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 March 23, 2024

Sometimes, one season just blends into another. It's slightly warmer or colder outside? Could be the beginning of fall or the end of winter. Maybe it's just a chilly summer day? Who knows! It makes me appreciate the ways the Earth reminds us of the changing times. In my neck of the woods, that means spring arrives with the sudden and lovely flowering of wisteria, cascading like purple waterfalls over fences and walls and sidewalks. It also means waking up one morning, expecting the normal subdued tones of winter, and instead seeing brand-new patches of impossibly bright green. Somehow, it always takes me by surprise. But it also reminds me to not take the passing of time for granted and to appreciate the moment nature has created right now, just for us. 

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Our favorites this week

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

Assume I can!
People are loving this bold, honest ad created in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day, which was March 21. In short, it poses the question: Why do you assume people with Down Syndrome can't do basic things, like have a drink or live on their own? Wouldn't it be better to assume they can? Our friends at CNN Audio spoke to the star of the viral vid, 22-year-old actress, advocate and model Madison Tevlin, who says she loves "proving people wrong" about all of the things people with Down Syndrome can do. “I always say that I have Down Syndrome, and it’s the least interesting thing about me,” Tevlin said. “The part of who I am, well it’s not all of me. We should all celebrate our differences in our own special and unique ways.”

Read the whole story here. 

Happy Holi!
It's time for the most colorful festival of the year! The Hindu festival of Holi is March 25, when people in India and across the world celebrate love and the brightness of spring with colorful powders commonly called gulal. Though the powders can be natural or artificial, the natural versions are often made of well-known minerals and spices, like indigo and turmeric. A large part of the festival focuses on ancient legends that tell of the triumph of good over evil. And, of course, there's plenty of music and food to go around.

Read the whole story here. 

Photo: Courtesy Helen Wright

Lookin' dapper
A pair of eight-year-olds at Chelsea Elementary in Maine started a very cool new trend that's all about being yourself. It's called "Dapper Wednesdays," and every week, people who want to join in dress to the nines for a fashion-filled day. Now, the important thing is that everyone feels good in what they wear. "(You can) wear what you want and just say ‘ I don’t care if somebody bullies me. I'm who I can be,'" said student James Ramage. The school's administration loves it and has even started a "dapper closet" so any kid can find something fun to wear.

This is one of the heartwarming stories in this week's 5 Good Things podcast! Catch the latest episode to learn more about Dapper Wednesday and hear more from Down Syndrome advocate Madison Tevlin. Rumor has it there's also going to be something about cats. Listen here! 

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Hear, hear!

Sometimes things don’t go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail.
Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes will step back from war,
elect an honest man, decide they care
enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best intentions do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.

- "Sometimes," by British poet and author Sheenagh Pugh 

Who knew?

OK, quiz time! Not for you though, just for the person nearest you (or whoever answers first in your family's group text). Go ahead and ask them:

What country was just voted the happiest country in the world? 

(Now we'll allow time for them to be like, "Umm ... I don't know" or "Can't you let me finish my coffee before interrogating me?")

It's Finland! The World Happiness Report is out, and Finland has secured the top rating for the seventh time in a row. In fact, Scandinavia* swept the podium with Denmark and Iceland taking the second and third spots, respectively. Sorry Americans, we've toppled a few to #23 :( 

Read the whole story here.

*(No! Don't send me an angry email! I'm working with the extended definition of Scandinavia, OK?) 

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.

Buster the lab is a Grade-A menace and his person is probably at their wit's end with his swimming pool antics. Counterpoint: He is also very, very cute.

(Click here to view)

Made with love by CNN's 5 Things team. 

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