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 July 29, 2023

Every week, there's a new list of things that will make you live longer and, inevitably, another list of things that will kill you. Sun is bad, but a little sun is good! Alcohol shrinks your brain, but a glass of wine now and then is probably OK (maybe). Don't sit too long, but definitely sleep enough. Then, interviews with ultra-long livers reveal they indulge in all sorts of vices and you start to wonder if any of it is worth a darn. Of course, we're all adults here, and we're intelligent enough to know the key to all of these back-and-forth notions is moderation and common sense. But it's still a little funny. In the end, all we can hope for is that we tried our best, we got a little lucky now and then, and we helped some people along the way. 

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Our favorites this week

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

A dream of flight
Silva McLeod grew up on the Tongan island of Vava’u, with no electricity or running water. Now, she's one of only a few Tongans ever to get a pilot’s license, and the first Tongan woman to do so. As a girl, she loved running to watch as planes flew over Vava'u, but her dream of aviation didn't ignite until she met and married an Australian man and she took her first flight off her island home. On her 32nd birthday, her husband presented her with a certificate for a basic introductory training flight. The rest was history: First, she got her student license, then a restricted license, followed by a commercial license. Eventually, she was able to teach student pilots and fly small aircraft herself. At age 37, she became a full-time pilot for Royal Tongan Airlines. “Never look to the top of the mountain,” she says by way of advice. “Because that’s when you quit. It’s too high, too hard. But if you just focus on that step in front, chip away bit by bit, before you know it you have advanced right up halfway to the mountain.”

Read the full story here. 

To new heights
Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and Nepali climber Tenjen Sherpa, known as Lama, smashed the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre (26,000-feet) mountains this week. The pair completed the feat in three months and one day after climbing Pakistan’s K2, the last peak on their quest and one considered to be more technically challenging than Mount Everest.  “Harila and Lama’s collaboration has showcased the essence of mountaineering unity, transcending borders and cultures to achieve greatness together,” their team said in a statement. They also said the feat wouldn't have been possible without Lama, who has been a guide since the age of 16. The climber's team thanked him for  his "profound connection with the mountains."

Read the full story here. 

The best birthday mail ever
Oh my gosh, I love it when little kids get obsessed over everyday heroes like garbage collectors or mail carriers. That's important work! They deserve a little childhood obsession. Colby, a young boy in Connecticut, loves watching the mail being delivered and especially loves his local hero, Mailman Mike. So for his second birthday, his mother Jessica Bergman worked with the local post office to organize a little mail truck parade. Colby was obviously over the moon, and the celebration came complete with special guests: Some garbage trucks (complete with garbage pickup!) and a friendly drive-by from the local police. At the end, Mailman Mike unloaded yet another gift: A toddler-sized mail truck.

Watch the whole video here. 

Raise a glass to...

R&B superstar Monica, who is being praised for helping an audience member at the Riverfront Music Festival in Michigan last weekend. During the incident, which was caught on video, the “Boy Is Mine” singer is seen jumping off stage after witnessing someone allegedly assault a female audience member in the crowd. Monica said she simply acted on instinct to de-escalate the situation. “I did what I hope someone would do if they saw that happening to my aunt or mother," she told CNN’s Abby Phillip.

Read the whole story here. 

Heroes among us

In 2008, first grade teacher Alvin Irby stopped by a Bronx barbershop after school for a haircut. Before long, one of his students came in. He looked a little antsy and bored, and Irby remembered thinking the child would probably have a better time with a book. That moment stayed with Irby, and five years later he started Barbershop Books. Since 2013, the nonprofit has brought more than 50,000 free children’s books to more than 200 barbershops in predominantly Black neighborhoods across the country. Literacy rates among Black students have been distressingly low for decades, and the pandemic didn't help. Irby is working to change that, but not by helping children practice phonics or decode words. While he acknowledges those skills are essential, his approach is different: He wants to encourage boys to read for fun, on their own.

Read the full story here. 

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.

I loved learning more about prairie dogs from this video, but it was the phrase "a hopping yip-fest" that really sold me. (Click here to view)

Made with love by CNN's 5 Things team. 

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