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Janitors Are Becoming Millionaires Thanks to This Stock’s 9,500% Rally

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When Wang Wenjian first started his company in 1984, he was a factory worker with a high school education and $10,000 in borrowed money. Now, the company’s rise to wealth has likely made millionaires out of janitors, cafeteria workers, and laborers.

The company, Sunny Optical Technology, makes lenses. During their humble beginnings, Wenjian offered stakes in the company to every single one of the employees – even the cleaning staff. He then organized the holdings into a trust with roughly 400 holders who currently own 35% of the company.

With the ever-growing demand for lenses in smart phones, tablets, and cameras, the company is now worth roughly $22 billion.

According to Bloomberg, the company shares have surged by 9,500% since June 2008 alone – which is even more than Netflix’s impressive 7,500%.

RELATED: $70K Minimum Wage is Paying Off for CEO Who Took Pay Cut to Lift Workers

Though it is unknown as to how many shares are owned by each employee, Bloomberg’s data suggests that the average share for each member in the employee trust amounts to about $16 million per person. Owning just 0.013% of the company would still equate to about $1 million.

Wenjian retired from his role as CEO in 2012, but the book that he published on Sunny Optical’s illustrious career sums it up quite nicely. Wenjian writes: “When money gathers, people will be apart; when money is scattered, people will gather.”

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure And Share The Inspiring Story Of Unity With Your Friends

Instead of Families Having to Drive 2 Hours, This Mosque Inside a Church Brings People Together

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When Alia Kamareddine first settled down in Oxford, the nearest mosque at which she could worship was in Halifax—which is a 2-hour drive from her home.

Kamareddine regretted only being able to go to mosque once a year, and as more Muslims moved into the Nova Scotia community, finding a place to worship became more and more of a relevant topic.

Thankfully, she and the other Muslims in her community now have a religious space closer to home, even though it is a little unconventional.

The Trinity United Church now rents out one of their community halls so that Kamareddine, along with the other members of the Muslim Community Group, have a place to worship.

LOOK: Muslims Take Out Full-Page Newspaper Ad to Denounce Anti-Semitism Against “Our Jewish Sisters and Brothers”

The rent, however, is really just a nominal fee to cover the utilities used by the group.

Since the “mosque within a church” first started sometime in the last few months, it has brought the two religious communities together and created a space for “growth and learning,” says CBC.

The church’s gesture is especially significant since the 10 Muslim families who attend the mosque have been meeting once a day for Ramadan, the holy month of fasting – and the church members, they say, have been “very open and accommodating.”

Share The Positive Community News With Your Friends – Photo by Alia Kamareddine

Bill Gates is Giving Away His Favorite Book on Positivity to College Grads For Free

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McKinley Corbley
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If you’re graduating from college this semester, then Bill Gates has a gift for you.

The Microsoft founder announced earlier this week that he would be giving away free versions of his favorite book (no, it’s not his biography) to any American college student who is earning their associate’s, bachelor’s, or post-graduate degree. Due to pesky publishing rights, international students are unable to download the book.

“Although I think everyone should read it, it has especially useful insights for anyone who’s making the leap out of college and into the next phase of life,” says Gates.

The book is Hans Rosling’s “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think.”

RELATED: Once Mocked for Constantly Raising His Hand in Class, Former Homeless Kid Overcomes Odds to Live Harvard Dream

Rosling, who was an acclaimed Swedish statistician, global health expert, and sword swallower, passed away last year at the age of 68. The book, which he co-wrote with his children, soared to #5 on the New York Times Bestseller List for hardcover nonfiction when it was published in April.

Though a Kindle edition of the book currently retails on Amazon for $14.99, Gates is making the e-book free to download for grads on his website.

In order to download the book in .epub format (which is compatible with most web browsers), simply create an account on Gates’s blog and select the university from which you are graduating from.

MORE: Yale is Letting Anyone Take Its Most Popular Class Ever for Free

Gates hopes that the book’s positive perspective on current events and global trends will be enough to inspire, uplift, and motivate young minds who are ready to pursue their dreams.

