Sometimes the news can be, well, not so inspiring. When headlines get you down, it’s important to remember that positive things are still happening all around us. Here are five hopeful and encouraging stories to pay attention to this week:
Watch out! This post contains spoilers for Netflix’s docuseries “Cheer.”
From Zero to Hero: How Twitter Saves a Historic Bookshop
Petersfield Bookshop, a historic 100-year-old bookstore in England, tweeted photos of their empty bookshop after a “tumbleweed day” and announced they hadn’t sold “a single book” for the first time ever. The distressing tweet sparked an outpouring of responses on Twitter as followers placed online book orders, but it was one response on Twitter that nearly broke the internet: Famous English writer, Neil Gaiman, retweeted the bookstore’s tweet. The overwhelming flood of support and orders that ensued prompted the Petersfield Bookstore to take to Twitter once more, this time to express their gratitude. Before announcing their “tumbleweed day,” the bookshop had feared they would have to close their doors for good by the end of the week after being open for over 100 years, but this was no longer the case because of the generosity they received! Read more.
Basic Mathematics is Not So Ruff for One Scottish Terrier
Training a dog to understand basic commands is hard enough; could you imagine also teaching it math? Meet Stewie, a 5-year-old Scottish Terrier who understands arithmetic! Stewie’s owner, Mauro, a teacher, started by teaching Stewie to count. After he mastered counting, they were able to start adding and subtracting. Stewie and Mauro practice arithmetic for 45 minutes a day, five days a week. If you want to keep up with this genius puppy, and maybe learn a thing or two with your pup, you can follow Stewie on YouTube! Read more.
SPOILER ALERT! Postseason Happy Ending Will Make Fans of “Cheer” Jump for Joy
The Season 1 finale of Netflix’s addictive new show “Cheer” revealed that fan favorite Lexi Brumback was kicked off of Navarro College’s competitive cheerleading team after illegal substances were found in Brumback’s car, in violation of Coach Monica’s “zero tolerance” policy. Fans will remember that Lexi had a history of run-ins with the law, but it was her dedication to cheer and bubbly personality that made her shine. However, after leaving the team and returning home to Houston, Brumback recently made a huge announcement on Instagram with a post captioned, “Honey, I’m home.” Proving once again that Coach Monica cares about her athletes on and off the mat, Lexi revealed that she had been granted a second chance and was back on the team! Now that’s something to cheer for. Read more.
Florida Protects 20,000 Acres of Wetland from Oil Drilling
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has officially signed a contract purchasing more than 20,000 acres of wetlands in the Everglades. The deal went through after coming to an agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) within the Everglades Protection Area for $16.5 million. The plan with that land is to protect it from oil drilling. According to the governor, this acquisition is the largest wetland acquisition in a decade. “With this acquisition, there will be nearly 600,000 acres of wetlands in WCA 3 that will be permanently protected in public ownership for restoration and recreation.” Read more.
Firefighters Run Gas Station After Cashier Falls Sick
When a cashier working at a gas station in Michigan fell ill on the job, he never thought firefighters would be the ones to cover his shift. After calling his boss to find a replacement, the gas station employee then realized the severity of his situation and called 911. A group of firefighters were among the first on the scene. After the ambulance arrived, the firefighters looked around and saw a line of customers waiting to check out with snacks. Without hesitating, they jumped behind the counter, and starting ringing customers up! Talk about going above and beyond. Read more.