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Recovering Addict of 13 Years to Compete in World’s Toughest Marathon

By
Frank Phelps
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You have to reach rock bottom before you can begin building yourself back up again.

Todd Crandell spent 13 years of his life sinking into the depths of misery, pulled down by the weights of addiction and substance abuse.

Crandall says that it all started at a party in 8th grade. He had his first sip of beer and found himself enthralled – then following his mother’s suicide, it became a mere race from one drug to the next; alcohol to prescription pills, tranquilizers to cocaine – the race went on with no finish in sight.

MORE: City Police Have Brought 109 Addicts to Rehab, Instead of Jail

He was arrested for the third time on April 14th of 1993 after he was pulled over for impaired driving, registering a 3.8 on the field-sobriety test; a person registering 0.2 more points is considered to be comatose.

Though Crandell was at his lowest, change could still be seen, and the tides began to turn.

“It literally was just like a switch went off in me, and a big weight was taken off my back, and it was like, `You don’t have to do this any more.’ And I knew it,” Crandall told The Blade.

RELATED: Former Addict Cuts Homeless People’s Hair and Spreads Joy of Rehab

Crandell began to fight his way to the surface, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, graduating from college, and ironically even finding himself a job in pharmaceutical sales.

Still, this wasn’t enough – the same fixations that lead him into harder and harder drugs were now influencing him to harder and harder accomplishments

He set his sights on a new race: The Ironman Triathlon

Considered one of the hardest marathons in the world, the Ironman consists of 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of cycling, 26.2 miles of running – all in concession.

CHECK OUT: 14 Years After Decriminalizing Heroin, Here’s What Portugal Looks Like

Crandell completed his first triathlon in Chicago in 1999. His past was written by the hands of addiction, but as for his future… Crandell had finally snatched the pen.

To this day, he has completed 16 full length triathlons, and was the only competitor able to cross the finish line at the 2008 invitation-only Hawaii ultraman: a race that takes place over the course of 3 days and spans a total of 6.2 miles swimming, 261 miles biking, and 52 miles of running.

In an effort to continue bettering himself, Crandell has now reached out to others.

He became licensed as a professional chemical dependency counselor, and created Running for Recovery; a nonprofit that seeks to introduce those struggling with substance addiction to the therapeutic potential of diet and exercise. He says, “There’s nothing better than sitting down with somebody who has a drug problem, and me being able to help them,”

The nonprofits catchphrase, “with sobriety, anything is possible.” is represented better by no one but the founder himself.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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All These Celebrities Had To Fail Big Time in Order to Succeed (WATCH)

By
Good News Network
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Michael Jordan 2014 pubdomain

Thomas Edison was called too stupid to learn anything; Walt Disney was told he never had any original ideas; and Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job.

Sometimes we forget about how great icons had to fail in order to succeed, so here’s a video that will inspire you to never stop trying to do your best.

(WATCH the video below)

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New York City Using $5M to Fund Women in Film and Theater

By
Good News Network
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The New York City Office of Media and Entertainment this week announced the launch of a groundbreaking series of initiatives to target the underrepresentation of women in film and television.

Study after study has confirmed that women are consistently underrepresented both on camera and behind the scenes of media companies. For the first time ever, the municipal agency will be launching five initiatives aimed at addressing gender inequity in the film, theatre and television world—a $9 billion industry in New York City alone:

  1. A $5 million fund that will provide grants to support film and theatre projects by, for and about women (see below);
  2. Pitch workshops for women filmmakers and a film financing conference connecting women filmmakers with financing for their projects;
  3. A screenwriting contest for NYC screenwriters to broadcast a six-episode series on New York City’s channel 25;
  4. A new block of programming on channel 25 focused entirely on inspiring women and showcasing their perspectives;
  5. A report analyzing the gender inequity of directors in the film industry and what can be done about it.

MORE: Trudeau Announces Canadian Bank Note Will Feature ‘Iconic’ Woman

“The de Blasio administration is committed to expanding employment opportunities and making sure New York City is a great place to live for all,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, Honorary Chair of the Commission on Gender Equity. “As we grow our entertainment industry, it is only logical to make sure our women and girls have the skills they need to fill these jobs. We will encourage more women to follow their dreams of working in the entertainment industry and give them the tools to do so. And thanks to the good work of Commissioner Menin, our young girls will see more women in media and have more role models.”

