Quote of the Day: “The New Year is a fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. Carve out some quiet time to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.” – Sarah Ban Breathnach
Photo: by Jan Arendtsz, CC license, via Flickr
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While people were definitely asking Google about election results and updates of the Royal Wedding, the search engine’s latest data shows that people were also searching for “good” things more than ever before.
According to this inspirational footage that was released by Google earlier this month, the most popular internet searches of 2018 were about “good” things and how we can be better people.
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The montage was created as a result of the company’s year-end research of their search engine trends.
“In a year of ups and downs, the world searched for “good” more than ever before — according to Google Trends,” reads the video caption. “From the epic headlines to the everyday moments, here’s to all the good that people discovered in 2018.”
(WATCH the heartwarming video below) – Photo by Google
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Based on the doom-and-gloom stories we see on our newsfeeds, you might believe there is no hope for our big blue planet—but this year’s groundbreaking environmental achievements show the future to be brighter with every passing day.
From international governments and corporations ditching single-use plastics to the world’s increasingly speedy shift towards renewable energy, 2018 was a year filled with exciting milestones and historic initiatives.
Thanks to international research and reports, people have become increasingly aware of the dangers of plastic pollution – and they have been quick to respond.
On an individual level, a young Dutch activist launched the world’s largest ocean clean-up which will be tidying up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch over the course of the next decade.
Kids are pitching in, too – this 5-year-old girl’s heartfelt letter to an international pizza chain compelled them to replace their plastic straws with biodegradable alternatives.
On a global scale, Australia witnessed an 80% reduction in single-use plastic bag consumption over the course of just four short months thanks to a ban that was implemented by two of the nation’s largest supermarket chains.
In July, Starbucks became the largest global retailer to ditch plastic straws, while McDonalds – which is the second largest fast food chain in the world – moved to ditch straws back in March.
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In a landslide victory, the European Union also collectively agreed to ban several single-use plastic products within the next few years.
Furthermore, scientists developed several materials to replace plastic products, such as this algae-based bioplastic, dinnerware made from leaves, and biodegradable water bottles.
In addition to legislation being passed to preserve rainforests and natural landscapes, an online search engine allowed users to passively help in planting over 30 million trees around the world.
A German 20-year-old has also spent a little over a decade orchestrating hundreds of youth-led initiatives to plant trees around the world. Since he launched his conservational initiative as a 9-year-old, he has helped to plant over 1 million trees – and with his new United Nations position, he and his organization will be planting 1 trillion more.
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Meanwhile, a Swiss businessman announced in November that he would be contributing $1 billion of his money to preserving one-third of the world’s surface by 2030.
Finally, in America, a California family inherited a patch of land which has been the secret home of over 1,450 ancient redwood trees. Instead of selling the land, they ensured that it would be protected and opened as a public park for years to come.
With scientists scrambling to protect ocean ecosystems, there have been several success stories that have inspired hope for the future.
For starters, the world’s second largest coral reef was removed from the endangered places list after years of national and local conservational efforts.
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And more reefs are ready to recover thanks to this Florida scientist’s accidental discovery on how to make coral reefs grow 40 times faster than they naturally do in the wild. The researcher now plans on postponing his retirement until he can ensure the survival of coral reefs around the world.
As a means of protecting marine wildlife and humans, the UK also implemented a ban on plastic microbeads from being used in cosmetics, which was a welcomed follow-up to the USA’s microbead ban in 2015.
On a corporate level, the world’s largest overseas shipping company committed to ditching fossil fuels and achieving 100% sustainability over the course of the next few decades – and the company hopes that their initiative will inspire their rivals to do the same.
Scientists are coming up with more and more sources of sustainable energy than ever before – a Dutch inventor created a machine that generates electricity from gravity; researchers created a tiny wind turbine that can generate wind power from an apartment balcony so that urban homeowners can join the renewable revolution; and one company has already started implementing their ultra-efficient strategy for converting human sewage into a zero-carbon replacement for coal which they have already begun selling to power companies.
Dozens of localities, countries, and states have also encouraged the transition to sustainability by setting ambitious goals for sourcing all of their energy from renewable sources.
Portugal alone generated enough renewable energy to power the country for an entire month.
Australia has enjoyed over $40 million in savings from maintenance costs to their electrical grid after they installed the world’s biggest lithium ion battery which generates zero carbon emissions.
