I think we all know that the world can seem like a scary place. We’re all bombarded with headlines every day that don’t exactly evoke warm and fuzzy feelings, and with the whirlwind of articles surrounding the scary stuff, the good things can get lost sometimes. So I rounded up some of my favorites here for you! Here are eight little reminders that maybe the world isn’t such a bad place.
1. Michael Jordan Donated $2 Million to Recovery Efforts for Hurricane Florence Michael Jordan, a North Carolina native, said that, “At the end of the day, it makes you think about the path that you have taken, and where your life has taken you, and I just feel like, well, maybe if I can help in some sort of way all of the people, and all of the places, that have helped me along the road.” In addition to this $1 million donation to American Red Cross and the $1 million dollar donation to Foundation For The Carolinas’ Hurricane Florence Response Fund, more than 100 members of the Hornets organization are donating time to pack boxes of food and supplies. Find the full story here!
2. This 93 Year Old Man Buys a Box of Chocolate Bars Every Week to Give Them Out to Strangers Bob Williams, a World War II Veteran, has bought a box of chocolate bars every weekend for 10 years just to pass out to strangers. He has given out approximately 6,000 chocolate bars and countless smiles. After finding out about Williams from a local magazine, Hershey has featured him in a recent ad campaign and made sure that he won’t have to pay for any more chocolate bars. You can read more about Bob and his chocolate bars here!
3. New York Barber Gives Man a Haircut Outside When He Couldn’t Get Inside With His Wheelchair Victor Burgos, of Joe’s Upscale Barber Shop in Webster, New York, noticed a client outside the building in an electric wheelchair. Because the barber shop is located in an older building, the man was not able to get inside with his wheelchair. Burgos, one of the Joe’s busiest barbers, instead of turning the man away, simply took the haircut outside. Click here to read more about Victor’s story.
4. Students Raise $2,000 to Send Cleaning Staff Member on Vacation I’m not saying that reading this one made me cry, but I’m also not saying that it DIDN’T make me cry. Students at Bristol University raised over $2,000 to send Herman Gordon, a beloved member of the cleaning staff, to Jamaica to visit family. Here you can check out the whole story.
5. Project Stopped that Would Destroy Sea Turtle Nesting Grounds! Mexico City denied permits to build a hostel project that would destroy one of the most important sea turtle nesting grounds in Mexico. You can find the full article here.
6. Inmates Learn Cosmetology Skills to Build Skills for Careers After Release This often waitlisted program is one of the most popular at Valley State Penitentiary. To prepare for careers post-release, inmates learn skills such as giving perms, gel manicures or facials. The program is run by Carmen Shehorn. Shehorn goes on to describe the growth she sees in her students, and the transformations she watches as they study and put their heart into their work. Click here to read more about the program.
7. Germany Launches First Hydrogen-Powered Train! The two zero emission (meaning that they only release water and steam) Coradia iLint trains are some of the first of their kind. While initially more expensive than their less environmentally friendly counterparts, the hydrogen-powered trains are also ultimately cheaper to operate than alternatives. The sustainable trains can travel the same range as the fuel powered ones, however, they do it all without the greenhouse gas emissions. Check it out!
8. Childhood Friends Get Married in Hospital Where they Beat Cancer Lindsey Wilkerson and Joel Alsup first met in 1993 at St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, both amidst battles with cancer. The two later reconnected, cancer free, when Wilkerson began working at St Jude’s, not knowing that Alsup was already employed there. The pair’s relationship grew from there into a romantic one that both Alsup and Wilkerson were too shy to begin when they first met as kids. Lindsey and Joel were married on September 1st at the Danny Thomas/Alsac Pavilion at St Jude’s. Read more about Joel and Lindsey.
I know that, at the very least, I myself am guilty of getting wrapped up in the negative sometimes and losing sight of the positive (and I don’t think I’m alone in that). Even when it seems like the world is falling apart around us and that there’s no more goodness left, people have this funny habit of coming through and proving us wrong. It’s the little reminders like these that help us stick it out, and maybe even try to be better people ourselves.