Morphing into a Better World: Musings on Encounters, Connections, and Hope

Morphing into a Better World: Musings on Encounters, Connections, and Hope

The sense of widespread division that we're immersed in could sap the energy and joy out of the best of us. But what if that perception is not grounded in reality? VanLaeys, a physician assistant and serial volunteer, has encountered tens of thousands of everyday people in hundreds of different settings over decades, throughout each of our lower forty-eight states and well beyond. He's worked with the severely disabled, crossed paths with attempted murderers, and hobnobbed with the likes of saints. Through it all, he retains the belief that an overwhelming majority of people are doing their best with the cards that they've been given. He has discovered that - as we respect our way into the confidence of others with active listening, we can discover the origins of what makes them tick and vice versa. As we take in the stories of others, we also develop a greater tolerance for the imperfections which we all carry. Morphing into a Better World is not a fantasy about the way life could be. It's a collection of dozens of encounters which illustrate how life is - behind the scenes and beyond the reach of screens and sound bites. What this book offers - Illustrations of how random encounters can evolve into connections. - An introduction to active listening, the cornerstone of lessening the divide. - A means to open, previously closed, lines of communications. - A peek into the lives of some wonderful human beings who will never make headlines because they're as common as the rain. - Hope - for a more civilized and compassionate future.