“We are thrilled to be launching these five groundbreaking initiatives – concrete actions that will serve to elevate the role of women in the entertainment industry,” said Commissioner Julie Menin. “Women are not a niche market—while women comprise 52% of the City’s population, less than 10% of the top grossing films are directed by women. I hope that our efforts pave the way for others to follow suit, and look forward to seeing these initiatives make a substantive impact on filmed entertainment in New York City.”

RELATED: Longest Flight with All-Female Crew Marks International Women’s Day for Air India

The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film released results of its 2015 study showing that women made up just 7% of directors on the top-grossing 250 films, 18% of individuals directing independent narrative features, and 29% of directors working on documentaries. In February, USC’s Annenberg School for Journalism and Communication released a study that demonstrated “an inclusion crisis,” according to its author, Professor Stacy L. Smith. Only 33.5% of speaking characters in films are women; behind the camera, just 15.2% of directors and 28.9% of writers across film, television and digital series were female; 22.6% of series creators were women across broadcast, cable and streaming content. This May, the ACLU revealed that the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is pursuing a comprehensive investigation of gender bias in Hollywood.

CHECK OUT: First Native American Woman Federal Judge

The concrete actions MOME is taking to address this inequity include:

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Women’s Fund for Film and Theatre

MOME is introducing a first-of-its-kind grant program for filmmakers, playwrights and theatre producers working on projects by, for, or about women. The grants will provide funding at strategic moments to help the applicants shepherd their projects to successful completion. The MOME Women’s Fund for Film and Theatre will provide $5 million over 5 years to support film and theatre projects by, for, or about women over five years through cash grants.

“Speed Funding” for Women Filmmakers

Women filmmakers, especially those beginning their careers, face a formidable challenge in getting their projects funded. MOME will be hosting a film finance lab — a “speed funding” event for 50 filmmakers –for projects directed by, for or about women. Participating filmmakers and their producers will be given an unprecedented opportunity to meet venture capital firms, angel investors and other funders. The MOME Finance Lab, which will be featured within the First Time Fest movie festival, will provide much-needed access to capital. The eligibility requirements include: at least one team member claiming NYC residency; one finalized script of 60 minutes or more by, for or about women; registration with the Writers Guild of America, East; and a director and producer attached to the project. Filmmakers will be invited to attend a pre-pitch workshop.

The MOME Script-Writing Competition

MOME will hold a script-writing competition and production project, which will invite New York City writers to submit 30-minute pilot scripts for an episodic series spotlighting stories by, for, or about women rooted in NYC’s five boroughs. Two winners will be chosen. Both of the winning candidates will have their scripts produced as a pilot that will air on NYC Media’s Channel 25 (NYCLife) and later be used as an important career calling card. Given the 18 million household-reach of Channel 25, this is an opportunity for the winning scriptwriters to have their work viewed by millions of people and earn a much-needed credit, which will help propel them to the next rung in their careers. Of those two pilots, one will be chosen to be produced as an episodic series on channel 25. Advanced students from the Barry R. Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema will produce the winning scripts under the mentorship of Founding Director Jonathan Wacks and other industry professionals. The Made in NY IFP Media Center will administer the writing contest.
Launch of a Night of New Women-Focused Programming on NYC Media MOME has produced and will air two inspiring new documentary programs focused on women that will air on Channel 25 as part of a weekly evening of programs focused exclusively on women.

MORE: Former Child Brides Win Case in Court: Zimbabwe Bans Child Marriage

MOME’s other initiatives to ensure greater representation in the film and TV industry include the Made in NY Writers Room, a mentorship program for TV writers from diverse backgrounds, launched in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America East and the NYC Department of Small Business Services; #NominateNYC, an initiative encouraging entertainment professionals from diverse backgrounds to nominate themselves or someone they know for consideration for membership by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; funding of over $8 million enabling the creation of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, the first public graduate school of cinema in New York City, and a school committed to cultivating new and emerging voices in film; a $1 million grant to CUNY J-School’s Center for Community and Ethnic Media to bring a key sector of New York City’s media landscape into the digital age; and the Made in NY PA Training Program, which has trained more than 600 low income New Yorkers, many of whom were unemployed, for entry level jobs on film and television sets.

CORRECTION: We mistakenly published the figure as $500 million in funding, and later updated to the correct figure, $5,000,000.

(Source: Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment)

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Kitten Given Second Chance After One in a Million Rescue From the Trash

By
Good News Network
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grace-the-cat-released

You would never drop a diamond into the dumpster, but recently another tiny treasure ended up there.

