Feel Good Friday

Photo Credit: Doree Weller

Here’s today’s Friday dose of good news. As always, it was hard to choose just a handful of articles. There are lots of good things happening in the world, so pay attention!

Steve became homeless in 2001 after losing his job. Not long ago, he got a job offer in another state. Steve had been helping out stray dogs he found, and he wasn’t going to leave any of them behind, so he packed up all 11 in a cart and rode his bicycle, with the dogs, across states to his new job. A woman spotted him and decided to help him out. This is the stuff I love.

A young woman saw an older woman eating alone and asked if they could have lunch together. It turns out that the older woman had just suffered some losses, and was grateful for her new friend. I love to see people making small differences in the lives of others.

Kids can be amazing. This 6-year-old’s parents both died, and he got tired of being sad. So he decided to give small toys away to anyone he encountered who wasn’t smiling. What a sweet story!

A doctor in Boston started DoctorBeDancing. Basically, this doctor goes out on the street in his scrubs and white jacket and dances, asking for donations for charity. He says that he likes the idea that he can help and inspire people, and show that one person can make a difference. Bravo!

After a photo of a child studying in the dark outside of McDonald’s in the Philippines went viral, McDonald’s stepped up with scholarships for the kiddo, and said that they’re going to do what they can to help out his school. While it’s great that McDonald’s is helping, the real story here is that this child wasn’t going to let anything stop him from getting an education.

Last but not least, here’s a video of a dog rolling around in a ball pit. Because nothing says Friday like rolling around with a wagging tail!

Happy Friday! And may you have as much fun as a dog in a ball pit this weekend.

Feel Good Friday

Feb20

Why is it that whenever I say I don’t watch the news, whoever I’m talking to feels the need to update me on current events? I have a purpose in not watching the news; I believe in putting my attention on what I want to see more of, which is why I share good news.

Welcome to Feel Good Friday, where I share positive news stories.

“Get off the computer and pet me!”
Photo Credit: Doree Weller

109 year old man, the oldest man in Australia, knits sweaters to help injured penguins. Click the link. You have to see the pictures of the penguins in their sweaters. You’ll say “awwwww!”

A woman gets to hear her deceased son’s heart in a woman’s chest 20 years later. The mother donated her son’s organs, and when the recipient contacted her to thank her, it was an emotional moment for both of them. The mother said she feels like she’s gained a daughter. Sometimes, beautiful things come from loss.

Teenage boy tells mom to pull over so he can shovel an elderly man’s driveway. The teen said that when he saw the man in the walker struggling, he knew he had to help him. He said in the article that anyone would have done the same thing… but I don’t think so. I’m glad he did though.

7-year-old boy wears a superhero cape as he passes out food and water to homeless people in Detroit. He says it makes him feel good to help others. Other community organizations, like the Boy Scouts, have gotten involved. It just shows that one person can make a difference.

Soul Pancake has couples (and one pair of strangers) look into one another’s eyes for 4 minutes to see what happens. An experiment has previously showed that it increases the level of intimacy people experience. I can’t sum up the results, so take a look at the video. It’s interesting, and may make you think about your own relationships.

That’s it for this week’s Feel Good Friday. Help me be the change. If you liked one of these articles or like what I’m doing here, let me know in the comments.

Feel Good Friday

Jan9

Every Friday, I highlight positive news stories. In the past, I’ve just shared links, but this year, I’m going to start to sum up the news stories in a little more detail.

Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix AZ
Photo Credit: Doree Weller

Sad dog gets a second chance when adopted. These photos show before and after with the sad dog starting off in the shelter, and the happy dog at home. Shelter dogs make the best dogs. It makes me happy when I hear adoption stories from people bringing home their new best friend.

A 3 year old boy takes his first steps using a suit made for astronauts. In this video, the child, who has developmental delays, builds some muscle using the suit, and then takes his first unassisted steps on Christmas Eve.

