Kay’s words… Who/what inspires me: I have always been inspired by people who can leave their home country and show love, kindness and mercy to the people who live in desperate poverty and hardship. In Cambodia, that would be someone like Marie Ens from Canada who leads ‘Rescue’ – a home for hundreds of orphan children, AIDS families and grannies. And in Mozambique, Heidi Baker from ‘Iris Global’ children’s homes is a pure example of transforming love into something concrete. Best advice: Love in the midst of pain. Forgive in the midst of evil. Comfort in the mist of agony. Kay Eva was travelling through rural Cambodia o... posted on May 17 2015 (15,702 reads)

you to scream and run people over with your car? Counting the good things Science has an answer, and it starts with counting. The questions you have to ask yourself are these:    *  Am I counting the good things, too?    *  Am I taking the time to shine light on things that make me happy and give my life meaning?    *  Who thanked me today?    *  To whom did I feel grateful?    *  What acts of kindness or cooperation did I witness? This is the essence of that much-maligned term “positive thinking”: we make it a goal to count the good things in life. That doesn’t mean we... posted on May 24 2015 (15,024 reads)

new study maps what happens in our bodies and brains when we witness acts of kindness and compassion. I don’t know about you, but no matter how many times I watch It’s a Wonderful Life, I am moved to tears. Something about that moment when George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, is rescued from financial and emotional ruin by the generosity of his friends gets to me, making me feel deeply moved and hopeful about our capacity for human goodness. Researchers have a name for that high we get from witnessing human goodness: “moral elevation.” And it has been shown to have many positive benefits. Past studies have found that moral elevation inspi... posted on Jun 11 2015 (15,380 reads)

World is a mysterious, sometimes scary, place filled with vulnerable people capable of feeling immense pain. However, at the same time, it’s also full of love, caring and empathy which is spread by awesome, heart-warming people… Awesome people like Michael Swaine. In 2002, Swaine turned an old-fashioned ice cream cart into a mobile sewing table. Now he can be regularly found in San Francisco’s neediest neighborhood, the ‘Tenderloin’ , perched behind his vintage sewing machine, stitching patches onto worn jacket linings, hemming trousers, repairing tears in ladies’ blouses — all for free. ​ His mending is not on... posted on Jun 9 2015 (28,126 reads)

Petrov On September 26, 1983, he was the duty officer at the command center for the Oko nuclear early-warning system when the system reported that a missile was being launched from the United States. Petrov judged the report to be a false alarm,and his decision is credited with having prevented an incorrect retaliatory nuclear attack on the United States and its NATO allies that could have resulted in large-scale nuclear war. Investigation later confirmed that the satellite warning system had indeed malfunctioned. Maurice Ralph Hilleman (August 30, 1919 – April 11, 2005) was an American microbiologist who speciali... posted on Jun 23 2015 (52,148 reads)

wanted to laugh more, I wanted to show more loving-kindness, and I also wanted to be more enthusiastic. I knew that it wasn't nice to criticize but it was fun. Why was it so deliciously satisfying to criticize? Being critical made me feel more sophisticated and intelligent — and in fact, studies show that people who are critical are often perceived to be more discerning. In one study, for example, people judged the writers of negative book reviews as more expert and competent than the writers of positive reviews, even when the content of both reviews was deemed to be of high quality. Another study showed that people tend to think that someone who criticizes them i... posted on Jun 18 2015 (13,736 reads)

and refer and wish, but do broad justice where we are, by whomsoever we deal with, accepting our actual companions and circumstances, however humble or odious as the mystic officials to whom the universe has delegated its whole pleasure for us. If these are mean and malignant, their contentment, which is the last victory of justice, is a more satisfying echo to the heart than the voice of poets and the casual sympathy of admirable persons. Indeed, Emerson highlights the practice of kindness as a centerpiece of the full life, suggesting that our cynicism about the character and potential of others — much like our broader cynicism about the world — reflects not the tru... posted on Aug 3 2015 (1,564 reads)

by Anna Wolf for Dumbo Feather KRISTA TIPPETT, HOST: Maria Popova has called Brain Pickings, her invention and labor of love, a “human-powered discovery engine for interestingness.” What she really delivers to hundreds of thousands of people each day is wisdom of the old-fashioned sort, presented in new-fashioned digital ways. She doesn’t merely curate, she cross-pollinates — between philosophy and design, physics and poetry, the scholarly and the experiential. We meet Maria Popova at 30, and explore her gleanings, thus far, on what it means to lead a good life — intellectually, creatively, and spiritually. MARIA POPOVA: You know,... posted on Jul 15 2015 (11,559 reads)

Beings. Animals. Family. Fun. Friendship. Love. Laughter….What more could you need? 1. These are Men who know how to live a little… 2. An Image That Perfectly Captures True Sisterhood… “3-years ago my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and she had to lose her hair but my mom wasn’t gonna let her little sister go through this alone.” 3. Something Sweet Was Seen Hanging From the Steering Column of a Taxi Cab… 4. Look at This Mother Listening to her Deceased Son’s Heartbeat Inside the Donor Recipient… 5. ‘My Blind Cousin Find... posted on Jul 13 2015 (139,623 reads)

and refer and wish, but do broad justice where we are, by whomsoever we deal with, accepting our actual companions and circumstances, however humble or odious as the mystic officials to whom the universe has delegated its whole pleasure for us. If these are mean and malignant, their contentment, which is the last victory of justice, is a more satisfying echo to the heart than the voice of poets and the casual sympathy of admirable persons. Indeed, Emerson highlights the practice of kindness as a centerpiece of the full life, suggesting that our cynicism about the character and potential of others — much like our broader cynicism about the world — reflects not the tru... posted on Aug 3 2015 (12,395 reads)

by getting in touch, as best you can, with the feeling of being cared about by some being: a friend or mate, spiritual being, pet, or person from your childhood. Make this feeling part of your inner protector.    *  Staying with feeling cared about, list some of your many good qualities. You could ask the inner protector what it knows about you. These are facts, not flattery, and you don’t need a halo to have good qualities like patience, determination, fairness, or kindness.    *  If you yelled at a child, lied at work, partied too hard, let a friend down, cheated on a partner, or were secretly glad about someone’s downfall—whatever... posted on Jul 26 2015 (22,460 reads)

