Tracking Kindness: A Memoir of Life’s Teachings in Kindness

by Myrtle Heery

Beginning in the American South and moving across several continents of living, Tracking Kindness is a memoir that invites you to explore kindness with a wider lens. Spanning a lifetime of 78 years, Myrtle Heery shares a myriad of personal experiences that will bring both joy and tears. At the end of each chapter, readers are asked to reflect on how Heery’s story might remind them of their own similar experiences. The book is filled with captivating and touching stories of travel, humor, loss, celebrations, teachings, listening, and even silence — recollections that always take Heery back to tracking kindness as the key to finding meaning and purpose in life. In this memoir, she shows how kindness to self and others in various circumstances can be the teacher and connector for each of us.

Genres: Memoir

271 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Abhay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚫️Myrtle Heery's "Tracking Kindness" is a gloriously moving memoir that guides readers on a deeply reflective journey into the place of kindness in our lives. From her own richly textured 78 years, Heery draws out stories of travel, happiness, bereavement, celebration, and self-transformation, all centering on the theme of kindness towards ourselves as well as others.

⚫️From the depths of her Southern heritage to her travels abroad, Heery's story is at once sprawling and intimate. Her thoughts are infused with good humor, wit, and discernment, elevating this memoir from a story about herself to an experience she shares with her readers. Its novel structure leads readers to sit back and examine their own life after each chapter, making it a compelling, interactive read that promotes self-knowledge.

⚫️What really distinguishes "Tracking Kindness" is its sheer authenticity. Heery courageously faces the adversity of life, but she always comes back to kindness as her source of power and connection. Her stories demonstrate that kindness is not a chance act; it's a basic way of existing that determines the way we look at ourselves and the world around us.

⚫️This memoir is a treasure for anyone in search of inspiration, reflection, or a gentle reminder of the power of kindness in our daily lives. It’s a beautifully crafted book that resonates in the heart long after you’ve turned the last page.

Happy reading ❤️✨

[Daily Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books entertain, while others quietly leave a lasting mark on your heart. Tracking Kindness by Myrtle Heery is one of those rare memoirs that gently reminds us of the extraordinary power of compassion. 💛

Reading this book felt like sitting beside a wise friend who shares stories gathered over a lifetime of love, travel, joy, heartbreak, and personal growth. Each chapter carries a beautiful lesson, and I found myself pausing often to reflect on my own experiences. I especially loved how the author encourages readers to look inward, making the memoir feel deeply personal rather than just a collection of memories.

What touched me most was the idea that kindness is not limited to grand gestures. It lives in quiet moments, thoughtful words, patient listening, and even in silence. Myrtle Heery writes with such sincerity that every story feels genuine and meaningful.

This is a comforting, inspiring read that encourages us to slow down and appreciate the connections that truly matter. It left me feeling grateful, hopeful, and determined to carry a little more kindness into my everyday life. 🌿📖✨

[Liam O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Heery's memoir describes a life not unaware of nor unaffected by ill will and difficulty, but one that has pared down her approach to them to kindly patience. Plainly and steadily, Dr Heery offers vignettes that show gratitude for the everyday magical and absurd, each themed chapter encouraging reflections on lessons learned that she is now passing on. Dr Heery's gentle tone and wry humor sometimes belies the impact of those lessons, but this is part of her positivity, not shying away from topics including illness, bereavement, racism, injustice, and one's own death.

[Louis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time where we need more kindness, Myrtle Heery provides a wonderfully inspiring book that can help people pursue this. The book is comprised of many short chapters drawing from stories from her life. There are some stories that are humorous and others that are deeply touching. I red through the book in two days but plan to read by through it a chapter or to a day to inspire me to more kindness.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is a real treat. I read several chapters every day. A great testament to a life well lived. The writing is compelling and the stories moving.