A tiny treasure…with a tail.

Hunterdon County residential service driver James Ryan started his day as usual, beginning his route at 4am. When James arrived at the transfer station, the loader operator asked him an unusual question: “You like cats, right, James?”

WATCH: Baby Deer Refused To Leave Side of Man Who Rescued It

Well known among his coworkers as a cat-lover, James was just the man they’d hoped to see that day. Another driver had made a startling discovery hours earlier. Amid the orange peels and cast-off containers in his truck, a skinny black-and-white kitten tumbled out. Small enough to disappear into a driver’s glove, the kitten had scurried behind some shovels…and she was in serious trouble.

James dug through the tools to find the kitten. When he reached to pick her up, the kitten howled a cry of agony that James recalled with sadness. “I never want to hear out of a kitten for the rest of my life. My heart was breaking.” He soon saw the cause for the kitten’s distress: her right rear leg had been hurt in the dumpster.

WATCH: Cat Rides on the Back of Motor Bike — Like a Champ

The kitten and her hero made their way to Tabby’s Place – an animal shelter in Ringoes, New Jersey. After treating her with pain medication, the veterinary team gently bathed the kitten. Within hours, the little survivor was on her way to a world-class specialty hospital, where she’d have surgery to remove her mangled leg and begin her road to recovery.

The kitten – fondly dubbed Grace by her rescuer – is presently healing from her life-saving surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery. Tabby’s Place requests donations to help cover the costs of Grace’s surgery and further care. You can donate here, or mail your check to Tabby’s Place at 1100 US Highway 202; Ringoes, NJ 08551.

Click To Share This Purrrrfect Story With Your Friends – Photo by Tabby’s Place 

India to Ratify Climate Deal on Gandhi’s Birthday; He Left the ‘Least Carbon Footprint of All’

By
Good News Network
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ghandi-cc-ceb-imagery

India, which has gone back and forth over whether it would formally join a hard-fought international climate change agreement, will finally do so—and on a very special day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a speech at his BJP party council meeting that India will ratify the Paris Agreement on Oct. 2, the birth anniversary of Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi.

”The human race has only now realized the disastrous impact of our material development on the nature,” Modi said, noting that climate change poses an extreme threat to coastal countries and cities.

MORE: Costa Rica Has Been Powered Only By Renewable Energy For 122 Days

“We need to play a part,” Modi said. “On Oct. 2, we will ratify it. Mahatma Gandhi’s life left perhaps the least carbon footprint on Earth. We follow his ideals, and India will play its part in ratifying the Paris Agreement.”

CHECK OUT: California Breaks Solar Record, Generates Enough Electricity for 6 Million Homes

So far, 60 countries including the world’s top two carbon polluters — China and the United States — have ratified the agreement that was adopted by 195 countries in Paris in December. The pact will come into force after it is ratified by 55 countries representing 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. India accounts for about 4.5 percent of global emissions, according to The Hindu.

Reprinted with permission from E&E Publishing

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Watch Her Toss Husband’s Lunch Through His Sunroof in Miracle Shot

By
Good News Network
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Apparently, the way to a man’s heart is through his sunroof.

In a hit Youtube video, a woman is shown waiting for her husband’s car to pull up outside the building several stories below, after he had forgotten to take lunch for work.

MORE: Gymnast Falling on Her Head Saved By Coach With Ninja Moves

With a gentle toss, she sends her man’s sandwich sailing through the air until it drops right through the sunroof to land perfectly on the passenger seat—and that’s no baloney.

Watch the mystery woman chuckle in celebration, and yell a final goodbye in Korean.

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Watch This Joyful Deer Go For a Morning Skip Across an English Beach

By
McKinley Corbley
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Feeling down? Not sure how to start your day? Want to get inspired to be happy?

This little deer skipping down a beach in Dorset, England at dawn should do the trick.

VIDEO: Bear Literally Can’t Stop Jumping For Joy After Being Rescued

Dave Mott of Physio Fitness Dorset was out for a morning walk with his dog when he saw the sweet creature bouncing across the sand

After whipping out his camera, the physical therapist shot a few clips of the picturesque scene to share with the internet.

(WATCH the videos below)

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These 4 Endangered Flowers Will Not Perish Under Florida Bulldozers

By
Good News Network
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sand-flax-dade-chapter-of-the-florida-native-plant-society

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it’s extending Endangered Species Act protections to four South Florida plants threatened by development — a move that could affect two major building projects.

