Despite all the hardships we experience, we have the ability to find joy and light again.
Acknowledge your resiliency. You are stronger than you think!
Through collective action, we can challenge perceptions, maintain hope, and create positive change in the world.
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. – Barack Obama
This week we bring you stories that show the power of collective action.
- A company recycles pre-loved toys
- A woman is challenging stereotypes about rural women
- A pilot reunites with the woman who gave him a second chance at life
- A project offers the exchange of anonymous letters
Positively Uplifting Stories | December 30th, 2024
Organization promotes a sustainable approach to toy shopping.
This London shop is on a mission to make toy shopping more eco-friendly.
“Loved Before” is a toy adoption agency that gives used stuffed animals a second life.
All the toys are repaired, thoroughly cleaned, and boxed up in sustainably sourced gift packaging.
Each toy also comes with a special note from its former owner, emphasizing the love it has already experienced.
What’s more, the company donates over 50% of all its profits to charity!
“So Loved Before are a totally one-of-a-kind stuffed animal rehoming center. And what we do is we take in stuffed animals that people are ready to pass on so that they don’t go into the bin,” said Charlotte Liebling, Founder & CEO of Loved Before.
This woman proves it’s never too late to follow your passion.
56-year-old Li Wenli is inspiring others to pursue their passions, regardless of their age.
Originally from a small Chinese village in Gansu province, Li Wenli has been working as a domestic worker in Beijing since 2017.
But she always wanted to explore her passion for art. So, she eventually stepped out of her comfort to hone her artistic skills.
Now she is a writer, painter, and stage performer. She has created over 500 paintings and nearly 200,000 words of literature. In 2023, she became the lead dancer in the dance drama “Gala,”.
“We are not just domestic workers that know nothing; we are people with dreams and aspirations,” said Li Wenli.
Heartwarming video captures the moment a man reunited with the woman who saved his life eight years ago.
David Whitson, a United Airlines pilot, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2016, but a bone marrow donation from Allie Reimold saved his life. This life-saving gift led to a beautiful bond between the two strangers.
Through the years, David and Allie have stayed in touch.
Recently, Allie was on a flight from Houston to Newark, when David, who had piloted a separate flight that landed in Houston, rushed to meet Allie before her flight took off.
He shared his transplant story over the plane’s PA system. The passengers applauded and cheered for Allie as David embraced her in a warm hug.
“I just wanted to say hello and give her a big hug. It’s not every day you can hug the person that saved your life,” said David.
Anonymous letters are helping people explore authentic human connection.
This public installation in New York City allows people to write anonymous letters, and in exchange, read one written by someone else.
Everyone is welcome to submit their innermost thoughts, confessions, or hopes for the future.
The unsent letter mailbox provides a safe place for people to share what’s on their minds and express their deep feelings. Also, by reading other people’s stories, participants feel more connected and less alone in their struggles.
“They connect everybody together. It’s just a beautiful thing,” said Nadia, a participant.
Thank You and Have a Beautiful Week!
Sometimes it seems like all we see is the negative aspects of humanity. But there are plenty of uplifting stories waiting to be told, you just have to look for them in a different place. We bet there are examples all around if you stop and look for them.
The person holding the door for someone else. The co-worker who just donated blood for the 100th time. The lady down the street who gives everyone a Christmas card. There is kindness all around us.
