Minnesota Wrestler's moment of sportsmanship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5erBZrhYx94

 

 

 

This teen wrestler lost his match, but showed extreme sportsmanship and camaraderie with his opponent. I love stories of athletes. I'm not one, at all, and I have no idea what it means to be competitive, but I love an act of true sportsmanship.

He has helped more than a 1000 children in Guatalmala

http://edition.cnn.com/search/?query=heros&primaryType=video&sortBy=date&intl=false



http://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/31/world/cnnheroes-romero/index.html

He saw a problem, he came up with a solution. Lives are changed.

Nowzad: reuniting soldiers with their canine friends

 

 

 

 

http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/topvideos/2014/12/05/natpkg-cnn-heroes-tribute-farthing.cnn.html

 

 

 

http://www.nowzad.com/about/

Reuniting soldiers and the strays they befriend isn't all Nowzad does, but it's a good chunk of their mission. Soldiers come across these strays in Afganistan during their months there, find companionship and comfort with them and then return home to their not- so- usual lives in the western world. Nowzad steps in to reunite these soldiers with their canine and feline friends.

I've seen documentaries about soldiers struggling with PTSD who say that their dogs saved their lives. This is situation where the saving is mutual. Love. It.

If this doesn't make you smile...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u35MwQ_zrBI

 

I have nothing to say about this one.

Just watch it.

He's wonderful and there is no way you can watch it and not smile like crazy.

 What a cutie pie, seriously.

I want to put this kid on my speed dial for whenever I'm having a rough day.

Apollos Hester

Youtube-famous magician turns viral hits into support for homeless and veterans

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTMAMXG7mk4

Magician Rob Anderson became a viral sensation after famously ripping up a homeless man's sign and turning it into cash. I suggest you search him on youtube, the video is wonderful. This morning, however, I wanted to high light this one. As someone who has faced the decision of paying their mortgage versus groceries and depended on the help of others, this clip hit home. Hard.

I absolutely LOVE when people take their fame, whether its 15 minutes worth or otherwise and use it to help others.

Please enjoy this clip, as its especially beautiful coming up on the holidays, but also check out Rob Anderson. I would say he is someone worth watching and if possible, helping.

An advocate for autistic children and their families

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/10/07/top-10-dr-wendy-ross.cnn.html



I like this story because its not about saving a life, it's about bettering a life. Which can feel like the same thing.

Dr. Wendy Ross was chosen by CNN as a hero because she has committed her life to her autistic patients and their families, in order to make sure that those children get the same experiences as other children. Experiences as simple as going to the park or a baseball game or a grocery store. Things that most families would take for granted.

I love that she took it upon herself to train an entire MLB franchise-worth of employees on how to deal with autistic individuals. To me, that seems an enormous undertaking. One, as it turns out, that was more than worth it in the end.

Story of heroes during a tragedy...

http://news.yahoo.com/sydney-cafe-siege-victims-hailed-heroes-041951506.html

I would be remiss to neglect this tragic story of bravery and selflessness that came out from the Sydney hostage standoff yesterday.

No greater hero than one who will lay down their live for another.

Two teens save kidnap victim

http://youtu.be/tr-MiW7X_kY

So, today's post is pretty awesome because it was SUCH a small thing these two teens did, but it saved a life. A woman was kidnapped from her office party and these two noticed her in the back seat of a man's car and she mouthed the words "help me" to them. So they called the police and followed the car.

How many times in my life have I looked the other way? Have I talked myself out of making a big deal out of something? It could have been nothing... but what if it wasn't?

I think that my favorite part is that the kid confessed to the 911 Operator that they were checking her out and that's what started the whole thing... real life, people. Real. Life.

A reporter refuses to give up

http://youtu.be/HAl-f9tMEcI

 

 

Goodness, adoptions really get to me. There are so many children who need loving families. Have a kleenex ready for this sweet story of a reporter's persistence in finding a boy a home.

 

One of the most admirable things a person can do is open up their heart to a stranger, because, to me, there is little in life more vulnerable than the relationship between that of a parent and a child. Literally every person in this story is a hero. And the fact that Keonte is now speaking to congress about the foster care system and the dangers of medicating children?

