4.5/5 stars
To love is to risk, not being loved in return. to hope is to risk pain. to try is to risk failure. but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in my life is to risk nothing.
Those of you who know me, know that I am not the non-fiction type. I find a sort of comfort in fiction that I don't believe non-fiction will ever give me. And yet, here we are, with me loving this with every ounce of my being. I didn't expect it to be as touching, heart-felt and inspirational as it was, as helpful and uplifting and tender and truly, truly educational on how to teach people what it means to love and accept.
This reminded me to hug people more, to be clear about my emotions and do not fear them when they come, to abandon small material worries, to always strive to learn things about the world around me, to be curious, and bold, and loud, and unapologetic. It was a soft shoulder for me to lean on, or a word of encouragement, and it brought multiple smiles to my face, tears in my eyes, and a feeling of warmth so profound that it stole my breath away.
I loved the discussions on grief, friendship, family, acceptance and the true, bold, childish self. I noted things down, thought things over and over, even wondered or tried to plan how to practice kindness more often. It touched a part of my soul just like all good books do, and it wasn't even a story! It was a collection of speeches, easy to read, comprehensible and yet so deep, wonderful and shine-filled and heartwarming and more than anything true. Another important thing is that it shows a lot on how to teach, how to make others love things as much as you do, absorb knowledge and seek it like an adventure.
Overall, I loved this so much and I am so excited to read more and more non-fiction as the years pass ♥ Until the next review, stay safe, be kind to the people around you, embrace diversity and keep reading ♥
¬Mary ♥