Accentuate The Positives

5 Great Things Week Ending 9/7

1. OK, yeah if somebody is going to put together an article with 25 different ways to serve Oreos that's pretty much a  free ticket into the 5 Things!
2. I pretty much only think of Spam when the name Hormel pops up (full disclosure, I think Spam is delicious).  However, my guess is that moving forward I'll also think of this story.  Hormel is providing college education for all children of their 16,000 employees.  Truly an amazing story and it would be wonderful to see more and more companies following suit (I have no doubt others already do this too).
3. I'm a huge believer that things don't get solved with one big solution.  Progress occurs when small pockets of positivity and inspiration pop up in lots of different places and those little pockets spread and foster new pockets to grow and develop.  These ideas and inspirations take so many different forms but they all matter.  Take a look at what happened when this lady simply thought it was important to spread the message of being kind to one another. 
4. Sometimes stories need build up.  Sometimes you just need to announce that there is now the first Happiness Museum and that pretty much says it all.
5. I've had many friends tell me stories of one of the positive things to have happened because of all of this was time with their children and seeing things that they probably would have missed.  First steps and first words and and little once in a lifetime moments that might otherwise have been seen by a nanny or a  day care center professional.  Nobody wanted a pandemic as the reason for this opportunity, but we need to take the positives when they come.  I've heard stories of friends reading more with their children and how much they say they are enjoying it.  I'm also a big believer in adults reading aloud to one another as a way to strengthen bonds of friendship or relationship or even create a commonality with a group.  I found this list of 50 stories of positivity and hope from classic American authors.  Some titles I knew but many I didn't.  Maybe you'll see a title you like here and reach back to help yourself move forward. 

5 Great Things Week Ending 8/30

1. Can't believe this but I missed the article on the new world record holder for tallest giraffe in history.  Been a big fan of giraffes ever since April and her baby a couple of years ago.  Can you imagine how much we would have been watching her if we were in quarantine???
2. OK, this is really cool.  Check out where your home town was up to 700 Million years ago.  Fool around with the dates and the eras and see how shifting has moved your home town around over millions of years.
3. The news from Chicago has been that great over the past few years, but that isn't stopping people from trying to make things better.  I've always been a big believer that solutions weren't one big thing, but instead lots of little things added up.  These are the sorts of things that make a huge difference.
4. Everyone hopes for a perfect and unforgettable wedding day, and I've heard several stories about wedding days completely messed up by COVID restrictions which is heartbreaking.  This couple, though, managed to create a day that a whole bunch of people in their community will never forget.
5. As I said above, it's going to be a combination of a bunch of little things that get our world back going in the right direction again.  This gentlemen, who isn't letting the fact that he is a paraplegic slow him down, is just trying to make things better one bagful at a time in the Mediterranean Sea.

5 Great Things Week Ending 8/23

1. In first grade I was lucky if I was able to tie my own shoes, yet this girl has managed to help hundreds of homeless people and start her own foundation all at the age of 6.  People of all ages can be inspirational and teachers to all of us.
2. I almost didn't post this one as it (very briefly) dips into politics, but this little girl who is about to become a published author is such an important reminder of the power of the written word and the importance of connectivity of people in our world that I wanted to make sure to include it.  As a bonus, make sure to scroll to the bottom and watch the quick video of the reunion of two 7 year old best friends!
3. This teenager has donated more than $7000 for the care of senior dogs and is inspiring her friends to do the same.  From her own very humble beginnings this girl has shown what a difference one person can make in our world.
4. This 9 year old boy has dreams of growing up to be a Navy SEAL and in the mean time he has started an initiative to  help local veterans in his community any way he can.  Some people are just innately born with with a sense of community and selflessness.
5. I hope we see this amazingly gifted dancer in the New York City Ballet or in the Royal Opera House some day.  Sometimes all anyone needs is a chance.

