Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Chance Encounter Changes Life
An excerpt from People -
UPS Driver Asked One Question While Making a Delivery That Changed First-Time Author's Life (Exclusive)
A Ring doorbell moment between a delivery driver and a first-time author turned into a life-changing boost for both men
By Ashley Vega
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| Credit : Damian Lewis @thecallmefirstblueprint |
What started as an ordinary delivery on a New Jersey doorstep quickly turned into a moment neither person saw coming — one that reshaped a career, sparked a friendship and reminded viewers that encouragement doesn’t always move in just one direction.
The viral TikTok shows Kyle Thurkauf, a UPS driver, dropping off boxes of books to Damian Lewis, the author behind Call Me First: A Man’s Blueprint to True Leadership at Home. As Thurkauf carried the packages to the porch, he asked a simple question: “What’s the deal with all these books?”
@thecallmefirstblueprint Here is a clean, search friendly video description you can drop straight in. It stays real, specific, and searchable. A UPS driver noticed the constant book deliveries at my house and asked what was going on. I handed him a copy of the book I wrote, and two days later he came back saying how much it helped him and asking where he could buy it. This book is written for men who want to lead better at home, communicate with confidence, earn real respect, and become dependable husbands and fathers. It breaks down leadership, responsibility, discipline, and presence in a way most men were never taught. If you are a husband, a father, or a man trying to step up, build structure, and stop guessing your way through life, this book was written for you. Available on Amazon and TikTok Shop. Click the link below to get your copy. Optional hashtags if you want them added #mensleadership #fatherhood #husbandgoals #selfdiscipline #callmefirst ♬ Boundless Worship - Josué Novais Piano Worship
“That day was just a normal delivery,” Lewis tells PEOPLE. “Kyle had been dropping off boxes of my books for a while, but we had never actually met face to face. It was usually my wife grabbing the packages or he would leave them on the porch. This was the first time we really crossed paths in person.”
Lewis explained that he wrote the books and offered Thurkauf a copy. While juggling packages, Thurkauf accepted it — a moment some viewers initially missed when the clip began circulating. “A lot of people watching the video thought he never got the book, and the comments kind of took off from there,” Lewis says. “That misunderstanding actually helped the video spread even more.”
But for Lewis, the exchange was never meant to be promotional. “I was just excited that the UPS driver took interest in something I created and wanted to read it,” he says. “It was just a real, everyday interaction.”
Days later, that everyday interaction became something extraordinary. Thurkauf returned — even though he didn’t have a delivery scheduled — to tell Lewis how much he enjoyed the book and ask where others could buy it. “For him to come back just to say that meant everything,” Lewis says.
https://people.com/ups-driver-helps-local-author-sell-9000-books-exclusive-11897631
Life-Changing Books
An excerpt from Upworthy -
We asked people to share books that changed their life. Here are 12 top reads.
The power of a good book is unmatched.
By Annie Reneau
Out of all human inventions, books might just be the greatest. That's a bold statement in the face of computers, the Internet, and the International Space Station, but none of those things would be possible without books. The written record of human knowledge has allowed our learning advancements to be passed down through generations, not to mention how incredible it is that we're able to capture human creativity through longform storytelling.
Books have the power to change our lives on a fundamental level, shift our thinking, influence our beliefs, put us in touch with our feelings, and help us understand ourselves and one another better. That's why, in January 2024, we asked Upworthy's audience to share a book that changed their life. Thousands of responses later, we have a list of inspiring reads that rose to the top.
Unsurprisingly, the most common responses were religious scriptures—the Bible, the Quran, the Book of Mormon, etc. Beyond those, here are the most common books, both fiction and non-fiction, that people considered life-changing.
1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
"From the very first page, Coelho's storytelling prowess weaves a tapestry of adventure, wisdom, and self-discovery that is unparalleled. The protagonist's quest for his personal legend resonated deeply with me, prompting introspection into my own aspirations and purpose. The narrative, while seemingly a simple tale, unravels layers of universal truths and timeless wisdom that are applicable to every reader's journey." – Matt Brown
"Such greatness. Coelho tells the story with simplicity and elegance, and it is beautiful. The Alchemist is rhetorical kind of book that stays with you, and demands some time to unfold in your mind. Loved it!" – J. Green
2. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
"This book literally changed my outlook on so many things. I’ve read it at least three times completely through. It helps deal with anxiety and helps you reframe and analyze your thoughts which may be troubling you. The writing style is great and I’ve already read other books by the same author. Would highly recommend purchasing this if you want to rethink your assumptions about yourself or other people." – Freddy
"By far the best book I’ve read. The simplicity in composition and detail is amazing. Would recommend everyone have a read. This book is truly a masterpiece." – Joshua
"I remember reading the book many years ago and being moved by it especially being from the North and not as familiar with racism. I wondered why some schools were banning it so decided to revisit. I had forgotten the details but it is still an important book and reminds us that the fight against all prejudice is never finished and its current resurgence is cause for concern. This book should be required reading at a pretty young age. We can’t change what we don’t understand. If you have children read it with them and teach them well." – Maria
"I can’t imagine, for the life of me, why this book has been banned. It is the most moral and righteous book I’ve ever read. It represents a time in our history when racism was endemic to the white population except for one compassionate lawyer. Told from his children’s point of view with an unforgettable narrator, the story of a small southern town comes alive." – Peggy
Kesha Speaks on Marriage
@keshaspeaks The data has been clear for years. The conditioning just hoped you wouldn’t notice. 😏 Sign up for the SpeakEasy newsletter at the link in my bio to unpack conversations just like this.
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Finally Getting Her Flowers!
An excerpt from Atlanta Black Star -
‘No One Else Could Do It’: Ice Skater Surya Bonaly Hits Back as Ilia Malinin Gets Olympic Glory — and the Medal — for What Derailed Her Career
By Angelina
Figure skating fans will not allow history to be rewritten during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Headlines are buzzing over the acrobatic ice skating stunt that helped to push U.S. athlete Ilia “Quad God” Malinin into uncharted gold medal success.
The 21-year-old became the first person to victoriously complete an in-competition backflip and land on one foot during his free skate routine on Feb. 8. But in the last few days, viral clips of his history-making accomplishment sparked fanfare and debates.
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| Olympian Surya Bonaly speaks after another ice skater was given a medal for a flip that she was punished for over 20 years ago. (Photos by Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images; suryabonaly1/Instagram; Andy Cheung/Getty Images) |
One viewer gushed, “I know his performance today had a slight misstep, but this dude did a backflip and landed on ONE skate!! He’s 21 years old so we will get to see him for a ling time. Ilia Malinin is amazing.”
That reaction and others like it, though, were greeted with reminders of the legend who made the flip iconic. The high-stakes maneuver was banned 30 years ago and only became a legal move in 2024.
The formerly forbidden stunt, known as “the Bonaly flip,” was named after Surya Bonaly, a skater who competed for France in the 1998 Nagano Games.
The performance was a final fête marking her retirement from competition and years of being penalized and overlooked for her transformative and athletic approach to the sport.
Judges docked points from Bonaly for deploying the incredible trick in her professional finale, dropping her from sixth place to tenth. She told reporters that her goal was to “show the judges — who don’t appreciate what I do — just what I can do.”
Charma La'Donna - Making Magic
Charm La’Donna Is The Black Woman Behind The Super Bowl’s Biggest Moments
By BIN
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