Because as Rosling writes in the book, “when we have a fact-based worldview, we can see that the world is not as bad as it seems—and we can see what we have to do to keep making it better.”

Be Sure And Share The News With Your Fellow Grads – Photo by Gates Notes

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” – Thomas Merton

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Quote of the Day: “The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” – Thomas Merton (Christian monk and mystic)

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?

This Childless Couple Rescued an Orphaned Bear – and Now He’s a 7-Foot Snugglebug (WATCH)

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McKinley Corbley
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Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko are a typical Russian couple living in Moscow; they eat dinner together, water their plants, watch TV in the evening – but instead of having children, they’ve raised Stepan, a 300-pound bear.

Stepan may look intimidating, but he is a bigger softie than Winnie the Pooh. Svetlana and Yuriy rescued him from the woods when he was only 3-months-old after hunters killed his mother. Though he was apparently in bad shape at the time, Stepan is now a 23-year-old sweetheart who likes nothing better than cuddling up on the sofa to watch television.

WATCH: Hummingbird Refuses to Leave the Dog Who Saved Her Life

The couple has been criticized online for ‘stealing’ the cub from the wild, but Stepan is quite happy to be extremely domesticated. He has never bitten his adopted human parents and he is described as an affectionate people person. He’s even learned how to help nurture the garden plants by holding a watering can between his paws.

The 7-foot-tall gentle giant goes through 52 pounds of fish, vegetables and eggs every day, but his favorite treat is a bowl of sweetened condensed milk. He stays in shape by playing football, wrestling with his parents, and giving bear hugs –and high-fives– to his two best friends.

(WATCH the video below)

Can’t Bear This Much Affection? Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends

Suicide Rates at Japanese Train Stations Have Plummeted by 84% Thanks to Simple Solution

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There are a few ways that nature and lighting can be beneficial for your mental health. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, this study suggests going camping for the weekend as a means of resetting your body’s natural rhythm. This other study says that bird watching is good for your general attitude and emotional wellbeing

But this study from Japan has a stunning solution for curbing suicide attempts: blue-colored lights.

According to CityLab, Japanese railways have been attempting to stop train station suicides throughout their metropolitan areas for some years now, but the implementation is tricky. Tokyo is currently working towards their goal of installing preventative barricades in all 243 of their stations by 2023 – but the barriers are expensive to construct, and many train stations lack the infrastructure to support the barricades.

So until a more efficient solution is used, stations are relying on the calming effects of blue light as a means of dissuading potential suicide victims.

RELATED: Your Cosmetics Contain Unsafe Ingredients, But Congress May Finally Take Action–Here’s What You Need to Know

The research, which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, studied the effects of installing blue light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps on railway platforms and at railway crossings as a way of deterring suicides in 71 different stations.

Over the course of 10 years, the suicide rate at the stations plummeted by 84%.

LOOK: First Ever 3D-Printed Cornea Could Restore Vision for Millions of People

“As blue lights are easier and less expensive to install than platform screen doors, they can be a cost-effective method for suicide prevention,” says the study’s authors.

Since the study was published, several UK train stations have implemented similar fixtures in their own facilities. In addition to suicide rates falling, the station works have also provided anecdotal evidence that there have been less incidents of vandalism and crime as well.

Share The Impressive News With Your Friends

Police Officer Stands in the Pouring Rain With a Smile as She Protects Critter From Traffic

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McKinley Corbley
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One police officer is being hailed for her diligence in protecting and serving the members of her community – even the non-human ones.

The compassionate cop was spotted by Carolyn B. R. Hammett earlier this week when she was driving through the pouring rain near her home in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Hammett and her husband were surprised to see the officer standing in the middle of the road – but they were even more confused as to why the policewoman was smiling, even though she looked drenched to the bone.

As they got closer, they realized that the officer – who was later identified as Sharnise Hawkins-Graham – was protecting a snapping turtle who was stubbornly sitting on the pavement.

