We find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes, we don’t even have to look hard.
One day, James Warren was just strolling in his Denver neighborhood. Then he noticed something that made him stop.
“A woman was waiting for the bus, sitting in the dirt. And I was like, ‘Oh man, that sucks.’ That’s not dignified at all. We need to be doing better by our fellow city members,” Warren said in his interview with CBS News.
While waking back home, he couldn’t shake the image that he saw. So he thought to himself, maybe he could do something about the situation.
Then an idea came to him. He could build a bench.
It was a simple idea to help someone at that bus station. Warren didn’t realize that it was the start of something big.
Pink benches, anyone? One step closer to a community workshop pic.twitter.com/jrKTIyzv3Z
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) September 4, 2022
He went home and looked for some scrap wood, and he immediately found some, thanks to all the discarded wood from construction sites near his home.
Warren also knew how to make a bench because he grew up around tools and had the skills.
He successfully built one bench around the beginning of the year, and then he went back to the bus stop to put it there.
Lots of fun going on the Mississippi walk hosted by @marxling, I got to drop another bench too! pic.twitter.com/rYkKIKC8bI
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) July 22, 2022
His mission didn’t stop there.
Warren had built eight different benches. Each one looked different since he used different materials, most of them recycled.
Aside from using recycled materials, he could also place these benches at different bus stops.
Have a personal brand bro. I swear bro just one more bench bro. I’ve read on LinkedIn you need to have a brand bro. pic.twitter.com/lQijX0t7vC
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) July 13, 2022
“I just kind of let the wood speak to me,” Warren said.
Depending on his schedule, materials, and inspiration, it may take a few hours to build one bench.
Each bench has two words written on it, “Be Kind”.
Added a new bench to a local bus stop! Dabbing will always be cool pic.twitter.com/6YTLdfirmy
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) July 15, 2022
A small reminder for everyone that being kind is free and you can give it to anyone.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to really make a change in the world around us, or it can feel really difficult to make a change in the world around us, Warren said.
If you view change as a whole, you might feel overwhelmed, but you don’t have to do something grand. In fact, by just being kind, you already have an impact on your community.
Installed a bench at a local bus stop where the city has neglected to offer seating. @pedestrianhonor joined me – what a fun time! pic.twitter.com/Io7IyQ28T6
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) July 8, 2022
“But the truth is, anyone can be kind. And by being kind, you can make a difference in the world around you. And that difference matters a lot. So, maybe just a little reminder to people,” Warren continued.
It’s true. One act of kindness out of love can make a difference.
What’s great is that Warren had already inspired other people to do the same.
Todays creation! More to come! pic.twitter.com/O1o0pmWFMK
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) July 10, 2022
People followed him on his Twitter account, and once, he placed a bench at one bus stop and learned that people decorated the bench.
Some people donate materials, while some also build benches. It is a positive domino effect that changes the world.
No act is too small, remember that. As long as you do it from your heart, then that’s enough. We can all make a difference in this world.
Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate #FreeFare with us! And super thanks to those who helped decorate this very special #BeKindBench!!! So much fun being in this community. @marxling @hayleyadair37 pic.twitter.com/r4pizgNTEf
— James Warren (@J_M_Warren) September 1, 2022
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