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And contrary to popular belief, Americans are assisting in the transition as well, a claim that is best exemplified by the recent launch of the country’s first solar-powered city.
While some of these examples may seem like small drops in the bucket of what must be done to ensure the safety of our planet, there were hundreds of other environmental achievements that took place in 2018, many of which did not even make the news – and that is why we are confident in saying that there will be even more revolutionary accomplishments in 2019.
So here is to a new year of protecting the planet and preserving the earth for generations many New Year celebrations to come.
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Travis Trent was just celebrating the birth of his newborn baby when his car caught on fire – but instead of letting the burning vehicle damage the hospital or the surrounding cars, he managed to save the property by parking it at a safe distance.
Trent had been parked in the parking garage of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Tacoma, Washington when his dashboard started to smoke.
Despite how most people would have simply abandoned the car and fled to safety, Trent was concerned about the hospital’s structure and the dozens of other vehicles which were parked alongside of him.
“And so I said ‘this ain’t happening here’ and pulled out and [got] to the top and made sure I got my girlfriend’s makeup and car seat out of the car,” he told KOMO.
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The car was completely destroyed in the blaze that followed – and while the fire department says that people shouldn’t drive burning cars, they were impressed with Trent’s integrity.
“The fact that he did it and didn’t get injured and saved potentially thousands and thousands of dollars in damage to the parking structure, not to mention the cars he was next to, is pretty incredible,” Capt. Darrin Shaw of Central Pierce Fire and Rescue told the news outlet.
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In addition to rescuers thanking Trent for saving the garage, Trent’s brother works as a salesman at a local car dealership. Upon retelling the story of his sibling’s bravery to his boss, the dealership manager decided to replace Trent’s former car with the very same BMW 528 model for free.
They surprised Trent, his girlfriend, and their newborn baby Kennedy with the car earlier this week – and the family was overwhelmed with gratitude.
“It means a lot that people care,” a tear-eyed Trent told reporters.
(WATCH the emotional news coverage below) – Photo by KOMO
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Ryan Speedo Green may be a critically-acclaimed opera star, but this was not always the case.
The 32-year-old baritone perform is a former juvenile detention inmate who spent years enduring abuse and conflict before he finally found his calling at the Metropolitan Opera.
Raised in a troubled household, Green grew up in a Virginian neighborhood that was primarily composed of crackhouses and drug addicts. Green, as a fourth grader, lived with his abusive mother. The unhealthy environment contributed to the youngster having difficulty controlling his emotions, and due to the escalation of violent outbursts at school and home, he was eventually placed in a juvenile detention center at the age of 12 – and his most difficult moments were spent in solitary confinement.
“Being in this cell was the lowest point of my entire life,” Green told CBS News.
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Green’s life may have continued on this very same path had it not been for the loving and understanding support of his former teachers and juvenile detention supervisors. To them, his behavior wasn’t a reason to condemn him, but an indication of how desperately he needed guidance and some indication that his life could become better.
“I remember that [my former case worker], despite all of my anger … was still nice to me. I still remember that there was a person who was nice to me. A person who showed me kindness. And that’s an amazing feeling, to see that in darkness,” Green recounted to CBS News.
Upon his release, and after moving to a new area, Green involved himself in as many after-school programs and activities as he could manage. After a visit to the Metropolitan Opera in New York with his chorus group, Green fell in love with the opera and dedicated all his efforts to one day performing on that very same stage.
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“I fell in love with opera that day. And I left the The Metropolitan Opera and told Robert Brown, who was my voice teacher, that I know what I wanna do with my life. I wanna sing at the Metropolitan Opera,” he added.
Today, the same voice that once shouted profanities at his teachers and guardians, echoing in the walls of solitary confinement, is reverberating throughout the Metropolitan Opera on Broadway. At the age of 32, with his wife, newborn daughter, and emerging career, the future has never looked so bright for Green.
(WATCH the video below or our international readers can watch the footage on the CBS News website) – Photo by Metropolitan Opera
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Quote of the Day: “The vast majority of those I meet couldn’t be nicer. Every once in a while someone barks at me. My New Year’s resolution is not to bark back.” – Tucker Carlson
Photo: public domain, via Foter
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While infertility is not usually a laughing matter, this couple decided to find relief from their disappointment by posing for amusing “infertility announcements”.
