Signs of Hope

Book excerpt: Changing the world--or at least your corner of it--is easier than you think. With so much suffering in our communities and in the world, it can feel impossible to make an impact. "What good can I possibly do?" we ask. Amy Wolff, a busy mom and small business owner, often felt this way--and didn't feel qualified to connect and uplift others. But one day, after hearing about several suicides and suicide attempts in her community, she printed 20 yard signs with hopeful messages and anonymously placed them throughout her city. This small action sparked a global movement of encouragement, hope, and love, which spread to 50 states and 27 countries in just 18 months. Signs of Hope is an intimate collection of stories from Amy's personal life, as well as people impacted by the movement, about the power of hope and love in the midst of suffering. This book discusses: The drain of compassion fatigue Why we should show up imperfectly to help others How to claim hope for ourselves Practical ideas of how to respond to suffering Strategies of how to love people who are "different" Resilience when love-spreading efforts backfire How to raise a compassionate generation The science of hope Signs of Hope is your catalyst for doing something today . . . because there's no perfect time to help others. The time is now.