Being added to the endangered list are a shrub, the Big Pine partridge pea, and two herbs, wedge spurge and sand flax — all species in the imperiled pine rocklands of southern Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys.

”Many populations of these four plants have vanished from their historical ranges across South Florida,” said Cindy Dohner, FWS’s Southeast regional director.

MORE: India Saves Its Tigers Instead of Mining For $330M in Diamonds

Pine rocklands are characterized by limestone rock outcroppings with an overstory of slash pine. That habitat has been reduced to less than 2 percent of its historical extent, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, a conservation group whose lawsuit forced the agency to protect the plants.

“It’s sad to see that so much of South Florida’s rare and unique landscapes have been gobbled up by poorly planned development,” said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in a statement. “But it’s reassuring to know that with Endangered Species Act protections, these plants have a much better chance of surviving and recovering.”

CHECK OUT: Costa Rica Has Been Powered Only By Renewable Energy For 122 Days

With little remaining habitat, the plants are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise and severe hurricanes associated with climate change.

The decision to protect the plants may complicate plans to build Coral Reef Commons, a Wal-Mart-anchored residential complex, and Miami Wilds, a theme park. Both projects would be erected in part of the last, largest intact tract of pine rockland outside Everglades National Park.

The species are already listed on Florida’s Regulated Plant Index as endangered, but that status requires only disclosure of project impacts on such plants and provides little to no habitat protection.

RELATED: California Bans Use of Harmful Devices Against Captive Elephants

The added federal protection would prohibit the commercial trade in the plants and protect them from damage, collection or movement on federal lands or anywhere activities are funded, authorized or carried out by federal agencies.

Another pine rocklands shrub, the Blodgett’s silverbush, is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, should may be added to the “threatened species” list, according to a notice to published this week in the Federal Register.

MORE: San Francisco Officially Declares Itself a No-Styrofoam Zone

The federal listings take effect at the end of October.

The four plants were first found to warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act in the 1980s, but a listing proposal was precluded by other priorities. FWS is completing the process now to comply with a settlement it struck with Florida conservation groups, including CBD, in 2011 that set listing deadlines for hundreds of species.

Reprinted with permission from E&E Publishing

Let The Activism Bloom: Click To Share – Photo by Mary Rose courtesy of Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.

This Version of ‘Over The Rainbow’ Played on a Theremin Will Soothe Your Soul (WATCH)

By
McKinley Corbley
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theramin-player-youtube

This breathtaking melody is beloved enough when it’s sang by Judy Garland – but this new take on the old classic is enough to give you goosebumps.

UPDATE: The version of this song was taken down on YouTube on the grounds of copyrighted content, but we found another version as a substitute. Sorry for that…

Peter Pringle, a Canadian musician renowned for playing the theremin, used the spacey-sounding instrument to play “Over The Rainbow” composed by Harold Arlen for The Wizard of Oz.

VIDEO: Listen To This Concrete Organ Played By The Ocean

The 1929 RCA theremin he plays in the video used to belong to Dr. Samuel Hoffman, the late, talented Hollywood thereminist.

(WATCH the beautiful video below)

 

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Check Out These 23 Baby Pandas Making Their World Debut (WATCH)

By
McKinley Corbley
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What’s black, white, and cute all over? These 23 baby giant pandas making their first televised appearance to the world.

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding hosted an event in China this Thursday celebrating the birth of cubs, moving the species from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’.

VIDEO: Bear Literally Can’t Stop Jumping For Joy After Being Rescued

Out of the 27 pandas bred at the center, 23 of the little bears range from 1 to 4-months-old.

This year alone, the number of newborns has doubled due to refined breeding techniques.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Two Van Gogh Paintings Found After Being Stolen 14 Years Ago

By
McKinley Corbley
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stolen-van-gogh-2-facebookAfter being plucked from the Van Gogh Museum in 2002, these two Dutch masterpieces have been found.

The Seascape at Scheveningen from 1882 and Congregation leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen from 1884 have long been assumed as destroyed or permanently missing.

But thanks to the continuing investigation conducted by a specialized Guardia di Finanza team following organized crime, the artworks were recovered with only light damage and missing frames.

MORE: Van Gogh Painting Recreated As Actual Bedroom to Rent on Airbnb


“The paintings have been found!” exclaimed Axel Rüger, Director of the Van Gogh Museum. “That I would be able to ever pronounce these words is something I had no longer dared to hope for. It is not yet certain when the works will come back to Amsterdam. But I fully believe that we can, once more, count on the unconditional support of the Italian authorities.”