For three years, Whitney and Spencer Blake had been struggling to create a baby of their own. As they dealt with their personal heartbreak of not being able to conceive, they had a conversation about how it felt to see other people’s pregnancy announcements on social media.
That’s when the couple had an unconventional—but fun idea: what if they were to pose for their own “announcement” photos, featuring their infertility news.
They came up with amusing takes on classic pregnancy photos they saw online. Though the couple realized the pictures might be a bit shocking, they found the photoshoots to be cathartic.
Making fun out of their predicament made them feel better about their struggle, and they found fulfillment in publishing pictures that expressed how they felt in relation to being unable to post their own happy pregnancy announcement.
Not only that, the photos – which were published to their personal online blog – garnered an outpouring of support and praise from couples who had experienced similar feelings.
“We’re glad that it seems like mostly the reaction has been positive, and that many people who struggle with infertility have been able to relate to them in some way,” Whitney told TODAY.
“Sharing anything personal like that is a little vulnerable, but getting comments like, ‘Thank you for bringing a little humor to a very difficult issue,’ makes us glad we did it,” she added.
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After spending hundreds of dollars on treatments and tests, the couple was eventually diagnosed with “unexplained infertility”— a piece of news that gave them the closure they needed in order to pursue adoption.
Spencer and Whitney are now the proud parents of two adopted sons: 4-year-old Mason and 2-year-old Kellen.
Based out of their home in Nampa, Idaho, the couple still publishes regular blog posts, but the photos now revolve around their lives as doting adopted parents.
They recently republished the amusing announcement photos in the hopes that it would provide further support for couples dealing with infertility, but they emphasized that they have found their own joy in adoption.
“We are the happy parents of two little boys who joined our family through the miracle of adoption after we had struggled for several years with infertility,” read the blog post. “Though the infertility is still there, the struggle is mostly not. What used to be such a consuming, challenging part of our life is now usually more of a passing thought.
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“We are so grateful to be parents, but we have not forgotten how lonely and horrible infertility can feel, which is why we thought we’d create something to connect with others who are going through what we went through.”
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2019 is here, and so is the opportunity to make the next year a truly extraordinary one.
So, what do you want to experience? What would make it extraordinary? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never taken the time? Maybe you want a career change, or a creative lifestyle. Maybe you want to find new friends, reconnect with old ones, or finally lose those extra pounds you’ve been holding onto all these years?
2019 could be the year you actually make it happen. Following these 4 steps can help lead the way.
Before you make a list of what you want to ‘do in 2019’, start by being very clear on how you want ‘to feel in 2019’.
Gaining clarity about the actual experience can give you a greater sense of purpose and a tangible way to envision it.
For example, just losing weight for the sake of it doesn’t create much of an incentive to stay away from that extra piece of dessert, but if you know you want to feel confident, alive, vibrant and energized—all of a sudden, there’s a much greater reason to choose a healthier option when it is aligned with who you want to become.
As an exercise, take a notepad and pen somewhere quiet, maybe out in nature, for example, with no phones or technology, just you and your notepad.
Ask yourself, ‘What do I want to experience in 2019?’
Then, understand how it would feel to experience that—whether it be courage, flexibility, confidence. I know for me it’s all about having a sense of adventure, making a difference, feeling creative and energized, and challenging what’s possible.
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What is it for you? What will have you feeling fulfilled when you experience it? Once you have a clear outline, then you can go about determining what you will ‘do in 2019’ on the next page.
What I love about this is that you are strategically designing a life. Actions, on their own, don’t necessarily get you through the long haul, but actions that are aligned with your greater sense of purpose do.
Unless you plan on living in a science lab this year where everything is controlled, there are going to be things that happen in 2019 that are unexpected. That’s life.
There will be things that challenge you, mistakes will be made, things won’t always go your way, and multiple aspects of your life will be vying for your attention—so having the ability to adapt to your ever-changing environment is absolutely vital.
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The moment you need everything to turn out in a specific way is the moment you’re striving for perfection, which is unrealistic and an unnatural goal.
I remember being on a beach in Northern Colombia last year, filming the waves rolling in using my aerial drone. I thought to myself, every wave is completely different. I looked at the beautiful rainforest covering the mountains behind me. Every tree was different. Every cloud was different.
