Sangha of Auspicious Companions

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.

Bee Rescuer’s Sweet Success

Molly Earl has turned her childhood fascination with beekeeping into a lifeline for bees, transforming doomed swarms into thriving hives. Swapping extermination for safe removal, her company, Bees Off, has rescued over 250 hives, showcasing her dedication to pollinator preservation. As Molly says, “The rescue is the smallest part. It’s all about the aftercare.” Her innovative approaches bridge nature’s gaps—where bees lack natural tree homes, she offers them refuge in unexpected places like power stations and incinerators. Her efforts contribute not just to the bees but to a healthier environment. The taste of her award-winning honey tells the story of thriving biodiversity against the odds.

Be The Change

Plant bee-friendly flowers like clover or lavender in your garden to create a natural foraging space for local bees.

Meet This Car Wash’s All-Autistic Staff

A decade ago, Rising Tide Car Wash in Florida emerged as more than a business; it was a father’s pledge to his autistic son, Andrew, for a future filled with purpose, work, and camaraderie. Founded by John D’Eri, this initiative now thrives across four locations, employing 90 neurodivergent individuals, proving that opportunity sees no bounds. “I don’t want him to sit in a room, taken care of by others once I’m gone,” D’Eri stated, echoing a universal parental hope for independence. The employees, like Ryan Brodie, find pride and identity in their roles, illustrating how meaningful work can transform perspectives and lives. The essence of Rising Tide is clear-true inclusion empowers all, revealing that in the careful cleaning of cars, there too lies the cleansing of societal barriers.

Be The Change

Proactively include everyone today. Step-it-up by learning more about neurodivergence.

He Quit His Job to Save Dying Ponds in Delhi

Ramveer Tanwar, an engineer from Uttar Pradesh, has taken a significant step toward environmental conservation by reviving over 80 ponds in the Delhi-NCR region. Tanwar’s initiative, Jal Chaupal, leverages community involvement to restore dying wetlands, thereby improving groundwater levels, local biodiversity, and cultural practices. His model emphasizes community participation over technological intervention, fostering a collective sense of responsibility. With strategic techniques such as manual waste removal and ecological filtration, Tanwar has managed to restore nearly 40 ponds in Delhi alone. This grassroots approach has garnered attention from government and corporate entities, including being named a Swachh Bharat ambassador. Ultimately, Tanwar’s efforts demonstrate a replicable model for ecological restoration driven by local communities.

Be The Change

Support water conservation in some small way. Take a shorter shower today, use greywater to water plants, or organize a clean-up at a local beach.

8 Reasons to Be Hopeful Amidst Global Challenges

In the face of daunting challenges and an onslaught of bad news, John D. Boswell believes there is reason for hope, and here are some of his reasons: Radically cheap renewable energy and solar costs will reduce reliance on fossil fuels helping the climate; since 1990, more than a billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, with the impoverished share falling from 38% of the global population down to 9.1% today; an average person born today can expect to live more than twice as long as someone born around 1900; advancements in AI, robots, and biotechnology are pointing toward a radical enhancement of human health and wellbeing; new space exploration capabilities are opening up a wave of commercial and scientific interests; history reveals that humans are incredibly resilient. Boswell encourages that, “The modern world was built and shaped by optimists. We owe it to them to carry the torch.”

Be The Change

Notice hope or optimism, or lack of it, throughout the day. Consider how you might encourage optimism.