The other day, while scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came across the kind of uplifting story that makes my exhausted-mom-bleeding-heart melt.
It was from a mother who’d decided to fly alone with her two-year-old and five-year-old, only to find herself overwhelmed by two screaming, overtired children.
I can imagine the stress and anxiety she felt, given that I often feel that way just sitting in my living room with my poor-sleeping baby and high-energy toddler—which is why I almost shed a tear when I read about the other moms who stepped up to offer help.
One fellow mama let the solo mom cut her in the security line, another helped carry all her bags, and a third woman held one of her children for a long stretch on the flight and carried him all the way to baggage claim, where she left with a hug and a “Merry Christmas!”
Right when she needed it, this mother found herself the proverbial village it takes to raise a child—through the air and back again. (See what I did there?!)
Whether it was the spirit of the holiday season or just basic human decency, these women made a tremendous difference through their selfless acts of kindness.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough stories like these—tiny reminders that the world is full of good people who care and want to help.
It’s easy to feel discouraged sometimes, whether you’re covered in spit-up at 3am or collapsed under the weight of all your responsibilities after one too many days burning the candle at both ends.
In moments like these, when we’re feeling drained and depleted, we need to remember that there are kind, loving people all around us who are willing and eager to lend a hand, if only we speak up.
For me, and for many, that person is Brad Aronson. Not only did he amass a beautiful collection of kindness stories in his bestselling book HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act at a Time, he walked his talk just recently by offering me his time and support after I reached out for advice.
True to form, he’s also offered ten free copies of HumanKind to Tiny Buddha readers, and I couldn’t be more excited to get his inspiring book into even more hands.
There’s a reason Forbes referred to it as “the most uplifting and life-affirming book in years.”
HumanKind shines a spotlight on the best of humanity and includes countless practical suggestions and ideas to help us bring out the best in ourselves.
What strikes me most about HumanKind—aside from the fact that all author royalties go to Big Brothers Big Sisters—is that the people profiled are just like you and me. They’re everyday people with struggles of their own who one day decided they wanted to do something good—then did.
Whether you’re looking for confirmation that the world is a caring place or inspiration to make a difference in your own sphere of influence, HumanKind has you covered.
It will feed your spirit, fuel your motivation to give back, and fill your heart with hope.
To enter to win a free, signed copy of HumanKind, comment below, sharing why you or someone you love would appreciate this book. Then email the link to your comment to kind@bradaronson.com so Brad has your email address to contact you if you win.
You can enter until midnight PST on Sunday, December 12th. Brad will contact the winners directly the following week.
Happy Thursday, friends!
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others do the same. She recently created the Breaking Barriers to Self-Care eCourse to help people overcome internal blocks to meeting their needs—so they can feel their best, be their best, and live their best possible life. If you’re ready to start thriving instead of merely surviving, you can learn more and get instant access here.
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