I’ve got an incredible story to share during my Good News Guru radio segment on KOST-103.5 FM this morning—and it’s streaming LIVE on the internet.
Imagine that your future father-in-law secretly gives you an heirloom engagement ring to propose with, the one that belonged to your girlfriends’s grandmother… And, then, you it’s STOLEN… You might lose hope, but fate might step in. Find out what happened next:
Quote of the Day: “Don’t find fault, find a remedy.” – Henry Ford
Photo: U.S. Capitol Dome
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: Most people use the last five minutes of their day—as they are about to enter into sleep—to review all the things that didn’t work that day, and all the stuff that’s going wrong in their life. What you should be doing is the reverse, because your subconscious mind is listening and taking suggestions for the next eight hours of your unconscious, but creative, state.
Notable Excerpt: “In your sleep state, your subconscious mind is busy at work. It’s so important — I call it the last five minutes of your day. You are in that state between being awake and asleep, and you are getting drowsy. The question is, how do you want to prepare yourself for having your ‘instructions sealed’? … You are a creator.”
The Speaker: Dr. Wayne Dyer (who passed on in 2015) offered a transformative message as a motivational speaker and author of almost 40 self-help books. He was the mastermind behind the film The Shift, an eye-opening journey that leads you through the complexities of ego and ambition.
Homeless residents of Brussels may soon have temporary protection from the chilly European weather, thanks to an entrepreneur’s simple solution.
Xavier Van den Stappen is being hailed for creating two dozen collapsible cardboard tents that have been distributed to rough sleepers in the Belgian city.
“Cardboards are light, they keep the heat, and if they don’t get wet, they are pretty resistant,” Van den Stappen told The New York Times last month. “The tents won’t last for months, and this is just an emergency response, but the concept itself can be sustainable.”
Van den Stappen says that he first started making the tents for his ORI-GAMI project because material tents are illegal to use on the streets of Brussels and city police have told local news sources that cardboard is more tolerable. While homeless people may have the option to stay at a shelter, facilities can quickly fill to capacity during the winter. Other individuals are unable to stay in a shelter because their pets are not allowed in the buildings.
The origami-inspired design of the tent means that it can easily be folded down to a manageable size and carried on the user’s back. Van den Stappen’s current prototype can house two people, and all of the cardboard that he has used thus far was donated by a factory. Other businesses have already contacted the entrepreneur about donating their own recycled cardboard for future models.
Van den Stappen says that he is waiting to gather feedback from the 20 homeless people currently testing the tents before he produces any more.
This is not the first time that someone has made origami-inspired tents for the homeless, either. Los Angeles-based college grad Tina Hovsepian made headlines several years ago after she founded Cardborigami: a company that uses foldable tents for homeless communities in America and refugee camps overseas.
While sleeping under a cardboard roof may not address the root of the problem, both designers are quick to emphasize that the tents are a temporary solution for those who need one.
Multiply The Good: Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Gilbert Mercier, CC)
Michael Joyce may have spent the last eight years struggling with Alzheimer’s, but there is one thing that he will always know for sure: he loves his wife.
In a story that is reminiscent of the legendary romance depicted in The Notebook, 68-year-old Michael recently proposed to his wife Linda after he forgot that they had already been married for 34 years.
According to his wife, Michael has been fighting “an uphill battle” with Alzheimer’s since he was diagnosed in 2010. Though he struggles to remember day-to-day events, Linda says that she was “stunned” when he was able to remember his proposal for an entire week after popping the question.
Linda, who is a 64-year-old Auckland resident, says that he plucked up the courage to ask her for her hand in marriage a few hours after he had gone to bed for the night earlier last week. Upon emerging from their bedroom with a confused look in his eye, Linda asked him what was wrong.
“I could see he was trying to ask me something, but he just couldn’t quite get the words out,” said Linda, according to The Mirror. “So, I held his hand and asked him ‘what is it my darling? What are you trying to tell me?’ He looked at me with tears in his eyes and with a stutter he said, ‘will you marry me?’
“I thought it was just one of those things to do with this Alzheimer’s. But then the next morning, he woke up and remembered everything and was so excited for our wedding day.
“And on the day of our ceremony, he woke up and said to me ‘today’s the day’ and he was so happy. In his head and in his heart, it was what he wanted to do. He wanted to get married.”
The happy couple got hitched for the second time at Hamilton Lake in New Zealand last Saturday.