5 Great Things Week Ending 8/9

1. Pretty sure every story of people rescuing baby ducklings from a storm is going to make it in the 5 Things list!
2. Keeping with the animal theme, I was already going to include this story about a man opening an animal shelter for abused or neglected farm animals.  When I then read, though, that one pig was teaching other pigs how to "sit" on command this was a must include story!
3. Remember "Calendar Girls"?  The movie, which starred the absolutely incomparable Helen Mirren, was about a group of ladies who found a creative way to pose for a calendar to raise money, I believe, for the local hospital who had treated one of the ladies late husband who passed away from cancer.  First off, check out the movie.  Secondly, check out this story about what some amazing seniors are doing to help raise money for Alzheimer's research.  Actually, do those two in reverse order but you get the drift.
4. Two things I try to focus on every year are School Supply drives and Christmas Toy Donations.  Without children of my own, I always felt that I should try and give back whenever I could to help support kids who could use a hand.  Our drive was really successful this year and it looks like these folks in Texas had a great one too!
5. I have always been extremely sensitive to bullying but being sensitive to it and actually doing something about it are two very different things.  This little six year old is doing something about it and this story brought a tear to my eye.

5 Great Things Week Ending 7/12

1. I'm not sure the world ever needed the Far Side more than right now.  So glad you are back, Gary Larson.  You have no idea how much we've missed you.
2. Quick note to real estate agents everywhere, if you have wine fairies in a neighborhood where you have a listing make sure to open with that in your property descriptions.  I'd move someplace sight unseen if I knew wine fairies were part of the deal.
3. The ingenuity and spirit of people will never cease to amaze me.  While we are living under a backdrop of despair and uncertainty, there are still amazing people trying to either find or create good where they can.  With employment a challenge for many people right now somebody came up with an idea to make things a little bit easier.  Life isn't about one big fix, it's about lots of little ones along the way.
4. If you really thought a dog saving a family from a fire wasn't going to be noted here then you really don't know this blog at all :).
5. It probably doesn't happen that often, but here's a case where an American hero became a hero before he became an American.

5 Great Things week Ending 6/28

1. We can lament over all the damage that has been done to our environment, but there is nothing we can do to fix yesterday.  What can be done, though, is to clean up our messes from the past and see what we can do better moving forward.  It's sad to say that there are millions of tons of garbage floating in our oceans, but great to hear that a group just set a record for removing some of it. 
2. Terrifying but true.  Human beings could only survive for 4 years if bees were to go extinct.  1/3 of the worlds food supply is pollinated by bees in fact.  Most people (myself included) really only think about bees in the context of not getting stung but they aren't just important, they're vital for our ecosystem.  A couple of years ago some farmers in England made the decision to help the bee population with amazing results.
3. Ever heard of the GSD?  I hadn't until today but what they're doing behind the scenes right now is incredible.
4. There might not be a cooler title in the world right now than "Lasagna Lady".  There may not be too many better people either.
5. Pretty good chance I'll never be able to afford to stay in the Four Seasons in midtown Manhattan but I'm a fan now after reading this.

5 Great Things Week Ending 6/7

1. It was pushed off the headlines but unfortunately we are still in the midst of the pandemic.  The biggest tragedy outside of the tragic loss of hundreds of thousands of lives from this would be if that we didn't take any learning from all of this.  Here are some things we need to face and things we need to learn as a society and really as a species from all of this if we are ever going to move forward.
2. With all the tough times we're having right now I honestly believe that there isn't "one solution" but instead there are thousands and thousands of small ones that will all add up.  In fact here's a perfect example of something that started small and blossomed into something beyond their wildest hopes.
3. This is pretty cool.  Go the the app store and download this.  The ISS Detector app will alert you when the International Space Station is within view of your location so you can go check it out.  It was tiny the one time I saw it but absolutely visible.  Very cool and a great thing for parents and kids to do together.
4. It feels strange talking about the positive stories that are coming from the protests and demonstrations that have gone on across the world this week.  The only real good news would be the announcement that we no longer lived in a world where racism, hate and divisiveness were allowed to exist.  We don't have that world right now, but signs of wanting to get there showed up in every city this week and maybe this will be the beginning of that new world for all of us.
5. More examples of that here.  Maybe small microcosms within the larger scale of society where so much work needs to be done seems trite, but maybe we can use examples like these as examples of a new beginning.

