Sangha of Auspicious Companions

This Week’s DailyGood Digest

As the week unfolded, stories of resilience and creativity offered a gentle reminder of the boundless potential within us.

In the chaotic veins of Delhi, Karan Kumar’s Finobadi initiative breathes life into discarded waste, transforming it into jobs and trees, a testament to youthful ingenuity and environmental stewardship. Meanwhile, in the quiet village of Curtorim, Mansão Curtorim whispers tales of a bygone era, preserving Goan heritage through its careful restoration and inviting visitors to savor the luxury of time. Across the globe, Bryan Reisberg in New York offers hope to shelter dogs, turning them into overnight stars through urban adventures, proving the transformative power of visibility. In McKinney, Texas, a volunteer team of grandmothers dispenses wisdom and warmth, bridging the digital divide with the simple power of listening. In Diepsloot, Bishop Dube’s sight is miraculously restored, reigniting his community spirit and highlighting the profound impact of collective goodwill. In Kashmir, Ulfata Bano’s unwavering dedication over three decades of delivering mail through snow reflects the resilience and warmth that bind communities. Finally, in Lasalgaon, Kalyani Shinde’s Godaam Sense saves a quarter of India’s onions from spoilage, blending innovation with empathy to combat waste and inspire hope.

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What It Means to Be an Artist

Maria Popova ever so artfully provides a glimpse into Patti Smith’s memoire, Bread of Angels. A host of health, cultural, family, friends, and spiritual conditions and losses are overwhelming. Still, Patti had the “the heart to pierce other dimensions, the eyes to observe without judgment.” This may have been because she was able to say “no” – no to so many things like “no to every Faustian bargain of so-called success offering prestige at the price of authenticity, no to the gender norms of dress and demeanor, no to the photographers insisting on airbrushing her peculiarities…” She remained “ever ‘enthralled by small things’ — the wild roses climbing up the ramshackle house, the ‘impossible blue’ of the morning glories…giving form to those ‘unpremeditated gestures of kindness’ that are the bread of angels.”

Be The Change

Listen and be open to the wonder – to the potential poem in everything in your daily life.

Tired of Small Talk? Five Ways to Spark Deeper Connection

Tired of discussions about weather? Tom Pattinson offers five insightful ways to spark more meaningful exchanges: pick the place, ask ‘why’ then wait, be more vulnerable yourself, explore values, and stay present. By fostering authenticity, compassionately listening, and truly engaging, these strategies can help us move from surface to substance and make every conversation count. After all, “the most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention,” shares Thích Nhat Hanh.

Be The Change

Invite someone for tea or coffee, and make a conscious effort to connect by asking them meaningful questions about their recent experiences or aspirations.

New AI Model to Predict 5-Year Breast Cancer Risk

Imagine a world where breast cancer risk is predicted five years in advance, granting women the precious gift of time. A new AI marvel scans mammograms with heightened accuracy, sorting women into risk categories without the need for any personal history data. “With this newly-developed AI model, we can predict with much greater precision,” says Christiane Kuhl, highlighting a shift from the outdated “one-size-fits-all” screening paradigm. The AI isn’t just smart; it’s a potential lifesaver, especially for younger women with dense breast tissue often missed by traditional methods. It’s set to change the game, because catching cancer early can mean the difference between life and death. Tech meets medicine in an inspiring way, showing us tomorrow’s tools in today’s efforts against breast cancer.

Be The Change

Educate your community about the importance of personalized breast cancer screening and early detection methods.

Why Doing Good Also Makes Us Feel Good, During the Holidays and Beyond

It’s that time of year when giving and volunteering surge in food banks and other charities. Amrisha Vaish, a developmental psychologist said, “Nearly all cultures have events or public festivals that allow people to express gratitude” Gratitude and generosity seem to go hand in hand, especially at holiday times. Gratefulness motivates us to do good things for others. Vaish said, “In human evolutionary history over hundreds of thousands of years, we’ve had to become cooperative in order to work together and survive as a species.” On an individual level, “giving, volunteering and generosity have the ability to increase our sense of meaning and purpose in life,” said Jenae Nelson, another developmental psychologist. “There’s a quick dopamine hit sometimes called the ‘helpers high.’ But there’s also that deeper reward of helping us to establish purpose and meaning.”

Be The Change

Commit to one small act of helping someone in your community in a meaningful way.

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Handwritten Notes Connect Strangers in British Columbia

Carrie Parsons left invitations around to buy a stranger a cup of coffee in exchange for conversation when she had a realization: “I was learning so much about myself; I really wanted to take this personal project and make it public and let other people learn as much about themselves and others as I’m doing.” She launched Meet a Stranger in July 2024 that attracts about fifty people to each gathering. Cafes and coffee shops use three different methods: monthly events, buttons, and table signs that signal a person is open to a chat. “Ninety to 95 per cent of the people who came were introverts,” she said. “They were all saying the exact same thing: I want to connect with strangers. I just feel like I need permission or an invitation to connect.” “People are lonely. Once you see the problem and the simple, organic solution, you can’t not do it.”

Be The Change

Think of one way to create an “invitation” to chat with a neighbor or someone else you may not know well, or join a local meetup.

This Week’s DailyGood Digest

This past week, stories of transformation and unexpected kindness have painted a vivid tapestry of human goodness.

In Alpine, the Baker family opened Pizzabilities, a warm haven where pizzas rise alongside the potential of employees with special needs, sparked by the inspiration of their daughter Grace. Meanwhile, in the quiet halls of Red Cross Elementary, a Kentucky teacher spun a tale of ingenuity, crafting a 3D-printed prosthetic hand for his student, Jackson, turning a $20 invention into a priceless transformation. Across continents, seven orphaned rhino calves found their feet in the wilds of Mpumalanga, each step a testament to resilience and the slow dance of rewilding. In Zimbabwe, Dr. Kudzai Kanyepi stands firm against challenges, her heart surgery skills weaving a story of perseverance and gender triumph. In the vibrant heart of Kashmir, a chrysanthemum garden blooms, reviving tourism and local livelihoods, while a principal’s dance-off with students in South Africa reminds us that joy and learning are partners in education. Finally, Virginia high school students repair cars and give them to single mothers, each vehicle a symbol of hope and the transformative power of youthful generosity.

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If you enjoy good news stories and want to help change the media landscape, join our volunteer team to curate, edit, spread the good! Login and get started.

Game-Changing Sport Cleans Streets

Turning litter-picking into a high-stakes competition, the sport of spogomi “turns the humble act of litter-picking into a high-octane contest with a side order of civic pride,” writes Robin Eveleigh. Founded in Japan by runner Kenichi Mamitsuka, who scooped up litter on his morning jogs, this adrenaline-packed sport (that mashes “spo” for “sport” and “gomi” for “trash”) has gone global with more than 165,000 participants who have removed over 200 thousand tons of litter from streets. Whether it’s cigarette butts that pack a toxic punch or aluminum cans that sneakily tip the scales, competitors armed with tongs and trash bags race in teams to clear streets within a designated time limit. Sarah Parry, a critical care doctor and 2023 world champion, reflects that the game openned her eyes to just how much litter is in our daily environments: “My eyes were completely closed to the fact that we even had litter in the UK. Now I just see litter everywhere.”

Be The Change

Pick up litter in your neighborhood. Step-it-up by doing it with a group of friends or even engaging a casual game of spogomi.