“We were just meant to be. We are devoted to each other forever and I’ll love him until the end of time. Love truly conquers all,” says Linda.
(WATCH the video below)
Click To Share This Saccharine Story With Other Sweethearts – Photo by Caters News Agency
Tourists can send postcards from just about anywhere in the world – but have you ever received a letter from under the sea?
Former postmaster Toshihiko Matsumoto first came up with the idea for the world’s only underwater mailbox as a means of attracting more visitors to his town of Susami in the Nishimuro District of Japan – and it worked.
Since the unique attraction was first planted off the coast of the village, over 38,000 postcards have been mailed through the underwater post box.
The mail, which is all written in oil on waterproof paper, is collected every day by dive shop owner Hiroaki Yamatani and delivered to the post office where they are sent to their respective addresses.
In addition to being the world’s only underwater mailbox, it also holds the Guinness World Record for being the world’s deepest mailbox at 32 feet (100 meters) deep.
(WATCH the video below)
It’s Not Hard To Sea That You Should Share This Story With Your Friends – Photo by Great Big Story
In the wake of the Federal Communications Commission repealing its net neutrality rules, state legislators are taking matters into their own hands.
On Monday, Steve Bullock became the first U.S. governor to sign an executive order stating that any internet providers signed by the state must refrain from impairing, throttling, degrading, or blocking internet traffic based on content, payment, or prioritization.
Standing alongside a group of computer science students at the same high school he attended growing up, Montana’s governor said: “For as long as you, or I, or anyone in this room has used the internet, we’ve had certain expectations about how things work. We’ve had access to a free and open internet. But a free and open internet is no longer guaranteed. The loss of internet neutrality principles threatens the future of the students standing in this very room.”
“There has been a lot of talk around the country about how to respond to the recent decision by Federal Communications Commission to repeal net neutrality rules, which keep the internet free and open. It’s time to actually do something about it,” said Bullock. “This is a simple step states can take to preserve and protect net neutrality. We can’t wait for folks in Washington DC to come to their senses and reinstate these rules.”
Following Bullock’s announcement earlier this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York signed a similar order demanding the same for his own state.
Cuomo said in a statement: “The FCC’s dangerous ruling goes against the core values of our democracy, and New York will do everything in our power to protect net neutrality and the free exchange of ideas.”
“With this executive order, we reaffirm our commitment to freedom and democracy and help ensure that the internet remains free and open to all,” he continued.
Bullock has challenged other states and businesses to follow suit, saying that he “will personally email” them the template.
I signed an executive order at my former high school to ensure the State of Montana will only do business with companies that adhere to #netneutrality and I'm inviting all other states to join me - if you want a copy, I'll personally email it to you. pic.twitter.com/ZZSJ0ZrELp
Quote of the Day: “All persons are puzzles until at last we find in some words or act the key to the man, to the woman; straightway all their words and actions lie in light before us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Photo: Neighborhood in Los Angeles, by Carl Izbicki
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: If you’re a regular wine drinker, then you’ve probably heard some accusatory remarks about the dangers of sulfite and why you should drink certain wines to avoid a headache. While some of these accusations may have some truth to them, there is much more to the sulfite myth than meets the eye.
Notable Excerpt: “If you have a sulfite sensitivity, you probably want to avoid wine. But you’ll also want to steer clear of soda, candy, prepared soups, frozen juices, processed meats, potato chips, French fries and dried fruit, all of which contain much higher concentrations of sulfites than wine.”
The Speaker: Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS also known as The Nutrition Diva, is an expert on making healthy living as simple to understand as possible. The Baltimore-based nutritionist is the host of the fabulous fitness-centered podcast The Nutrition Diva’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Eating Well and Feeling Fabulous. Additionally, she is the bestselling author of several health books, such as “The Inflammation-Free Diet Plan” and “The Nutrition Diva’s Secrets For a Healthy Diet”.
Ever since the government of Denver launched a program that paid homeless people to work for the city, 284 people have participated over the course of the last year. Now, 110 of the participants have found long-term work as a result, 15 of which have been have been hired by the city.
The Denver Day Works program, which launched on November 1st, 2016, paid homeless residents $12.50 per hour to perform public service work for the city. No background checks were required – all participants had to do was show up for a 3 to 6 hour shift. Even residents who lacked identification were given supplementary help so they could be given the same experience.
