Did you know there's really no difference between a flower and a weed? It's all how we see it. Violets, chicory, Queen Anne's Lace and Chinese wisteria are just some examples of pretty plants that can be beautiful to some, but annoying and invasive to others. I find the dictionary definition of weed to be quite poetic: "a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth." So really, weeds are just strong souls that need the right place to grow, and the right people to appreciate them!
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.
|
|
|
Our favorites this week
Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
|
We're all on the same team
This is definitely the best story of the week. When a pitcher accidentally hit a batter at the Little League Southwest Region Championship in Waco, Texas, it could have been an ugly scene. Kaiden Shelton was clearly upset that his pitch had hit 12-year-old batter Isaiah Jarvis in the head, knocking off his helmet and leaving him lying near home plate. Luckily, Jarvis was unharmed and came over to comfort the shaken Shelton and give him a hug. "Hey, you're doing great," Isaiah said in a video of the moment. That video went massively viral, but Isaiah said the reason for his act of kindness was simple. "I wanted to go over there and spread God's love and make sure that he's OK, and make sure that he knows that I'm OK and that I'll be OK," he told CNN. "It felt like he cared," Kaiden said when asked about Isaiah's hug. "I also cared about him, and that just showed that baseball is sportsmanship -- there's a lot of sportsmanship in baseball." (Major Leaguers, take note: Baseball needs more hugs!)
|
A healing sisterhood
When Alicia and Esther Tambe's sister Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer, they knew just how to keep her spirits up. The well-traveled trio went on overseas trips together, and Maria found joy in activities like Zumba classes. When she passed away in 2019, her two sisters vowed to keep her passions alive by helping other Black women affected by breast cancer. They co-founded Fight Through Flights, which provides free wellness retreats, travel experiences and access to resources on mental health, nutrition and fitness. Black women have a 41% higher death rate from breast cancer than White women, according to the American Cancer Society. The Tambe sisters say being able to create new memories and moments of joy is an important part of the fight. Fight Through Flights also helps these women bond through a shared experience and face their journey feeling less alone.
|
More cool nature news
Last week we highlighted some interesting environmental news, and wouldn't you know, even more tidbits have dropped! Sea turtles in the state of Georgia hit a record-high number of nests this year, showing the real benefits of the state's increased conservation efforts. In Haiti, a centuries-old find could be a key to solving the mystery of the famous feral horses on Assateague Island off Maryland's Eastern Shore. Legend suggests that the ponies are the descendants of Spanish horses who swam to the island after a Spanish ship wrecked off the coast of Virginia, reverting to a feral state over the years. Now, the discovery of a 16th-century horse tooth in Haiti has given the story real credence.
|
|
|
Well, in this case, it's more like "You Gotta Taste This." Coca-Cola has released a new limited-edition flavor called "Dreamworld." And it tastes like ... dreams. What do dreams taste like? Apparently like a soda? It's quite the logic loop. The new flavor is the fourth drink from the brand's Coca-Cola Creations platform. Previously, Creations launched Starlight, which is supposed to be space-flavored, and Byte, which is supposed to be pixel-flavored. (Fun fact: Astronomers do think that the center of the galaxy may taste like raspberries and smell like rum, according to a 2009 Guardian article. My friend says the Starlight flavor tasted like cherry with some marshmallow mixed in.) Are these figurative flavors all a marketing ploy? Probably. But are we all going to be thinking about what dreams taste like for the rest of the day? Definitely. My bet is on like, cotton candy or fresh laundry. Maybe both?
|
|
|
Marine veteran Richard Casper was forever changed after serving in Iraq. He survived several terrifying IED strikes and watched one of his good friends die beside him after being shot by a sniper. Like so many other veterans, he found it difficult to readjust when he returned home. Severe anxiety and several lasting physical conditions from his deployment overseas made college business courses especially hard. When he changed his major to art, that changed everything. One of his first pieces was a pastel rendering of his friend's gravestone. Soon, he realized art was the outlet he needed to process his pain. In 2013, this CNN Hero founded CreatiVets. The nonprofit offers immersive visual art and songwriting programs to wounded combat veterans. The songwriting program is a free, three-day trip to Nashville, Tennessee, where veterans are paired with accomplished songwriters and musicians to write and record a personal song. The visual arts program is a free, multi-week program at an art school where veterans spend time learning different mediums and working on a final project.
|
|
|
In Sagamihara, Japan, there's a secret destination that transports visitors back in time. Tatsuhiro Saito's used tire shop is home to about 70 restored and working food vending machines from the Showa era (1926 to 1989). Vending machines are big in Japan, and it isn't unusual to see models that spit out jewelry, toys and electronics, as well as the typical food-and-drink stalwarts. At Saito's shop, the machines offer a variety of sweets and snacks that were popular decades ago. Machines that dispense hot, ready-to-eat meals are also a hit. Not hungry? Other lovingly maintained models offer retro toys, Kodak camera film, AA batteries and even some arcade machines.
|
|
|
Of course, you have fear. That’s only natural. But my positive outlook is a decision.
- Olivia Newton-John, during a 2017 appearance on NBC's "Today". During her decades-long struggle with breast cancer, the actress spent her energy encouraging others, supporting research funding and raising awareness and hope. She passed away this week at the age of 73. |
|
|
Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
|
21 products that our editors swear make them just a little happier
We could all use a little boost of serotonin these days. So, the Underscored team rounded up over 20 little things that we glance at every day that make us feel, for a fleeting few seconds, pure joy.
|
|
|
Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
|
How close are Chicken the love bird and Pugsly the cat? Well, Chicken waits patiently while Pugsly goes to the bathroom, and Pugsly has no problem climbing into Chicken's cage for a hang. (Click here to view) |
|
|
A newsletter for the good in life |
|
|
|
