A room full of people braved the snow storm last Monday at the Minneapolis Public Library. They came to learn about No and about the book discussion groups that will be happening in many of the local public libraries. As so often happens I was the one who learned. I learned a lesson of courage.

Here’s what happened. A woman shared with me the story of her 55 year-old-brother. Her brother read the book No and was inspired to really face the challenge that he had struggled with his whole life. He decided to exercise his own self-discipline and finally give up smoking. He won this battle and achieved his goal – he quit smoking.  

His sister then shared something else. Her brother is dying – he has terminal lung cancer. He gave up smoking because he wanted to exercise his own self-discipline in the last years of his life and give his example as a gift to others. What a gift we have all received.  Thank you.