BE KIND Signs: Spreading Kindness One Sign at a Time
You may have noticed new, colorful, rectangular signs throughout campus that say two words: BE KIND. The signs were conceived by the same Westminster, MD couple who have made it their life’s work to inspire positivity, promote kindness, and uplift communities through this simple yet powerful message.
Eric Miller, who calls himself the “Chief Kindness Officer,” and Tina Thomas, the “Chief Positivity Officer,” are the founders of the Infinite Love Project and the passionate duo behind BeKindSign.com. Eric is in charge of creating and installing the signs, while Tina manages the messaging and marketing side of the business.
Their titles might sound playful, but they are deeply connected to their purpose. “Even though I might technically be fulfilling the role of a CEO, that title doesn’t speak to our mission,” Tina explains. “Chief Positivity Officer totally speaks to who we are and what we are doing.”
The Birth of Be Kind
The journey to BeKindSign.com began, unsurprisingly, with a love for inspiring kindness. Eric, a former construction company owner, was always interested in working with his hands. In 2018, he began handing out small wooden hearts with the infinity symbol as a way to connect with people and impart positive energy. This gesture was the spark that led to the formation of the Infinite Love Project.
The hearts became popular, and soon people wanted to know how they could get involved. That’s when Eric and Tina realized they had something special. In January 2020, following years of divisiveness and negativity in the news, Eric created the first “BE KIND” sign out of leftover plywood and spray paint. The piece resonated with his neighbors, who soon began asking for signs of their own.
With Tina’s background in sales and marketing, the couple launched the Infinite Love Project LLC in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the challenges of the lockdown, they actually managed to grow their business during this time.
“We didn’t want to go back to working for someone else,” Tina shared. “We wanted to keep doing what we’re doing because it feels so good to reach out to people in positive ways.”
Cultivating Kindness
BeKindSign.com doesn’t just promote kindness through signs mounted on poles and over doorways. They also actively engage the community through their Community of Kindness Workshops.
These workshops, offered in partnership with schools and organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Carroll County, allow students and community members to paint their own “Be Kind” signs. This initiative is especially meaningful to Eric, who has placed signs near local schools to remind students and community members of the importance of kindness.
The success of BeKindSign.com is largely due to the passionate support of the neighboring community. From vending at farmer’s markets to affiliations with area businesses, the initiative has grown steadily. “We’re grateful for all the local support, especially from Carroll Community College and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC),” Eric said.
“Carroll Community College welcomes the opportunity to formally join other partners throughout the county who embrace the Be Kind mindset,” said Dr. Rose Mince, president of Carroll Community College.
Spreading Kindness Farther
Looking ahead, Eric and Tina plan to expand the paint-your-own initiative to other counties and Baltimore City. They’re also excited about their annual Kindness Stroll, where student-painted signs are displayed in the windows of Main Street merchants in Westminster. This year, twenty-five merchants showcased more than fifty signs.
The installation of Be Kind signs on Carroll’s campus also commemorates Kindness Week Worldwide, celebrated November 9 – 16. In addition to unveiling the signs, the College has planned several other engaging activities that week such as a Community of Kindness Art Show and a Community Kindness Walk.
“Adding these beautiful signs to our campus during Be Kind Week is a powerful reminder of the impact simple acts of kindness can have on our community and beyond,” Dr. Mince said. “As we model an environment of compassion and respect, we enhance our campus culture and encourage each other to create a more positive world.”
BeKindSign.com is more than just an organization; it’s a movement aimed at creating a culture of kindness, starting with each one of us. Their message is clear: kindness is a practice that can transform lives and communities. And with their workshops, collaborations, and community efforts, Eric and Tina are making that transformation a reality, one act of kindness at a time.