The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You

May 10, 2021
Knego, a former elementary school teacher and mother of six, debuts with an exuberant testament to the ways positivity, curiosity, and self-reflection can help one discover purpose in life. Knego draws on her experiences with adoption, career changes, and raising a large family to distill hard-won lessons on how to effect positive change in others. For instance, after adopting a baby from South Korea, Knego and her eldest son learned the value of patience as they tried to quell the baby’s incessant crying. Later, when Knego and her two biological daughters traveled to Ethiopia to pick up the newest members of the family, her daughters’ perplexed reactions to Ethiopian culture sparked Knego’s realization that she “didn’t spend enough time discussing diversity” with her children or “exposing them to the world.” Knego used the occasion to teach her biological children about diversity, which she describes as “the ability to understand that people are going to be different than you, and to respect them for that.” Knego encourages readers to embrace the ability to change lives, be authentic, and remember that “you don’t have to change the world, just your corner of it.” While most of Knego’s advice is boilerplate, her life experiences serve as a testament to the power of maintaining an open-mind while pursuing one’s passions.