New Year 2026 Starts By Playing Kindness Bingo In Shady Pines!
The NewYear Is Here
We see it coming. There’s always a countown as another year comes to an end. What’s the old saying dear reader? “Time Waits For No Man.” It doesn’t wait for any of us – man, woman or child.
2026 is here whether we’re ready or not. And hey, with a new year we have a chance to try something new. Don’t waste any time. Let’s take a new approach to the way we do things. What do you say? What if we start each day thinking about how we can be kind?
Have you ever done that?
Visitors often tell us they’d like to live in a place like our dear Shady Pines Story Town. 
They say it’s because our close knit community is dedicated to treating one another with kindness and caring.
We believe in conversation, not confrontation and that by working together we can overcome most challenges. Our neighbors respond to this in a good way and we think our kindness connection makes this small Southern town special.
The Usual Way
Let’s face it. Most of us begin each morning thinking about what we ‘Have to Do.” I bet you do, too.
No doubt you say to yourself, “I have to go to school.” You probably get told, “You have to make the bed and clean up your room.”
At mealtime, how many times have you heard, “You have to eat your vegetables?”
You get the idea.
But what if we flip that around? Why, you could re-write that old script in your head and fill it with more positive thoughts. Wouldn’t that feel better?
Let’s play Kindness Bingo
I bet you’re wondering, “How do I do that?” Sometimes the easiest way to change something is to make it fun. Then we’ll look forward to the day instead of dreading all the stuff we have to do.
The teachers at the Shady Pines Elementary School got together and came up with game.
They asked 7 yr old Ray Robinson to help them with it. 
He made it his class project. And you know if Ray is involved then his favorite four-legged pals can’t be far behind.
Yep, Boomerang the handsome Australian Shepherd dog, and Halley’s Comet, a silver streak of a cat are right there with him.
Between the teachers, Ray and other kids, and some parents they came up with something new to play.
How Do You Play?
The idea is that you find some little tokens to use. They could be something simple like buttons.
Every time you complete one of the ideas in the square you put your button on it.
When you complete all the tasks like, High Five Someone, you yell, BINGO!
Isn’t that fun?
Because it’s a game, you won’t even realize you’re training yourself to think kind thoughts and take action on them.
Starting A Good Habit
That’s the way we began making positive connections here in town.
One person did something kind and other people saw that and wanted to do the same sort of thing.
It’s contagious! Not like the flu or a cold but in a good way.
Even after the fireworks on New Year’s Eve have faded from view, your NEW Year in 2026 could be the very best yet. Do I hear BINGO?