In today’s era of high-speed travel, incessant texting, and digital distractions, it's not society's defining trait. And we're all to blame. Because we’ve all been there. Driving to work while making a phone call. Eating dinner while writing tomorrow's to-do-list. Watching a movie while texting and eating popcorn. The list goes on. In a hyper connected world, bombarded by multiple forms of stimulation, how do we remain aware of the quiet gifts that the present moment has to offer? Cultivating a mindfulness practice can be a powerful way to train our minds and tune into the beauty of here and now. There are&nbs... posted on Aug 18 2015 (26,579 reads)

Helen. “Don’t you know that makes you feel good? Unbelievable, honey! It just makes you feel really good that so many people responded to what they saw on television. Praise God!” Ellen nods vigorously in agreement and voices a spirited “Yes, yes!” Adding to the blessings, Food City came through this past autumn with $6,000 more in gift cards. Everybody is God’s Somebody It has been with a hearty combination of grit and persistence, patience and kindness, all sweetened by their sunbeam smiles and lovable good natures that the remarkable octogenarian sisters have managed to draw volunteers and supporters through the years sufficient to keep th... posted on Sep 5 2015 (12,150 reads)

the spotlight of attention this way and that, looking for carrots and sticks. 3. Without straining at it, think of things that help you feel cared about—that you matter to someone, belong in a relationship or group, are seen and appreciated, or are even cherished and loved. It’s OK if the relationship isn’t perfect, or that you bring to mind people from the past, or pets, or spiritual beings. You could also get a sense of your own goodwill for others, your own compassion, kindness, and love. Warming up the heart in this way helps you feel protected, and it brings a rewarding juiciness to the moment—which support #4 and #5 below. 4. Think of things that help yo... posted on Oct 16 2015 (34,148 reads)

worse. So what can you do? How do you bring out the good in yourself when your savannah-bred instincts tell you to scream and run people over with your car? Counting the good things Science has an answer, and it starts with counting. The questions you have to ask yourself are these: Am I counting the good things, too? Am I taking the time to shine light on things that make me happy and give my life meaning? Who thanked me today? To whom did I feel grateful? What acts of kindness or cooperation did I witness? This is the essence of that much-maligned term “positive thinking”: we make it a goal to count the good things in life. That doesn’t mean we... posted on Oct 24 2015 (14,873 reads)

are recorded than anywhere in US, when asked for their conclusion as to why elements combine as they do to create this meteorological marvel, they respond: “No single theory fully describe why it happens.” Ah. Magic. Often it is the most ordinary, miraculous events of our daily lives defy our most sophisticated measurements, our most eloquent explanations, our educated knowings. Why love? Why illness, why healing? Why grace, birth and death, beauty, color, music, kindness – all moments of mysterious ripenings of life, and time. Why does one portal open, and another simply close? What in us gives birth to the unimaginably astonishing? How do we refuse, hi... posted on Nov 21 2015 (17,689 reads)

Mitzelfeldt that she loved the children and they mean a lot to her. Fortunately, last Tuesday, Edlen returned home. And fanfare awaited her -- Mitzelfeldt and a large group of students put together colorful signs welcoming their “grandma in the window” back home, cheering from the windows and honking horns. "I’ve told them, 'this could be your grandma or grandpa -- or even you someday,'" Mitzelfeld told HuffPost. "'Always treat people with kindness, and always treat people with compassion.'" ... posted on Nov 30 2015 (16,175 reads)

chemical makeup that our noses pick up on. This research sheds light on a subtle yet everyday way in which happiness can be communicated. It suggests that, by surrounding ourselves with happier people (and their scents), we could bring more positive emotion into our lives. And by becoming happier ourselves, we could be boosting the happiness of our friends and family without even realizing it. Teaching kids social-emotional skills has profound health and safety benefits. Skills like kindness and empathy are sometimes dismissed as a luxury in education, not nearly as practical or important as teaching math and reading. But a study published in November by theAmerican Journ... posted on Jan 7 2016 (18,421 reads)

Bostick, an 80-year-old retiree in Fort Worth, Texas,spends his days operating what just might be the coolest train in the world. His homemade dog train takes rescued strays out for fun rides around the neighborhood and in the surrounding woods. Eugene and his brother Corky live on a dead-end street where many locals bring their unwanted dogs to leave them behind. Eugene began adopting them and taking them for rides with his tractor. “We started feeding them, letting them in, taking them to the vet to get them spayed and neutered. We made a place for them to live,” Eugene said. “I seen this guy with a tractor who attached these carts to pull ... posted on Jan 21 2016 (28,275 reads)

with the rest of the world. ServiceSpace allows our inherent generosity to blossom out into small acts of service for the community around us. It’s a space to learn how outer change is closely tied to our own inner transformation. It’s about changing ourselves, to change the world. ServiceSpace was conceived by volunteers, was built by volunteers, and is run by volunteers—all for the benefit of volunteers. Our projects range from a daily positive news service, to an acts-of-kindness portal, to a gift-economy restaurant. Regardless of the endeavor, we act in concert to create service opportunities for each other and to support each other’s service journeys. Founded ... posted on Feb 22 2016 (12,113 reads)