Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Restaurant Donates Prank Order to Charity

Stackburger, a burger restaurant in a small community in northern Ontario, received a $439.20 order for pickup. They make all their meals from scratch, so it was a huge effort. When the time for pickup came and nobody showed, they realized they had been pranked. After all the effort, the staff was disheartened and demoralized. Then the owner, Kevin Syrette whose philosophy is “give what you can” chose to donate the food to Pauline’s Place, a non-profit providing short-term housing for youth, women, and families experiencing a housing crisis. Pauline’s Place expressed gratitude and cheered the staff, saying that something as simple as a good meal meant more than nourishment – it meant the community cared. But the story doesn’t end there. After reading about the incident online, and how the restaurant donated the unclaimed food, an individual who asked to remain anonymous walked into the restaurant and insisted on paying the outstanding bill of the prank order. In an online post, the restaurant remarked, “We feel this act of kindness speaks volumes to our community.”

Be The Change

Next time you experience an unwelcome gesture or event, find a way to turn it into an act of kindness or compassion.

Storks Return to London?

Imagine looking up and seeing magnificent white storks gracing London’s skyline. These stunning, meter-tall birds could make a comeback in the city, thanks to the efforts of urban rewilding group Citizen Zoo. Having disappeared as breeders by the 15th century, white storks have only been occasional visitors to London – until now. Citizen Zoo is rallying the community’s support to reintroduce them, turning London into a ‘white stork-friendly’ haven. Dr. Rachel White emphasizes the importance of community backing, saying, “Conservation projects fail when they lack stakeholder buy-in.” With past successes like reintroducing beavers, this project could redefine London’s relationship with nature.

Be The Change

Engage with local conservation projects and support rewilding efforts in your area.

World’s Smartest City: a Tiny German Village

In Etteln, Germany, the essence of a smart city isn’t just about technology—it’s about community. This small village of 1,750 residents outshone global metropolises to win the title of the world’s smartest city by fostering a spirit of collaboration. When faced with challenges like rural depopulation and a school closure due to low enrollment in 2012, Etteln organically formed a grassroots movement to create change. In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, 55 residents on the outskirts were excluded from a fiber-optic rollout. Balking at the 2.5 million euro pricetag to connect those residents, “sixty-five people volunteered… [making] sure high-speed internet reaches the last milk churn,” recounts Ulrich Ahle, the enthusiastic municipal administrator. The community’s sense of solidarity transformed Etteln into a trailblazer for digital innovation, like their 3D village and safety-smart urban planning. Their journey highlights how unity and homegrown initiatives can transform any ordinary place into an extraordinary beacon of hope and progress.

Be The Change

Engage with your community by initiating a local project that addresses a shared challenge or opportunity.

What a Trip to London Taught Me About Being Human

Saif Mohammed visited London to share learning around palliative care and a concept called “total pain — a concept that embraces not only physical discomfort, but also the emotional, social, and spiritual layers of suffering.” He had several everyday encounters with ordinary people where he realized compassion should not be reserved for those who are dying. There was a woman exhausted from caregiving, a mother unable to silence her child’s distress, and others “who want to speak but don’t know how, and in those who are afraid to listen.” Saif sees a need to teach children how to listen and hold another’s feelings, concerned that “if compassion is only taught in clinical settings—or only associated with the end of life—we risk losing it where it’s needed most: in the ordinary rhythms of daily living.”

Be The Change

Take a few moments each day to hold space for someone’s story, sorrow, or pain. Simply listen and care.

Of Grace and Grit: One Doctor’s Unbreakable Spirit

Grace Dammann’s life is nothing short of remarkable. From a physician treating early AIDS patients to receiving the Dalai Lama’s Unsung Hero of Compassion Award, her journey took a dramatic turn after a life-threatening accident left her in a coma for 48 days. Grace emerged from it stronger, embodying resilience and service. Sharing her philosophy, she said, “Zen had taught me everything I needed to know in order to get through.” Her story is a testament to living fully in the present, finding beauty in the mundane, like the exquisite feeling of a shower experienced anew. Grace’s life reminds us that it’s not about what happens, but how we embrace life’s changes.

Be The Change

Express gratitude for a simple joy today. For more inspiration, join a live virtual conversation with Dr. Grace Dammann this weekend!

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What Enjoying Solitude Says About Your Personality

People who enjoy being alone are often viewed as not liking people or being introverted. However, new studies suggest another reason: awe. The study shows that “people who experience awe on a regular basis or who tap into that emotion more readily might just be the folks to naturally enjoy solitude.” The reason, according to the authors, is “because self-transcendence provides a deep sense of connectedness—usually with an entity larger than people themselves, such as culture, humanity, or all of existence.” The authors recommend that people indulge in a daily dose of awe that may help them enjoy time alone. “When you can just enjoy a peaceful time alone to speak to yourself and connect yourself to the greater world, it can be as important as time spent with others. It might be worth embracing rather than avoiding.”

Be The Change

Take some time each day to cultivate awe through those times or places that connect you to the “grandness of existence.”

This Week’s DailyGood Digest

This past week, amid the noise of daily life, several stories have quietly unfolded, each offering a glimpse of unexpected hope.

In Argentina, Buscarita Roa continues her relentless quest to reunite families torn apart by the dictatorship, embodying hope and defiance as she finds her stolen granddaughter. Meanwhile, in Visakhapatnam, Bangaru Jhansi turns her rooftop into a lush haven of organic growth, challenging modern agricultural norms and inspiring self-reliance. In a tale of life-saving loyalty, a service dog senses his owner’s irregular heartbeat, pulling him back from the brink of a stroke with an instinctive nudge. Across West Africa, women over 60 share their lives woven with resilience, defying cultural norms to carve new paths with quiet revolution. In South Africa, Heilie Uys transforms personal adversity into athletic excellence, earning a place in the World Transplant Games Hall of Fame. A community in Bellville rallies national generosity for a beloved teacher, turning tragedy into a testament to the power of collective kindness. Finally, in Japan, a house rises from the earth itself, marking a pioneering stride toward sustainable living by embracing natural materials and cutting-edge technology.

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Portland’s Whimsical Sidewalk Joy

Across the city of Portland, Oregon, a unique trend known as “Sidewalk Joy” is transforming neighborhoods into outdoor galleries filled with mini-libraries, trinket swaps, and art displays. Inspired by a sense of community, artist Rachael Harms Mahlandt turned her yard into a whimsical playground of installations — from toy dinosaur exchanges to pollinator seed libraries — as a way to spark joy and connection. With an ever-growing Sidewalk Joy Map across the city, anyone can embark on an adventure through over 130 quirky spots, including hand-crank music boxes and a wishing tree adorned with heartfelt notes since 2013. “It’s really easy for us to picture physical destruction, and it’s hard for us to picture intangible rewards,” Harms Mahlandt points out. The map of sidewalk creativity has since gone global, encouraging others to create playful expressions of sharing the human spirit in their own communities.

Be The Change

Create a mini community display in your neighborhood to spark joy and community connections.