I realized that if people were to criticize nature, just like they judge themselves, it would constantly be ‘that tree isn’t tall enough’, ’that mountain isn’t in the right place’ and ‘that wave wasn’t long enough or tall enough’. Take a look at the whole picture, the perfection is in the imperfection.
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Like nature, be flexible in your approach, be adaptable to change. That way, it doesn’t matter what comes your way, you know deep down that you can handle it, grow, and evolve.
As you work on a specific area in 2019, it’s vital that you specifically recognize your progress, especially if it’s in an area that you’ve found challenging in the past.
Not only does it feel good to know that you’re moving forward, it also helps establish a new version of yourself, a new identity for whom you are upgrading the operating system.
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Think of it as a bridge going from one island to another. The first island is where you are living right now and the other is where you want to relocate to.
Consciously recognizing your progress is what builds a strong bridge that allows you to make it across without falling off the wagon.
Your new actions are currently what you are ‘doing’, but they haven’t yet necessarily become ‘who you are’. If you haven’t built up enough reference points for how you can achieve success in a specific area, it will be difficult to withstand inevitable challenges, and you may fall back in line with your old self again.
Recognizing even small amounts of progress every single day is what helps you build a bridge that stays strong no matter the challenges that come your way, allowing you to make it across the chasm to live those experiences you had visualized earlier.
At this stage, you are moving beyond simply doing steps. The actions you have taken are becoming locked into the whole of your new identity, part of who you are.
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It would feel weird for me not to go to the gym first thing in the morning, to go back to an old career, to eat unhealthy, processed food.
That’s because I have reshaped and transformed my priorities and values. I recognized which corresponding actions I’d need to do to finally experience the newer version of myself.
Eventually you will create habits that feel natural, so remember to celebrate that fact: Rather than just hoping it would happen, celebrate how you strategically took the action required to make it happen every step of the way.
You now have a resource that you can call upon to improve yourself, no matter what comes your way.
Cameron Brown loves bringing out the best in people. He is founder of The Thriving Collective and delivers multi-sensory talks to audiences around the world on how to thrive in today’s modern age.
Pass On This Inspiring Advice To Someone Who Might Need It…
If you think graduating from college is difficult, imagine graduating from college while enduring birth contractions—because that’s exactly what happened to Anshonarial Greenhouse last week.
She was all set to walk across the stage and receive her diploma from Louisiana State University of Alexandria, when the 31-year-old mother went into labor.
Despite being in pain from the contractions, Greenhouse insisted she wanted to walk across the stage. Not only did she want to complete the symbolic ceremony for her own satisfaction, she also wanted to show her daughter the power of determination and education.
“She understands how important education is,” Greenhouse told USA Today. “If she sees me doing my work, she does hers. It’s showing her versus telling her.”
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The short journey across the stage was not an easy one. Though the university had a wheelchair and ambulance at the ready, and doctors were under advisement, Greenhouse walked across the stage helped only by a school staffer. Immediately after crossing the stage, however, she gratefully got into the wheelchair and was taken to the hospital where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
This was not the first time that her son had interfered with her school work. Since Greenhouse had prematurely gone into labor during the final weeks of the semester, she had to complete her exams from the hospital. She even used a web cam to live-stream herself doing her visual presentations while she was in a hospital gown.
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But after everything she went through, she says that she was glad to be able to have two of her dreams come true on the same day.
“It was rough walking across that stage,” said Greenhouse. “I knew it was a possibility I couldn’t walk, but I really pushed to be able to go.”
(WATCH the video below or our international viewers can watch the footage on the CBS News website) – Photo by LSUA
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Earlier this month, New Jersey became the first American state to ban the use of any wild animals from being used in circus performances. Just a week later, Hawaiians passed a similar piece of legislation, making them the second.
While there is already legislation in 145 US localities that offer certain limitations and restrictions on animal performances, New Jersey and Hawaii’s trail-blazing measures ban the use of any wild animal species, including elephants, tigers, lions, bears, and primates, in circuses and traveling shows.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed “Nosey’s Law” into effect in mid-December after it was unanimously approved by the Senate in June.
Hawaii Governor David Ige approved his state’s groundbreaking piece of reform after he signed a proposal to amend Chapter 4-71, Hawaii Administrative Rules, entitled “Plant and Non-Domestic Animal Quarantine Non-Domestic Animal Import Rules.”
