A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You

Over the past few days, I've been reading Donna Cameron's A year of Living Kindly. No, I haven't read it in its entirety, because with such a thoughtful, intelligent, evocative book, I need to take it in slowly, thoughtfully. Now that might not be the your approach, but that's okay. Cameron, in one of her helpful suggestions of how to be kind (not just nice) is NOT to treat others the way you would want to be treated yourself, because other people have different needs. One way of being kind means recognizing others' needs without the assumption they are the same as yours. Coming home on a very crowded bus the other day, after reading into Cameron's book, and thinking about the ways in which I have often mistaken being nice for kindness -- I was presented with an opportunity to put into practice what I had read. I am a woman of a certain age and so I was seated in a section reserved for "seniors" and people with disabilities when. an elderly and quite fragile man entered. I offered him my seat, which I would have ordinarily done. But when another elderly, and equally fragile woman, entered and was left to stand, I turned to young woman and suggested, by pointing at the woman standing, that she get up. So far, so good. Immediately after my intervention, another woman seated nearby, exclaimed, in a extremely loud voice, "Well look at who's running the world! What would we do without her! Without her the world wouldn't spin." Had I not just finished reading a chapter in "Living Kindly," I know I would have responded with anger and unkindly. I took a deep breath and turned to my attacker, and softly responded, "You must have had a very hard day. I'm so sorry." This is so much more than a self-help book. It made me think and, hopefully remain a presence when I am confronted with another kindness test. I think you'll find it rewarding to read.

I still bought this book, even though I received a review copy for free. This is how good this book is. I want to always have it around me. This is something we should all read about more! It's an amazing, inspiring and very warm book that you MUST read.A Year of Living Kindly talks about how, despite popular belief, kindness shouldn't be considered a weakness, but rather a strength, and that it is more likely to bring you success in life rather than get you trampled on. What I loved about it the most is that it analyzes kindness outside of the religious viewpoints, so it works for absolutely anyone. A Year of Living Kindly is comprised out of separate topic chapters, at the end of which you will find actionable insights on what things you should focus on in your own day to day life to help you strive to be more kind. It also explains in detail just WHY kindness is WORTH IT, and why you should try to be more kind, and I mean truly kind to others – not just nice. This book was amazing and I was so happy to find good thoughts on a topic that nobody really talks about, but everybody desperately needs to start discussion on, and especially OUTSIDE the religious context (because that is often something that builds more barriers between people, rather than encourage positive change.) I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart and think everyone should read it.I thank the publisher for sending me a copy for review in exchange for my honest opinion. It doesn't affect my opinion.

this book to anyone who is trying to venture down the road to a kinder life. It is written in a 52 chapter format, one for each week of the year, so I think I'll reread a chapter each week and focus on the content. I live the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the readability of the 3 to 7 minute chapters. It also includes a 'kindness in action' segment at the new of each chapter to help the reader put each lesson into practice.

Keep A Year of Living Kindly by your bedside or in your bathroom -- somewhere you are likely to browse often – so that its gentle wisdom can seep into your daily activities. Donna Cameron’s book is like a melody that sings softly to you about what we can all do to make our own lives and relationships more beautiful and fruitful, and in the process create a more peaceful world. Suffused with revealing and often amusing personal examples, you can feel that the author has taken her own words to heart and lived them out. The book is full of practical advice as well as more philosophical reflections on why kindness matters and what it looks like. You’ll find quotable quotes throughout. One of my favorites is “We can’t live a life of kindness toward others if we aren’t kind to ourselves.” Don’t try to take this wise book down in one dose. It’s more like vitamins that need to be taken every day, and you’ll be glad you did. So will everyone around you, if you take the book to heart.

The concept and writing was pretty good, but it seemed like the author said the same thing over and over. If you get this, read it one chapter at a time and then go back to it later. The repetition won't seem so obvious then and you may enjoy it.

Donna Cameron explores the power of kindness in her book, A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You. She starts by explaining that kindness is more than being nice. Kind means connecting, being aware and intentional about the effect of our words and actions, expending energy and effort, and caring about the outcome.The book grew out of her year intentionally trying to live kindly, researching kindness, and blogging about her experience and observations on her Year of Living Kindly blog. She has it organized to read through in 52 weeks, ruminating on each chapter a week at a time for your own year of living kindly. But reading it straight through, or dipping in here and there, is also a pleasure. Each chapter is a reminder of how and why it is best to be kind.

This was a refreshing, eye opening, educating, and an inspiring read. I will return to it whenever I need it, everyone should own a copy , loved it and will continue loving it. :) x