The Juneau Police Department is implementing a city-wide initiative, the 2017 Year of Kindness (17YOK). The challenge is for every citizen of Juneau to do one random act of kindness per day, and one act of kindness a week that is specifically directed at someone outside their normal social circle. This is about extending a courtesy or doing something nice; no cost necessary.
We are also maintaining a weekly surge event calendar in order to spotlight the efforts of local groups that are working surge projects. Groups are encouraged to email 17YOK@juneaupolice.com and reserve a week in 2017 for their kindness projects to be highlighted. Lemon Creek Correctional Center has reserved the first week and their efforts will be followed on JPD’s Facebook page. I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of fun and original ideas come out of the weekly surges!
Our chapter of the Alaska Peace Officers Association (APOA) has adopted the week of Thanksgiving in order to highlight our Shop with a Cop program, which provides kindness opportunities on many levels. People take the time to nominate families for the program, kids get to shop for gifts for their families, officers volunteer their time to make positive connections with children suffering some tough times, businesses can donate services and goods, and lots of volunteers support the effort, including the generous folks who donate money to make it all happen. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with our surge week.
17YOK is planning lots of events. We will begin with two kick-off events in which folks are encouraged to write down their grudges and burn them up! The first one was on Saturday, Dec. 31 at Sandy Beach (one of the shelters). The second one is today at the Auke Rec main shelter (in conjunction with the Polar Plunge) from noon-2 p.m. Anyone who would like to practice a little kindness during these events can bring a dish to share and socks for the homeless. I can’t imagine a better way to begin focusing on kindness than to start off by eradicating anger and practicing forgiveness. I have a few names and issues that I will write down and throw into the fire, and I will be grateful to be free of the bitterness! And folks will be invited to set aside partisanship and join us for an “encouragement” on Jan. 17. This is the opposite of a protest. We will meet outside the Capitol to encourage our legislators as they begin their session. We are all in this together and we need our team to be productive and successful. Keep an eye on the JPD Facebook page for event details as they are ironed out.
I have decided that I am going to focus my personal kindness effort this year toward paying attention and being curious. I can be so wrapped up in what’s going on in my own head that I completely forget to focus on what someone is trying to share with me. And I think it’s quite rude to be so preoccupied by my own thoughts. Out of respect for privacy I don’t make a habit of inquiring enough, as I don’t want to intrude on anyone’s privacy, but I think I need to be a little more verbally curious and express that curiosity in a way that reflects my genuine interest without coming across as nosy. It’s a fine line that I need to test more this coming year. It’s certainly a step outside of my comfort zone.
Wayne Dyer said, “When you squeeze an orange you get orange juice because that’s what’s inside. When someone squeezes you — puts pressure on you — what comes out is what’s inside. And if you don’t like what’s inside you can change it by changing your thoughts.”
I hope this initiative will increase my awareness and I’ll remember more often to pay attention and be curious, and that more often when I am squeezed kindness will be expressed. It will be a work in progress, but then, so am I!
• Dee Ojard is a board member of the 2017 Year of Kindness Steering Committee, a database specialist for the Juneau Police Department and the secretary of the Alaska Peace Officers Association’s Capital City Chapter.