10 year old girl thanks police officers with 200 handmade cards. I know that police get a lot of bad press. There are some officers out there who shouldn’t have their jobs, but the majority of police officers are good people, trying to do a very difficult and potentially dangerous job. Her cards thank the officers for being brave and heroes. I believe that we should treat people the way we want them to act. Maybe her cards will help inspire someone to make a better decision in a bad situation. Either way, this is what feel good Friday is all about.

This next story is a feel good but hurts kind of story. It’s three young girls talking about their mothers, who happen to be gay. The young ladies talk about how they started a blog because they want people to know that they didn’t suffer from their mothers being together, but the discrimination they and their mothers have faced as a result. The young ladies are well-spoken and make intelligent points. They talk about how their mothers have been together for 23 years and still can’t marry in Kentucky. Apparently today, gay marriage is going in front of the Kentucky Supreme Court. Let’s all hope that equality wins today.

Feel Good Friday

Jan2

Every Friday, I highlight positive news stories. In the past, I’ve just shared links, but this year, I’m going to start to sum up the news stories in a little more detail.

11 things that promoted body positivity in 2014. I really enjoyed #5, If People Were Honest About Women’s Bodies. It’s a short video, so take the time to watch it. #8, the preview for the Fattitude Documentary was great, and I’m so watching that when it comes out later this year! In #10, Zoë Ley talks about how Fitspiration is the new Thinspiration, and that just because something is packaged as being for your “health,” doesn’t mean that it’s not harmful. Thin does not equal healthy! And remember, folks, it’s not just women who get the negative body messages. Men do too, though they tend to be more subtle. Don’t forget to tell your man you love him, curves and all, too!

Young man wins $500 on a lottery ticket and donates all his winnings to a local animal shelter. Can I get an “awwww”?

Dubai rings in the New Year with a cool lights show and fireworks around a skyscraper. This links to both an article and a video of the event.

This is a short video about how avalanche dogs are trained. It shows 7 month old Mason, and is super cute. If you need a dose of cute in your day, watch it!

Here’s a lovely little love story, about how one woman found true love with another woman who has autism. As she tells her story, she talks about how she loves her girlfriend because of her autism, as her autism makes her who she is.

Love who you are, because you’re great the way you are. Don’t compare yourself to others… just be the best version of yourself you can be!

Feel Good Friday

Oct24

Happy Friday! I, for one, am very happy that today is Friday. I’m looking very much forward to the weekend.

Gang members feed hungry kids.

Man leaves letters behind for his family to read after his death.

Printer creates 3-D memories for the blind.

Luggage drive for foster children makes moving a little easier.

Sewage workers go beyond the call of duty to find a woman’s flushed ring.

Go enjoy something today.

Feel Good Friday

Aug29

Here’s this week’s edition of Feel Good Friday. Remember to focus on what you want to see in the world. That’s not to say to ignore the negative stuff, but try not to focus on it.

People pay MORE for coffee on the honor system.

Acid rain effects are reversing.

You can’t change what happens to you, but you can change how you react to it.

Celebrity employs the homeless to make jewelry.

Florida cop helps man in wheelchair.

“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.” -Gautama Buddha

Feel Good Friday

Aug22

Welcome to this week’s edition of feel good Friday. I think that if we constantly focus on the bad news, that’s all we believe happens. I’d rather feed what I want to grow, so I feed the good news (the flowers) and neglect the bad news (the weeds).

4 normal looking guys recreate underwear ads. Way to go body acceptance for men too!

We’ve heard about all the bad stuff happening in Ferguson, but what about the good?

99 year old woman sews a dress a day for African girls.

Homeless vets build homes for other homeless vets.

10 cops caught helping others.

Kids dance to Pharell’s Happy.

Kindness isn’t as rare as the news and Facebook would have us think. There’s kindness everywhere, and good people waiting to be kind. The problem is that when we focus on all the awful stuff, people forget that kindness will mostly be returned with kindness. Not always. The world isn’t fair, and the there are people out there who will hurt you, usually because they’ve been hurt and don’t know how to deal with kindness. But you can choose to be part of the problem or part of the solution. Which will you choose today?