5 Great Things Week Ending 5/24

1. Strong marketing, but far more importantly really good messaging from Skittles.  I'd buy a pack of these anytime.  I still haven't quite forgiven Skittles for replacing Lime with Green Apple which threw off the balance of the whole pack, but this is really pretty cool.
2. Two twin beds with comforter anchored with pillows stretched across the gap between the two beds.  This was our go to fort construction growing up.  Ikea is taking the fort construction model to an entirely new level during quarantine and it's really pretty cool.
3. Finally some love for the iconic PB&J!  In my book PB&Anything is a winner including PB&B (Banana) and PB&P (Pickle).  I'm open to most jellies as part of the PB&J combo but strawberry is still the leader in the clubhouse.
4. I was fortunate to grow up with fantastic parents and I'm lucky enough to still be able to call them for advice (and do so quite frequently).  Not everybody is as lucky as I have been in this regard and this fantastic gentleman is here to help!  Dad How Do I on Youtube is a wonderful channel where one Dad gives practical advice, words of encouragement and helpful lessons about tasks around your hose that you probably would have been asking your Dad about.  Also, tons of Dad Jokes!  Really sweet and very helpful idea as well as another example of the good people that exist in our world.
5. Spring is supposed to be the time for class picnics and field trips to the zoo.  This year is a little different, though, but that doesn't mean kids still don't have a chance to learn about and feel closer to their animal friends.  Pasado's Safe Haven, which is a wonderful organization in Washington, has a new pen pal program for kids and animals to keep in touch until we can visit again.  Very fun program!

5 Great Things Week Ending 5/17

1. As we've become more and more entrenched in this "new normal" or at least this temporary new normal you start seeing more and more of these stories about people finding ways to connect themselves, their families, their children and even their pets.  We are a social species, and I hope this whole thing reminds us how much we rely on each other.
2. Sometimes stories need context or perspective.  Sometimes you just need to say this is a story about a ferret running a marathon to help raise money to help people in need.
3. After spending basically the first two years of her life in foster care this little girl got to celebrate her adoption with a parade right in front of her house!    Way to look good, Jacksonville!
4. This story really hit me.  Two of my favorite ways to try and give a little bit back are through back to school supply drive initiatives and holiday toy donations.  I've always been a huge believer that hope and education are the two of the most important things any child can have (any person, really).  I try to be as generous as I can on these two fronts every year, but I don't even make the team picture compared to what this little girl is doing to help thousands of kids she doesn't even know have a chance at both.
5. If you're still vying for Dad of the Year honors, the bar just got raised dramatically.

5 Great Things Week Ending 5/3

1. My fandom of John Krasinski continues to soar (he had me at Jack Ryan, but SGN has him pushing for the top spot).  I think this whole concept is wonderful and he is at his goofy and heartwarming best in these.
2. You can get life lessons from anywhere if you're willing to look for them.  In this case, an 11 year old girl who made the choice at 8 years old that she wanted to commit to volunteering in her community shows what one person can do to help as we go through these times.
3. I recently started donating blood.  Nothing crazy, I've just done it a few times but you feel kind of good about it when you're done.  I have a ways to go to catch this guy, though!
4. Every neighborhood should have a designated silly walk area.  Simply put, the world would be a much better place were this the case!
5. I know the world is going to look differently coming out of all of this.  Are handshakes gone forever?  Will hugs be a thing of the past?  Well, I guess we'll see about all of that.  I do know that there are some people in my life, that when I finally get to see them again in person regardless of how the greeting looks, this is how I'll feel in my heart.  I know you all have people in your lives that make you feel the same way! 

