D.Y.R.D.E.K.? (Did You Really Do Everything Kind?)

Established in 2012, every year on February 1st the city of Los Angeles and the surrounding area celebrates Dyrdek Day, honoring Rob Dyrdek and his work to benefit the city and youth of Los Angeles.

Unless you live in the Los Angeles area or are a diehard Dyrdek fan, you’ve probably never heard of Dyrdek Day. Dyrdek’s work to benefit the youth and city of Los Angeles is mostly associated with his work to grow and promote skateboarding. Dyrdek’s work to promote skateboarding is not limited to the Los Angeles area either. Dyrdek has built skateparks all across the country including his hometown of Kettering, Ohio.

Street skating used to be illegal, but thanks to Dyrdek’s work over the years it is now legal. One can only wonder how many kids have not fallen into a life of drugs, crime or worse thanks to Dyrdek’s work to promote and legalize street skating.

But Dyrdek Day isn’t just about skateboarding or even Rob Dyrdek. As Dyrdek is apt to do, he took Dyrdek Day and turned the focus off of himself and used it as an opportunity to help others. He cleverly turned his name into an acronym: Did You Really Do Everything Kind? The idea behind Dyrdek Day was turned into an episode for Season 5 of his hit MTV show Fantasy Factory when Dyrdek Day was first established in 2012. Dyrdek Day has continued to be celebrated every year in the Los Angeles area and by Dyrdek fans everywhere.

But Dyrdek Day is something you can celebrate whether you love him or hate him, because it isn’t really about Dyrdek. How can you celebrate Dyrdek Day? Go out and commit “random acts of kindness”. Dyrdek Day isn’t really about Rob Dyrdek, it’s about being kind to people. I believe that is what Dyrdek was trying to convey, when he coined the acronym D.Y.R.D.E.K? If you have seen Dyrdek’s show Fantasy Factory you know that kindness is the heart and soul of Rob Dyrdek.

If you’re not a fan of Dyrdek, don’t do it for him, do it for God. Kindness is a biblical principle we find commanded throughout scripture, such as the Golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We even find kindness commanded all the way back in the very first book of the Bible, Genesis 21: 23: “‘…Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you.’” Honestly, I doubt Dyrdek cares who you are being kind for, himself, God, or anyone, just as long as you do it. This itself demonstrates Dyrdek’s selfless attitude which we should all have.

Dyrdek Day isn’t something that should only be celebrated one day a year. It’s an attitude, a lifestyle, a mindset. Dyrdek Day is something that should be celebrated every single day of the year.