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The proposal was previously approved in September by the Executive Board of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture with a vote of 6 to 3 in response to a legal petition that was filed by the Humane Society of the United States in 2014.
“These reforms in Hawaii and New Jersey have been a long time coming,” said Kitty Block, acting president and CEO of the Humane Society. “Thank you to Hawaii Governor Ige and New Jersey Governor Murphy for ending the year with these sweeping measures.”
SHARE The Good News With Fellow Animal Lovers On Social Media – File Photo by DirkJan Ranzijn, CC
Quote of the Day: “How we appraise our life from our deathbed will be predicated not only by what came to us in life but how we lived with it, and how it lived within us.” – Stephen Levine
Photo: by Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith, CC license on Flickr
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
Being an African park ranger is typically a profession dominated by men, but an all-female team of wildlife rangers is now challenging both the stereotypes and the hunters who threaten endangered species.
The groundbreaking group is Africa’s first armed anti-poaching team made up entirely of women. They protect the animals of Phundundu Wildlife Park in Zimbabwe, watching over 115 square miles of habitat which had been prime trophy hunting ground, home to over 11,000 elephants.
The opportunity also offers local women a chance to overcome adversity and find a new calling.
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Kelly Lyee Chigumbura, a young mother who lost custody of her child due to her inability to find work, has now regained that custody, along with a newfound confidence through her participation as a wildlife ranger—and her unit, known as Akashinga, which means “the brave ones” in English, is full of young women who have similar stories.
“When I manage to stop poachers, I feel accomplished,” Chigumbura told BBC. “I want to spend my whole life here on this job, arresting poachers and protecting animals.”
This feeling of accomplishment carries over into their social lives and the manner with which they approach challenges. A filmmaker documenting the rangers told BBC: “The change in them, the shift, is unbelievable … whereas before they were ashamed in a way, now they have a spirit to them. They’re walking on air.”
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Even though some people have challenged the rationale behind facilitating an all-women group of rangers, the beneficial side effects of the project have already proven invaluable.
“With this model we have twice as many people to choose from for employing as rangers,” said the former Special Forces sniper who founded the unit. “I think women will change conservation forever.”
(WATCH the video below) – Photo by BBC
Lead the Charge Against Poachers — On Social Media…
The term “YouTube star” conjures the idea of rambunctious hosts doing anything they can for clicks and views. Well, this youngster has become one of the platform’s top earners simply by offering wholesome toy reviews.
According to a report from Forbes, an 8-year-old boy named Ryan has become the number one royalty-earning channel on YouTube, having garnered an astounding $22 million in annual income.
Ryan’s channel, “Ryan Toys Reviews”, has attracted over 17 million subscribers since his parents created the account for him in March 2015. Collectively, his amusing videos have racked up over 26 billion views.
When asked in an NBC interview about why he believes he has become so popular on YouTube, Ryan simply exclaimed: “I’m entertaining and I’m funny.”
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The report goes on to say that even though the financial figure does not account for taxes, fees, or expenses, the overwhelming majority of Ryan’s income is earned solely through sponsored posts. Some of the toys that have been featured on his channel have been known to sell out almost immediately after the review is published.
Much of the revenue flowing to the pint-sized Youtuber and his entrepreneurial mother who obviously has a big hand in his productions, is reportedly being stashed in a bank account, waiting for the day he becomes a legal adult (taking advantage of the ‘miracle of compounding’, we assume).
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Mars, the massive candy company responsible for producing such chocolate treats as M&Ms, Milky Way, and Snickers is committing over $1 billion towards ensuring that all their cocoa supplies are from sustainable and ethical sources.
The US-based confectionary conglomerate will be investing the money with the intention of achieving their responsible sourcing goals by 2025.
According to Reuters, about 50% of the company’s supplies is currently certified by various conservationist and ethics organizations, but with certification being criticized for its lack of efficiency, Mars plans on working with independent authorities to ensure that all of their products are sourced without causing or contributing to deforestation, child labor, environmental degradation, or worker exploitation.
“The cocoa supply chain as it works today is broken,” John Ament, the company’s global vice president of cocoa, told Reuters. “It’s time to recognize this and to build a new model and a new approach that focuses on putting the smallholder at the center.”
