are dispirited [...]

Current publicity mentions.
Be sure to scroll down to see the list in it’s entirety.

May 2012

Oprah’s Blog: Life Lift
Start a Revolution: Say Hello – Boom Boom! Cards and the Kindness Revolution
Review

 

March 2012

One Smiley Monkey
Boom Boom! Cards leave kindness wherever you go!
Review

Simply Stacie
Boom Boom! Cards
Review

Hi-Lights
Boom Boom! Cards attempt to change the world
Review by High School Journalist, Maggie Paese.
Thanks Maggie for the kind write up!

 

February 2012

How Interactive Design
Wishlist: Boom Boom! Cards

Mommas Bacon
Boom Boom! Cards Family Edition Kit
Family Edition Review

Toast of the Town
I want “Boom Boom” EVERY day!
Blogger Review

 

January 2012

App Wrap
Boom Boom! App on NY1 technology writer Adam Balkin’s weekly review of mobile apps
VIDEO Review of Boom Boom! App

Arizona Health & Living Magazine
Share Random Acts of Kindness
Review of Boom Boom! App
pg 18

HOW Magazine
Cards of Kindness
Featured in their “Look” section – pg 16
Print Only

Diane Magazine
Boom Boom Someone Today!
pg 8

Radio Spot – WHCR, 90.3 FM
“What’s In Your Hand?” with Ricky Young
Interview with Mary Beth Campbell

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! As this year winds to a close, we in the Boom Boom! Room find ourselves overwhelmed with gratitude for an absolutely amazing 2011. Of course, much of that is due to you and all the Agents of Altruism in the Boom Boom! Army who are turning simple acts of kindness into daily steps that are making the world a better place.

In hindsight, it seems so obvious, but back in 2000 when Catherine Ryan Hyde published a simple yet powerful novel called, Pay It Forward, no one, least of all her, could have anticipated the impact the story would have. Flash forward a dozen years, and the term “pay it forward” has become a staple in the global lexicon of volunteerism, giving and living in general.

Tomorrow, April 26th, is Official Pay It Forward Day, sponsored by the Pay It Forward International of which Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of the founding members. Here in the Boom Boom! Room we couldn’t be more excited about a whole day dedicated to paying forward.

Of course, every day has the potential to be Pay It Forward Day, and still, we love the notion of an extra special day to call attention to this growing concept and spreading the word. The more the merrier…the more the kinder!

So, take a moment tomorrow (or two or ten!) to get your Boom Boom! on and pay forward an act of kindness that has been shown you. And, if you’re feeling inspired the next day, do it again!

Happy Pay It Forward Day!

Boom Boom!

Our Agents Rock! Why? Just check out some of the comments from our ThanksGivAWAY and you’ll know what we’re talking about. It was truly wonderful to read so many heartfelt words of gratitude. This giveaway came about as we realized we were long overdue in playing card #22 on all our dedicated Agents of Altruism. [...]

So, it turns out that being kind doesn’t just make you feel good and deliver some great health benefits, there’s another pretty powerful side effect: it furthers civilization. How cool is that?

According to Italian author, Piero Ferrucci, in his book “Survival of the Kindest,” “One of the reasons behind the success of evolution is that we’ve been kind to one another…Kindness is the most economical attitude there is.”

But, as we all know, it’s not always that easy. Acknowledges Ferrucci, “We live in an ice age of the heart. A lot of people no longer feel connected. Nothing heals like meeting a fellow human being…make eye contact, start chatting about the weather. It doesn’t matter if it’s about nothing in particular. You’ll notice that something shifts…a block disappears. Believe me, it is vitally important.”

Taking a Risk for Kindness

Of course, it’s no surprise that we are fully in Ferrucci’s camp. In fact, when we first launched three years ago, we got one overwhelming piece of feedback from a lot of people, “Ditch the cards.” That’s what everyone said. “Make them virtual,” they recommended. “It’ll be easier if we can pass the cards around online,” we were told. Sure, we thought about it, but in the end, we just couldn’t do it. We moved forward with the cards, although we knew it was risk.

And we recognize it’s a risk for you too. While each card is an opportunity to connect with someone in real life, whether you’re doing the act of kindness, or passing the card on for someone else to play, it’s a risk to put yourself out there to do it. We get it. Perhaps that’s why, as Ferrucci states, today’s world lacks connection. Because it’s scary. It’s risky. And yet, as Ferrucci asserts, that kind of connection is vital to the survival of our species.

Thank You For Your Acts of Kindness

We’d like to thank you for taking the risk to play Boom Boom! Cards. We truly appreciate you for taking this leap of faith with us. And the next time you’re feeling shy about playing a card, whether you’re giving genuine compliments (Original Deck Card #5), or saying hi to everyone you pass (Original Deck Card #25) or introducing yourself to that person you see everywhere (Original Deck Card #17), think about this: you’re not just being kind, you are actually ensuring the success of civilization.  And that’s a pretty big deal.

So, on behalf of the human race, thank you!

Boom Boom!

Great news (from down under)!  Not only is Australia home to those cute kangaroos, Sydney, the outback, and World Kindness Australia… but now Boom Boom! Cards can also be found in the land down under.  That’s right! Kindred Gifts, Australian based online gift shop for the unique and stylish, now proudly retails our acts of [...]