Dare to be Kind
How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World
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- 3,99 €
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- 3,99 €
Publisher Description
'Lizzie has been able to embody the power of hope and compassion in everything she does. Stories like hers keep me inspired every day.' Michelle Obama
'Lizzie is making our culture a kinder one by encouraging people to undermine hate through self-acceptance and everyday acts of empathy. Her heart and humour shine through on every page!' -Lilly Singh, entertainer, comedian and author of How to Be a Bawse
Celebrated motivational speaker and YouTube sensation Lizzie Velasquez shows us how we can learn to accept all parts of ourselves and others to create a culture of kindness and a more compassionate world.
Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn't until she was much older that she understood what that meant to others. At seventeen she came across a viral video entitled 'World's Ugliest Woman'- only to discover that it featured her. In response, she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere and created one of YouTube's most popular motivational channels and a TEDx talk that has drawn tens of millions of viewers.
In this daring, inspiring book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt, shame and cruelty, and empowers us to redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and coping with disappointment, she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity.
Dare to Be Kind presents the path to acceptance, love and tolerance, and offers a blueprint for how to lead a resilient life and, ultimately, forge a radically compassionate world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Debut author and motivational speaker Velasquez delivers a heartfelt and powerful treatise about the importance of being kind, gleaned from first-hand experience. The author, who has neonatal progeroid syndrome, a rare combination of Marfan syndrome and lipodystrophy that prevents her from gaining weight, was bullied in school and online. One day she found that a picture of her had been made into a cruel meme that identified her as the world s ugliest woman, accompanied by comments like Why didn t her parents abort her? Not one comment was kind, Velasquez remembers. Velasquez s solution to this kind of harassment is to create a culture of kindness, extended even toward bullies. This might seem inconceivable, she admits, but she believes it s the only way to solve the problem of bullying. She also points out that serious challenges can bring personal depth and understanding that s impossible without those lessons. The author doesn t pretend to be a Pollyanna, however like anyone else, she has faced dark times, even becoming for a time addicted to anti-anxiety meds. Velasquez counsels readers to lose the shame over their problems it s a complete waste of time and energy and focus on their own gifts. Readers will be inspired by Velasquez s resilient spirit.