 

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/12/boy-12-tells-congress-of-years-on-stupid-meds/

 

 Wow... the amazing ripples of goodness set in to place by the simple act of one person who wouldn't let go...

 

Happy Monday.

Reaching out to a stranger can make such a difference

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-casper/to-the-young-woman-who-noticed-us-when-i-hoped-no-one-would_b_6305066.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

 

I doubt many have missed this beautiful story by now, but in case you have... give it a read. The blogger and her husband have two adopted children, which is really only a small part of the story. This could be anyone. It could be me! It probably has been! You are in the store, just trying to pick up a few things and make it home with your sanity in tact, when your child starts to throw a tantrum.

 

What the employee at Trader Joes does for them is such a small gift, but with enormous ramifications.

 

Faith in humanity, restored. :) Happy Friday, everyone!

 

PS can I just add here, that while the store is not important, I have never met an unfriendly employee at Trader Joes. Ever. I joked with my sister yesterday after reading this that my first friend after relocating to a new state last spring was a Trader Joes employee. They were so friendly and kind my first weekend here, that I cried when I got to the parking lot.

Feeding and educating the less fortunate

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/09/04/cnn-heroes-chip-paillex.cnn.html

 

 

I think the most potent quote for me in this clip is in regards to the children who travel to the farm from the inner city: "They immediately are struck by the fact that food grows out of the ground."

 

Just let that sink in. Until that point, they didn't know that. Imagine.

 

Never will I look at my produce the same way again. I've included a link to this man's website...

 

http://www.americasgrowarow.org/staff/chip-paillex-president-and-founder/

College Student Rescues 92 Year Old Driver

https://gma.yahoo.com/college-students-amazing-lake-rescue-92-old-driver-145652703--abc-news-topstories.html?soc_src=copy

Reaching out to protect

I've seen this photo on pinterest and other places a few times. I wish I knew who to credit for it, but alas, I'm not a detective and really, I have other things stealing my time.  If anyone knows the story behind either, I would love to hear it!

But the idea of humans protecting other humans, for no other reason than it being the right thing to do. Sacrifice, whether it be time, safety, convenience, money or your life... Whew. Beautiful.

Well deserved

http://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/939/This-Maid-Was-In-For-A-Big-Surprise-After-Entering-The-Home-She-Thought-Was-Her-New-Workplace



So the holiday giving commercials are out in full force. I was telling my sister the other day that it was completely distracting me because I have a playlist I created on youtube of songs that I use when I am writing and every 3.5 minutes, there would be a commercial that features a tear-jerking story of giving. It was tremendously beautiful and annoyingly distracting. (And it deserved as many adjectives as I could cram in to one sentence, apparently. You are welcome for that. #noedit/nofilter)

But how could I turn it off, I ask you? Even after watching the same one several times through?

I couldn't. I didn't. I spent all day smiling through my tears and wanting to give stuff away.

Well played, holiday advertisers.

Regardless of the probably less-than-selfless intent behind the stories, it is still a blessing to see so many well deserving people surprised by an outpouring of love and well wishes. Here is one such case a friend posted a few weeks back.

Love.

The idea...

I've been wanting to do something like this for some time, but I've been busy writing a book. Sue me.

We've all seen the viral videos, photos, news stories and blogs of amazing people of all shapes, sizes and colors overcoming adversity.

This is my collection of those things. Because, seriously, nothing makes me happier or more blessed to be alive than to hear a story of someone who overcame. Or who showed extreme kindness. Or who made someone else's life just that much better.

This, to me, is going to be a collection of the most precious parts of humanity. I'm not taking credit for the articles, blogs, videos or anything else posted here. I am only taking credit for collecting them and sharing them. All I ask is that you give due respect to those who do actually do the leg work.

Many thanks!

Erin

Born without sight, but blesses everyone with his sound

 

http://www.littlethings.com/dad-sits-his-blind-baby-at-the-piano-then-a-miracle-happens/?utm_source=littlethings&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=littlethings

This man was born without the ability to see and I've never heard a more beautiful rendition of Clair de Lune. Ever. I have five marvelously working senses and can barely figure out chop sticks.

And let's just take a minute to really acknowledge what a BA his father is, though I seriously doubt he sees himself as anything more than a dad who loves his son. Which makes this all the more awesome.