When we go on a cruise, we like to be on the same level as their library, and as close to it as possible. On Oct. 22nd, we boarded the Liberty of the Sea in Bayonne for a 10 day cruise. We were 42 paces from the library, and the elevators. A sweeter place we couldn’t have been in.
The library was a bit sparse, with some of the shelves being empty. There were some duplicate titles, popping up every few shelves. One title in particular caught my eye. It was The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Soul, by Robert Clancy. Mr. Clancy has gathered a series of inspirational anecdotes about volunteerism, compassion and life changing encounters with strangers and other kindred spirits.
Can an encounter with a single person really have any effect upon you? I never really thought much about it until I actually started to read this book. I read it reluctantly at first, not sure whether it would be worth my time.
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The best and Most beautiful Thing in Life cannot be seen, not touched, but are felt in the Heart.Helen Keller
Let me tell you, this book was a revelation to me. My eyes swelled with tears often as I read about people’s lives being changed for the good after a chance encounter with someone that had always been in in the background, not seen or even avoided. I’ll never pass a book again without taking a look inside first.
Clancy talks about soul hitches, chance encounters and interactions that we have along our daily journey. These encounters and interactions can lead to profound understandings, taking your life in an entirely new direction. This direction often leads to a magic place, allowing you to revel in the magic of hitching a ride inside of another human soul.
One story caught my attention. There was a young girl named Stephanie, who was unsure whether she could get into college. She excelled in track and field, but was not valedictorian or class president. Painfully shy and discouraged, she attended a student leadership conference. The night before the conference began, her fellow school team mates gave her a group hug and told her that she was one of them and that she could do it.
The next day, Stephanie woke a changed person. She was filled with can-do spirit, and she forgot all about her shyness. She took charge of the group, leading them in many cheers and activities. By the end of the conference, Stephanie had been chosen as top spot in their group.
Stephanie learned to be herself, and that others accepted her for who she was. She went on to become class president, and was accepted to Harvard on a full scholarship. All because she was given support and encouragement by her peers and the teacher who escorted them to that first event.
The lesson I learned is to never judge a book by its cover. I read this book with great enthusiasm once I had gotten past my reservations about it. There are numerous great quotes sprinkled throughout the book. I’ll leave you with one of my favorites.
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It’s good to have money and all of the things that money can buy,
but it’s good, too, to check once in a while and make sure you
haven’t lost the things that money can’t buyGeorge Horace Lorimer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Help Bring Back Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Kickstarter is at 57% of its total goal! Help Spread the news– #BringBackMST3Khttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mst3k/bringbackmst3k?ref=hero![kickstarter,#BringBackMST3K.com,]()
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!If this was helpful to you, please leave me your thoughts, comments and questions below. I’ll be sure to respond to them.
To Your Future,
Tom, the High Traffic Wizard #BringBackMST3K
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