I have always believed that friendliness is the truest level of beauty. And I just have to think of my grandmother to confirm that this is true. Giving, nurturing, understanding – she was all these things until the day she died undeniably radiant at the age of eighty-four. She smiled with her eyes and loved it out loud, and I want to be that.
If you are lucky, you are close to someone like this, a person who exudes warmth and is gentle and sympathetic to you, even if you are not at your best.
If you pay attention, you will see people from all walks of life every day who embody these qualities. You will see how people open their hearts, homes and wallets to help other people when they have problems.
And if you are something like me, collect these little memories – snapshots of basic human kindness – to maintain your trust in humanity when life feels dark or insecure.
As someone who was always looking for new friendship stories for inspiration, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Brad Aronson's new book HumanKind.
Now we have to focus more on good than ever – and do good in our own way.
HumanKind can help both. With uplifting stories and practical tips, HumanKind will touch your heart, remind you of what's really important, and give you the tools to make a big difference in the world through tiny, kind actions. And all of the author's license fees go to Big Brothers Big Sisters – so it helps to buy a copy!
The book begins with Brad's story of helping his wife Mia with two and a half years of treatment after she was diagnosed with leukemia. Friends, family and colleagues have all come forward to reduce the strain on their family. And together they have proven that there is strength in numbers. This thoughtfulness, when multiplied by many, can really help lead someone through the toughest struggle of their life.
Later in this book, you will read about a pensioner who has started a project to repair the clothes of homeless people, strengthen their intrinsic value and thereby improve their hearts.
You will learn about a woman who has created a movement of compassion and connection by issuing "you matter" cards and giving other sets that she can distribute through her "you matter marathon" .
You will also read about a woman with a debilitating illness who was refused a service dog, and then train dogs for others like her after her self-trained German shepherd dog saved her life.
The book is full of such stories – stories of everyday people using their skills to make a difference and turning their pain into meaning.
And Brad's tips are simple and clear, and offer a detailed roadmap to achieve your own impact, one tiny act of love after another.
Like many others in the world, you may have a lot of free time to fill up with enriching activities. Some Netflix binge sessions are mixed, because let's face it, both are ways to be kind to yourself!
Or if you're a parent like me who works from home, you have to fill small pockets here and there that you really want to count.
I can't think of a better way to improve yourself and the world than to give HumanKind a reading.
Even in the darkest of times, the world is full of light.
There are people who are currently hiding in houses, smiling at the family with their eyes and thinking about ways to love loudly – in isolation and beyond. There are people out there who know what it's like to be hurt and want to help create a world with a little less pain and a lot more love.
If you are or would like to be one of them, click here and let HumanKind guide you. Take your spirits with you. Give hope to your heart. Give something back to the needy.
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