Great News. February Edition.

Published: Tue, 02/09/21

I started a new project for 2021. It’s called Great News.

And that’s exactly what it is.

Once a month or so, I send you a collection of news that is purely good, uplifting, delightful—news that inspires a feeling of hope for the future. (Because we all need an influx of hope these days.)

It’s important to be aware of what’s happening in the world—the hurt, the pain, the broken systems, the problems that urgently need to be solved. We need to stay informed. We need to do our part to fix the things that aren't working.

At the same time, sometimes you just need a dose of pure joy. Like medicine. To help you get through the weeks ahead.

I hope Great News can be that medicine for you.

Here is the second installment of great things, in no particular order...

Great News. February Edition.

- Have you ever thought, “I am tired of emailing humans. I wish I could email a dog instead.” Now, you can! Send an email to woof@youcangetitdone.com and you will get a reply from my dog Zuki, Lindsey’s dog Winnie, or Woz’s dog Willa. We decided that our company needed an official canine email account. We’ve got our priorities straight.

- A newsletter reader contacted us to share: “People are recording sounds of forests all over the world and mapping them out so people can listen to them. You can also contribute your own.”

- Joy Milne, a nurse and grandmother from Scotland, has such a sensitive sense of smell…she can smell when people have Parkinson’s Disease and help detect it early. Researchers were skeptical but after testing Joy, they were astonished and confirmed: This is real.

- A baby sloth has been born. Oh happy day!

- These cookies exist.

- Zach’s eye surgery went very well, and he is healing beautifully. He reports, “Now I can see my girlfriend even better. She is even more beautiful than I thought.” Well put, Zach!

- Lauren emailed to share: “I've got some Great News for you!” She informed us about a wonderful program called Ready to Care. “At ReadytoCare.com, you can get a weekly text with kind acts you can do for seniors: write a letter to a senior pen pal, send a holiday gift to a lonely older adult, or make a donation to a nonprofit organization that supports aging adults. As our world grows older, we all need to learn how to care for one another.”

- Lauren also reports: “On a personal note, I completed the first 20,000 words of a novel I'm working on!” Congratulations, Lauren! That is a wonderful accomplishment.

- Everyone please go watch the movie Soul, an animated film featuring Jamie Foxx voicing the lead character, with music by the incomparable Jon Batiste. This movie will make you think, make you laugh, make you cry, and remind you that life isn’t just about chasing big achievements. It’s also about enjoying a bagel, watching leaves flutter through the breeze, and the small moments that make us feel alive.

- Cara emailed in to share: “What's making me smile at the moment are my amazing English students who are watching and discussing the 1992 movie version of Howards End and coming up with some brilliant insights as usual. Even though cinemas are closed in a lot of places, our watch parties and discussions help us feel less lonely and recreate that cosy cinema feeling.”

- Looking for a new job? Want to work for an inspiring company? And, you’d love to work from home—not just during the pandemic, but always? Some really Great News: two of my clients are HIRING right now! Hello Seven is a company dedicated to helping women (especially women of color) earn more money and build wealth. See open positions. And: The Broadway Collective provides musical theatre education (dance, voice, and acting classes) to students ages 12 and up. Their mission is to help young people become their very best selves both onstage and offstage. See open positions.

- This video clip is several years old, but always brings a smile to my face and awe into my heart. Rhyan Faith Anoi Demello, age seven, competing at a hula competition and wowing the crowd. She dances for the Halau E Hulali I Ka La and was the youngest competitor that day. AMAZING.

- Another old but delightful gem: this man surprised his wife at their wedding (remember weddings?!) with a fully choreographed dance routine. Complete with confetti and double pirouettes and even a cowboy line dancing moment. WOW.

- As of 2021, same-sex marriage is now legal in 29 countries around the world. Progress.

Want to support LGBTQI+ rights and look very stylish at the same time? Shop here. 100% goes to the Human Rights Campaign. Perhaps you simply must have an equality onesie for your little one, an "I'm Speaking" beanie hat, or a Love is Love sweatshirt which looks very comfy, indeed. Or skip the clothing and make a direct donation because that's amazing, too.

- I always love seeing programs like this one. The town of Natchez, Mississippi will pay you $6000 to relocate and live there. This is part of an initiative to bring more people to smaller, less populated towns—to bring new ideas (and more revenue) into these often overlooked places.

- Speaking of relocating—this Saturday Night Live clip about lusting after real estate made me laugh so hard I literally started crying. I am so happy that someone had this idea, wrote the script, and made this. (For grown-ups only.)

- And now, the BIG STORY of the month—an important update on Xion’s newspaper. Long-time readers will recall that Xion (who is turning age 10 in a few days) started his own newspaper called The Weekly Case. This publication features local news, unsolved mysteries, superhero-related content, and a very insightful advice column. I am happy to report that Xion’s readership continues to grow. Issue 6 of The Weekly Case just got printed and delivered to neighbors on the block. He even has paid subscribers and advertisers, too. Way to go, Xi! A budding media mogul! If you are desperate to receive The Weekly Case (and who among us isn’t?) please click REPLY and say I NEED THE WEEKLY CASE. We’ll see if we can arrange a subscription for you.

- Lastly: this.

Such Great News.

-Alex

PS. If this album doesn’t get you dancing, I don’t know what will.

PPS. For a calmer vibe, this Inspiring Classical playlist is so good, too.

PPPS. Do you have some Great News you'd like to share? *Reply* to this email. Tell me and my team what's making you smile. We might include your piece of Great News in the next installment. We love Great News.

PPPPS. Do you love receiving newsletters like this one? Maybe you have a friend or colleague who might enjoy receiving my newsletter, too? You can encourage them to go here to sign up. Thank you for spreading the word.

PPPPPS. Even if today has been really heartbreaking and difficult, today is not over yet. You can do something (no matter how small) to turn things around and end the day feeling a tiny bit stronger and calmer. Splash cool water on your face. Text your mom, a friend, or a free counseling service like this one. Write down one thing that brings you hope and gratitude. Breathe. You're going to be okay.