‘Your Life Isn’t For You’: Blog post turns into book meant to inspire kindness

You might be one of the 30 million people who read Smith's blog post titled, 'Your Marriage isn't for You” or one of the millions that saw him and his wife talk about that post on 'The Today Show,” 'Fox and Friends” or 'Good Morning America.”

If so, then you will want to check out his book. In it, he describes how his selfish life led him into a deep depression, then to attempting suicide, and ultimately realizing that his life is to be lived for sharing love with others.

In his famous blog post, he shared that marriage is really all about making and keeping your spouse happy. Marriage, like life, is about love. If you love others, you will ultimately love yourself.

Through sharing snippets of his life as a missionary in Russia, to his return to the states and his suicide attempt, to his work in an outdoor teen camp, and his eventual return to Russia, Smith realizes how his life is meant to be lived for others.

His family and friends also were key in Smith coming out of his depression and finding meaning in his life. Without their love and support, he writes, he wouldn't have been able to learn how to share that same compassion with others.

In the book, Smith reflects on a childhood story his father shared with him and finds ways to parallel his life with the story of 'The Selfish Giant” by Oscar Wilde. Smith built his own wall around his heart much like the giant built one around his garden. Once he started letting people into his heart, especially after his suicide attempt, he realized his life was to be lived for others. This revelation led him to see the world in a new light.

Smith's book is short and can be read in just a few hours, but the words inside are profound. In it he reminds us that the smallest of kindnesses and gestures can tear down the walls around our hearts and make the world a better place.