“Certification isn’t enough,” he added. “Our belief is that we need to set more demanding standards than certification sets today.”
Part of the company’s strategy will involve using GPS to trace the origins of their products so they can avoid sourcing products that have been illegally planted on protected land.
Additionally, they will be working with national governments, local communities, and intervention programs to combat child labor through school enrollment and alternative financial assistance.
Give Your Friends A Taste Of Good News By Sharing This To Social Media – Photo by Christopher Michel, CC
A young Californian couple was stunned to find a lost diaper bag filled with cash and important documents – but instead of keeping the money for themselves or just giving the bag to city officials, they insisted on tracking down the frantic owner immediately.
The bag belonged to a Vietnamese man who had spent the evening looking at Christmas lights with his wife and baby daughter in Long Beach, California. He originally set the bag down on the sidewalk so they could take a picture together in front of a holiday display – but after they snapped the photo, he forgot to pick it back up again.
Later the same evening, 24-year-old Gabriel Ruiz and his girlfriend Gabriela Jauregui had just finished taking a picture in front of the very same display when they turned around and saw the bag on the sidewalk.
They spent some time watching over the bag in hopes that someone would come to claim it, but when no one showed up, they went through the contents to try and discern the owner’s identity.
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Inside the bag, they found the family’s passports, but the names were written in Vietnamese. The couple then opened up one of the wallets only to find $5,000 in cash.
Even the thought of having that much money made Jauregui and Ruiz determined to track down the owners—so they brought the bag back to their apartment and stayed up all night trying to find some way to contact the family.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese father, who asked not to be identified, realized his mistake and went back to search for the bag. He returned to the holiday display and spent hours searching the neighborhood and hanging posters, but to no avail.
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“I thought how can I get back to my country?” the man recalled to CBSLA. “How can I pay my tuition? My rent? I already have a baby.”
The next morning, Jauregui and Ruiz found a small compartment inside of the bag that contained the anxious man’s contact details. Upon calling the number and having him describe the bag, they happily reunited the bag with the family.
Needless to say, the father was overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
“All I can say is thank you, thank you,” the man told the couple. “You just saved my life.”
(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by CBSLA
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Quote of the Day: “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way, and not starting.” – The Buddha
Photo: by Ines Hegedus-Garcia, CC license on Flickr
With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?
The Lesson: We typically think that those who overcome fear, or participate in fear-inducing activities, must be naturally courageous – but the very act of participating in an activity that induces fear is what makes us courageous, and while we may have trained ourselves to avoid jumping into fear, there is a very tangible process of ecstasy and reinvention that comes from diving into the things that scare you.
Notable Excerpt: “All courageous people have fear. They just do things anyway, hollering with a combination of joy and fear, like Butch and Sundance jumping off the high cliff into the water below. You will find, as you descend toward the water, there is a joyful rush. You’re feeling your fear while you are in the action of conquering it. And as you continue in action, the fear dissolves, like a fist full of salt in the river. What remains for you is pure joy. It’s the joy of being someone you were not.”
The Speaker: Brian Johnson is a philosopher and founder of Optimize.me, a website, app, and free video series that help people to optimize their lives so they can be their best selves. He studies self-improvement books, then breaks them down into bite-sized chunks and “Philosopher‘s Notes” for busy people who want “more wisdom in less time”. He also offers Optimal Living classes and online training for your Hero’s Journey.
Podcast: Brian’s podcast, OPTIMIZE with Brian Johnson, features the best big ideas from the best optimal living books. More wisdom in less time (between 4-19 minutes each) to help you live your greatest life. Subscribe: Stitcher — iTunes — Podbean.
Books: In this talk, Johnson refers to a book by Steve Chandler called “Reinventing Yourself.”
(LISTEN to the intriguing talk below) – Photo by Steve Hall
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This elementary school teacher received several gifts and trinkets from her adoring students before winter break – but there was one gift in particular that melted her heart.
Rachel Uretsky-Pratt works as a teacher for the Kennewick School District in Washington. Before her students left for their holiday vacation, they showered her with little gifts of chocolates, jewelry, and handwritten notes.
The 24-year-old teacher’s most notable gift, however, was a small package of Lucky Charms marshmallows wrapped in plastic.
While repackaged cereal treats might seem like an unusual Christmas present, Uretsky-Pratt posted a photo of the marshmallows to Facebook in order to explain their significance.
