A Plea for Peace and Common Sense

I have a few requests for you all…

1. Please, PLEASE VOTE. Don’t think that your vote doesn’t matter, because if it was going to matter in any election, it does now. I am not going to tell you who to vote for, but please just do it. Need a ride? Find a friend to give you one, search your area for one of the free services giving voters rides to the polls. Whatever you need to do, just vote.

 

2. Regardless of the outcome of the election, PLEASE HONOR THE RESULTS. This is a democracy. Whatever you think about how this election process works, it’s how it has evolved over the life of our country. It’s messed up, I know, but it’s ours. Honor the results. Your fellow Americans will have voiced their opinions and we all live in this country together.

 

3. If you’re not happy with the results of the election, PEACEFULLY PROTEST – if you must. Put the political wheels in motion to change things going forward. DO NOT RESORT TO VIOLENCE.. No riots. No torches and pitchforks. Grit your teeth, move forward, and figure out what YOU can do to change things going forward. 

4. BE KIND. Please don’t let the hate, misogyny, racism, and overall ugliness that has pervaded this election to become the new norm for America. While it would be really awesome if we all loved one another, I’d settle for some tolerance and kindness.

5.  SPREAD THE WORD. Encourage your friends, families, coworkers, or neighbors to honor the election process, to honor the rights of their fellow citizens, and to react with common sense, peace and civility to the results of this election. Do not let our country go down in flames over two people. You can help make America positive again.

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40 Days of Good News: Epilogue

Photo by Tricia Griffith

I spent the last few weeks trying to adjust my focus a bit. The constant barrage of violence, suffering, and hateful politics had kind of reached a point for me where my already elevated stress levels were reaching overload. I needed some good news, and maybe a lot of it.

The arrival of the Christian season of Lent was my inspiration for 40 Days of Good News. Instead of giving up chocolate (inconceivable!!) or something like that for 40 days, I just wanted to dial back how much I looked at the news and went on an angry tirade or felt horror or despair. I wanted to know – despite the media barrage of bad news – good things were still happening in the world.

Good things are still happening in the world, though it might be kind of hard to tell. While it wasn’t impossible, I found it depressingly difficult to find the kind of good news I was looking for. I wanted to go beyond the light, cheery news of dogs getting reunited with their humans and cats having cool jobs. Yes, I did find one cat with a cool job. I also shared a fair amount of news about animals and nature because those are things that make me happy.

What was I looking for in terms of good news? I was looking for stories of people making a positive differences to each other and our planet. I was looking for signs that Earth isn’t hurtling towards mass destruction. I was searching for people who care about something. I wanted to get past racism, hatred, violence and pain. In addition, I added in a few things that maybe help readers find a little bit of hope and peace of their own, whether it’s good news around chocolate, meditation, or massage.

The ugly didn’t stop during these 40 days, of course. I didn’t stop watching the news or reading things that made me angry. Trying to live a positive life doesn’t mean that it’s always going to be wine and roses. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t people out there living hateful, angry lives that are bound to bump into yours on a regular basis. All we can do is look for the positive in a situation or look somewhere else, and do what we can to spread hope, peace, change, and maybe a little education along the way.

May you continue to find even just a little good news each day …

Love & Light ~ Tricia

 

Good News Day 38: Tesco to Give All Unsold Food to Charity in its 800 UK Supermarkets

The third largest retailer in the world has taken a revolutionary step towards ending hunger in Europe.

Source: Tesco to Give All Unsold Food to Charity in its 800 UK Supermarkets

Good News Day 35: Soup Kitchen Is Set Up Like A Restaurant So Homeless Can Dine With Dignity

One organization has souped up the traditional soup kitchen.

Kansas City Community Kitchen in Kansas City, Missouri, serves food restaurant-style to homeless people, a process which includes greeters, waiters and a side of respect.

Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kansas-city-community-kitchen-restaurant-style-soup-homeless

Good News Day 31: This Humanitarian in Nigeria Has Us Under Her Spell

Credit: Awomkenneth

While witch hunting is a shameful part of American history, in Nigeria, it is a deeply engraved part of their culture that concentrates primarily on children. Even though it is illegal to persecute “witches,” the practice is still widespread and other countries see it as a human rights violation. Humanitarian Anja Ringgren Loven is in the midst of the persecution, attempting to save and provide protection to children accused of witchcraft.

Read more here: http://the-daily.buzz/humanitarian-nigeria-under-spell/2/

Good News Day 30: Chef Wins Reality Show and Uses Money To Feed Chicago Homeless

We’ve got an appetite for any story about feeding the homeless.

Source: Chef Wins Reality Show and Uses Money To Feed Chicago Homeless

Good News Day 28: 5th-Graders Ditch Recess For Sign Language Club So They Can Chat With Deaf Classmate

For these students, connecting with a classmate was far more important than playtime.

Rhemy Elsey, a fifth-grader at Mark Bills Middle School in Peoria, Illinois, is deaf and primarily uses sign language to communicate, along with the help of an interpreter, WMBD reported. Some of his fellow fifth-graders decided to give up their recess once a week to form an American Sign Language club in order to chat more effectively with Rhemy.

Read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fifth-graders-ditch-recess-for-sign-language-club-so-they-can-chat-with-deaf-classmate_us_56d06c1ee4b0bf0dab31c1cc?pbx=25&te=Upworthy

Good News Day 19: Doctor Brings Caring on Campus With Mobile Medical Van for Homeless Teens

This doctor delivers health care to poor and homeless teens who may otherwise never see the inside of a doctor’s office.

Source: Doctor Brings Caring on Campus With Mobile Medical Van for Homeless Teens

Good News Day 17: One Man Playing Music for the Homeless

Musician Chris Leamy seems to be one of those lucky artists who has found solid footing in the music industry.

Source: Why one man is playing music for the homeless

Good News Day 14: How One Middle School Cut Discipline Referrals By 98 Percent in Just One Year

Redland revitalized the overall school climate by responding to the unique needs of middle schoolers.

Source: How One Middle School Cut Discipline Referrals By 98 Percent in Just One Year