1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to let people know that you care 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: about them, even especially those people who are a little 5 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: harder to love. There is a wise and tender children's 6 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: picture book called Somebody Loves You Mister Hatch. The story 7 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: begins when a not especially lovely man named mister Hatch 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: receives a Valentine's gift, a heart shaped box of chocolates, 9 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: accompanied by an unsigned note that reads, Somebody Loves You. Suddenly, 10 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: everybody Mister Hatch encounters could be the one who loves him. 11 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: Feeling loved, his attitude and behavior change. He helps out 12 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: people who need him. He shares his chocolates with his 13 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: colleagues at the shoelace factory. He makes brownies and lemonade 14 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: for his neighbors, and spontaneously throws a party in his yard. 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: In his formerly drabbed life, he now finds cause for 16 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: smiles and laughter at every turn. In short, Mr Hatch 17 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:28,040 Speaker 1: becomes more lovable, and before long everybody in the whole 18 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: town loves him. And when it comes to light that 19 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: the Valentine's package, Mr Hatch received had been intended for 20 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 1: somebody else, that it was someone else who had a 21 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: secret admirer who loved them. Mr Hatch naturally feels heartbroken, 22 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: but thanks to the transformation wrought by feeling loved, Mr 23 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: Hatch now has a town full of friends who set 24 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: out to cheer him up. They shower him with heart 25 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: shaped boxes of chocolates and present a big banner that reads, 26 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: everybody loves mister Hatch. Somebody a lot of somebody's love 27 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: him after all. The book is a gentle reminder that 28 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: our love and outreach to others make a difference in 29 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: how they feel and interact with the rest of the world. 30 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: When we show people love, they feel loved, and as 31 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: a result, they tend to become more lovable. Love is 32 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: not a one way street. So this Valentine's Day and 33 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: any time of year, let the people in your life 34 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: who may not feel a lot of love or attention 35 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 1: know that you care about them and notice them. You 36 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: could send a card to a twenty something niece or 37 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: nephew who is living far from home. You could bring 38 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: flowers or cookies to a neighbor who isn't able to 39 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 1: get out much. You could write notes of encouragement to 40 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: your colleagues, especially those who are a bit more reserved. 41 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: It is also great to teach kids to reach out 42 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,519 Speaker 1: to those who might be lonely and to realize their 43 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: friendliness and caring may help someone feel better about themselves. 44 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 1: They can ask the shy classmate about their weekend, or 45 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: invite someone who is a bit more reticent into their game. 46 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 1: They can ask to be someone's partner for a project 47 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 1: who isn't exactly going to be others first choice. If 48 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: you are already the star student and already have tons 49 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: of friends, then what does it matter to you? We 50 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: can operate from a sense of abundance. Our love can 51 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: make a difference in others lives, and you never know 52 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: when someone untried might turn out to have unique gifts 53 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: or become a real friend. When people know that somebody 54 00:03:54,840 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: loves them, they become more lovable. Life no longer draws 55 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: on a dry well. If you try spreading the love 56 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: this Valentine's Day or any time, I'd love to hear 57 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: about how you do it and what the results are. 58 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: You can reach me at Laura at Laura Vanderkam dot com. 59 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening and 60 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 1: here's to making the most of our time. Hey everybody, 61 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 62 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:40,039 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 63 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. 64 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: That's b E the number four, then breakfast p o D. 65 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 66 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: podcast at i heeart media dot com that Before Breakfast 67 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 68 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: I look for are to staying in touch. Before Breakfast 69 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: is a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts 70 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: from I heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, 71 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.