WATCH: Migrant Pulls Off Incredible ‘Spider-Man’ Rescue That Earned Him Citizenship and a Job

“I couldn’t believe that she was standing there guarding that turtle in all that rain,” Hammett told The Dodo. “Not many people would do that, regardless of their occupation. She was serving and protecting in every sense of the word.”

According to Hammett, a local resident had called animal control about the turtle because they were concerned for its safety on the busy street. With all the bad weather, the person was worried it would be hit by a car.

Additionally, snapping turtles are dangerous to handle without proper equipment – so when Hawkins-Graham got to the scene before animal control, she resolutely took her place on the road to watch over the reptile until help arrived.

RELATED: Watch Dramatic Moment When Woman Decides to March into Frozen Lake to Rescue Stranger’s Dog

Instead of leaving the officer to her job, however, Hammett’s husband held an umbrella over her head while his wife went home to get some shovels. The couple then used the shovels to escort the turtle to safety on the other side of the road.

“The officer thanked us and we thanked her and we all went on our way,” Hammett added. “She was smiling a big broad smile the entire time and she never seemed to care that she was drenched completely through. She was delightful, inspirational, kind, all the things that you think a police officer should be.”

Slow And Steady May Win The Race, But We Can’t Wait To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photos by Carolyn B R Hammett

Girl Takes Cardboard Cutout of Danny DeVito to Prom – and Then He Returns the Favor

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McKinley Corbley
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When Allison Closs couldn’t find a date for her prom, she decided to do what any modern woman would do – buy a cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito.

The 17-year-old had considered looking into other cardboard celebrity dates, such as Bill Nye the Science Guy, but they were all too expensive. She was pleasantly surprised, however, when she found that there was a plethora of DeVito cutouts on Amazon for under $100.

When the day of the dance arrived, Allison dressed her date in a tie and dress jacket. Then, to ensure that he could properly escort her across the dance floor, she duct taped the cutout to a little scooter, which she pulled along beside her using a leash.

LOOK: Ryan Reynolds Schemes With Dumped Teen After She Posts Hilarious Prom Photos

Allison wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the celebrity appearance, either – according to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania teen, DeVito’s cutout was the hit of the party.

“Making things work with a human date can be so exhausting,” she jokingly told The New York Post. “Danny’s not like that. He just goes with the flow . . . We never argue, never fight. Plus, he treats me the way a woman should be treated.”

But Allison’s date night doesn’t just end there – as news outlets shared her amusing prom photos on social media, they eventually reached the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the hit television show on which DeVito stars.

Rob McElhenney, who is DeVito’s comedic co-star, then posted a photo of Allison’s 72-year-old date with a cardboard cutout of herself standing on the set of the show: Paddy’s Pub.

CHECK OUT: How to Fix Group Photos With Ex-Boyfriends: Replace Him With the Family Cat

In the Instagram caption, McElhenney wrote: “Hey Allison – I heard you took cardboard Danny to Prom. What a coincidence. He took cardboard Allison to Paddy’s…”

As an inspiring filmmaker, Allison says she was flabbergasted by the gesture.

“It feels so incredible to be acknowledged by these big name Hollywood actors. I feel more honored and lucky now than ever,” wrote Allison. “I am extremely flattered and can’t thank the cast of ‘Always Sunny’ enough!”

Share The Amusing Tale Of Antics With Your Friends On Social Media – Feature photo by Allison Closs

Starting With Silver-Infused Underwear, You Can Save the Earth By Never Doing Laundry

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McKinley Corbley
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There have been some weird ideas on what we can do to save the planet. In the past, we’ve talked about companies that are recycling used gum into shoes, and scientists replacing streetlights with plants that glow.

But saying that you can help the environment by abstaining from doing laundry might take the cake.

However, this Danish clothing company has an even weirder explanation: it’s because they have started making their clothing with silver.

