The "Tell Me Something Good" Feel-Good Winners Thread

[Zaya]

Hey lovely folks!

It's a beautiful Monday morning, and I'm sipping my coffee contemplating the volatile state our world is in now... and I'm thinking... I shouldn't be giving this any of my energy right now. The world doesn't need more negativity. :thumb:

:love:All you need is LOVE.:luv:

Many people here at Avalon have been wondering what we can do to "fix the world" to "help the situation" etc. Well, the big truth is none of us really know. And that is ok not to know. But I see questions all the time like "How can we help?" etc.

I think we can help by creating a little tiny nook in the crevice of an avalon forum where the entire function is to spread positive energy to those who seek it.

Something good happen to you today? A small personal win? Did your puppy finally ask you to let him out to pee for the first time? Did you finally break some kind of small or large goal you set for yourself? Did you hear from an old friend who you love? SHARE IT!

Did you read something POSITIVE in the news? Show us the article! Did you seriously appreciate the kindness of another forum member or a friend or family member? Did you just want to say hello and that you are happy to be here? SHARE IT HERE!

There is no limit to the guidelines as long as it is decidedly POSITIVE. This thread should serve as a place of respite where one could get away from negativity for a short moment. Post pictures, songs, thoughts, stories, articles, poems, just thoughts, appreciations, gratitude, you name it!

SPREAD THOSE GOOD VIBES AROUND!

We all deserve that! I'll start...

I have the sweetest cat in the world, and he was a stray from outside. I knew he missed being out there, but I don't want him to run away or get hurt, so I bought him a leash this week so that he could go outside and play with the bunnies and birds. Despite the fact that most cats will freak out on a leash, he immediately adapted and gets to chase the bunnies around and feel the grass on his paws. HE IS SO HAPPY! So I am happy. Feels so good to see him in his element. He has been even more affectionate than usual because of it. :smile:

[betoobig]

I do have it all... Allready 14years with my wife and we are so much in love, deep conection. All my kids, 4, are awesome. Plus, now i have a place called avalon project in which i can feel no fear of talking Real issues. Thanks to all... Love

[Pam]

My dear Zaya, what a great idea.

I am very grateful that yesterday, at a cat adoption event we found homes for 3 cats. One of them was old with a few problems and he now has a nice home. Someone realized that he would be hard to adopt out and decided to choose him rather than the cute kittens that were available. It gave me a glimpse of the goodness in the world.

[Zaya]

My dear Zaya, what a great idea.

I am very grateful that yesterday, at a cat adoption event we found homes for 3 cats. One of them was old with a few problems and he now has a nice home. Someone realized that he would be hard to adopt out and decided to choose him rather than the cute kittens that were available. It gave me a glimpse of the goodness in the world.

http://lovemeow.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/cats.jpg

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/love-cats/love-cat-1.jpg

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQmAPpPoXD5KtIWWIwloZzgrarbx4G-BzRvjvlYcZOUiDGmAJPsZQ

http://dobrador.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/212232201159887970_HDpbPGHS_f.jpg

I have mad cat love, y'all! HOORAY for lots of happy and loved cats this weekend!!

[Cognitive Dissident]

Lovely idea for a thread. Some good news from around the internet:

http://www.goodnewsindia.com/

http://www.dailygood.org/

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

[grannyfranny100]

I wish Bill and the mods would add a new category, good news category. Until now four of us have tried to start positive posts. We need such a category to help people understand that we are making progress and to motivate people to join groups that are making a difference.

[jc71]

My 12 year old son burst into uncontrollable laughter this evening for no particular reason and it was delightful to hear. Just joyful to be alive with his Dad and brother, and with his Mum arriving home from holiday tomorrow. Simple as that :)

[doodah]

Hello Zaya and all,

Thank you so much for this thread! Let us speak of what is good and holy here! Hooray. Thank you. :)

Small story: I've planted organic vegetable gardens, as I do every year. But every year there is something different happening in the gardens, some new problem to solve. This year it has been the sudden appearance of small fuzzy light yellow caterpillars that I've never seen before. They have been eating everything - many of the leaves have huge holes in them. I have been patrolling the garden morning and evening, picking them off and (excuse me for having to say this) dispatching them to a different level of existence. Each time I remove one I say to it: "Please communicate to your brothers and sisters that they have plenty to eat in the forest, they don't need my garden." Within a week, all of the caterpillars have disappeared. Hooray! Now the plants can get on with being their beautiful selves.

[RunningDeer]

Last week, while out for a walk there was a service truck with it’s parking lights left on. I’m familiar with the truck because if it’s not on the road, it’s parked it in a mall shopping lot. Aside from the license plate, the only identifier was a web address to the main company, and that the person was an independent contractor.

