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 April 8, 2023

We focus on our differences a lot. Which is fine, necessary even -- but our similarities are just as interesting. No matter the place or time, humans have always celebrated the coming of kinder weather. They gathered together, prayed together, held out hands to one another, and shared their stories. Whatever you are celebrating this time of year, remember that you are also carrying on traditions that know no culture or creed. These are human traditions, and they remind us that, whether we want to admit it or not, we are all similar in the ways that matter most. 

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Our favorites this week

Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week

A chain of kindness
What would inspire a person to give up a healthy kidney to someone they've never met? Dr. Aleksandra Gmurczyk had several reasons. As a nephrologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, she wanted to educate her patients. Kidney disease is a taxing condition, sometimes requiring several days of dialysis a week. Yet Gmurczyk still saw some patients hesitate when given the opportunity for a kidney transplant. Then, of course, there was the chance to help save someone's life. Gmurczyk's decision to donate her kidney actually led to a chain reaction. It was a kidney-paired donation, which happens when a person is willing to donate a kidney to someone in their life who needs it, but they aren’t a good match, so they swap recipients with another donor. So Gmurczyk's kidney went to a woman named Ginger. Ginger's husband, Gary, was not a match for his wife, but for his part of the deal, he gave his kidney to another recipient. In the end, two lives were changed, and Gmurczyk has a story to tell her patients so they can feel more comfortable about changing theirs too. 

Unique beauties
Sometimes, good news can just be learning that someone exists. My colleague and friend Harmeet Kaur wrote a fascinating look into the world of muxes, a group long recognized within the indigenous Zapotec people of Mexico that are often referred to as a third gender. A local legend goes like this: San Vicente Ferrer, the patron saint of Juchitán, was carrying three bags of seeds meant to be distributed around the world. The first contained male seeds, the second contained female seeds and a third bag contained a mixture of the two. But as San Vicente was passing through Juchitán, the third bag ruptured – and from it sprang the town’s famed community of muxes. Muxes are generally assigned male at birth but tend to present in typically feminine ways through their behaviors, clothing and occupations. Many are skilled in embroidery or other artisan crafts, or work as merchants in the markets that drive the region’s economy. Though they still face social challenges, they are sustained by their deep-rooted cultural origins. I love this quote, from Kristhal Aquino, a muxe activist: "I’ve always said if I was born again, I’d choose to be me.”

Green with victory
The Masters is on, so here's some fun green jacket lore to interject into any golf talk. As you probably know, the winner of the Masters Tournament gets to wear a coveted green jacket. The origins of the tradition began in the town of Hoylake in northwest England when a player in the British Open Championship in 1930 wagered his red jacket to a fellow player if the latter were to win the tournament (he did). Fast forward, and in the mid-1930s, members of the Augusta National Golf Club, where the Masters is held, were wearing green jackets on the grounds to identify themselves. In 1949 it was decided that year’s victor, Sam Snead, and all the previous champions, would be issued their own version too. However, there are some unexpected caveats to green jacket glory: Winners don't actually keep the jackets! Well, they can for a year, but then they have to bring them back to Augusta National. There's only one champion who skirted the rule: South African legend and three-time Masters champ Gary Player, who became the first international player to win in 1961. Somehow, his jacket just ... didn't make it back the next year. 

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You gotta see this

I literally stopped in my tracks when I saw this photo and knew immediately it was Good Stuff material. These young snailfish are now the deepest fish ever filmed by scientists during a probe into an abyssal seabed off the coast of Japan. That's extremely cool! Almost as cool as the fact that these little guys are ADORABLE (which is obviously what matters). They were located more than 27,000 feet below the surface, and the discovery tells scientists more about what kinds of fish dare to venture into the deepest of the deep. They have tiny eyes, a translucent body, and a lack of swim bladder, which helps other fish float and is not a great thing to have if you're hanging out in the abyss. I also love how the one on the right looks like it has a party hat on. Fair warning, though: They are definitely not as cute out of water. 

Heroes among us

It's Autism Awareness Month, and CNN Hero Debra Vines is working hard for the cause. Her organization, The Answer Inc., provides support, services, and education for Black and Brown families in the Chicago area who are impacted by autism. Vines’ 35-year-old son, Jason, has autism, and she knows first-hand the everyday struggles that families face. For Vines, Autism Awareness Month helps her advocate for families who are unsure what to do after receiving an autism diagnosis. She urges them to stay strong through challenges and frustrations, because the autism journey is rarely a straight line. “I encourage families every single day not to give up because you never know when that light bulb is just gonna go off," she says. So far, her nonprofit has helped more than 4,000 families in underserved communities. 

Wanna get away?

Now here's a wonder of the world you've probably never seen before. The Chinese village of Laoniuwan is, as the locals say, where the Great Wall and the mighty Yellow River shake hands. In this bend of the river lies the Laoniuwan Fortress, built in 1467. A trip to this specific point on the Great Wall is a bit tricky to organize, but it's one of the only places where the Wall meets a body of water -- and according to experts, it's one of the most spectacular, too. 

Hear, hear!

“You can be anxious, sensitive, kind, and wear your heart on your sleeve, you can be a mother or not, you can be an ex-Mormon or not, you can be a nerd, a crier, a hugger – you can be all of these things. And not only can you be here; you can lead. Just like me.”

- Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who said farewell to politics this week with a moving speech encouraging others to strive to make a difference. 

Who knew?

Sorry ophidiophobes (aka my mom), it's a snake story. A cartwheeling snake story at that! When the dwarf reed snake feels threatened it sometimes does little snake cartwheels to get away from danger. Scientists had heard stories of such a bizarre move but recently captured it firsthand for the first time. It's also the only time they've observed this behavior in any reptile. They noted the shy little snake “performs active cartwheeling by repeatedly launching the coils of its body into the air and rolling down inclines." This helps it gain speed and, undoubtedly, confuses the heck out of any possible predator. Don't worry, they won't just cartwheel at you for no reason. (They're also native to Southeast Asia, so unless you live in that region, you can save yourself the nightmares.) 

Rec of the week

Brought to you by CNN Underscored

Shameless animal video

There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.

In the spirit of spring and rebirth, here is a baby chick -- and its very curious golden retriever friend. (Click here to view)

Made with love by CNN's 5 Things team. 

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