"Your Next 24 Hours" (Hal Donaldson with Kirk Noonan)

TITLE: Your Next 24 Hours: One Day of Kindness Can Change Everything
AUTHOR: Hal Donaldson with Kirk Noonan
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2017, (176 pages).

Who would not like to change the world? Imagine for 24 hours, we would challenge ourselves with the following questions: "What if we were led by kindness and took our eyes off ourselves and focused on the needs of others? What difference could we really make?" This is exactly what the author had done way back in 1984. It was a life-changing experiment that begins with himself. It culminates in the setting up of a global humanitarian relief organization called "Convoy of Hope."  One good thought can lead to a good initiative. One act of kindness can spur another toward kindness to others. One decision to take our eyes off ourselves can launch a new movement of selflessness. Learning to help and to serve others can prove to be a very transformative and satisfying inside. For the author himself has been touched by someone who served his family willingly and sacrificially. The story of Hal Donaldson's family begins tragically with a knock on the door on that fateful August day of 1969. His parents had been in a car that was hit head-on by a drunk driver. His father died and his mum suffered serious injuries. They were then cared for selflessly by another family. Out of the tragedy of ashes rose a determination to be a force to change the world for the better. In one word, this book is about "kindness." It is about how it is not random but intentional; not haphazard but consistent; and definitely not selfishly but sacrificially. It is a humble act with a willing smile.

There is the story of Paul Walker of Fast and Furious fame, helping to buy a wedding ring for a returning soldier. We read of Kate Winslet of Titanic fame working to inspire girls in their self-esteem. Mark Hamill of Star Wars fame also takes time to visit sick children at a local hospital in between promotional appearances for films. Even the act of listening can be a manifestation of kindness. From Mother Teresa to Audrey Hepburn; Bill Gates to reality TV stars; Nelson Mandela to popular sports personality; Donaldson combs society with an eye for kindness, believing that if everyone takes just 24 hours to be conscious of people around them, and to be kind to them, the world will be a much better place than it is today, any day. Filled with stories from famous people about them doing kind deeds, this book not only gives readers a chance to look at their lives from their acts of kindness, but also encourages us to do the same in our own creative ways. Each of the chapters contain five tips for practicing kindness. The beauty of this book is that people do not need to be famous in order to be a star. We can all be stars to light up the world in the hearts of all people. Kindness is not a difficult thing as long as we are able to turn attention away from ourselves. The hurdle of selfdom is the single biggest barrier to us learning to live a more meaningful life. Here are some of the meaningful words from the book.

• "Fulfillment doesn't come from exceeding others; it comes from elevating others.
• Through your kindness, you can change your home, workplace, school, and community. 
• There [is] nothing inherently wrong with wealth and stardom as long as you [don’t] use them to serve only yourself.
• You become famous for kindness by investing your currency and being consistently selfless and caring.
• Personal achievement brings temporary satisfaction; helping others achieve their dreams yields lasting fulfillment.
• The more love you have for yourself, the more love you have to give away.
• Make it a routine to look at your reflection and say, “I love the person God made me.”  
• Kindness is simply helping others by doing what you can with what you have.  

Hal Donaldson is president and co-founder of Convoy of Hope.  He is a graduate of San Jose State University and Bethany University with degrees in Journalism and Biblical Studies. Kirk Noonan also works at Convoy of Hope as vice-president of creative communications.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.