Edited by Readers Digest - Inspired: A Guided Journal for Spreading Kindness

A READERS DIGEST BOOK

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Illustrations and hand lettering by Maria Amador

ISBN 978-1-62145-545-5

ISBN 978-1-62145-574-5 (ebook)

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Lately, it might seem as if the world is hopelessly divided. Between social distancing and polarizing headlines, its easy to feel disconnected. But we believe theres always room for hope. And that hope begins with each of us. Every day we have the opportunity to spread kindnessin our families, our communities, and the world around us. We can let people know theyre not alone. We can remind friends why we love them. We can feed those who are hungry, compliment a stranger, support a local business, and learn more about ourselves and others. We can change the world around us, one thoughtful action at a time.

Inside these pages youll find more than sixty ideas for spreading kindness to friends, family and strangers; helping the environment; giving back to your community; and focusing on what unites instead of divides us. Youll also find inspiring quotes from artists, thinkers, musicians, and leaders, as well as real-life stories of friendship and compassion from readers like you. And weve included space for reflecting on each of these actions, so that you can see the difference you made and be inspired to continue this journey of giving back. Finally, at the end of the book, weve included several of our favorite resources to help you learn more and do more. We hope youll continue to add to this list as you strive to make this world a little bit better.

We created this journal because we know that simple acts of kindness can make meaningful change. Together, we can be inspired to make a difference every day.

The Editors of Readers Digest

PLAY SMARTPHONE ROULETTE.

SCROLL THROUGH YOUR CONTACT LIST AND CALL THE FIRST PERSON WHOSE NAME YOU SEE.

HELP THE HELPERS!

OFFER TO GROCERY SHOP OR PET SIT FOR A DOCTOR OR NURSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

My mom uses a wheelchair. Our city has buses with wheelchair lifts, but they slow things down and drivers dont like that. They often say, The lift is broken. One day, Mom was waiting at the bus stop while a man snored on a nearby bench. But when the driver made his lame excuse, the man on the bench awoke and yelled at the driver for his heartlessness toward this old, crippled lady. Ashamed, the driver miraculously discovered that the lift worked after all. My mom got on the bus, and the guy on the bench went back to sleep.

Ray Martin, Glendora, California

SMILE AT A STRANGER.

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PLANT A TREE IN YOUR BACKYARD OR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUNTEER FOR A SHIFT AT A SOUP KITCHEN OR FOOD BANK.

My third-grade teacher and I had a magical bond. She moved after that year, though, and we lost touch. Thirty-one years later, we reconnected through Facebook. I sent her a picture of a doll shed bought me back then to prove Id kept it all this time. She immediately sent me a picture of the same doll! Turns out, shed bought two dolls because they looked like her little Jill and shed kept one to remember me by. Unknowingly, wed both also named the doll Rebecca. You never know whose life youre going to impact in profound ways!

Jill Beeckman, Freeland, Michigan

WRITE A LETTER TO A FORMER TEACHER, SHARING THE DIFFERENCE THAT PERSON MADE IN YOUR LIFE.

BRING SOMEONE FLOWERS.

DONATE USED BOOKS OR TOYS TO YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER.