Weekly Uplifting Stories - May 8th, 2023

Hello Daily Motivation community, and welcome back to another heartwarming edition of Weekly Uplifting Stories! 

This week, we've collected stories about: 

• Australian scientists find common molds that can break down plastic
• A college rejection letter party
• A kind hearted shop owner who gives free food to those in need
• A former barber who now spreads kindness via social media
• Family's motel stay paid for by an anonymous stranger

We hope you enjoy this week's stories...

Go down an Uplifting Stories rabbit hole! Tap on this link to read our last edition, and fill your spirits lift with joy. 

Common Backyard Mold Found to Break Down Certain Plastics in Australian Experiment

Scientists and researchers at the University of Sydney have successfully used a common backyard mold to break down small samples of polypropylene, the stubborn plastic used to make takeout containers and hot beverage cups. 

Using two commonly found types of mold and exposing the plastic to UV rays or heat, Australian scientists saw the fungi breaking down the plastics in just 140 days - the fastest degradation (Breakdown) rate in reported literature. 

This could help with the low recycling rate of some plastics, which often end up in landfills or worse - the ocean. 

The University of Sydney scientists are trying to find a way to bring these findings to commercial use, as in the United States, only an average of 32% of all plastics are actually recycled or composted.

UK Shop Owner Gives Free Food to People Who Are Struggling

Originally from Pakistan, Gohar Discount Shop owner Shahid Gohar loves his 'wholesome community', and gives away free food to the people who need it. 

"There's lots of people who come in here who don't have enough money to pay, so I give them what they need. Every time. They will either give the money back to me someday or they won't, it's alright. It's stuff like milk, bread, biscuits, beans, can of chickpeas and fish." - Shahid Gohar

Gohar runs his shop in Leeds, a city in the United Kingdom. His shop is in one of the most deprived neighborhoods in the city, where people have a hard time affording basic items such as milk, bread and beans. Like many people, cost of living increases and lack of jobs are making it difficult to make ends meet.

Shahid keeps a positive attitude, always having a smile for locals and befriending other nearby shop owners. 

School Counselor Leads a "College Rejection Party" to Help Students Face Reality

A Los Angeles school gymnasium is decorated for a big party, complete with balloons, Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" blasting, and ice cream. 

There's also a large paper shredder at the front of the room, where students line up to run their college rejection letters through the machine, in front of everyone. 

While it may sound unusual, the students all look pretty happy. Choosing not to focus on what they didn't get - they are celebrating the fact that they are still college-bound, even if they didn't get into the college of their dreams. 

 "The rejection party is to take the sting out of college rejections because rejection is a part of life and it's time that people understand you don't always get a trophy."- Lynda McGee, Counselor

Many of these students did get accepted in to other post secondary institutions, something they can be proud of and grateful for, according to one of the students at the party. 

Former Barber Focuses on Spreading Kindness Through his YouTube Channel

Travis Settineri left his job as a barber to focus his time on spreading kindness via social media. 

This lead to an unlikely friendship with Rhonda McDaris, a woman he met for the first time at a local Publix supermarket, where she was asking for help getting some food. Travis offered to help, and came back with food items and some money to further help her out.

The two have been friends ever since, and really solidified their time together after he posted a video of Rhonda, who is wheelchair bound, having trouble crossing the street, because no one would stop for her. He went out to help.

The video went on to viral status, and Rhonda now receives fan mail and donations, which have gone to fix up the old blue bus she lives in. 

“I mean, she’s an internet sensation,” Settineri said.

“I still don’t understand it all,” said McDaris.

 Thanks to the success of his YouTube channel, Travis now plans to start a mobile barber shop to cut homeless people's hair in his area. You can watch more videos of Rhonda and Travis spreading kindness on his YouTube channel, TravisDoodles.

Kindness is Alive - Stranger Pays Family's Motel Bill

In this beautiful reminder that kindness is indeed alive and well - a mother recounts her story of how an anonymous stranger paid her family's motel bill after they stayed overnight in small town Chinchilla, in Queensland, Australia. 

Mom Michelle Macfarlane, her husband and their four children were on their way to a stellar family vacation, with a stopover in Chinchilla, population 7,000. Thanks to a selfless stranger, they will never forget their overnight at the local motel. When she approached the front desk the next morning to pay her bill and check out, the gentleman at the desk told her,

 “A gentleman was in here earlier and he likes to help people out. He saw that you were travelling with young children and he acknowledged how hard that is, so he paid for your accommodation. You owe nothing for the room you stayed in.”

Michelle says the experience has reminded her to look out for opportunities to help others in her day to day. 

Have a Great Week! 

And that wraps it up! What's your favorite story? Do you have one of your own to share? Let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us via our Instagram channel. 

Have a great week ahead and take care of each other. 

Photo by RDNE Stock project