With a bit of creative googling, and gut-guestimation, I came up with four possible names within the local area. I dialed the first number and explained to the lady on the other end. She didn’t respond. So I told her I could give her the license plate in case she though it was a crank call. If not, I’d try the next number on my list. That’s when she told me it was her son’s truck, and was appreciative that I took the time to track him down.

Now, every time I pass by the truck or by it’s empty parking spot, I can’t help but feel a part of a family business.

<3

[Octavusprime]

Life isn't just about success....

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn212/octavusprime/fail-better_zps9f91f1be.jpg (http://s305.photobucket.com/user/octavusprime/media/fail-better_zps9f91f1be.jpg.html)

[Chrysalis]

Have been struggling at work lately...new hierarchical restructuring is not sitting well. Today a new employee came to me and asked for advice, which I gave to her with a smile and the utmost sincerity, my animosity toward recent developments notwithstanding. When I saw the relief and gratitude in her eyes, I decided to let my personal judgements go.

And that made me happy.

Nice thread, thank you.
<3

[grannyfranny100]

Vermont stood up to the corporate mind set. They are the first state to actually pass a bill that GMO foods must be admitted in their product labels. Now they need everyone's support.

"The GMA {Grocery Manufacturers Association}, whose 300-plus members include Monsanto, Coca-Cola, and General Mills, is also pushing a Congressional bill called the "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014.11. The bill, dubbed the "DARK" (Denying Americans the Right to Know) Act, would actually preempt all states from passing GMO labeling laws.

They're actually trying to take away individual state's rights – which were encouraged by our constitution. The constitution was meant to prevent federal superpowers becoming corrupted, and from creating an authoritarian, fascist federal government. We've watched our individual and state rights deteriorate over many decades, succumbing to these enormous industry powers, and this is probably one of the biggest, most blatant overreaches yet."

Read more of Dr Mercola's article http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/06/24/honest-tea-gmo-labeling.aspx?e_cid=20140624Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140624Z1&et_cid=DM48534&et_rid=563518430. As he states, boycotts work and emails to your Congress members might help, too. Heck, copy his article and tape it up in the Honest Tea (owned by Coke) display in your grocery store.

Vermont stood up and we need to support them to gain even more sense that we are accomplishing and achieving success. You won't be getting loving hugs and kisses from your young children but when they grow up, they won't be asking why you didn't do anything.:israel:

[Zaya]

I had a small personal victory at work today. We get quarterly evaluations and it is always very very stressful for me. Today, my boss told me that I scored my highest scores yet, and that my feedback was awesome!

I have some confidence issues from time to time so this was very uplifting for me.

[TODD & NORA]

..........

[RunningDeer]

There’s a place where members can assist each other to put out the word on time sensitive issues.

There’s a sticky for the thread in the 'General' section, which is called, “Message Board: Avalonians Request Our Help (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?72502-Message-Board-Avalonians-Request-Our-Help&p=847415&viewfull=1#post847415)”.

RunningDeer <3

[onawah]

Nice thread! I started one of these too, but I guess the timing wasn't right.
Here's my good news for today:
6_nFuJAF5F0
http://www.lifebuzz.com/old-scrapbook/#!8afG9

Sir Nicholas Winton is a humanitarian who organized a rescue operation that saved the lives of 669 Jewish Czechoslovakia children from Nazi death camps, and brought them to the safety of Great Britain between the years 1938-1939.

After the war, his efforts remained unknown. But in 1988, Winston’s wife Grete found the scrapbook from 1939 with the complete list of children’s names and photos. This is a clip of a video where Sir Nicholas Winton is sitting in an audience of Jewish Czechoslovakian people who he saved 50 years before.

Also, for Avalon cat lovers, do you know about the Kittens! thread? http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?65087-Kittens-

[RunningDeer]

Vermont Officially Passes GMO Labeling Bill, Monsanto Announces Lawsuit

[article (http://themindunleashed.org/2014/05/vermont-officially-passes-gmo-lableing-bill-monsanto-announces-lawsuit.html)]

This past Thursday, Vermont’s governor finally acted on what he has been saying for a while, and has now signed a bill into law that will require the labeling of genetically modified foods in Vermont. This is the first law in the nation that will require labeling of GMO foods without a ‘trigger’ from other states for it to go into effect. By July 2016, any food produced with GMO ingredients must be labeled. The news is awesome, but will big biotech really let this happen?

“Vermonters take our food and how it is produced seriously, and we believe we have a right to know what’s in the food we buy,” said Gov. Peter Shumlin. “More than 60 countries have already restricted or labeled these foods, and now one state — Vermont — will also ensure that we know what’s in the food we buy and serve our families.”

Unfortunately, it may not be so easy.

