I'm a sucker for new beginnings. That first page in a new planner, the satisfying "01" on the first day of a new month. So many possibilities! So many opportunities to forgive the peccadilloes of the past and move on as a new, improved version of myself ... for a few days, at least. In truth, when I look back at the breakthroughs that set me down a better path, or the days a conscious effort to improve became a habit instead of an obligation, I never remember the date. A new beginning, after all, can happen at any time, and it rarely happens all at once. If that's what we all need to remind ourselves as we make it through the first few weeks of 2023, so be it.
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Our favorites this week
Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week
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Everyone's rooting for him
Everyone in the sports world has been waiting with anxious hearts for news on Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player who suffered a cardiac arrest during a game last Monday. Even though he has a long and uncertain recovery, every day seems to bring optimistic news about his condition. Difficult moments like this also bring out the kindest in people: A fundraiser Hamlin started in 2020 to buy toys for underprivileged kids has now raised millions of dollars.
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In the aftermath of his collapse, devastated Bills and Cincinnati Bengals fans (the Bills' opponents that night) were seen comforting each other, embracing, praying, and even gathering outside the hospital where Hamlin was taken. According to sports apparel site Fanatics, Hamlin had the most-purchased jersey in any sport this week.
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"Unhand me, I am the night!" |
A few hundred new friends
Bats in the attic? Good! A wildlife rehabilitator nursed more than 1,600 "cold-stunned" bats back to health in her attic after many of them fell from their roosts during a frigid cold snap in Houston. Mary Warwick, the wildlife director at the Houston Humane Society, says that when temperatures take a steep drop, bats can become hypothermic and lose their grip on their nocturnal perches. Warwick knew the cold would bring problems, so she visited one of Houston's bridges, where the bats like to roost, and started collecting the fallen critters. She put the tiny bats in boxes and bins, using her car's heater to warm them up. At her house, she divided the bats, using crates to keep each colony together, and left them in her attic to rest and regain their strength. Several other local citizens also called in bats that needed rescuing, bringing the total to 1,602 recuperating bats in Warwick’s makeshift bat hospital. With some encouragement -- and a forklift to get them as close as possible to their original roosts -- the bats were put back where they belong.
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"For me? Are you sure?"
Scott Stallings recently received one of the most covered deliveries in golf: An invitation to play in the Masters Tournament in April. However, this man was Scott Stallings, Atlanta-area realtor, not Scott Stallings, internationally-ranked pro golfer. An honest mistake! Stallings, the realtor, reached out to Stallings, the golfer, who had to be convinced it wasn't a prank. "I’m [100%] sure this is NOT for me," Stallings wrote in his message, along with photos of the very fancy invitation. "I play but wow! No where near your level." Stallings, the golfer, said he had been checking his mailbox for days hoping for his first invite to the tournament since 2014. Now they both have a great story to tell on the links.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who -- and this is real -- helped rescue a family from a helicopter crash while he was on a Jet Ski. He and his two brothers, Tyler and Brett, were jet skiing in Hillsborough Bay, Florida, when they heard a noise. The trio went to investigate and found pieces of a helicopter and people in life jackets covered in oil. Though they were expecting the worst, the pilot had actually made an emergency crash landing in the water. “I called 911, tried to remain as calm as possible," Gabbert said. "I was just right place, right time. The credit really goes out to Tampa police department, the fire department, and the Sheriff’s department because they were there within five seconds."
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Makeup is for everyone, and a new device from L'Oreal can help more people feel fabulous. The cosmetics giant unveiled a new handheld makeup applicator called HAPTA at this year’s the Consumer Electronics Show that is made for people with fine motor skill challenges. The device consists of a base, applicator and an attachment that snap into place magnetically for ease of use and offer 360 degrees of rotation. It also features haptic technology that allows for a smooth application experience. “We’ve been thinking for a long time about how to use technology with a sense of purpose to meet the beauty needs of individuals with limited hand and arm mobility,” said Guive Balooch, global vice president of L’Oreal’s technology incubator.
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I’m an old sinner like everyone, but all I can say is I have the best life I can even imagine, and I can’t even take credit for it. So wherever you are, get help, don’t be ashamed, be proud of yourself.
- Sir Anthony Hopkins, who posted an uplifting message for the new year opening up about his past struggles with alcoholism. The legendary actor encouraged people to be kind to themselves and never feel ashamed about asking for help. |
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Here's your new term for the day: star nursery. A star nursery, or stellar nursery, is a group of nebulae -- clouds of gas and dust -- that fuel star formation. The VISTA Telescope (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) in Chile captured brand new images of one such star nursey at the end of the Serpens constellation. Improved infrared light technology shows an image glittering with starlight, and will help astronomers better understand how stars are formed.
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Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
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French beauty products the 'Emily in Paris' makeup artist swears by
Aurélie Payen, the makeup artist who creates the dreamy looks on 'Emily in Paris,' spoke with us and shared the French beauty products used behind-the-scenes of the hit show. Consider them un petit plaisir (“a little treat”) and add them to your own routine to achieve that effortless French-girl style.
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Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
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Yes, I know chipmunks can be huge pests. But never forget: They are also some of the cutest eaters out there. It almost balances out. (Click here to view) |
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A newsletter for the good in life |
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