“I couldn’t tell you my first thought, I just fell over on the floor,” said Angilee Wallis, when finding out that her son, Terry Wallis, had awaken from a 19-year old comatose slumber.

Wallis, 39 had been in an accident in July of 1984 when a car he was a passenger in plunged into a creek. The driver of the vehicle, Terry’s friend, died. Mr Wallis was discovered by rescuers a day later, but at that point, was comatose.

He literally floored his family by speaking suddenly almost a month ago. The first words uttered from Terry? “He started out with ‘Mom’ and then it was ‘Pepsi’ and then it was ‘milk,’” said Alesha Badgley, Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center social director.

“And now it’s anything he wants to say,” says mother Angilee.

Doctors at the rehabilitation center said Terry’s recovery might be due in part to his family taking him out at weekends and special occasions.

“The doctor said that’s why he remembers things; we might have kept his mind going,” Sandi Wallis said.

When you think your presence doesn’t mean much in other’s lives, think again. We are constant forms of energy, sharing and recharging one another. If someone you know is ill or down, remember that even your mere presence makes a difference in his or her life.

Send us a sample of your positive news. We’d be happy to post it. It doesn’t matter how small or large, we’d love to hear from you!

Is it possible to have a love/hate relationship with the holidays? I think so. Let’s get the negative out of the way: commercialism runs rampant, stress levels increase, we overeat and overindulge and somehow, time spent with our families isn’t exactly the way we envisioned it after watching The Walton’s Christmas Special.

The commercialism alone can be a major impediment, especially during these trying economic times. We’re being encouraged to “spend” as if we haven’t spent enough bailing out these huge corporations! Merry Christmas, Fannie Mae! We shouldn’t have to spend in order to aid our economy at this point. We should be concerned about the people who have been outspending us for many years and with many millions of dollars.

But okay - enough of the negative. This is a positive news site after all! What I’m advocating is a holiday of thanks giving…and not just Thanksgiving! Every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas (or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate) give thanks to one aspect of your life daily.

Today I’m grateful for the quiet in my neighborhood. I live in a town near the sea and at night, it becomes so quiet. It really calms me and helps me think clearly. When I sleep, I sleep soundly and I feel safe. My soul enjoys the silence.

Get the drift? It doesn’t have to be major. Choose something seemingly small to celebrate. Move toward the “high ticket items” like loved ones and homes, etc. But for the next few weeks, be grateful. You’ll be amazed how this alone transforms your life and thinking.

Remember: one small gratitude a day!

Positive News Begins with You!

If you have any thanks you’d like to give, send it our way!

According to Haley Stern, the project started simply enough. Her cousin was coming in for a visit and wanted to see the world-renowned Bronx Zoo. When they went to see the “Congo Gorilla Forest,” it was love at first site.

According to Haley:

Deep in my heart something told me that these gentle creatures needed me. One day, my parents rented “Gorillas in the Mist” for me to watch, but during the poaching scenes, I couldn’t believe that was ACTUALLY happening!? I was so terrified, my parents and I adopted “Kubana”, an infant mountain gorilla. But, I had a feeling I had more of a part to play, being an animal lover and all.

I decided to start a school club “Kids Save Apes” that would include a small group (3 to 5 members!) of close friends that would go around raising awareness. We all had our favorite types of apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, or gibbons), so we researched them and decided to put our work on a website (http://www.freewebs.com/kidssaveapes ). And boy, word spread.

It all happened so fast, but now, we have 20+ members, from all over the world. We have KSA-UK (our United Kingdom Branch), KSA-CA (Canadian Branch), KSA Tanzania (our Tanzania, Africa, branch) and we have USA members in Vermont, New York, Florida, California, and Massachusetts. So far we have raised $1000 (with credit from our partners, Ape Aware and G.O.P.G).

On May 3rd we had a fundraiser, and we hoped to raise $800 to adopt 14 apes and make a generous donation of $100 to the Great Ape Trust (http://www.iowagreatapes.org)

During the rest of the year, we will be presenting at a Roots and Shoots (http://www.rootsandshoots.org) fair, and meeting Dr. Jane Goodall PhD- a great hero in the activist world. We have also been discussing projects we can do with our Tanzanian Branch, such as tree planting in Tanzania. We also hope to fully update our website. One thing we hope to do is touch a poacher’s life, so he’ll put down his knife - even just one poacher. Our main goal is to save the apes from extinction - maybe even from being endangered.

