Sangha of Auspicious Companions

January 2, 2024

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Perseverance: Nasa’s Mars Rover Celebrates 1,000 Days Of Science

Recently, NASA’s Perseverance rover has hit a major milestone, celebrating 1,000 Martian days of scientific exploration. In that time, it’s managed to survey an ancient crater lake and gather rock samples that could be clues to past life on Mars. But its mission is far from over, as the rover now faces the challenge of returning these invaluable samples to Earth. Perseverance has thus far collected 13 rock cores, each telling a distinct story about Mars’s history. The next phase of its journey is to explore even more ancient terrains. As Dr. Lori Glaze, NASA’s director of planetary science, puts it, “It’s a pretty incredible achievement and we’ve done an amazing amount of science.” So much has already been accomplished, and this audacious robotic mission is only just beginning. { read more }

Be The Change

Look up at the stars, and allow yourself to wonder about the greater questions of existence.

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Inspiring Links of the Week

January 1, 2024

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66 Good News Stories You Didn’t Hear About in 2023

Did you know a record number of countries eliminated diseases, from hepatitis C to malaria, this year? Or that a “staggering uptake” of wind and solar energy is making an enormous difference? The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced in October 2023 that global fossil fuel use may peak this year, two years earlier than predicted just 12 months ago. Trees are faring better, too, with 2023 deforestation rates across nine Amazonian countries at 55.8% lower than last year. In education, UNICEF reports 50 million more girls are in school today than in 2015. And around the world, access to electricity increased this year. While sensational stories in the news often informs us of all that’s going wrong in the world, Future Crunch reviewed 400 favorite stories of progress to offer up their top 66 list of things that have gone right in 2023. { read more }

Be The Change

Share a story of something going right in the world.

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December 31, 2023

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These Uplifting Photos of 2023 Are Guaranteed to Make Your Eyes

“A great news photograph can be many things, but its core quality is that it tells you a story and lives on in your memory,” says picture editor Jon Mills, who prepared the Good News Network’s list of best photos of 2023. From an image of Mars’ surface that closely resembles a bear, to a friendly lion cub who adorably befriends a photojournalist at a zoo in Algeria, to a couple at their wedding when the Northern Lights stunningly appeared in their photo, these smile-inducing images nurture a reality of hope, kindness, and moments of grace. { read more }

Be The Change

Look for the beauty and life force everyday moments.

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December 30, 2023

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Niksen: The Dutch Art of Purposefully Doing Nothing

In an increasingly busy world, the Dutch have mastered the art of niksen – purposefully doing nothing. This powerful practice counteracts anxiety and bolsters creativity and productivity. Instead of always focusing on efficiency, practicing niksen by setting aside specific time for purposeless relaxation, such as sitting in a caf simply savoring your coffee and daydreaming, can be incredibly restorative. Similar to the happiness-boosting habits found in ‘blue zones’ around the world, niksen is not about being lazy, but resetting and rewiring the brain away from constant stress. As health journalist and nurse Elisabeth Almekinder puts it, “Allow your mind to wander aimlessly, and let yourself simply, ‘Be.'” { read more }

Be The Change

Practice presence and see what arises.

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December 29, 2023

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How Two Enemy Soldiers Saved Each Other, Over 20 Years Apart

In the brutalities of the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, two soldiers on opposite sides formed an unlikely bond. In 1982, Iraqi forces captured the Iranian city of Khorramshahr. In response, Iran plotted to retake the city. Shortly after that battle began, Najah Aboud, from southern Iraq, was severely wounded in the head, chest, and back. Crawling to a bunker, he prepared for the death that seemed inevitable. At the same time, 13-year-old Zahed Haftlang had run away from an abusive home in Tehran, Iran and was a militia medic for Iran. When Iran recaptured Khorramshahr in May 1982, Zahed was ordered to go into the bunkers to treat Iranian soldiers. It was there he heard Najah moaning in pain. Each man suspicious of the other, Zahed reached into Najah’s breast pocket and pulled out a photo of the wounded man with his girlfriend and her infant during happier times. In that moment, Zahed decided to risk his life to help Najah. Fast forward 20 years. Both men had gone on to become prisoners of war, and then came out of war to learn they’d lost their loved ones. Zahed somehow ended up across the globe in Vancouver, Canada. Homeless and suicidal, he was flipping through a magazine when another man entered the room. It was Najah. This time, he was the one unexpectedly saving Zahed. More in this goosebump-raising account that originally aired in 2014, as well as a 2015 documentary. { read more }

Be The Change

Look for something resoundingly human in a person you struggle to understand.

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A History of the Sky

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December 28, 2023

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Animal Shelter Celebrates After All Pets Adopted For First Time

Christmas came early at the Adams County SPCA in Pennsylvania, U.S. where “a true miracle” led to the shelter being completely pet-free for the first time in nearly 50 years! Typically buzzing with barks and meows, the shelter shared news of the emptiness, which was attributed to successful adoptions and pets being restored to their families. Imagine the joy in the faces of the staff and volunteers as they navigated hallways lined with vacant kennels, their hard work and dedication finally heavy with fruit. Kennel technician Tonya Hays dubbed the accomplishment as “quite a feat” after managing to adopt out 94 animals and return 26 strays to their owners since November 1st, and not one pet has been returned. The echoes of the empty kennels may be short-lived, but as the shelter plans to assist overloaded shelters in Pennsylvania, they are motivated to continue extending their chain of compassion. As the Adams County SPCA put it, “We are going to do the best we can to help as many animals and people we can.” { read more }

Be The Change

Do an act of kindness for an animal.

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December 27, 2023

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Deepening Into Regenerative Practice

Regeneration isn’t just about climate change, it’s about an evolution in our attitudes and values. In a riveting conversation between living systems catalysts Daniel Christian Wahl and Bill Reed, the principles and practices of regeneration emerge as a path towards ongoing personal and environmental growth. As Reed highlights, “the deliverable for a regenerative project is building the capacity and capability of people to co-evolve.” Rather than focusing only on linear solutions to problems, they underscore the critical role inner development plays in achieving regeneration — a practice that enables one to “really understand the nested wholeness of life being fundamentally interconnected,” Wahl observes. The two authors’ refreshing take challenges us to view regeneration as an ongoing journey, one that goes beyond simply focusing on behavior change and nudges us to re-envision ourselves as active participants in life’s planetary processes. Reed affirms, “This is why this practice is unlearnable. It is a continual evolution of discovery of self and the universe.” { read more }

Be The Change

As we ready for the new year, contemplate what practice may enable a shift in your heart to more deeply support a regenerative new year resolution.

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December 26, 2023

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Cooperative Ways to Weather the Silver Tsunami

When Baltimore’s Common Ground Cafe abruptly shut down in mid-2023, it wasn’t just the loss of a beloved coffee shop, but a devastating jolt to the 30 employees who relied on it for their livelihood. But they weren’t ready to give up. Rallying together, the baristas raised thousands of dollars and leaned on each other’s strengths. They formed a worker’s cooperative and took control of the cafe themselves. “Making it is when we get to a point in our lives where we can take care of our friends,” according to barista Jacqueline Du. Their journey reveals lessons about workers’ ownership as a potential solution for the “silver tsunami” of baby boomer business owners retiring without a succession plan. Their coffee may be excellent, but what’s truly special about the newly reopened cafe is the spirit of camaraderie and community that fills it. { read more }

Be The Change

Prioritize friendship today.

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