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“You see, 100% of my school is on free/reduced lunch,” wrote Uretsky-Pratt. “They also get free breakfast at school every day of the school week.”
If you haven’t guessed already, the free breakfast that was served on the last day of school was Lucky Charms.
“This kiddo wanted to get me something so badly, but had nothing to give,” Uretsky-Pratt continued. “So rather than give me nothing, this student opened up her free breakfast cereal this morning, took the packaging of her spork, straw, and napkin, and finally took the time to take every marshmallow out of her cereal to put in a bag—for me.”
LOOK: When Teacher Asks Students to Share Supplies, Boy Offers Up Pencils With Sweet, Personal Messages
The school teacher hoped that the sweet story would help her social media followers gain some perspective and appreciation for the abundance that they may have in their lives – because even when this youngster had nothing to offer her teacher, she was still willing to sacrifice “the best part of her breakfast”.
“No one likes Lucky Charms without the marshmallows,” Uretsky-Pratt mused to USA Today.
The post ended up being shared over 100,000 times, which spurred hundreds of readers to offer up gifts and donations for the school teacher. Uretsky-Pratt later published a Facebook response in which she encouraged her followers to contact the school principal about making donations.
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“It makes me so proud of my kiddos that they have touched your hearts along with mine,” she wrote. “Your generosity in offering gifts for both the student and I, donations to our school, and our classroom have not gone unnoticed.”
“My wish for all of you is to remember this kind and simple gesture of love from one of my school babies and carry it with you and continue to spread love and kindness to everyone you meet – not just during this holiday season. ”
Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media
This is Zeal Akaraiwai - the 'angel' who secretly pays patients' hospital billshttps://t.co/RoiRLHw9TH pic.twitter.com/i8RbRrJv8W
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 21, 2018
In Nigeria, a nation in which only 5% of the population has health insurance, an “angel” has taken it upon himself to cover the costs of patient treatments.
In most countries, hospital patients who cannot immediately pay for their treatment or have their insurance cover the cost will generally just be billed at a later date. Nigerians, on the other hand, are required to stay at the hospital until the payment is received, which results in hundreds of patients being forced to stay in the hospital for weeks.
Fortunately for these patients, Zeal Akaraiwai, a Nigerian financial consultant, has focused his attention and income on anonymously paying for the release of the poor and uninsured.
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Whenever Akaraiwai arrives at the hospital, he is greeted by a team of social workers who detail the conditions and stories of patients in need of Akaraiwai’s help. After being handed a list of the individuals who are unable to leave the hospital due to financial difficulties, Akaraiwai visits the patients to assess their condition and confirm their stories with the nursing staff.
According to an interview with BBC, the Christian businessman calls his labor of love “The Angel Project” because he wants to be an example for how we should all strive “be the angel you hope to meet.”
Although the citizens of Nigeria must deal with the tumultuous conditions of their socio-economic landscape, hundreds of ex-patients have already found comfort in the compassion of those like Akaraiwai, who are willing to show kindness when it is needed most.
In the meantime, Akaraiwai hopes to rally awareness for the desperate need for healthcare reform in his country.
“There’s no reason why we cannot have proper health insurance. We have clever people who can think of schemes that can work,” he told BBC.
Pass On The Positive Story Of Compassion To Your Friends On Social Media – Representative photo by Staff Sergeant Stephen Lynch / U.S. Air Force
While some zealous literary fans may have been worried about the declining popularity of printed books in the face of e-readers entering the market, these reports say that you have nothing to fear.
Research from the NDP Bookscan, a system that records over 80% of American book purchases, shows that printed book sales rose by 1.9% last year, followed by a further increase of 2% during the first half of 2018.
The data continues the 5-year trend of improving book sales, with a collective increase of 10.8% more books being sold since 2013.
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Additionally, book sales are projected to continue improving every year. In 2022, consumers around the world are expected to spend roughly $50.3 billion on printed and audiobooks – which is $2.5 billion more than what was spent in 2017.
Some studies show that people are maintaining their love of printed books because they don’t contribute to excessive screen exposure; people prefer having physical ownership of something they value; and readers are also more likely to remember information from printed sources, rather than screens.
Other consumers also feel that it sets a good example for kids, as growing up surrounded by books has been shown to have positive lasting effects on the mind.
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