March 14, 2008

Share Some Good Stuff

My apologies for the delay in getting this posted. The last couple of days have been crazy. Just when I was ready to play catch-up, my server went down and I couldn’t get into my blog to post. I really need a dose of Good Stuff to help me get back on track!

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the bad news that we forget that there are good things going on around us all the time. We can’t change the headlines, but we can seek out that which is good, that which is uplifting, that which shines with a positive radiance - the good stuff. Here are some recent feel-great stories:

We can always count on Val to post stories about the good things in life. This week she found a story by Sydney, a fifteen-year old student who writes about the challenges and joy of having a younger brother with Down Syndrome. There are more good kids than bad out here. I’m always happy to see their stories getting a little coverage!

There’s an entire blog full of Good Stuff that I’ve become addicted to. Houndsgood - Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer crusades tirelessly for shelter animals needing homes. Some of the stories are sad to read, but the blog is a project of hope and compassion. Check it out!

Along those same lines, our pal Ami-chan has a new family member to celebrate this week. Way to go, Ami-chan! She loves to post about her son, too, and her stories about him frequently take me stolling down memory lane. She recently reminded me of the joy I felt when my own son was first learning to count, definitely a smile-worthy event!

As soon as I post I’ll be calling my friend to see if she’ll come over tonight to share dinner and watch the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest with me. I’m thinking she’ll say yes, because we both love this annual celebration of Hawaiian culture. We both love food, too, so I’m looking forward to a good evening.

Have you checked the back pages of your local paper lately? Do yourself a favor and make it a point to find the good news that never gets the bold headlines. Pick a news source anywhere in the world or something great you’ve found on the web. Better yet, share a heart-warming first-person moment that made you smile. Did your youngest just bake a cake without parental interference? Did the smelly guy on the bus finally get a clue and clean up his act? Maybe your neighbor’s nut tree is hanging over your back fence and giving you all the free pecans you could ever want. Those little day-to-day moments that make us smile are the stuff of a happy life and worthy of sharing. Here’s your chance to recognize them for what they are and spread a little sunshine in the process. Make sure you send me a link when you’re moved to blog about something good going on. I’ll hook you up the next time we Share Some Good Stuff and then we can all feel a little better about what this world is coming to!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme