Sangha of Auspicious Companions

This Physician Left Her Job to Teach Life Skills for Those in Need

Kathryn Miner worked as an emergency medicine physician for more than a decade before discovering culinary medicine. “Culinary medicine is centered on nutrition, food safety aspects, teaching kitchens, being a physician and kind of slash pseudo chef.” Miner left emergency medicine and began practicing culinary medicine at a health care company, but was soon laid off. That didn’t stop her. She started volunteering at several places including the public library running teaching kitchens, local churches serving women and children experiencing homelessness, and at a transitional housing complex. “Miner estimates she’s led between 30 to 40 classes from various groups and says the fulfillment it brings her is unmatched.” “And it’s just left me feeling a lot more satisfied, to be quite honest, than really anything that I’ve done professionally, even in the emergency department.”

Be The Change

Explore some possibilities in your community where you might be called to serve. Give one a try.

An 85-Year-Old’s Guide to Friendship

Meet Gerry, the 85-year-old friendship connoisseur whose advice for a friend 36 years his younger is to “never lose a friend”. In an age where loneliness rivals smoking as a health risk, Gerry tirelessly cultivates the joy of sharing presence with someone, reminding us to treat our friendships as something we actively create, rather than passively inhabit. Instead of waiting for friendships to bloom naturally, Gerry’s lovingly disarming outreach emphasizes that “people are always interested in people who are interested in them.” As many grapple with our modern-day epidemic of loneliness, Gerry’s ebullient interest in others serves as a warm nudge to nurture friendships in real life rather than disappearing behind a screen. After all, research has found that a core element of health and happiness in life comes from solid, healthy relationships.

Be The Change

Reach out to a friend or acquaintance you haven’t spoken to in a while. Invite them to catch up over a cup of tea, a walk, or a simple visit.

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Baker Delivers Birthday Cakes to Homeless: ‘They’re Our Neighbors’

Manolo Betancur, owner of Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina, is on a mission to spread joy through his cakes. For over 12 years, he’s been donating birthday cakes to those experiencing homelessness, whom he affectionately calls his neighbors. Immigrating to the U.S. over a quarter of a century ago, Betancur now blends his passion for baking with a heart of service. Having delivered his 300th cake this year, Betancur recalled an experience that fuels his service through sweets: a recent recipient of his birthday cake cried, explaining that it was the first time he had had a birthday cake in his life. “That [was] the most important cake in this bakery,” Betancur stated. His cakes, sometimes filled with peaches or caramel, are more than desserts — they’re symbols of dignity and celebration of life and humanity.

Be The Change

Celebrate a milestone of someone who might often be overlooked in your community — it could be as simple as a heartfelt card or a shared meal.

This Week’s DailyGood Digest

As the week slipped by, stories of profound change and surprising acts of kindness brought warmth and hope to our hearts.

In the quiet aftermath of struggle, a daughter’s gesture offered her mother a sanctuary of peace, crafting a bedroom she had never known in 64 years, a testament to generational perseverance. Meanwhile, on a basketball court in Oklahoma, a young team’s moral courage shone brighter than any trophy as they returned their championship, choosing integrity over accolades. In a secluded forest near Dandeli, a couple’s dream manifested in a solar-powered retreat, where simplicity and nature’s embrace offered a rich life disconnected from the urban rush. As the Indo-Pacific leopard sharks thrived anew in their rewilded waters, the power of global collaboration breathed hope into the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. In cities across the globe, trees found their voices through AI, urging humanity to heed their whispers for a harmonious future. In North Bengal, elephants emerged as unexpected rescuers, carrying tourists through floodwaters, reminding us of nature’s grace in times of crisis. Finally, in rural Kenya, direct cash transfers empowered women to reshape their destinies, challenging traditional aid and nurturing communities with newfound freedom. Each story, a beacon of resilience and transformation, illuminates the path to a world where hope trumps despair.

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How a Floating Post Office Weaves Connection

On Kashmir’s Dal Lake, a unique floating post office defies the digital age, carrying letters and weaving connections for over 70 years. It’s a sanctuary where memories sail through calm waters, telling a story of resilience and tradition. As tourists mail postcards and locals drop off parcels, they participate in a ritual that nostalgia refuses to let go. “Even during the toughest times, this post office never lost its charm,” reflects Bashir Ahmad Kuloo, a dedicated boatman. Here, where art and postal history intertwine, visitors take home more than souvenirs—they capture a piece of living heritage.

Be The Change

Amidst a hyperconnected world, take time out to revive the art of personal connection: write and mail a handwritten letter to a friend or family member.

Why Some Countries Are Happier Than Their Wealth Suggests

The World Happiness Report that ranks countries by “happiness” is published each year, and often sparks “national pride, disappointment, debate, or even competition.” Some question the report’s data collection and economic focus. Another study, wealth-adjusted life satisfaction (WALS) finds different results that suggest too much emphasis on a country’s wealth. “Certain low-income countries are remarkably efficient at generating happiness, while certain wealthy countries underperform relative to their resources.” The study identified other important drivers such as “job quality, a sense of personal freedom, strong social connections, and positive emotional experiences” as ways to transform prosperity into well-being. “Ultimately, building societies that prioritize the wise use of resources for human well-being may be the clearest path toward a more hopeful and humane future.”

Be The Change

Pause to appreciate the different aspects of life with which you feel happy and experience a sense of well-being.

Moonlit Poetry Behind Bars

Ekiwah Adler Beléndez shares the poignant experience of delivering poetry in a high-security prison in Mexico. Invited by a dedicated social worker named Berenice, whose heroism lies in humanizing prison life, Ekiwah ventures into a world where inmates with disabilities assemble to hear his words. In the process, he discovers an unexpected camaraderie and a shared humanity. The real magic unfolds as vivid words of hope and humor transcend the confinement, with poetry becoming a luminous key unlocking moments of joy amidst hardship. “The moon can… make you rich without anybody knowing,” he recites, realizing the moon’s keys unlock doors to their imagination. What began as an act of service evolves into a profound personal transformation, as the power of poetry bridges gaps and ignites hope.

Be The Change

Organize a poetry reading in a local community center or nursing home to share the light of hope and joy that words can bring. For more inspiration, join a live conversation with the author this weekend!