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:
Olympians Remind us of the Meaning of Sportsmanship
More than just competing for medals, the Olympics is about people from different nations coming together. That’s what happened when Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino from the United States collided during the 500m race. When D’Agostino fell again due to the pain from her injury, Hamblin stopped to help her. Hamblin says, “If I hadn’t waited for her or tried to help her, I would have been ten or fifteen seconds quicker and what does that matter? When I look back on Rio 2016, I’m not going to remember where I finished, I’m not going to remember my time… but I’ll always remember that moment.” When these athletes helped each other cross the finish line, they reminded us that generosity is much more valuable than gold. Read more.
Airbnb Helps Flood Victims in Louisiana
Airbnb, the popular site that helps people rent out their vacation homes, activated its disaster relief function on Monday. Due to the flooding in Louisiana, many locals have been evacuated from their homes and are in need of places to stay. Thanks to Airbnb, finding refuge is easier since the company waived the usual fees for both the hosts and the users. Over 180 people have since offered up their homes to people in need. Read more.
Here’s a link to a list of charities helping flood victims and items you can donate if you live nearby.
Son Sings Throwback Tunes in Car with Dad who has Alzheimer’s
Simon McDermott, and his father, Ted, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, have been spending all sorts of quality time together, especially in the car, where the pair bursts out into song carpool-karaoke style. The father-son duo performs old-school classics to raise money for Alzheimer’s awareness. Since beginning their efforts in June, the music videos have become incredibly popular, and they’ve raised nearly $75,000. Read more.
A Wedding Wish Come True
This bride had one wish for her wedding day: to be able to walk down the aisle and dance with the love of her life at the reception. That might sound like a simple request, but for Jaquie Goncher, it took a lot of training and preparation. Jaquie was left paralyzed after a swimming accident in 2008. Although she was told she would never walk again, she was determined to make her wedding wish come true. After building her strength for a year, Jaquie was able to walk down the aisle, dance with her husband, and stand for the entirety of the wedding and reception. Brides always cherish their wedding memories, but for Jaquie, her wedding day meant so much more. Read more.
Generosity Worthy of a Gold Medal
Most people watch the Olympics and see amazingly talented athletes competing for medals, but Italian chef Massimo Bottura saw an opportunity to give back. Olympians need pretty hearty meals to stay so fit and energized, which means the Olympic village required tons of food to keep the athletes going. Instead of letting all the extra food go to waste, Bottura created a kitchen where he could turn that food into meals for the homeless. Bottura calls his kitchen “Refettorio Gastromotiva” and recruited 50 other well-known chefs to help prepare meals. To Bottura, this project means a lot more than just recycling wasted food. “This is not just a charity; it’s not just about feeding people. This is about social inclusion, teaching people about food waste and giving hope to people who have lost all hope,” he says. Read more.