February is the month of love. Valentine's Day dominates the first half of the month with bouquets of hearts and roses. I am not presumptuous enough to think our village will embrace this lovey-dovey season, but I think we can wish that a bit rubs off. With little retail to remind us of these emotions and a dominance of bars and restaurants, I challenge the residents and the business people of the village to spend some time thinking about the true meaning of love and kindness.

My dream is a village of warmth and friendliness in addition to fun and drinking. Hospitality embraces kindness and service, or at least it should. It is a requirement for those folks who are working in the service industries − but what about the residents and the visitors? I always think of a village as a small community where everyone knows each other, holds others accountable, helps one another, and has a welcoming greeting for everyone on their streets. But alas, many of us are products of the 2000's where social media and lack of manners is more the practice.

I challenge anyone reading my article to think and practice kindness this month. Kindness takes little time and costs nothing. So how can you do a kindness workout?

• Practice patience. Take a breath, hesitate a moment, and turn your kindness-switch on.
• Say a warm "Hello, have a nice day" or "Good Morning". Take time to say "Thank you", and don't ignore a "Please."
• Do a good deed: help someone with directions, answer a village question, open a door, pick up a dropped item, share a load of packages, and let someone with one item go in front of you.

You will never know how a simple kindness can sow the seeds of care and goodwill. I still remember the man who was walking towards me in a carved-out snowy path during the Chicago blizzard. As we got closer, each one of us was probably thinking who would give the right-of-way. Picture the snow was several feet tall. To my delight, the "gentleman" stepped in the snow drift and even tipped his hat at me as I passed. I have never forgotten that quaint manner, and even fifty years later, it is a vivid memory. Here are some words of inspiration:

"Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you, not because they are nice, but because you are." Unknown

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop (620 and 564 BC)

"Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person." Plato (424-348 BC)

Kindness does not go out of style; it is a human characteristic that has been with us since the beginning of time. Manners may change, but kindness is eternal. Kindness fuels our Hoosier hospitality and ripples through our village. Give it a try.