Monsanto, GMA, Dupont Will Sue over GMO Labeling Bill

Literally hours after Governor Peter Shumlin (D-Vt), signed a mandatory GMO labeling law into effect (http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/health/vermont-gmo-labeling/) in Vermont, the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association (GMA), headed by Monsanto & Dupont, announced that they plan to sue Vermont to prevent the bill from being implemented.

This is an outrageous but expected attempt (http://www.theglobaldispatch.com/vermont-passes-gmo-labeling-law-monsanto-and-dupont-set-to-sue-34635/) for Big Ag and biotech to overrun state’s rights. The people of Vermont have barely had an opportunity to crack the champagne bottles open. In a statement passed just prior to signing the bill Gov. Shumlin said:

“I am proud of Vermont for being the first state in the nation to ensure that Vermonters will know what is in their food. The Legislature has spoken loud and clear through its passage of this bill. I wholeheartedly agree with them and look forward to signing this bill into law.”

The leading producers of GMO crops, and their accompanying pesticides and herbicides, Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer, Syngenta, et.al, won’t let this bill get traction without a fight, but activists everywhere are prepared to meet the challenge.

The state even expected Big Ag to come out fighting with their ill-gotten and illegal money, allocating $1.5 million to a legal defense fund meant to make sure they don’t get their way. This money will be used to defend the legislation.

Unfortunately, this is a paltry sum compared to the $22 million the GMA, and companies like Monsanto, Dupont, Kraft, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and others contributed to defeating similar labeling bills in Washington and California.

“There is no doubt that there are those who will work to derail this common-sense legislation,” Shumlin said. “But I believe this bill is the right thing to do and will gain momentum elsewhere after our action here in Vermont.”

According to the center for Food Safety, over 23 states currently have active GMO labeling bills, and 32 bills have been introduced just since January of this year. On Thursday morning, another bill that would require genetically modified food labeling passed through the New York Assembly. Maine and Connecticut currently have labeling bills on the books, but they require nearby states to also pass labeling bills to go into effect.

It is impressive that the state of Vermont is willing to stand up to these criminals where the FDA was not able or willing to due to infiltration. There are leaked files (http://naturalsociety.com/us-start-trade-wars-with-nations-opposed-to-monsanto-gmo-crops/) that detail just how many US diplomats work for Monsanto, and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Anne Veneman) was on the Board of Directors of Monsanto’s Calgene Corporation. The list goes on.

This is more than a conflict of interest. GMOs have been proven to kill people and harm the natural world. State’s have every legal right not only to demand to know what is in their food, but to ban ingredients that are well-known to be toxic and harmful.

Although Vermont will make a valiant effort with their $1.5 million to fight these corporations with no ethics or morals, we, the people, will need to be more vocal than ever. Host a sit in. march on Monsanto’s footsteps. Boycott all companies of the GMA – including Frito Lay, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Kraft, and all their products. If we help Vermont pass this bill, we can upset the apple cart and be sure we are eating real apples in the future, instead of genetically engineered Frankenfood.

Credits: **Written by Christina Sarich of naturalsociety.com, where this was originally featured.

[Zaya]

This 11 year old kid is amazing and gives me hope! I want to high five his parents because clearly they are doing parenting right.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/zacks-shack-lemonade_n_5545062.html


Boy's Charity Lemonade Stand Has Donated 330 Wheelchairs To People In Need

Most children are concerned with only the simpler things in life, leaving the tough stuff for grown-ups.

But Zack Francom, 11, is not your ordinary child. The Provo, Utah, kid launched a charitable lemonade stand when he was 6 years old. Now, having just finished its fourth year, it has raised enough money to buy 332 wheelchairs for people in developing countries.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1886631/thumbs/o-ZACKS-SHACK-570.jpg?6

After Zack's school held a fundraiser challenging each class to raise $86 to buy a wheelchair for people with disabilities who couldn't afford one, he was inspired to create his own charity initiative, Deseret News reported.

He created Zack’s Shack, a namesake lemonade stand, that runs over one weekend annually and raises money that is donated to LDS Philanthropies, the charitable arm of the Mormon church. The organization, which had also been the donation channel for his school, then sends the wheelchairs to 55 different countries such as Guatemala, where a wheelchair may cost more than a year’s salary.

"I know people in wheelchairs," he told Deseret News, "and it's sad when they don't have one. They can't move, and they're not respected when they don't have one."

Zack’s Shack sells lemonade for 50 cents a cup and cookies at a two for $1. The simple lemonade stand’s success has inspired Zack to dream even bigger. He told People.com that he would love to see other kids expand his idea into other states and actually visit the people he's helping.

"My goal is to fly around the world someday and hand out the wheelchairs," he said.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2o_8ZUb690