The congregational painting was created as a gift to Van Gogh’s mother, Anna Carbentus. However, the mourners in shawls were only added after the death of his father Theodorus.

WATCH: Van Gogh Paintings Come to Life in Spectacular Oil Animation Film

The oceanic painting is only one of two seascape paintings that Van Gogh ever did. It is also the only work from The Hague period – a Dutch city where the artist briefly lived – from 1881 to 1883.

Since the two creations are still being used as burdens of proof in an ongoing investigation, it is not certain when they will return to their home at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

“We have been waiting for this moment for 14 years. And naturally the only thing you want is to take them straight home with you. But we will have to exercise a little bit more patience, but I am convinced that we can count on the support of the Italian authorities”

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Syrian Refugee Saves Ontario Wedding With Master Sewing Skills

By
McKinley Corbley
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syrian-sewing-lindsay-coulter-photography

It’s strange how one tiny zipper tooth can create such big problems – and such amazing resolutions.

It was Jo Du’s wedding day in Ontario, Canada when the dress’s zipper broke.

While everyone was scrambling for a pair of pliers, some of the guests walked next door to the house of Jo’s neighbor David Hobson.

RELATED: Bride Holds Wedding at 35,000ft For Mother With Cancer Who Has One Flight Left

When they returned, they came bearing interesting news: David had taken in a family of Syrian refugees, the father of which was a master tailor who said he would be happy to help.

With toolbox in hand, Ibrahim Halil Dudu walked over and stitched up Jo’s dress in front of an astonished wedding party.

The photographer, Lindsay Coulter, was there to witness the whole thing.

WATCH: Officer Gives Homeless Couple of 3 Years a Fairy Tale Wedding

“Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer came to the rescue,” Lindsay wrote on Facebook.

“I am so proud to live in Canada, a country who has opened our doors to refugees countless times. I’m in awe of the families who have welcomed these strangers in to their homes and lives, and I’m inspired by the resilience of the Syrian people. We are truly blessed.”

MORE: Bride Receives Replacement Wedding Dress From Kind Strangers After Fire

The encounter was especially fateful since Jo and her husband Earl are both immigrants themselves.

Ibrahim and his family had only been in Canada for four days before the incident. Since none of them spoke a word of English, they had been communicating solely through Google Translate.

You can help support the Dudu family by donating to their crowdfunding page here.

Sew The Seeds Of Positivity: Click To Share – Photo by Lindsay Coulter Photography

Reykjavik Turns Off Street Lights to Give Better View of Northern Lights

By
McKinley Corbley
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nothern-lights-cc-andi-gentschThe Icelandic capital city of Rekjavik was dazzled this Wednesday as the beloved Northern Lights danced in the sky.

The view was intensified, however, by the lack of light pollution below.

Rekjavik released a statement earlier in the day announcing that they would be turning off street and city lights in order to give their residents a better view.

 

“Reykjavík residents should be given a unique opportunity to see the magnificent northern lights show tonight in better conditions than ever before. People are encouraged to drive particularly carefully in these areas and show consideration during the blackout needs.”

WATCH: The Magical Murmurations of Half a Million Starlings

Even though the population is a modest 120,000, the pinkish glow of light pollution emitting from the streets can be noticeable in previous photos of the aurora borealis.

The city remained dark between 10PM and midnight – and everyone came out to enjoy the show.

Northern light #northernlights #aurora #iceland #reykjavik #nature #potography #yesweather

A video posted by Kristján Ársælsson (@kristjanfitness) on

 

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How Negative Headlines Can Impact Your Mental and Emotional Health

By
Good News Network
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Do you get uncomfortable feelings when you read negative or pessimistic headlines?

You, like the rest of us have mirror neurons in your brain that predisposes you to feel empathic. The good news is empathy helps you live cooperatively with others. The bad news is you are naturally inclined to imitate what you see without thinking about it, even when you might feel hurt by it.

You can have either a positive or negative emotional response to headlines depending on their content. For example, a study of 426 headlines on the cover of five of the highest circulating women’s health magazines in the United States revealed that the frequency of appearance themes (looking better) equaled those of health themes (doing something to feel better). The 103 undergraduate women in the study assigned to the appearance-themed covers reported more “body shame” than women assigned to magazines with health-themed covers.

