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Heartwarming message discovered in newly purchased book

A chance purchase brought some much-needed positivity into one young woman’s life during a Sunday shopping trip.

27-year-old Ashley Jost from Missouri, USA, picked up the copy of Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis while on a shopping trip in Target. Ashley grabbed a copy of the self-help book after remembering a reading challenge she signed up for with her friends.

Ashley started reading as soon as she got home and didn’t discover the surprise until she was interrupted:

“My dog started barking so I got up from reading and threw the book down on the ottoman when suddenly a five dollar note fell out. I knew it wasn’t mine so I thumbed through the pages and saw a pink post-it stuck to one.”

The note read:

“To the person who buys this book.

“I am having a tough day. I thought maybe I could brighten someone else’s with this little surprise. Go buy a coffee, a donut or a face mask.

“Practice some self-care today. Remember that you are loved, you are amazing, you are strong.

“Love Lisa.”

The thoughtful gesture touched Ashley deeply: “I thought it takes someone really special to divert the energy and attention on a bad day to improving someone else’s. I know if I was having tough day I’d just want to sit in my pyjamas eating ice cream!”

To help spread the positivity, Ashley shared the sweet moment on Twitter. Her tweet caught the attention of local news after being retweeted thousands of times, as well as 22,ooo likes on Facebook thanks to a repost by Love What Matters.

Ashley decided to pay the kindness forward:

“Instead of a one-time act of kindness, I have decided to do one thoughtful thing each day.”

Inspired by Lisa’s kind note and gift, Ashley has made sure she has made someone’s day a little brighter by paying for a stranger’s coffee, helping a friend in need, and has placed another gift card and note in a random book in her local university library.

“I made a point of ending my note with the same words Lisa wrote to me:” “‘Remember that you are loved, you are amazing, you are strong‘.”

The identity of Lisa remains unknown but Ashley hopes she knows how much her act has touched people’s hearts, and how her message of self-love, and kindness for others, is spreading. Ashley’s dad is also on board the kindness train: “My dad told me this morning he bought the groceries of the person behind him.”

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