The holidays are fast approaching, and with it, a whole swirl of feelings for many people.  For some, they truly are the most wonderful time of the year.  For others, it's a dark time of struggle and sadness.  For me, they've been both.  

  Of the faiths that celebrate a major holiday during December, the symbol of light in the darkness seems to be a central theme.  I remember staring at the lights on the family Christmas tree a few weeks after my grandfather had died - and seeing that color stream out into the bleak night.  Last year, as the reports of the tiny children gunned down at Sandy Hook filled the airwaves, I gazed into the flames of the menorah, grieving, and watching as they would dodge a sudden draft of air, suddenly flicker and dim, and then flare up again in an infinitesimal display of hope and triumph.

  It seems that it's these little things that help get some of us through - but other times, the light is too feeble to reach those that need it most.  I've had loved ones lost to the darkness in this complicated time of year.  While I have much to celebrate - turning 28, playing guitar with such an awesome army of friends, fans, and students, etc - I'm keenly aware of the darkness, and I think most of you are, too.  I would like to do something about this.  I'd like to do something that kindles light the whole world over, and well, I'd like to call on the army - that's you!  So, here's the simple idea:

1.  Go do something kind.  (See list of ideas below if you're stuck.)

2.  Post about it on social media, adding the hashtag #KindnessExchange.  (A hashtag is a way to tag the post so I'll be able to see it, even if we don't follow each other on social media.)

3.  I'll print out the post, and put it on a lit holiday tree in my front yard - a literal beacon in the darkness to showcase all the good, good acts that everyone is doing all over the world!

In the meantime, I'll be playing music in hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters, the psych ward of a VA hospital, street corners, and even a colonial-themed Christmas event (talk about revolutionary!)  

My hope is that we'll not only brighten the days of strangers and friends, but also our holidays as well.  I call it The Clarence Effect.  In case you haven't seen the classic Christmas movie It's a Wonderful Life, the good guy is going to commit suicide on Christmas eve, thinking he's "worth more dead than alive."  Before he can plunge into the icy waters, he sees a man drowning.  He jumps in to save the man, who turns out to be his guardian angel.  "What were you doing in the river?"  "Saving you!" comes the reply.

So, I especially encourage you to join in this effort if you're feeling a bit glum around the season.  Perhaps the best way to save ourselves is to save others. Join the party...The REVOLUTION party!  Let's make this a global event!  Let's go light up that tree!  (Pssst...by the way..know any media/bloggers/radio hosts/celebrities?  Help me get the word out - tell them about the Exchange!)

Now, for some ideas of kind things to do!

- Buy someone a cup of coffee

- Pay for the person behind you in line, be it fast food, tolls, or the grocery store

- Give a homeless person a meal, warm clothes or...do what my dad did once.  One of my favorite stores of my father is how he got to know a homeless guy on his commute in to work.  One night it was forecast to be bitterly cold in Washington, DC - so dad put up his friend in a hotel for the night.  

- Visit a senior in a nursing home - it means the world!  (Plus, you get some awesome stories out of the deal.)

- Compliment or give a little gift or card to those working the "thankless" jobs this time of year - the overworked clerks, tellers, garbage men, etc.

- Leave an extra-nice tip

Some folks have expressed concern about their posts coming off as bragging.  I totally see their point, and here's a BLOG with a few thoughts.  If you want to be anonymous, that's fine, too.  I'm a big proponent of an intentional, active act of kindness that can inspire the world with it's broadcasting.  Think of an awards show - "Johnny Depp gets an award!"  You know who the host is, but the focus is on the recipient.  Also had a great idea from my buddy Coben:  You can blog about your actions, and post the link.  This will give more context.  Instead of saying "Just bought a homeless guy some food!  #KindnessExchange", you can write a little piece like "I went through some hard times, and I know what it's like to be hungry.  So, when I saw him on the corner..." etc etc.  It seems to me that our world is a rather blank canvas, and it's up to us to paint the picture of how we'd like to see life.  So, if you observe good, by all means post about it.  I'd also like to encourage everyone to again, take an active role, and create even more of the good that we'd like to see - which, I'm sure you do every single day!  

I'm actually fascinated by this challenge of language.  Perhaps if we can figure out how to feel GOOD about talking about GOOD that we do - maybe we can change the world!  Instead of Instagramming our food (yeah, I'm guilty), we can Instagram food we give away.  Let's make it acceptable to do good!  If you have any ideas, let me know - I'd love to hear them!

I'll be at the following places, and I'm working on adding more.  

12/6 Waldorf, MD: JOSH'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!  6 pm, 3195 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, MD 20602 - at Revolution HQ! Everyone invited to party and jam.  The guitar army plays a set of music! (Broadcast live over Google + if you're out of state or country.) 

12/7 Pomfret, MD: Revolution!  Thomas Stone Historic Site I'll be dressed up as a tenant farmer playing Christmas Carols set in the time of the American Revolution.  4-7 pm.  YOU NEED TO BE THERE TO SEE MY COOL HAT!

I'm working on adding a few more dates to this calendar - I'd like to do some more Extreme Caroling (Playing guitar outside in the cold and singing holiday tunes!), and hopefully will have a homeless shelter and another hospital added to the bill.  Let me know if you have any ideas!

I share a birthday with Randy Rhoads.  I love it!  I'll be turning 28 on December 6th, and I can't think of a more FUN way to celebrate than to spend it with the ARMY!  So, if you're in town, come on by my teaching studio in Waldorf, MD.  I'll have a set of music worked out that I'll be performing, joined by my army of guitar students.  There's gonna be a bunch of guitar players playing "Tribute", "Man of Constant Sorrow"  (I'd BETTER get backing vocals this time so I can pretend I'm George Clooney!), "The Grinch", "The Communist Christmas Cat Song" and many others.  I'll also be telling the story of Lt. Prancer, and playing some tunes of the Lt. Prancer EP.  If you're a musician, you're welcome and encouraged to join in the music!  I'll be posting a set list and chord charts soon. If you'd prefer to just watch, that's cool, too.  And if you're not in town, well, I'll be streaming the whole thing on Google +.  I hope my buddies from all over the world can be part of the party!  Here's the Facebook link.

Comrades, I have a favor to ask!  I've got a few more spots open in my lesson program, and I could really use some more recruits to the army.  If you know of anyone looking for lessons, please send them my way!  I'll make sure they get a commission as an officer in the army, and that you get a commission of a sales sort!

Hey!  If you're a comrade in the guitar army, you just might want to hop on FourSquare!  If you don't have it yet, it's a free app, and lets you check in at various places.  I just put Revolution HQ (the teaching studio) on it, and will be giving out cool awards for a certain number of check ins...so definitely hop on, and check in!

OK, comrades - I think we're ready to rock.  Let's go do some nice things - some kind things - basically, let's go be an army of Santas.  Post it back to that hashtag #KindnessExchange, and let's change the world, one action at a time.  It's really up to us how we want life to be.  Let's go create something rockin'.  Don't forget to join the Facebook group, too!

See you on tour!

- Josh