Some people say I have a new book out. I say you have a new book out.
Two years ago, I took 100 of my favorite kindness stories, the ones you have been sending in since 2011, and I put them in a book. We called that book “Kindness is Contagious: 100 Stories to Remind You God is Good and So Are Most People.”
The stories came from people all over the country who either gave kindness or received it at just the right moment. Some of the stories make me laugh and some of them make me cry, but they all move me the way they moved the people who first experienced them.
Each week in this column, we celebrate the amazing feeling of a day re-routed by goodness, but I thought if people could read those stories back to back or one a day, they would be even more impactful. After all, the more we think about kindness, the more we notice it in our lives.
About a year ago, people started asking when I’d be coming out with a second book of stories. I wasn’t sure I ever would, but then I started thinking, why not?
I’ll let you in on a secret: the most amazing things that have happened in my life happened because instead of saying “No” or “Maybe later,” I said, “Why not?” It’s how I ended up reunited with my childhood sweetheart and how we ended up with three kids.
“Why not?” is a pretty fun way to live.
So here we are with another book. This one is called “Kindness is Courageous: 100 Stories to Remind You People Are Brave and Kind.” Once again, the idea is to fill our minds with goodness so we can be refreshed by the positivity in our world that is often overshadowed by the noisy negative things bombarding our personal space.
We are creating new pathways in our brains everyday. We want those pathways to veer toward the silver linings, even in upsetting circumstances. Maybe by reading these stories, you’ll realize there really is more good in the world than bad. But more than anything, I hope when you read it, you’ll realize that not only are other people brave and kind — you are brave and kind, too.
I’m coming to North Dakota and Minnesota to celebrate your kindness and bravery along with the launch of this book. I would love to see you and hear about even more stories you are carrying in your heart.
My schedule includes a 9:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, appearance on Valley News Live, followed by a visit to Lake Park (Minn.) Audubon High School at 2:15 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 29, I’ll speak at the North Dakota Kindergarten Conference at Centennial Elementary School in Fargo, and I’ll be on KFGO 790 AM at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, and WDAY 970 AM at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4. I’m also speaking at Sanford’s breast cancer retreat on Friday, Oct. 5.
Here’s my schedule of upcoming events that are free and open to the public.
• 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28: Hope Lutheran Church, 3636 25th St. S., Fargo
• 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1: Book signing at North Dakota State University Bookstore, 1401 Administration Ave., Fargo
• 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 4: Book signing at Red River Coffee Co., 2600 52nd Ave. S., Fargo
• 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 4: Book signing at Eco Chic Home, 3265 45th St. S., Fargo
I’m looking forward to seeing you very soon!