Sangha of Auspicious Companions

This Week’s DailyGood Digest

Reflecting on our news this past week, we journeyed through narratives of subtle yet profound transformation.

We explored the deep resonance for reframing heartbreak from a shattering to temporary dislocation, guiding us toward clarity in the infinite. It echoed in stories like an art experiment where strangers answered a mysterious red telephone on a bridge and entered a conversation that unearthed truths beyond appearances. We embraced the Dutch ritual of dusking and its infinite possibilities. We saw a community transform tent encampments into shelter villages and soaked in palpable stories from two nuns who started a decades-long youth community with a simple intention to support a neighbor. Harvard professor Clay Christenson reflected on the power of committing 100 percent of the time. And we danced through mindfulness instructor Helen Eveleigh’s year-long exploration of kindness, where being, not doing, allowed a remembering of “the simple, unguarded ways our hearts already know how to meet.”

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Retired Accountant Becomes ‘School Grandma’

In Denver, Colorado’s Family Star Montessori, retired accountant Sue Alexander finds new purpose. As a child leans against her, whispering, “I love squishy things,” Alexander’s arm (the “squishy thing”) becomes a symbol of connection and care. This scene unfolds within the Early Childhood Service Corps, a program enlisting retirees to step into the shoes of substitute teachers in child care centers. The initiative, founded by Lisa Armao, offers both a solution to staffing shortages and a rich tapestry of human connection for its members. As volunteers, like 72-year-old glass artist Kit Karbler, discover the joy of ’emotional return,’ they also fill crucial gaps in a beleaguered system. Beyond offering bathroom breaks and administrative tasks to teachers who are otherwise constantly on duty, these retirees bring wisdom and warmth to the youngest among us, anchoring a community in need.

Be The Change

Reach out to a local child care center and offer your time or skills, whether it’s storytelling, administrative help, or simply being a comforting presence.