Mads Fibiger, the CEO and co-founder of Organic Basics, says that this is because the garment and footwear industry contributes to roughly 8% of greenhouse gas emissions and billions of tons of landfill waste worldwide. 27-year-old Fibiger says that this is because a lot of our clothing requires tons of washing, which only means that it will wear out faster and inevitably be thrown out.

LOOK: Adidas Sold 1 Million Shoes Made Out of Ocean Plastic Last Year

And which articles of clothing do we wash and wear the most? Underwear.

That’s why Fibiger and his three friends launched Organic Basics; they wanted to create sustainable fashion by infusing all of their clothing with silver so that consumers would never have to wash or wear out their clothing.

“The technology we use to kill bacteria is the same NASA uses for purifying water in the International Space Station,” Fibiger said in a recent interview with Forbes. “We treat all our products with a sustainable, low-concentration recycled silver chloride, which kills 99.9% of bacteria.”

RELATED: Man Creates ‘Shoes That Grow’ So Poor Kids Don’t Outgrow Them

According to Fibiger, wearing clothing for a long period of time inevitably garners bacteria, and as the bacteria collects, the bacteria starts to smell. Silver, on the other hand, prevents bacteria from forming in the first place, which means your clothing will never start to stink. Not only that, natural materials – such as silver and gold – will stay in an article of clothing for its entire lifespan.

Organic Basics just launched their line of silver-infused clothing last month. In addition to using the silver treatment, all of their cotton is sustainably sourced and their nylon is mechanically recycled. They even use LED lights in all of their factories.

CHECK OUT: These Ordinary Hats Are Actually Bicycle Helmets That Could Save Thousands of Lives

While their prices aren’t on par with anything at Walmart, the company believes that buying durable clothing that is designed to last will pay off in the future – for the consumer and for the planet.

“We think that buying poor quality, fast fashion is a lot like peeing your pants when you’re cold,” says the company’s website. “It feels nice at first, but it’s not so good later on. Nothing is less sustainable and more frustrating than something that falls apart after a wear and a wash, right? Buying better-made [clothing] means investing in quality that lasts.”

Share The Innovative News With Your Friends – Photo by Organic Basics

Fireman in Viral Photo Cradles Baby After Car Accident: ‘This is why I do the job’

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McKinley Corbley
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Firefighter Chris Blazek could barely catch a break on Saturday afternoon – that is, until he found some peace with an infant who appreciated his kindness.

After battling a house fire for three hours in the Tennessee heat, Blazek went back to the Chattanooga Fire Department hall and hopped in the shower. As he was cleaning up, however, he heard that his engine was being dispatched on another emergency call.

“I was literally in the shower [when] Engine 6 was dispatched to a car incident on Highway 58. The incident included the driver – a pregnant mother – and her three small children who were in the back seat,” says Blazek.

He later told the Washington Post that it was the kind of dispatch that made his “heart rate jump up a little bit.”

After throwing on his dirty clothes, he and his crew arrived on the scene of the crash and found that the mother was “hysterical” because she was suffering from extreme back and abdominal pain.

WATCH: Bambi On Ice – Watch Firefighter Nudge Trapped Deer to Safety

As she was loaded into the ambulance, Blazek got permission to help the children out of the car. Two of the kids were older girls who were calm in the midst of the situation, but the third was a baby who would not stop wailing in distress.

Now, just to elaborate, Blazek is no stranger to dealing with children. In addition to being a 39-year-old father to four daughters of his own, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in child and family studies.

After checking over the baby to make sure she was okay, she immediately took to the firefighter and laid her head on his shoulder.

LOOK: Couple Gets Engaged Just Hours Before They Become Heroes At a Liquor Store

“Shortly after that I decided that my guys had the scene under control, so I decided to sit and take a break with my new friend. She immediately fell asleep in my arms. Mom was transported and Engine 6 personnel stayed on scene with the children until they were turned over to family members.

“It’s moments like this, that I am reminded, this is why I do the job,” said Blazek.

