Be Positive

Find a Way to Be Kind and Helpful to Others, Especially Now

by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com

If the recent pandemic has taught me anything, it continues to be one of my adopted catch phrases, “Be Positive.”

I never knew my blood type until many years ago when I started to donate blood. I was told that my blood type is B Positive, which I thought sounded cool, and I learned that less than 8% of the world’s population has this type.

At a pinball show sometime in 2012, amid the difficulties of creating our first game, I was asked how I was always so positive with the myriad problems and delays. I remember blurting out, “My blood type is B Positive so I can never be negative”! It drew a lot of laughs and even some applause. After that it became part of my shtick (Google it) and it stuck. I still say it on occasion now and then, but I’ve thought of it more during all of the recent troubles in the world. For me, prayer is where I turn and my faith, family and friends, but let’s stay on the “Be Positive” theme here.

Even though we all seem to live in our own little worlds, this pandemic has taught us that we are really part of the whole world. We are all connected. The sad events that have caused death to innocent people and injustice that dates back centuries has also been amplified by the existing economic struggles that have been heightened by the pandemic. If ever there was a time for faith, it’s been through these last several months and, I’m certain, through the next several years (actually, forever).

I was talking about some of this with my longtime friend Joe DiRusso from PinGraffix and he surprised me with a set of coasters that have my saying and signature on them. I had another idea where we may be able to use them to help a local soup kitchen and food bank raise some money.

Years ago Jersey’s own Jon Bon Jovi started the JBJ Soul Kitchen that provides meals to anyone who can pay or not. They say that dignity and respect are always on the menu. You can Google JBJ Soul Kitchen and learn more and donate if you can. There are lines of people outside waiting to pick up meals every day, many people are hurting and need some help.

If you donate anything to JBJ (or not) and you would like a set of my “Be Positive” coasters sent to you, just email joe@pingraffix.com and he’ll send them to you at no cost, courtesy of the both of us. We’re not selling the coasters. Just like the meals at JBJ Soul Kitchen, they are free with a donation if you can give one and free if you can’t afford to do so.

Everyone can do something, however small. If you follow me or PinGraffix on social media you will see more links and pictures, too.

Be kind to each other, especially as we all try to ease back into the world as it is now. As we reopen our industry, be mindful of others not as healthy, those less fortunate and those financially challenged. Do good things for others, think of how you would treat others and how you would like to be treated. The Golden Rule always works. Please do what you can for those who are not able to do for themselves. It may not be forever, but your kindness and generosity will certainly help you feel better as well as help someone else. Be Positive, #B+.

Jack Guarnieri started servicing electro-mechanical pinball machines in 1975 and has been involved in every phase of the amusement game business since then. He was an operator in NYC, then began a distributorship in 1999, PinballSales.com, selling coin-op to the consumer market. In January of 2011, he founded Jersey Jack Pinball (named after his RePlay Magazine pen name), which builds award-winning, full-featured, coin-op pinball machines. Email Jack at jack@ jerseyjackpinball.com.