Good guy challenges Grayston community to embrace acts of goodness
At Grayston Preparatory School's inaugural Quarterly Guest Speaker Talks, Brent Lindeque shared his transformative journey to kindness advocate, inspiring attendees to face challenges with positivity and compassion
Grayston Preparatory School recently launched its Quarterly Guest Speaker Talks, an initiative aimed at inspiring and uplifting the community through powerful storytelling.
The theme of the first event: Courage – Facing challenges with positivity, sparked a meaningful dialogue among learners, parents, and educators alike.
Good Things Guy founder Brent Lindeque, who was a guest for the day, delivered an impactful presentation that challenged attendees to embrace kindness in everyday life.
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Eleven years ago, Lindeque transformed his own life by opting for a random act of kindness, over a popular drinking challenge, inspiring countless others to do the same.
“My life changed when I decided to commit a random act of kindness, instead of drinking in the Nek nomination game, an internet trend that was sweeping across social media,” Lindeque said. “It was a reckless drinking challenge, pressuring young people to film themselves downing large amounts of alcohol and daring others to do the same. But I saw an opportunity to change the conversation.
“Instead of following the crowd, I turned the challenge on its head. Instead of drinking, I filmed myself buying a meal for a homeless man, challenging others to perform random acts of kindness instead.”
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His journey led to the founding of Good Things Guy, South Africa’s leading good news platform dedicated to sharing uplifting stories.
Lindeque said: “If you are kind, you believe in good things, and you do good things, it can change your life for the better.
“I think I was courageous in not following an online trend like everybody else. Peer pressure didn’t get to me. It did take bravery, in a world where bad news sells. I decided to do the complete opposite, and a lot of people told me that I was wrong.
“A lot of people told me that it would never work. A decade later, I’m proving every day that you can make a business out of good news.”
He added that he hopes the attendees take away that kindness is the greatest strength that a person has, and it can truly save the world.
“I think every single human being is hanging on by a thin, thin thread. If we’re just a little bit kinder to each other, we can make the world a better place,” Lindeque concluded.
The school principal, Ché MacKay, expressed her excitement for the event: “It’s been an honour and a privilege having Brent Lindeque here. Thanks to Mike Sharman who arranged for the talk with him. The most important takeaway is that every single person can do something. Having the courage to help one another, and choosing kindness, is essential in today’s world.”
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