The Warmth from Within.

• Author: Selby, Stephanie
• Position: LITERARY SCENE - Ulrich Kellerer

ULRICH KELLERER'S transition from fashion industry expert to storyteller is one for the books. The German author and inspirational speaker discovered his life's purpose while making frequent visits to his mother's nursing home, where he began a reading group for the residents. He shared stories from the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, works of Mark Twain, and much more over these past five years. During the conception of the group, Kellerer noticed an epidemic of loneliness and depression among the senior residents, two conditions that studies show to be very common in institutional settings and have been closely linked to increased mortality.

Kellerer has experienced firsthand how his weekly hour-long reading sessions have improved the quality of life for these seniors. "If a 96-year-old woman can stand from her wheelchair and thank you for the best hour of her week, you are doing something right," he says. He does not credit himself with the longevity of these people's lives, but he does notice a change in their attitudes and willingness to share their own personal life stories with him.

Kellerer does not want to limit himself to nursing homes, though. He plans to travel to the U.S. to spread his gift of storytelling and help combat the ongoing battle of depression and loneliness that plagues our elderly population. His latest book, One Moment Can Change Your Life! Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary People, encourages readers to repurpose themselves through volunteering. He asserts that the selfless acts not only are beneficial to those who are receiving them, but those doing the giving.

"I didn't have an hour before; I was selfish in the beginning. It was only for my mother that I began to volunteer, not because I was a 'good guy.' Through my experience, I learned once you start volunteering, you won't stop, because you get so much more back than what you give."

Kellerer grew up on a small farm in the south of Munich, Germany. Even his family knew he was destined for more than the simple life when he would change his clothes three times a day--he had an outfit for school, another for meeting with his girlfriend that afternoon, and yet another for hanging out with friends that evening.

At age 20, Kellerer took his first step into the fashion industry, working for the popular Italian brand Mason's. Although his sense of fashion was great, his lack of experience landed him in the stockroom. However, it did not take long for his boss to...