What a Morning Walk and Mark Twain Teach me about Health

Out on my morning walk yesterday, I started thinking about Mark Twain.

And, I know you’re thinking … that’s odd.

Well, I can kind of explain it.

Just the other day, a friend sent me a video of Conan O’Brien receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. 

(if you're interested in hearing a clip of Conan's acceptance speech expressing his reverence for Twain, here is one.  

Yesterday, I saw the news that the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to James by Percival Everett — a novel I read a few months ago. 

It’s a fictional retelling of Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, but this time through the eyes of Jim — or “James,” as he’s called in the book - a Black man who was enslaved.

If you’re not familiar with Huckleberry Finn, it’s set in the pre-Civil War South and centers around Huck, a young white boy, and Jim, a man escaping slavery. 

Reading James through Jim’s perspective offers a profound shift in understanding - one that expands empathy and reminds us of how easily we miss the full truth when we only view a story through our own lens.

I visited the Mark Twain House in West Hartford, CT a couple of years ago. I had no idea of the scope of Twain’s accomplishments beyond the two novels I’d read in school. 

He was a humorist, yes, but also an orator, an inventor, and a sharp observer of the world. As the Kennedy Center describes him, he had an “uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly.”

He traveled and spoke across the country, illuminating the human condition with wit and moral clarity. 

He challenged norms. He called out hypocrisy. 

He used humor not to distract, but to deliver uncomfortable truths - especially about injustice and inequality - in ways people might actually hear.

The day I visited his home, I came home with one of his books of quotes.  There is so much wisdom that can be delivered through a series of words, arranged in just the right way. 

Here are two of my favorite Twain quotes (although … there are many):

Twain wasn’t just about storytelling - he was about awakening. 

He made us laugh, yes, but more importantly, he made us think. 

About ourselves. About others. About the kind of society we want to live in.

So why am I talking about Mark Twain in a health newsletter?

Because everything that touches our lives, every thought, every action, every decision …  is tied to our health and our ability to thrive.

And, because compassion is a powerful driver of well-being.

When we open our minds to the perspectives of others - especially those less fortunate, marginalized, or misunderstood - we build empathy. 

When we take that empathy and act on it, by offering kindness, support, or a helping hand, we aren’t just improving someone else’s day - we’re improving our own health, too.

Studies show that practicing compassion and helping others leads to:

• Lower levels of inflammation

• Reduced risk of depression

• Improved heart rate variability (a marker of resilience)

• Decreased feelings of loneliness

• Increased longevity

In short: Doing good for others is also doing good for yourself.

And here’s the kicker - compassion is contagious. 

When we embody it, we give others permission to do the same. That ripple effect, over time, is how culture changes.

So this week, inspired by Twain, I invite you to look at the world just a little differently. 

• Seek out a perspective you haven’t considered.

• Read a book that challenges your assumptions.

• Or simply do one small act of kindness, especially for someone who may be having a hard time.

“Always do right,” Twain said. 

“This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.”

And who knows - maybe you’ll astonish yourself too.