Kindness, Actually
How a fictional character named Theo helped me see the "Golden" moments in my world
Hello and Welcome to JQ’s Substack Focused on Story!
Thank you for taking the time to stop in. I know you only have so many hours during the day to get everything done. Sometimes, I fall short of accomplishing my plans for the day because I end up reading so many Substack articles. LOL. You too?
KINDNESS, ACTUALLY
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
—Mark Twain
After reading Theo of Golden, I have noticed kind acts by folks in our community and witnessed kind acts all around me. The protagonist, Theo, is truly a kind, gentle man, but with a secret. He touched so many people in his community, Golden, with his thoughtful actions and quiet ways.
If you listen to the news and follow social media, you would conclude the world is filled with meanness where hatred flourishes and the art of respectful compromise is gone.
I cannot watch the network news anymore. It is filled with death, plane crashes, shootings, devastating storms, and earthquakes. Perhaps as an apology for reporting such horrible news, a two minute spot at the end of the show features a video of cute, fuzzy baby eagles hatching, a person who deserves recognition for being kind and helpful to people at his school or work, a woman celebrating her 106th birthday, a kid selling lemonade to raise funds for a charity, and groups helping those who lost everything in a flood.
I understand the media maintains they have more viewers or clicks when reporting on the blood, gore, infidelity, and crime. The reporter often introduces the video with “this video may be difficult to watch.” Then why air it? Yes, to make the money.
The adage that a dog biting a man is not a unique story, but a man biting a dog will get attention. As long as we keep watching, the media will keep offering us the man bites dog story.
I wish the media would spend more than two minutes on acts of kindness and feel-good stories. There are so many acts of kindness every day in my world. I witness them often when we travel. Hey, I see them right here in my hometown Walmart! How about you?
“The smallest act of kindness
is worth more than the grandest intention.” — Oscar Wilde
Kindness is all around us. Kindness does not have to be a huge gesture. Opening a door for a person, picking up an item from the floor for someone, bringing food to a friend or stranger, or having a conversation with your neighbor. Even a smile warms someone’s heart.
REVIEW: THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi
AN EXCERPT FROM THE BACK OF THE BOOK:
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder.
I kept turning the pages of this book, not only because the main character, Theo, was a mysterious old man, but because Allen Levi has the gift of storytelling. The kind of story that you can get cozy in your favorite chair and escape from reality for a while. It is a heartwarming, feel-good book. At first, when the author began the story, I balked at reading because there seemed to be a lot of characters to keep track of. But I was able to distinguish the interesting characters thanks to the author’s excellent narrative.
Some readers may find this book a little too sweet, and that’s okay. We all have our preferences, so I recommend the book to anyone who believes in kindness, generosity, and wonder.
CONGRATULATIONS!
TO MY FRIEND AND DEBUT AUTHOR, SALLY CUNNINGHAM KANE! She just released her memoir, From Cornfields to Cuba. Please come back later when I spotlight her book this month!
Connect online with JQ Rose:
Email: jqrose02 @ gmail dot com
We read this book for my book club. I really found it heartwarming, like you did. And yes, being kind to each other is so important, especially now.
Last week, while I was on my Sunday walk, I stopped to look for a cat I could hear but not see. Soon another person was doing the same, and in minutes we'd drawn a small crowd. Everyone was concerned about the cat that sounded distressed...and it was. We finally located it high in a tree. So there we were, a group of five strangers, figuring out how to either entice that feline down on its own or find a way to bring it down. In the end, we called the fire department, and they came. Now we had quite a gathering of people and a large fire truck. All ended with the cat reunited with its family, and we all went our own ways. The rest of the day seemed brighter because of what I'd been a part of, and I realized that in today's world, where social media is filled with anger and hate, I craved that community experience where kindness and care brought strangers together. Thanks for your post about kindness!