When participants finished their shifts, the program’s administrator would also offer financial planning services at no additional cost.
The work varied from mulching flower beds in Denver’s parks, to performing clerical work at the local library. By the time the initiative’s pilot period ended, over 10,000 hours of work and $109,000 in wages had been paid to participants involved in the program.
In order to avoid the waitlist that developed as a result of the initiative’s popularity, contractors plan on adding two more days of shift opportunities to the weekly schedule, which will allow five days of work for participants in total during the coming year. They also hope to partner with more state organizations so they can provide more work shifts to women, homeless people with disabilities, and minorities.
“If you are able and willing to better yourself and get up and do something, rather than just sitting and being stuck, Denver Day Works is there,” says Crystal, a program participant. “They will help you with anything. They got me through a lot of tough situations. When we didn’t have anything, they were there.”
Networking with other people in your career field is often considered one of the most important aspects of growing your business and sharing your ideas. Unfortunately, some innovators just don’t like to socialize.
That’s why communications company Get Voip put together a quick guide on how introverts can successfully network without going too far outside their comfort zone.
Ten of these hacks are scientifically proven to help facilitate meaningful connections and stimulating conversations; from starting a conversation near the buffet table, to seeking out connections online before a big event. Moreover, the other five tips in this infographic have been recommended by some of the world’s most renowned business moguls.
So, without any further ado, here are 15 ways that introverts can network with trailblazers in their field:
Don’t Keep These Tips To Yourself: Click To Share With Your Introverted Friends
These businesses and regions have had the final straw with single-use plastic drinking straws – and they are taking big steps to phase them out of regular use worldwide.
Thanks to a bill proposed by Assembleyman Ian Calderon, sit-down restaurants in California may be required to ask customers if they want straws before providing them. While the legislation would not affect fast food restaurants or cafés, he says that it is a simple step in the right direction towards changing business and consumer attitudes about plastic straws.
“How long have people know[n] that plastic is harmful to the environment? Still we all use it. This is a measured approach that helps change behavior,” Calderon wrote on Twitter.
While California could be the first U.S. state to pass legislation addressing straws, Seattle has already approved a bill that will ban restaurants and cafés from giving out plastic straws to customers come July 2018 – however, businesses will still be allowed to provide recyclable or biodegradable options.
Meanwhile, multinational coffee stop chain Costa Coffee has recently announced that they will ditching plastic straws this year in favor of a more environmentally friendly alternative.
Similarly, Asian food chain Wagamama will be replacing their plastic straws with biodegradable options on Earth Day. The UK-based café Pret A Manger said that they have made paper straws freely available in some of their restaurants along with plastic straws available at the customer’s request behind the counter.
The goals co-align with the 25-year action plan unveiled by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to “eradicate all avoidable plastic waste” by 2042. The rest of the European Union plans on mandating that all single-use plastic packaging must be recyclable by 2030.
Pollution Sucks: Click To Share The News With Your Friends
This teddy bear was destined to do so much more than just cuddle her new owner – she was also meant to give a message to Lauren Doyle from beyond the grave.
The 22-year-old has been grieving the loss of her 73-year-old grandma who had recently passed away two days after Christmas.
As a means of cheering her up, Doyle’s friend Carlita Pounder gave her a gift from Build-a-Bear workshop.
In a video that Pounder recorded with her cell phone, Doyle can be seen opening a box and finding a teddy bear dressed all in red – her grandma’s favorite color. The toy had also been named “Babbylicious”, which was the nickname that Doyle had given to her nana.
Finally, Pounder told Doyle to squeeze the bear’s hand.
A loving voicemail that Doyle’s grandma had recorded on her phone some months previously began to play through the teddy bear, and Doyle couldn’t help but break down in tears.
(WATCH the heartwarming video below)
Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by Caters News
Quote of the Day: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much.” –Theodore Roosevelt
Source: Photo by Carl Izbicki
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: Most people have been told that failure is vital for growth and success – but why exactly is that? Is it because of the humility? Is it because of the learning experience? This guy believes its because of the creativity.
Notable Excerpt: “I just sailed into the great unknown and brought it back and now here we are. That is what creativity is all about, that is the risk: the willingness to fail and make a mistake that is crucial to the creative process.”
