It’s delightful to be the bearer of good news. That’s always been my goal. And you may want to refer back to this column for resources when your spirit needs a boost or to share them with others.
A popular “go to” for me is the Good News Network, which can be accessed on the internet or with an app on your phone. In a matter of minutes you can read an assortment of kindness stories, feats of bravery to save a life or how a young child brings an audience to happy tears with a heartwarming story.
Recently, I was taken with the lady who bought a thrift store vase for four dollars only to realize it was identical to those made by ancient Mayans when she visited an art museum. Instead of selling it, she returned it to the National Museum in Mexico City.
Stories about ordinary people making extraordinary gestures to benefit a child, a classroom, a community or the world touch me the most. Narratives such as the fishermen who rescued 38 dogs treading water with no shore in sight, or the 105-year-old woman who earned her Stanford master’s degree that was 83 years in the making, really touch my heart.
The woman’s commitment to finish her education reminded me of a column I wrote in 2012 after hearing Hedda Bolgar, age 103, speak to a huge audience about her life and how she started two new professional pursuits at the age of 77 after grieving the loss of her husband for four years.
Saturday mornings I look forward to CNN’s Good Stuff newsletter. Reading this weekly collection of “feel-good” news about this, that and the other thing is my favorite morning wakeup routine.
Often there is a video by Jeanne Moos, who, at the age of 74, is at the top of her game with humorous reporting such as the woodpecker that kept ringing a lady’s doorbell, or the wedding proposal that was still a hit even though the groom-to-be dropped the ring and there was a mad dash to find it.
I think feel-good stories are valuable contributions to our emotional health and well-being. Sometimes all it takes to shift out of a funk is to read how someone else overcame an obstacle or helped others. These stories are wonderful conversation starters, and they can be reminders that there is plenty of positive news – we just have to give it our attention.
There’s a saying about how wherever our attention goes, our energy flows. Think those are wise words to remember.
Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.