RELATED: French Media Refuses to Glorify Terrorists, Bans Sensational Photos

Headlines partnered with images are especially influential because we process them in the right brain where an automatic body response is stimulated. For example, I remember my children as infants staring intently at their first book absent words, but filled with kindly human faces. The friendly feeling portrayed in the faces consistently drew smiles and happy sounds.

Interestingly, headlines are not always dependable to tell the truth of a story. Blake Andrew of McGill University analyzed headlines versus the storyline of articles during the 2004 Canadian federal election campaign. He found that headlines were created to “attract” readers not represent the accuracy of the story. Yet, many of us don’t take the time to read the whole article. Instead, we use headlines as a shortcut to gain a sense of it.

MORE: At This Summer Camp, Kids And Cops Build Bonds For Better Communities

Further, viewing tragedy in the media has proven to be capable of creating PTSD. After the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013, the University of California, Irvine published a study that assessed the level of stress symptoms affecting people who watched it on television, social media, in print and on the radio. They found that “Acute stress symptoms increased with each additional hour of bombing-related media exposure.” As a result, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Center for PTSD concluded that there is a link between watching news of traumatic events and stress symptoms. Further, they found people who have experienced previous trauma suffer a cumulative effect with intensified reactions. In other words, seeing scary experiences creates a biochemical event that registers in the body whether we are experiencing them directly or through empathy with others. People with previous trauma are especially vulnerable.

What’s your tipping point for negative news? Some of us are more easily influenced than others. Become aware of when you reach your limits depending on your level of empathy. The greater your empathy, the lower your tolerance for seeing tragedy without being hurt.

CHECK OUT: Study Shows Yoga and Meditation May Help Reduce Childhood Anxiety

Here are four ways to use your smart Emotional Operating System (EOS) to keep yourself emotionally safe from harmful headlines:

1. Use compassion rather than empathy with others who are suffering. Rather than imagine walking in others’ shoes and feeling their pain, establish clear emotional boundaries by reminding yourself, this isn’t happening to you and you don’t have to feel their pain in order to support them. In fact, it gets in the way. Instead, walk compassionately beside them.

2. Read the article before you believe a sensationally negative headline.

3. Turn away from headlines/images that give you a bad feeling. I once saw a mother say, “You’re a bad boy” to her 3 year-old- son. His immediate respond was to cover his ears, so he couldn’t hear her. I remember thinking that his response was intuitively brilliant because early negative labeling has been associated with negative psychological outcomes. For example, girls who have been called “too fat” by their families have a greater risk of becoming obese. You can use the power of your imagination to make a big red X through healines/messages that don’t feel good.

4. Emotions have a spontaneous life of their own, however when you pay attention to what you’re feeling minute to minute, you become aware of what news is good for you and what isn’t. You can use this greater self-awareness to make choices that keep you emotionally safe.

Dr. Deborah Sandella is the author of Goodbye, Hurt & Pain 7 Simple Steps to Health, Love and Success. She is an award-winning psychotherapist, university professor, and the originator of the groundbreaking RIM Method, which is a heavily-backed neuroscience tool for reducing stress and improving the quality of life.

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Family Surprises Dad with All the Holidays He Will Miss While Deployed

By
McKinley Corbley
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clendennin-halloween-family-clendennin

There’s no time of year more beloved than the holiday season – but Al Clendennin was going to miss all of them because of his service in the military.

So the Crestview, Florida family brought the festivities to him by celebrating four holidays in one weekend.

The 47-year-old U.S. Air Force dad got a call for his second deployment to Afghanistan on September 21st, so the family knew they had to act fast.

WATCH: Woman Surprises Stepdad With Porsche He Gave Up To Marry Her Mom

Al’s wife, Cathy, took her husband out for a massage while her kids – 16, 15, and 13-years-old – put on Halloween costumes, hung decorations, and put on a spooky movie with their grandparents – all classically spooky traditions of the family.

Next was Al’s 48th birthday, which would typically fall on December 22nd.

While he was out for coffee, the kids tore down the orange and black tinsel, and instead hung up a giant “Happy Birthday” sign. The overwhelmed father came home to receive a birthday cake and a laptop to stay connected.

WATCH: Man Breaks Down in Tears When Graduating Girl Asks Him To Be Her Dad

“Al was so surprised when he walked into the house,” Cathy told TODAY. “He didn’t catch onto what we were doing until we celebrated his birthday. When the cake was brought out, he started jumping up and down for joy.”

