Happy Sunday, dear friends. I made an interesting discovery the other day. An antique figurine of a dancing lady, given to me by my grandmother before she passed away, had a spiral crack through the skirts.
The crack was very curious, because the figurine was still completely intact. It started at the base, and went all the way around to the bodice. A once valuable antique, had completely lost its monetary worth, but had it lost its value?
I thought about that for a minute, and realized its personal value to me had not changed. It still reminded me of my granny, and the little things she loved in her life. The crack actually added to the value of the piece for me, because it represented all the struggles my granny had been through, and still miraculously kept things together.
I realized that most of the things that I value in my life, have limited value to others. I am an experiential being, and as such, most of my deeply treasured possession are my interactions with other beings and places on our dear planet. Tokens from these experiences, which bring them back into clear focus for me are also of high value. A feather, or a stone, or a piece of sea glass is more valuable to me than gold, because it reminds me of the only thing I truly own. My own experiences. The path of my own life.
When I look at granny’s dancing blue lady now, I can only smile at the fact that its injury did not upset me, but brought into greater clarity the things I value in my life. Who would have thought a crack could do that?
Our feel good news takes us all over the world today, visiting with beings who care deeply and are making a difference by focusing their passions and their service on what they love.
A trip to the dump leads to Harvard.
T.P. Allen is a representative, in country, for Bridge2Rwanda. This international non-profit helps Rwandan poor and orphaned children to apply for college scholarships and obtain education.
He shares the story of Justus Uwayesu, who lost his parents in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He was discovered at the garbage dump, foraging for food scraps with a group of abandoned children, by a kindhearted woman named Clare Effiong. She had followed the call of spirit to Rwanda, in order to be of service and do something good for people.
Clare was enamored by Justus’ desire to learn, and so she supported his schooling with the help of a local friend. Justus sees the good that was bestowed on him as a talisman for a future where he will pay it forward to others who need assistance.
He, and a number of other candidates, sponsored by Bridge2Rwanda, recently received notification of acceptance and scholarships to top universities. They will all go and study, and then bring their knowledge back to their homeland to help build a brighter future there.
A young boy decides on a beautiful way to spend his pocket money.
The hearts of the young sometime bring such miraculous things into reality. My heart literally melted when I read this short story about a young boy who came up with an idea to spend his yearly savings.
Instead of buying a new video game or going to an amusement park, this young boy chose to spend his $120 savings on helping the homeless. His family purchased supplies, packed up bagged lunches and then distributed them, in person, to homeless people in their city.
He didn’t use a go-between. He was inspired, acted upon, and implemented his own program. He didn’t wait around for someone else to do it, who may have been older, richer or wiser. He simply did what his heart was led to do, and I hope he inspires others to decide to act on their own local and inspiring levels as well.
Young boy spends his savings feeding the homeless on Kindness Blog
Doctor who understands the importance of “bedside manner” to introduce empathy back into healthcare.
My dad is a retired doctor. He is also a medical intuitive and empath, though he never came out and stated that to anyone. As a teen, I worked in his office, as a receptionist, and I was so proud of how he treated his patients. He had a great bedside manner. He listened to their concerns and made them feel cared for and important. I learned much about how to treat other people, by the compassionate way he interacted with his patients.
Studies show that doctor empathy may have been missing from healthcare, as local medicine transitioned into managed care in the US. Patients feel rushed, do not feel that they have been heard, and do not feel the care of the doctor for their individual situation.
Dr. Helen Reiss is aiming to change this trend. She is the founder of a company called Empathetics, which fosters improved patient-doctor relationships by introducing empathy into the equation. This detailed interview with her, explains her core beliefs on the human need for empathy and compassion, and the need to increase these affirming aspects of the patient relationships, while limiting sympathetic and non-affirming behaviors which may affect a doctor’s decision making skills.
Any time a person feels heard and supported, as they are reaching out for help, the experience is greatly improved. Creating future healers who transmit their deep level of care to those they are assisting, is a hugely positive step for healthcare.
Building Empathy in Healthcare by Kasley Killam for Greater Good
Could it be true that the most joy filled life is the easiest life?
Jon Jandai is from Thailand, and he grew up in a small rural village. Outsiders told him he was poor, and that he should go to university to study to become smart so he could make money in a job. They told him that money would make him happy. They told him this was the right thing to do.
After years of study and struggle in Bankok, Jon learned the truth. The simple village life he grew up in was the real happy life. It was the easy life, filled with family, good food and all he needed to be truly self reliant and happy.
He learned what Bankok had to teach him, that there is no place like home. So he returned, with deep gratitude for his small village and chose to live the easy life. He shares his musings on his path, in this delightful Ted Talk.
When we truly believe in a benevolent, abundant universe, it is easy to realize that all we need really is at our fingertips. When we interact, as a human, within the natural world, all our desires can be met with ease. It is only when the human is taken out of the natural world, that life becomes difficult. As more beings begin placing themselves back into the natural world, as an integral part of that world, and utilizing sustainable methods and technologies, all those needs can be met even more easily and joyfully!
Life is Easy Ted Talk by Jon Jandai on Karmatube
And finally…
An elephant never forgets.
About 10 years ago, I saw a full-length documentary about the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. The program discussed their mission, which was to offer forever homes for elephants that could no longer function in zoos or circuses. Tears streamed down my face, as I heard story after story of miraculous love and redemption for these highly intelligent, family oriented creatures.
This older video, shares the story of two elephants at the sanctuary who were reunited with each other after over 2 decades of separation. They had both been in the same circus when younger, and had bonded as mother and daughter, only to be separated when they were sold.
The reaction of one of the elephant’s handlers, as he gives her her last bath and removes her chains forever, is overwhelmingly moving. I am so happy that these wonderful beings are creating such a loving space for injured, old and abused elephants.
Two circus elephants reunited after 20 years on YouTube
The Elephant Sanctuary, is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the forever home support of retired African and Indian elephants from the zoo and entertainment industry. They provide unique habitat and healthcare for these beautiful creatures for the remainder of their lives.
The sanctuary also provides extensive educational services, to improve large animal care at zoos, and bring awareness to people about the ethical treatment of elephants in captivity.
That’s the good news for today. Have a heart-warming day. Please join Gavin Harrill for the Golden Gaia News Roundup until Thursday, when I look forward to visiting with you all again.
Be Well. Be Joy. Be Love!
Alex