WATCH: Migrant Pulls Off Incredible ‘Spider-Man’ Rescue That Earned Him Citizenship and a Job

Fellow firefighter Kyle Vradenburgh snapped a photo of the heartwarming moment and posted it to Facebook where it was shared thousands of times. The children’s mother, Whittley Hightower, was later released from the hospital without any injuries and thanked Blazek for going above and beyond the call of duty.

“I really want to say thank you for being there for my three girls,” wrote Hightower. “It was such a scary moment for all of us. God bless you.”

Blazek responded by saying: “Mrs. Hightower it was an honor and privilege. Glad to know you and the girls are doing well.”

Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends – Photo by Kyle Vradenburgh

“Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.” – David Grayson

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Quote of the Day: “Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.” – David Grayson

Photo: by Thomas James Caldwell, CC

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?

Watch ‘Lunch Lady’s’ Ecstatic Reaction to Being Given a New Car by Adoring Students

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McKinley Corbley
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For years, Debra Davis has been a loving role model for her local high school students.

That’s because in addition to serving as a lunch lady at Hoover High School in San Diego, California, Davis has paid special attention to the youngsters.

“I feed the kids, I prepare the food, I talk to them, I stop them from fighting,” Davis told KFMB. “They don’t cuss. They have to respect, and they call me ‘Aunt Debbie.’”

Not only that, she has used her free time to volunteer at a soup kitchen on the other side of the county so she can serve up free meals for the homeless.

WATCH: Teacher’s Reaction to Students Surprising Him With ‘Dream Shoes’ is the Sweetest Thing You’ll See Today

So as a means of repaying Davis for her years of kindness, the students rallied together to give her a shiny new Mazda.

Davis’s previous mode of transportation was a dilapidated 1976 Chevy Malibu. Despite the vehicle’s unreliability, however, she consistently used it to drive all over San Diego for her job and volunteer work.

RELATED: Every Single Public School Teacher Got What They Requested Online, Thanks to Cryptocurrency Company

In light of her generosity, State Farm teamed up with the Recycled Rides charity to donate the beat up Mazda to the high school students. The teens in the automotive repair program then spent three weeks working on the car until it was restored to its former glory.

When Davis was finally surprised with the new car earlier this week, her reaction was priceless.

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by KFMB

‘Coolest Bus Driver Ever’ Halts Pedestrian Accident in London

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A chilled out bus driver is being called the “coolest” transit worker in London after he casually stopped a pedestrian collision.

The biker was driving an electric bike through the busy lanes of Oxford Circus in Westminster.

Electric bikes are notorious for being hazardous in the city because their quiet little engines often go unnoticed by pedestrians and other vehicles.

RELATED: Why This Policeman Skateboards With Teens While On Patrol

This particular biker was winding their way between the idling cars when (at about 1:30) a hand can be seen reaching out and waving at the biker from the window of a bus. The biker notices the hand and stops right when a pedestrian was about to wander across the road and into the bike’s path.

The biker and the bus driver then share a silent, but totally cool exchange of gratitude and acknowledgement.

(WATCH the video below)

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‘Bee Saving Paper’ is an Ingenious Way to Save Hungry Pollinators Around the World

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McKinley Corbley
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As a means of saving dwindling bee populations, this Polish startup has come up with an ingenious way of turning one of our most commonly used substances into an energy drink for pollinators.

Bee Saving Paper is a biodegradable paper that is packed full of energy-rich glucose that is nutritious and delicious for bees – and it doesn’t even make the paper sticky.

The material is made by dissolving a special kind of sugar into water, making a paste that beekeepers use to nourish their hives during the winter. According to the paper startup’s website, only 0.5 kilograms of the substance is enough to feed several thousand bees.

The paper is also made with honey plant seeds, which means that once the bee eats up all the glucose, the paper’s biodegradation will grow another “rest stop” for bees in its place.

