Great News. May Edition.

Published: Thu, 05/20/21

I started a new project at the beginning of 2021. It’s called Great News.

And that’s exactly what it is.

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

This month, we'll start with an inspiring story followed by a round-up of very good things.

Great News. Story Time.

My partner Zach has a physical disability due to a birth defect. It's an issue with one of his legs.

When he was a baby, the doctor told his mom that the best solution would be to amputate from the knee down.

His mom said, "No. We're not doing that." She instinctively felt this wasn't the best approach for her son.

Zach has had tons of surgeries throughout his life and has learned to cope. He has the most positive attitude. Even though he experiences daily pain, he still surfs, golfs, and works around his limitations. He makes the best of it.

But, as he gets older, the pain is getting worse.

He recently learned about a new kind of prosthetic which didn't exist 10 years ago that might completely solve his mobility issues.

When we watched the video last night to learn about the device, he welled up with tears and got really emotional.

With this prosthetic, he might be able to walk pain free or even run.

It feels like a miracle.

Moral of the story:

Moms are very smart.

Doctors can be wrong.

Keep hope alive.

You never know what might be available and possible in the future, even just a few years down the road.

Miracles we can't even dream of.

More Great News.

- A 6-year-old boy asked his mom to make him a t-shirt that says, "I will be your friend." He was worried about kids at school who might be getting bullied. He wanted to let those kids know that he would be their friend no matter what.

- One university canceled $730,655 in student debt for students who have faced financial hardship during the pandemic. Proof that even large organizations can be caring and kind.

- While the pandemic has caused immense hardship, there are some unexpected silver linings. One example: NASA satellites show that air pollution is down by 20% in many regions. Hard times can bring good things.

- Erminia did a beautiful translation of a story of mine called "Excuses or Progress" to help those learning Italian. She includes a study booklet of English and Italian side by side to learn useful words and phrases.

- Truffles the cat loves hanging out at her mom's workplace: an optical shop. Truffles has become a bit of a celebrity because she loves to "model" the glasses to encourage kids to wear their glasses.

- A device has been invented that allows paralyzed people who are unable to use their hands to write using their mind. The technology turns imagined handwriting into words. It's called mindwriting.

- Caroline McGraw released her book, You Don't Owe Anyone: Free Yourself from the Weight of Expectations, and encourages us all to move through our lives without apology.

- If you haven't seen the movie Raya and the Last Dragon, please check it out. It's beautiful. A sweet children's movie with a deep message. In order to change the world, we have to work together. In order to work together, we have to trust each other. It's not easy to trust when you've been hurt and betrayed so many times in the past. But it's possible. And sometimes, it takes one brave person who is willing to step forward and be first, one person to break the cycle.

- Opera singers have been throwing recitals in their driveways and porches to keep music alive and to entertain their neighbors.

- Florian Gadsby is a master potter. If you want to feel deeply soothed, watch his videos where he demonstrates how he turns lumps of clay into beautiful mugs, bowls, and vases. It's mesmerizing and hypnotic. Just so...good.

- Nora AlMatrooshi, now heading to NASA for training, will be the first Arab woman in outer space.

- Jasmine Cho is a self-proclaimed "cookie activist" who uses cookies as a blank canvas to make tiny works of art—including cookies painted with portraits of marginalized figures from U.S. history. Watch her inspirational TEDx Talk. Get her children's book.

- Cool news if you love sharks (like me!). Scientists have discovered that sharks use the Earth's magnetic fields like a GPS system to navigate around the ocean. Nature is amazing.

- Bored of Netflix? You can hire Linda the Magician to entertain your friends and family (or your workplace team) via Zoom. (Even though we sometimes complain about it, let's be honest: Zoom is a miracle.)

- My friend Theresa Reed created a Tarot deck especially for kids featuring age-appropriate artwork for youngsters. The deck is being released soon. I had a chance to take an early peek. It's gorgeous. A must-have for anyone who loves unplugged screen-free activities. Get it for a kiddo you love, or for yourself.

- Would you like to take one of my writing courses this year, but funds are tight? We have a scholarship program. We still have 9 scholarship spots available for The Email Course which begins on June 1. If you want one, fill out this form.

- Great news for people who love to learn. You can take university courses from schools like Harvard and MIT online for free.

- Great news for book lovers and authors, too. Book sales are up by 8%. This is the largest spike in a long time.

- Great news if you love watching the sunset. Research confirms: spending time admiring nature's splendor is really good for you.

- Great news if you're concerned about excessive screen time and its impact on our health. Over 60% of Generation Z has taken a break from social media. And over 30% say they plan to quit forever because they just don't like how it feels. The young folks are leading the way. Proof that if you want to change something about your life—you can just go ahead and do it.

- Lastly: please enjoy these baby sea turtles taking their very first steps.

Such Great News.

-Alex

PS. Do you have a piece of Great News that you would love to share? Any news, big or small? We'd love to hear. *Reply* to email me and my team.

PPS. My deepest apologies. I realized I forgot to do Great News in April 2021. Somehow, the month of April slipped away and I just plum forgot! I hope the *bonus story* in today's May 2021 edition makes up for it.

PPPS. Chill music to ease you into a calm evening or weekend. Enjoy.