5 Great Things Week Ending 4/26

1. OK, we all have that romantic image of running across the beach into the waiting arms of a loved one.  Well, this wonderful story kind of turns that story on its ear!
2. How about a post that states they're getting so many stories they can't even keep up with publishing them!
3. I've read many different pieces about people using their stimulus checks for good.  I'm going to be happy to read hundreds more!
4. Full disclosure, I have been a huge Publix fan since my parents moved to Florida and I was very excited to become a full time customer when I got down here too.  Well, not only is it a super store but it is also a company that walks the walk when it comes to supporting the communities they are in.  Great job, Publix!
5. Did you really think you were going to publish a dog parade story and I wasn't going to include it???

5 Great Things Week  Ending 4/19

1. First off, the LEGO brand is amazing.  They were huge when I was little and they are even bigger now than back then.  Now you read a story like this and you love the brand even more. I will forever be a LEGO fan!
2. A good Samaritan not only gifts $82,000 to an Iowa town but does it to the benefit of the local businesses.  I think this officially qualifies as a great Samaritan. 
3. Look at that, people are really searching for good news!  This makes me even happier to be doing this and happier still that you chose to spend a little time here with me!
4. Everyone loves a comeback story...and most people like animal stories too!  So why not cram 4 different animal comeback stories into one section!  Two species almost hunted to extinction and another almost lost due to a devastating fire are all making a comeback.  Plus, a once thought extinct animal makes its first appearance in almost 30 years!
5. Some stories need no build up.  This guy is simply awesome at a time when we need awesome people.

5 Great Things Week Ending 4/12

1. I have no idea why, but I've always been a huge fan of the stapling dollar bills to the walls of the tavern concept.  I always make a point of asking people who work at places that do this where the money goes and it is always to someplace really wonderful and positive and obviously someplace close to the heart of the owner of the bar.  I think this story is just a really great use of those dollars.  I loved this story.
2. I think this show is going to be amazing and hopefully go a huge way towards helping people who really need it right now.
3. To we are going to truly solve the puzzle of this virus ultimately something big is going to need happen - a proven and safe treatment protocol, a vaccine or something in that realm though.  To get through it all together in the meantime, though, it isn't going to be the big things.  It's going to be millions of us all doing little things along the way.  I thought this was a great list of 10 little things we can all do that will make a difference. 
4. Freely admitting John Krasinski was already on my man-crush list (which will be a Top 5 List sometime soon).  This whole thing he's doing is awesome in the first place but the Hamilton story (with a girl from Jacksonville!) is absolutely wonderful!
5. I hope we remember these stories and this spirit when all of this is over.

5 Great Things - Week Ending 4/5

1. Not sure if you caught this one yet but this was just wonderful.  I'm not sure how anyone doesn't love Jennifer Aniston in the first place (and full disclosure, I don't know if she was part of the donation or just nice enough to be part of the presentation) but this was really cool.
2. For all of the challenges and fear and uncertainty that this time has brought us, it has also tested our spirit and challenged our ingenuity.  There are some amazing stories out there right now of some brilliant people coming up with new ways to help people who have been stricken with this virus.
3. Some companies have to do what they have to do with much of the country shut down for the month of April.  Economic realities are just that and have led some companies to have to make agonizing decisions.  It doesn't make them bad organizations it just means this whole situation affects different industries different ways.  Makes you feel better, though, when you see stories like this.
4. Teachers are just awesome.
5. When there are bugs or geckos or something else that accidentally sneaks into the house.  As long as they're not harmful I try my best to capture them safely and get them back outside and I briefly pat myself on the back.  I then read a story like this about a couple who has rescued injured birds for 20+ years and realize perhaps I'm not exactly Jane Goodall.  Really nice story here.