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 December 23, 2023

One of my favorite parts about this time of year is that it's not just about Christmas. Everybody seems to be celebrating something. Whether it's a celebration of faith or family or culture or, heck, just the gleaming possibilities of the new year on the horizon, we're all walking around with an extra gleam of warmth in our hearts.

With that in mind, I want to take this time to thank you for being a part of our Good Stuff family. I can never say it enough. Writing this newsletter is one of the great joys of my life. I wish you could see the kind, insightful notes your fellow Good Stuff readers send (as well as the occasional kind, insightful grammar correction). I wish I had the time to answer them all. 

If you are reading this, it's because you know the power of kindness and positivity. You know looking on the bright side isn't a distraction, it's a necessity. You know it's hard work. If you are reading this, you are family. You are loved and appreciated, no matter what you celebrate, how you live, how you love, where you're from or what you do. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being you. 

Have a joyous Christmas and a replenishing rest of your holiday season. And yes, we'll be with you next weekend with plenty of exciting things to look forward to in 2024!

Love AJ, Andrew, Scottie and the rest of your Good Stuff family.

If there's something you'd like to see here, drop us a line. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do.

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Stocking stuffers

A few holiday tidbits to brighten your day

Image courtesy Paige Whittaker

Hello from Iceland! 
Paige Whittaker visited Iceland in 2019 with an organization called The Green Program. In addition to taking in the country's wild beauty, she also got to learn more about how climate change is affecting its environment. "The travel crew and the residents that I met there have become lifelong friends," she told CNN. However, one little decision also led to a lovely act of kindness years later. As she was leaving, she wrote her number on one of the Jenga tiles in her hostel. Earlier this month, she received a text from a random number, showing a group of people enjoying the same Jenga game in the same hostel. It's just one of those little things that shows how connected the world is — and how sweet people can be, even when they're complete strangers. She's gotten lots of love on social media for it. "It’s had an amazing response from the community," she said. 

Festive fashion
Nothing says stylish like a good old-fashioned ugly Christmas sweater. The cozy-tacky-wholesome combo first started popping up in the 1950s, and were often called "Jingle Bell Sweaters." They've gotten more popular — and uglier — since then, as explained in CNN Style's history of the trend. 

Merry and bright
I literally gasped at these incredible images from the neighborhood of Dyker Heights in New York City. Nestled in the south of Brooklyn, it has become a tourist attraction because of its show-stopping holiday decorations. Dozens of homes participate in a now-annual tradition by constructing elaborate festive displays: Massive inflatable snowmen, huge Santa sculptures, snow machines, and dazzling arrays of lights transform residential streets into a scene from a Christmas movie. During December, thousands of visitors from across the city — and beyond — come to admire the spectacle, sampling hot chocolate or other treats sold by street vendors as they take in the sights.

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.

Who can resist cute pandas playing in snow?

Made with love by CNN's 5 Things team. 

A newsletter for the good in life

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