TheHost: Jason Silva is an Emmy-award winning television host, motivational speaker, and filmmaker. In addition to hosting his YouTube series Shots of Awe, Silva has given hundreds of lectures on creativity, technology, innovation, mental health, and relationships. His National Geographic TV show Brain Games has been broadcasted in over 171 countries.
(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)
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Marley the dog has spent the last five years chained up to a dog house in the backyard of a rural Virginia home – but now, after being given a loving forever home, he has made an awe-inspiring transformation.
Members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have been keeping their eyes on Marley since they first became aware of his predicament several years ago. The organization says that the pup was so neglected, he did not even know the sound of his own name – he was only familiar with the word “no”.
While PETA members periodically visited Marley at his dog house, they were unable to do much about his predicament because state law does not have a lot of protective legislation for neglected pets.
PETA representatives told Good News Network: “Until he became emaciated, his conditions were considered in compliance with the law. PETA has been working with local officials to pass a chaining ordinance, which we hope would help dogs like Marley in the future.”
“In these areas, for now, we have no recourse but to remain persistent and maintain good relationships with the dogs’ owners … otherwise, we run the risk that they’ll refuse to let us help their animals at all,” they added.
Thankfully, after lots of heavy persuasion, Marley’s owner finally agreed to relinquish the pup to the rescue organization.
The dog was treated for his condition and was eventually adopted by Michael Moss, who has transformed Marley from a sad mutt into a happy hound.
“I really, really liked his little attitude that he had and the spirit that he had that wasn’t going to be broken,” says Moss. “He’s got toys, bones, treats, and Kyah—and a big backyard he can play in .… That’s all I really want. I just want him to be happy.”
(WATCH the heartwarming video below)
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This video of a snow tornado – also known as a “gustnado” – blowing through an Austrian village is going viral after it was published on Tuesday.
Adventurer Peter Maier was driving past the small town of Stall when he saw the winter wind whip up the beautiful cyclone. Luckily, he had his camera on hand to capture footage of the tornado.
Gustnados are strong whirlwinds that occur at the edges of thunderstorms. They may look like tornados, but they are much less strong than the actual thing.
While the surreal winter phenomenon can sometimes cause damage to buildings and structures, the incident earlier this week reportedly left Stall unharmed.
Lundyn can be seen spinning around on the sidewalk until she catches sight of her 20-year-old brother Markell standing behind her.
Markell has spent the last six months in deployment for the Navy reserves – so when Lundyn sees that her brother has finally returned, she lets out a scream of joy and jumps into his arms for a long, heartfelt embrace.
(WATCH the sweet video below)
Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by Caters News
These tiny ping pong ball-sized eggs may look unassuming, but they’re being used to crack down on poachers in North and Central America.
Sea turtle eggs are considered to be an aphrodisiac and a delicacy, and they can sell for anywhere between $5 to $20 a pop on the black market.
That’s why conservation group Paso Pacífico is planting 3D printed decoy eggs in sea turtle nests that have a high risk of being poached.
The decoys are deployed during the sea turtle nesting season in the fall. Since they’re disguised to look like regular eggs, poachers will steal the decoys along with the originals. The decoy eggs contain GPS trackers that can then show conservationists where poachers are transporting the eggs. If several trackers are shown to end up in the same area, it could indicate the location of a big trader.
According to the Washington Post, Kim Williams-Guillén, director of conservation science at Paso Pacífico, said: “We want to sneak them into nests that are most vulnerable to poaching. It would be really easy for them to grab one of those eggs and not even notice it. We’re not planning on collecting data in real time, unless that’s something that they express real interest in. It’s certainly a possibility.”
“Being able to determine the players with money who are really driving the trade and removing even a couple of them could have a huge effect,” she added.
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Millennials may already be natural pros at maneuvering the mysterious inner-workings of smart phones – but when given a more old school piece of technology, things might get a little confusing.
Earlier this month, for example, Kimberly Phillips of Parks, Louisiana posted an extremely relatable video of her teenage son struggling to successfully dial a rotary phone.
Her son, Braylon Daigle, can be seen repeatedly trying to dial a phone number, only to pick up the phone from the cradle, hear the dial tone, hang up, and try again. His mom, meanwhile, simply can’t contain her laughter.
After about a minute and a half of struggling to figure out the strange device, Daigle gets frustrated and pulls out his smart phone to call the rotary phone and see if it works.
And Mom still can’t stop laughing.
(WATCH the hilarious video below)
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