RELATED: Girl’s Lemonade Recipe to Saves Bees Turned Into Million Dollar Whole Foods Deal

Now you may be wondering how the bees can see the paper as a source of food, but the material’s designers have come up with an answer for that too. Since bees see fields of flowers as circles of colored light on the ultraviolet spectrum, the engineers used water-based UV paint to cover the paper with colored circles that are only visible – and attractive – to bees.

Started in 2017, the startup has already launched its first successful field test with a Polish farmer whose bee populations were suffering. Now, the company is looking for other businesses to adopt the bee-friendly materials for their paper-based products.

This means that any business or manufacturing company using paper can start making their products out of materials that are environmentally friendly and nourishing to pollinators – from paper bags to parking tickets and picnic plates… the sky is the limit.

(WATCH the video below)

Bee Sure And Share The Buzz-Worthy Story With Your Friends – Photo by Bee Saving Paper

Breakthrough Regenerates Enamel, May End Tooth Decay

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Pixabay

The pain of tooth decay may be a thing of the past thanks to this new breakthrough from the Queen Mary University of London.

Enamel, located on the outer part of our teeth, is the hardest tissue in the body and enables our teeth to function for a large part of our lifetime despite biting forces, exposure to acidic foods and drinks, and extreme temperatures. This remarkable performance results from its highly organized mineral structure.

However, unlike other tissues of the body, enamel cannot regenerate once it is lost, which can lead to pain and tooth loss. Because these problems affect more than 50% of the world’s population, finding ways to recreate enamel has long been a major need in dentistry.

But according to this new study published in Nature Communications, researchers have developed a mineralized material that mimics the fortified structure of enamel.

RELATED: First Ever 3D-Printed Cornea Could Restore Vision for Millions of People

The protein-based substance could be used to prevent and treat tooth decay, as well as tooth sensitivity and pain.

In addition to being used to regenerate enamel, the material can be used to regenerate bone, dentin, and other tough materials in the body, which means that the study could be a major breakthrough for other areas of regenerative medicine as well.

Dr. Sherif Elsharkawy, a dentist and first author of the study, says: “This is exciting because the simplicity and versatility of the mineralization platform opens up opportunities to treat and regenerate dental tissues. For example, we could develop acid resistant bandages that can infiltrate, mineralize, and shield exposed dentinal tubules of human teeth for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity.”

Smile! And Be Sure To Share The Good News With Your Friends

Packers Player Spotted Helping Elderly Stranger Through the Airport When No One Else Was Around

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Another NFL player is making headlines for showing compassion towards a stranger and expecting nothing in return.

Aaron Jones, the running back for the Green Bay Packers, is being praised for pushing an elderly woman’s wheelchair through the airport when there was no one else around to help.

Jones had been wheeling the senior through the halls of the Appleton International Airport in Wisconsin last week when he was spotted by fellow passenger Momica Allen, who also happens to be a Packers fan.

Allen posted the photo to Twitter with praise for her favorite team, and it was immediately shared thousands of times.

LOOK: Striking Photo Shows Baseball Fan Standing in the Rain to Hold Umbrella Over JROTC Member

When asked why he did what he did, Jones humbly said: “I was just doing what anybody else would do.”

The reporters at last week’s OTAs urged him to tell more of the story, which he eventually did.

“A lady was sitting next to me, across the row when we were getting off the plane (and) I saw she needed help with her bags,” Jones said, according to USA Today. “She had a cane, she was dragging her bags, and I was like, ‘Do you need help?’ And she said yes, so I started carrying her bags and when we were walking off the plane, the flight attendant told her that there would be somebody there to push her with a wheelchair.

MORE: Football Player Rescues Distressed Woman at the Airport So She Doesn’t Miss Her Flight

“There were wheelchairs when we walked, but nobody was there, and the wheelchairs were folded up. So I asked if she wanted me to push her and she said yes. I pushed her down to where her daughter was.”

