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Why is it that we never hear about good
deeds? The news that floods our television screens and daily
papers is filled with violent crimes, and we seldom hear
about the people who help strangers in need, who go out
of their way to feed the hungry, who give of themselves
day in and day out and expect nothing in return. Their gifts
and blessings are offered with little fanfare or recognition.
Tired of depressing statistics and discouraging
news, psychologist Kathleen Brehony set out to find the
many overlooked people who devote themselves to helping
others. Her goal was to determine what motivates such people,
and how we can learn from them and draw on our own strengths
to male the world a kinder place to live. Across America,
Brehony discovered individuals from all walks of life quietly
dedicating themselves to doing good. Whether they volunteer
once a week in a soup kitchen, or have found innovative
ways to take back the streets of the inner city, their dreams
are built on the very simple -- and often unarticulated
-- belief that anyone can find a way to reach out and act
with compassion and generosity. Together, their stories
serve as an example of how we can choose to live.
As you read, you will come to realize that
the people Kathleen Brehony describes are not so different
from you. They are not superhuman. They have not attained
some special enlightenment. They have simply found a way
to clear a space in their lives for simple kindness. More
than anything, they serve as role models, and should inspire
people who feel unsure of how to help others in need.
Although there is no easy recipe for compassionate
living, this book helps us understand -- an act on -- the
many different ways in which ordinary grace can be expressed.
Brehony has written an inspiring book, one that will encourage
us to examine the enormous potential within ourselves --
to wake up and recognize the good that is everywhere around
us, to find joy in the small things that make others happy,
and to put our capacity for compassion and charity to good
use.
Kathleen A. Brehony holds a Ph.D. in
clinical psychology. She has been in private practice for
twelve years, specializing in periods of transitional development,
including midlife, death, and dying. She is the author of
Awakening at Midlife: Realizing Your Potential for Growth
and Change, which was a finalist for the Books for a
Better Life Award. Dr. Brehony divides her time between
Virginia and Los Angeles.
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