Then came Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Complete with yuletide carols, ugly sweaters, a tiny tree, breakfast waffles, and a new DVD player for dad, the family topped off the night with their classic turkey feast in front of the Detroit Lions football game on TV.

“Christmas is always a big deal in our house so we were most upset about not having Al home for it, but our pretend Christmas honestly felt like it was really that.”

Have A Holly Jolly Christmas: Click To Share This With Your Friends – Photo by Cathy Clendennin

Nadal Stops His Tennis Game So Woman Can Find Her Missing Child (WATCH)

By
McKinley Corbley
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nadal-and-mother-youtube

It was a doubles exhibition tennis match of world champions, but that didn’t stop Raphael Nadal from putting the brakes on when he saw a distressed mother in the crowd.

Nadal was about to serve in to Carlos Moya and John McEnroe during their game in Manacor, Mallorca when he saw a crying woman gesturing to a steward up in the stands.

MORE: Famous Football Player Chooses To Eat Lunch Next To Boy With Autism

When heads started to turn, the arena realized that she was a mother looking for her lost child who had wandered away during the game.

The audience searched the seats until they found little Clara crying a ways away from her momma.

When the woman scooped up her weeping daughter, the crowd rose to tumultuous applause and the game resumed.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Kids With Autism Can Now Browse The Zoo Stress-Free 1 Hour Before it Opens

By
McKinley Corbley
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For kids on the autism spectrum just trying to enjoy animals at the zoo, large crowds and noise can be too stressful to maneuver.

That’s why the Taronga Zoo in New South Wales, Australia will now open one hour early on special Access Taronga days so guests with autism can enjoy the park without the general public.

The zoo offers a range of other services for their special guests including VIP badges that children can wear just in case they need extra assistance.

WATCH: Autism-Friendly Clothing Dumps Zips, Buttons and Tags, Offers GPS

They also have three tranquil zones throughout the park so families can take a quiet break in a more secluded, grassy area.

Since the zoo partnered with Autism Spectrum Australia, 120 staff members have been trained to give special help should it be necessary.

The nonprofit park housing 4,000 animals from over 350 species will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Click To Share The Good News From Down Under – Photo by Douglas Brown, CC

Watch These Two Fans Be Surprised by Their Favorite TV Show Host

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Good News Network
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Danielle and Norma have worked side-by-side at a Los Angeles hospital for three years – but one of the biggest things that they have in common is that they watch The Ellen Show together every day.

VIDEO: George Clooney And Julia Roberts on Carpool Karaoke w/ Gwen Stefani

So when Ellen Degeneres surprises them with a live Skype call and a free widescreen television, they can’t contain their excitement.

(WATCH the video above)

 

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Commercial Trade of the Pangolin Has Just Been Banned

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Good News Network
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Delegates at a U.N. wildlife convention have voted to ban the trade of all eight species of Asian and African pangolins.

Yesterday at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora meeting, delegates voted to protect the ant-eating mammal, which is heavily poached for its scales and meat.

MORE: Manatee Population Has Rebounded 500 Percent, No Longer Endangered

The decision will likely be approved at a plenary session next week.

Previously, the delegates required control on the Asian pangolin trade, but now commercial trade will be prohibited entirely (Christopher Torchia, AP/Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sept. 28).

Reprinted with permission from E&E Publishing

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Stuffed Koala Brings Comfort to Orphaned Animal Look-Alike

By
McKinley Corbley
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This baby koala may be coping with his momma’s death, but he has also found a friend to help him get through it.

Shayne’s mother was fatally injured by a car the previous week – but when wildlife officials arrived on the scene, they noticed that the deceased mother had been lactating.

Her son was found nearby and taken to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital for treatment and care.

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

“Shayne has no injuries as a result of the accident, instead, he’s dealing with the loss of his mum and the vital life lessons he needs to learn in order to become an independent, wild koala,” said Dr. Rosie Booth, director of the hospital, in a statement.

“It’s very fortunate that we had an observant rescuer who found Shayne and brought him in to us because he wouldn’t have lasted even a day in the wild by himself at his young age — now he gets a second chance at life.”

VIDEO: Baby Deer Refused To Leave Side of Man Who Rescued It

However with the help of his stuffed buddy and a team of trained specialists on hand, Shayne will be given love and care until he’s ready to be released back into the wild.

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends – Photo by Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital

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