‘“As we got halfway down there, I had a bag tag on and she asked ‘Are you a Packers player?’ and I said ‘Yes, ma’am I am.’ And she was like, my husband would’ve loved this,” said 23-year-old Jones. “You could tell she got excited, and it made me happy. But I didn’t know anybody had taken a picture until I got home and got on Twitter.”

Score Big With Your Friends And Share The Story To Social Media – Photo by Momica Allen

“We are nourished by what sprouts from our broken trail of mistakes.” – Mark Nepo

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Quote of the Day: “We are nourished by what sprouts from our broken trail of mistakes.” – Mark Nepo

Photo: Silk floss tree with spiky thorns that yield a thousand cuts

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?

Woman’s Spontaneous Question Leads to Saving Man’s Life Years Later On the Phone

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You never know what events, or years of divine timing will lead you to a miracle.

Our family met John on a cruise ship and we became friends. Over the next few years, we would phone him in Florida from our home in Oregon. On one of these calls, I spontaneously asked him for a family contact number, explaining that if I ever thought something was wrong at his home, we could make sure he was okay. He then gave us the number of his son in Utah, and we filed it away on our computer.

Several years later, I was talking to John and he was acting “oddly.” He was speaking in sentences that almost made sense, but something seemed off as he jumped from one odd topic to another one. I thought, “Maybe it is my imagination?” so to double check, I phoned him back twenty minutes later. Well, this call was odder than the first one.

I then hung up and phoned his son, a total stranger in Utah. I scrambled to make sense, saying: “Hi. You don’t know me, but I was talking to your father in Florida and he did not make sense. Do you know any of his neighbors who can check on him?”

MORE: Husband’s Hunch Saves Woman Who Fell Asleep Watching TV

First, he aggressively asked who I was and how I had his private cell number. He was assuming that this was a spam call, but he changed his tune when he realized the call was legitimate. As a hospital director, the son knew what to do, and he called his father from his land line… and there was no answer. I told them there should be. He hung up and dialed his father’s Florida area code and then 911. He asked the emergency services to do a welfare check on his father.

Fifteen minutes later, John’s son phoned me in Oregon and he was a totally different man. He thanked me profusely for calling him and said that the medics found his father passed out on the floor of his home. Apparently his father was a new diabetic and he had fallen into a coma.

It was a miracle – meeting John, thinking to ask for a contact number, calling him that very night, and having his only child’s phone number on hand, which inevitably ended up saving John’s life.

RELATED: A Mother’s Mighty Love After 45 Years Apart: ‘She knew you would be back.’

The universe worked hard for all that divine timing to perfectly come together over years and thousands of miles!

Note: Apparently you can dial any area code and add 911 to emergency services to check on loved ones. Good to know!

Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” lives a life of miracles and is author of “A Christmas Filled With Miracles: Inspiring Stories for the Magic of the Seasons.” An international pet columnist. Her swimming cats were featured on Animal Planet’s Must Love Cats and Anderson Cooper. Find more heart warming, inspirational miracle stories on her website and Facebook pages: Angel Scribe and Pet Tips and Tales. 

Share The Inspiring Story Of Fate With Your Friends

How to Get Over the Shame You May Feel About Going to Rehab

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Every year, millions of people in this country go without treatment for a drug or alcohol problem because they feel ashamed about going to rehab and afraid of what others might think.

Such fears are understandable. People with addiction face greater levels of stigmatization, after all. Drug use was the most stigmatized condition relative to others (such as being homeless, being HIV positive or having a criminal record), according to a World Health Organization survey of 14 countries. (Alcohol use was the fourth most stigmatized condition.)

Americans also have significantly more negative opinions of people with addiction than of people with mental illness, a 2013 study by Johns Hopkins researchers found.

The good news is that stigma-related shame and fear ultimately don’t have to rob anyone of a fighting chance at recovery. On that note, the following tips are intended to ease any personal concerns about the process of going to rehab, including how to move past the judgement of others to put your recovery first.

WATCH: Russell Brand Explains – In the Absence of Self-Love ‘We’re All Addicted to Something’

Remember that you have a right to medical privacy and confidentiality in the rehab process.

