The How Behind Hopeful Resilience

As I read more and more about human qualities, such as integrity, honesty, and kindness, I found that not only did these qualities set us apart from computers, but they are also something we all have in common. No matter your political ideas, your ethnic background, your religious views, or your geological location, we all share basic qualities that make us human.

Approaching each other through the lens of computer screens or blocking each other out with smartphones, we were losing the connections to each other that help us develop and keep these qualities. I realized that the cure to much of what ails society, our communities, our relationships, and ourselves, might just be embracing our humanness and the humanness of those we come into contact with.

I made a list of over 50 important human qualities. I started to research their definitions, how they are developed, and what happens when we do not have enough of them in our lives. I found examples of each in every segment of our lives, in each person, various relationships, every community, and the wider world. I found some people and movements exemplify a particular human value. Finally, I developed activities that will help any individual, group, or community embrace and expand these human values.

In 2024, I created a blog that looked at a different human value each week. In 2025, I will be taking these values and grouping them into books! My first book, looking at 14 different human values, and focusing on childhood will be coming out in hardcover soon. I am starting to put together my second book, focusing on values for teens and young adults.

On January 21st, I will begin teaching a semester-long course in my area (Burlington County, New Jersey). You can sign up for my Hopeful Resilience Course by clicking the link!