The newest list of the world's happiest countries is out, and Finland has extended its streak at the head of the pack. Following Finland is Denmark at #2, and Iceland at #3. I was just in Iceland last week and can confirm they certainly know a thing or two about good living. At first glance, it seems like it would be a struggle -- after all, their isolated homeland is a frigid, cracking chunk of rock dotted with boiling geothermal cauldrons and looming volcanoes. All in all, a bit intimidating! But the Icelanders I met said their emphasis on simple living, and the simple pleasures therein, help them keep perspective. One man reminisced about his grandmother and grandfather, who lived in the seemingly barren wilds north of Reykjavik. In their time, a cow was a luxury, and the advent of indoor plumbing and electricity was so novel it was nearly amusing. And yet, he said, they knew what was important. Family. Nature. Community. Providing for themselves and others. Of course, there are many social and economic factors that affect happiness, many of which are far out of a single person's control. But it seems, at the heart of it, the basics of happiness are the same no matter where you go.
Oh, also, our first entry this week contains spoilers for the latest episode of "The Mandalorian." So if you're behind, scroll quickly past that one!
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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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The best cameo
Please allow me to nerd out for a second -- and even if you don't care about "Star Wars," you'll love this. Everyone knows Jar Jar Binks, the iconically annoying character from the "Star Wars" prequels that first hit screens about 20 years ago. What you may not know is the character's actor, Ahmed Best, got so much hate for the divisive role, which some called racist and others just called aggravating, that he contemplated taking his own life. However, the light side has prevailed. Best made a triumphant return to the "Star Wars" universe in the latest episode of Disney's "The Mandalorian." In a flashback, Best plays Kelleran Beq, a Jedi who heroically saves Grogu (also known as Baby Yoda) from a massacre. It's an incredible scene, and particularly emotional "Star Wars" fans (ahem) may even get a little misty seeing Best get some long-overdue appreciation after years of undeserved criticism.
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Keeping the faith
It's Ramadan, the holy Muslim season of fasting and prayer. Observers time their fasts with the sun, which brings up an interesting question: What do you do if you're in space? As an Emirati astronaut on the International Space Station, Sultan Alneyadi sees 16 sunsets a day as the orbiting laboratory whips around the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour. Alneyadi explains that he and other Muslim astronauts are exempt from traditional Ramadan rhythms since they are technically "travelers" (the ultimate kind of traveler, one could argue). The customs of Ramadan, as in other religious holidays of fasting, can be accommodated if someone is not well or is, say, occupied on a six-month mission in space. This article has a lot of interesting insights about religion in space. And, if you want to know more about how to support Muslim friends and neighbors during Ramadan, here's a great etiquette guide.
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Dig in!
Go ahead, take a guess at what makes this unique-looking slice of cheesecake so special. It's 3D-printed! Engineers at Columbia University whipped up a seven-ingredient vegan cheesecake that was assembled and cooked entirely by a 3D-printing machine and — in a new innovation — laser technology. Pioneering scientists have made 3D-printed food before, but a cheesecake is a brand new step because, well, it requires a certain texture. The inclusion of laser technology helped keep the heat precise throughout the process. Now, this kind of futuristic food may not seem appetizing now, but scientists say it has a lot of promise for later on. For instance, nutrition-conscious eaters could produce food with precise calorie counts or carbohydrate, fat and sugar contents. The method could also aid people who have eating conditions, such as dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. And on the culinary side, you can get very, very precise with the flavors.
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We're really playing with techniques today! First, we had a 3D-printed cheesecake and now, a recreation of Claude Monet's famous water lilies made entirely of Legos! Chinese artist Ai Weiwei reimagined the French impressionists' iconic motif using 650,000 little Lego bricks in 22 different colors. The work stretches nearly 50 feet and is the artist's largest work to date. "Toy bricks as the material, with their qualities of solidity and potential for deconstruction, reflect the attributes of language in our rapidly developing era where human consciousness is constantly dividing," Ai said of the work. The chief curator of London's Design Museum, where the work is displayed, says he was struck by how the impersonal blocks come together to create a deeply personal final product, which also contains references to Ai's childhood.
Here's a juicy close-up:
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CNN Hero John Watson has always been a fitness enthusiast. He's also an advocate for people with disabilities, inspired by his daughter Emma, who has cerebral palsy. When he was looking for ways to help adults with intellectual disabilities find employment, he hit upon a great idea to combine his passions. His nonprofit, Bloom Fitness, brings the life-affirming benefits of movement to people with intellectual disabilities. Bloom Fitness partners with programs like adult daycare centers or residential homes, where Watson’s trained volunteer instructors lead classes like cycling, yoga, Pilates and dance. Classes are free to the athletes, many of whom are low-income, and they’re designed to be accessible to anyone. “Wellness and movement – for this population, that’s critical,” said Watson. "We create a sense of pride, belonging and love."
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Visitors to London’s Westminster Abbey will get a chance to walk in the footsteps of history this summer by treading on the church’s historic “Cosmati” pavement – the spot where Charles' newly restored coronation chair will be placed for his coronation on May 6. There's only one catch: You need to take off your shoes to protect the precious work of art. The mosaic, a complex and colorful decorative work composed of marble, stone, glass and metal, is the best surviving example of the inlay stonework known as Cosmati outside of Italy. It's been underfoot for English coronations since it was commissioned by Henry III and completed in 1268. However, even the keenest Royal fans probably don't recognize it, since it was covered by a carpet for the coronations of previous monarchs, including Elizabeth II in 1953 and George VI in 1937.
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At lunchtime I bought a huge orange—
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.
And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.
The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.
- Wendy Cope, "The Orange"
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Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored
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Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now.
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A newsletter for the good in life |
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