Hello everyone, it's time for another edition of Weekly Uplifting Stories!
This week we have a group of nurses who experienced snow for the first time, a wildlife photography competition that really makes us laugh and a woman who gives empty chip bags a second life by turning them into sleeping bags for vulnerable people.
A dad handles a bullying situation a little differently, and a little boy surprises his father with a pretty snazzy shirt he made in sewing class.
We hope you enjoy our weekly foray into remembering that not everyone in the world means to do harm and not all news has to be scary and negative.
Do you remember when you experienced snowfall for the first time?
Three nurses, who hail from Ghana, had never seen snow in real life before, only on TV. Recently, from the windows of Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Ireland, where they now work, they watched the snow as they passed their shifts.
Finally, on a break, they were able to head outside to enjoy the magical experience themselves.
“I felt like a child. Inside, I had that childlike feeling of joy. I was excited because I have only seen snow on the TV, and it was really, really nice to see it and feel it for real. I just wanted to soak the moment in." - Adwoa Aninkore (Belfast Telegraph)
Adwoa Aninkore, Richmond Koomson and Freda Dowaah are among 20 nurses who came to Ireland in response to an international recruitment campaign in 2021.
The weather is something to get used to - as they have shifted from the warm climate of Ghana in Africa, (Where it gets rainy and dry, but not generally below 77F) to the colder weather in Northern Ireland.
A waving raccoon, a flying squirrel captured midair, a lion cub failing at climbing a tree - welcome to the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards!
This joyful annual competition is in its 9th year, and introduces all kinds of creatures, captured in silly and sometimes compromising positions.
Of the notable entries this year were a pair of smiling triggerfish, a yawning hippo who looks about to eat an unsuspecting heron and one penguin giving attitude to another.
“Through the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, we aim to widen understanding and engagement of a sustainable world - and wildlife conservation specifically - for the preservation of biodiversity and the health and enrichment of everyone on Earth.” - The Comedy Wildlife Mission
The free competition, open to wildlife photography novices, amateurs and professionals, both celebrates the humor of our natural world and stresses the issues these animals face, and the importance of conservation.
In 2020, Eradajere Oleita started what would become The Chip Bag Project after finding a Facebook video showing people how to make sleeping bags from empty chip bags.
Thinking of Detroit's most vulnerable population facing the cold winter nights, Oleita, who once experienced homelessness herself, started reaching out on Instagram for donations of empty chip bags, money or actual sleeping bags so she could start helping people in her city.
“We’re all humans who share this planet together, and it’s my obligation to make sure the person next to me has access to basic necessities,” Eradajere Oleita (Reader's Digest)
In 2022 alone, her initiative diverted 2.5 million pounds of foil lined bags from landfills. These made up 100 sleeping bags and 100 warming kits (Made up of hand warmers, gloves, socks and shower sheets.). It can take up to 14 hours to make one sleeping bag out of 150-300 empty chip bags and foil lined products.
Since then, her initiative has grown to include a core team of 10 volunteers, and a clear mission that goes beyond making sleeping bags.
A social justice and environmental advocate, Oleita has a vision for the future that includes expanding The Chip Bag Project to create green jobs, help vulnerable community members find resources and continue to raise awareness of and fight back against environmental racism.
In this sweet TikTok video, a young man presents his dad with a pretty awesome shirt - complete with 70s style lapels, button holes and a special sewing method on the back that remains unnamed (Are they darts? He doesn't know.).
Made in his sewing class, you can tell how happy the young man is to have made it for his dad - and by how pleased dad is when he tries it on and asks if he can wear it our for dinner.
We love to see this support for kids and their hobbies, and how dad asks a lot of questions and shows how proud of his son he is. Heartwarming!
You can watch the whole sweet video here.
After Patrick Forseth got a note from his 9-year-old son Lincoln's teacher that he had been part of a prank that embarrassed and hurt another child's feelings, he did something not a lot of other parents would think to do.
He engaged his son in a conversation about what happened, and how Lincoln might feel if it was him being pranked. He then encouraged Lincoln to come up with the solution.
“I demanded nothing out of him. I demanded no apology, I demanded no apology to the teacher. I told him that we have the opportunity to go back and make things right. We can't take things back, but we can try to correct things and look for forgiveness.” - Dad, Patrick Forseth (Upworthy.com)
Lincoln decided to go talk to the boy he was part of pranking, and after some discussion, it turned out they both had a passion for Pokemon cards. Lincoln later brought him two of his own Pokemon cards in a freshly cleansed case to present as a peace offering.
Hopefully, these stories remind you that there are a lot of people who care about you - even if they don't know you. From volunteers, to charities and even just every day people going out of their way to be friendly or do something courteous - these are the small gestures that make a big difference.
Now, go forth and be kind! We're wishing you a marvelous and positive week ahead.
In case you missed it, you can check out our Monthly Motivational Message for April - with our theme being 'Kindness'.
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