As a patient, you have privacy protections under state and federal law. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records impose tight federal restrictions on the use and disclosure of private health information. Violations of these laws are punishable by fine. If you believe your patient privacy has been violated, you can file a formal complaint with the government.

Many states have added further legal protections that rehab providers must uphold in order to protect your privacy. Additionally, anonymity is a core principle of 12-step group therapies that may be offered in various programs. These programs follow the same standards as medical facilities.

Identify whether shame or fear is the bigger obstacle for you.

Shame is very internalized and takes time to contend with. Often it can be tied to feelings of self-loathing and worthlessness that have deep roots in the past. Sometimes shame can serve as an excuse to avoid treatment when in fact the real reason for resistance is fear-based. Some common fears include:

  • Having to let go of drugs or alcohol
  • Having to define oneself in the absence of drugs or alcohol
  • Setting goals that seem unreachable
  • Failure (or, on the reverse, success)

Practice airing these feelings with someone you trust.

It’s only normal to feel anxious and scared about next steps when you’re dealing with a drug or alcohol problem that has become unmanageable—especially if you’re considering rehab for the first time. Often, though, feelings of fear and shame have more negative power when they’re allowed to fester in secret. Getting these feelings off your chest, however vulnerable it may feel, can provide a healing release.

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Consider opening up to just one person you can trust. If you’re feeling unsure about who that might be, consider holding a free and confidential phone consultation with an addiction professional. Many rehab programs have counselors available 24/7 to answer questions and concerns. (The best rehab providers will also have counselors on-site at the facility, so that you’re able to meet them in person if you choose to tour the rehab center.)

Just one positive connection with another human being who understands what you’re going through, who can provide support and encouragement, is motivation enough for many clients to ultimately find recovery. In fact, many clients end up in treatment because of the support they received from someone they knew they could trust.

Keep your focus on the present goal of getting to rehab and how proud you’ll feel when you’ve stepped out in courage and taken the plunge.

Courage, by definition, is choosing to do something that scares you. Courage is also a powerful antidote to shame. Doing what scares you can be a critical first step towards moving beyond the shame and fear that are keeping you stuck in the same addictive behavior.

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When you go to rehab, you’ll be doing something very courageous that deserves to be celebrated: You’ll be taking responsibility for a medical condition that is treatable, as opposed to hiding in denial and allowing what you’re most afraid of to hold you back from a life free from addiction.

Once you’ve done your part in getting to rehab, you can work on the shame, fear and other core issues that are perpetuating your substance use disorder. You’ll start addressing these issues therapeutically in a residential rehab (following a medically supervised detox). By the end of 30-plus days of treatment, you’ll begin to feel much more self-accepting and free of shame.

Anna Ciulla is the Vice President of Clinical and Medical Services at Beach House Center for Recovery. She oversees the supervision and delivery of client care. Anna has an extensive background in psychotherapy and clinical management, including more than 20 years of experience helping individuals and families affected by addiction and co-occurring disorders find recovery.

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Strangers Undertake Search and Rescue Mission to Find a Boy’s Lost Ski, 3 Months Later

By
Darcyism
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An 8 year old boy saved up all his hard earned cash and bought the skis he always wanted.

During a trip down a Targhee resort ski run, he lost one of them in the powder and every effort by his family to find it failed.

Next, a passioned plea on social media by a family friend in February garnered no luck, as the area was still too snow-covered.

She waited a few months and then posted one more time, hoping the snow melt in Alta, Wyoming would bring some luck.

Local skiers Scott Babbit and Randy Slate decided to make it their mission. They gathered as much information as they could on the location of the lost ski and headed up the mountain.

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In their own words, posted on the photo of the recovered ski, “The mission was a huge success! Thanks to Randy Slate, trail breaker, and Bott’s idea.”

The family was over the moon grateful and the young boy will now forever believe in the kindness of strangers.

(Photo by Scott Babbit, submitted)

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