There is often a natural affinity between children and animals. This affinity, for Haley, has meant actual change. We can only imagine the good she’ll do for the animal kingdom as she gets older.

Haley Stern and friend with Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist

If you have any positive news or comments you’d like to share, drop us a line!

Many of us are creatures of habit. We drive to the grocery store, even though its a ten-minute walk or 5-minute bike ride. We forget how simply taking our bike to work wakes our bodies up and enlivens us in addition to helping the environment. And while fuel prices are at an all-time high, we still often jump in the car for the simplest of tasks.

When Tian Harter started his “Don’t be Fuelish” campaign as a way to promote bicycle commuting, he never knew it would become such a huge success.

“I just wouldn’t have predicted a few years ago when I started producing my bumper stickers that I’d be seeing $4/gallon gas so soon.” he comments.

He soon formed an allegiance with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition as a way to promote “Bike to Work Day”. Together, this group of bike afficianados set up close to 50 stations (called “Energizer Stations”) which provides the bicycling commuters refreshments, give aways and plain old encouragement.

Every year in California’s Santa Clara County, this group of bike enthusiasts sets up nearly 50 “Energizer Stations” to provide free refreshments, give-aways, bicycling information, and encouragement to thousands of bicyclists on their way to work in California’s Santa Clara County.

His philosophy is to make everyone who breaks free from the fuel trap feel special and noticed on a community level. Local businesses are happy to donate as well, so the prizes these bicyclists receive are often quite substantial, like a free dinner or discounted sports equipment.

In addition, Tian and friends work with local heavyweights like Google and Yahoo as well as major government and community agencies, whom also help foster a “commuter bike approach” with their employees.

“Bike to Work Day,” which started 14 years ago in San Francisco, has now spread nationwide. Bicycle friendly cities from across the U.S. participate, increasing the public awareness and importance of moving away from fuel-reliance.

“Whether you drive or ride, please remember…share the road!”

And share your comments with us! We’d love to hear your positive news!

http://www.bikeleague.org

http://www.sfbike.org

It began in a papermaking studio in Burlington, Vermont. Drew Cameron and Drew Matott wanted to figure out a way to aid return vets from Iraq to process and assimilate their experience. They experimented with shredding old military uniforms and found they could make paper from it.

This is how the Combat Paper project began.

Since then, the pair has toured Combat Paper throughout the U.S., where soldiers were invited to bring their old uniforms and transform it into paper.

The two Drews rationale?

That this transformative process would aid the soldiers in processing their experience. If the soldier could see how an old uniform, which may have carried negative connotations for them, into something positive, then he or she could see the process of internal transformation as well, via art therapy.

Combat Paper also allowed veterans from all across the country to meet and share their experiences, transformative and healing process in and of itself.

“Most of the time the veterans have never met. It’s amazing to see how much they have in common.”

- Drew Matott

What do you think about turning negative into positive news via art therapy?

We’d love to hear from you!

Art Therapy - Positive News for Vets

The Elizabeth Gregory Home in Seattle is for women who are in serious transition in their life. Many of these women have been homeless or close to it before entering this program. This special house offers housing and programs for 2 years, helping women to get back on their feet again.

Unfortunately, it was running into financial problems of their own, falling $30,000 short needed in order to operate. This would spell disaster for up to 8 women who would be asked to leave, due to this shortfall. They were in serious need of some positive news.

The story ran in The Seattle Times and unleashed a wave of generosity. One resident who chose to remain anonymous, donated $30,000. She recalled times in her life being a paycheck away from the street and felt that now, it was her time to give back. But it didn’t stop there. The checks kept pouring in: one for $30,000, another for $10,000, $1,000, 500 - to reach a grand total of $130,000!

Executive director, Kimberly Jackson, has this to say:

“The response has just been overwhelming, beyond anything I could have foreseen or imagined. To say that we’re appreciative doesn’t even begin to describe the thankfulness we feel or the joy the women expressed when they were told they could stay in their home.”

And as one donor put it:

“I looked around my family room and my own yard — reminding me of my many comforts and blessings. Every bird deserves a safe, clean nest.”

Positivity is definitely something the world can use more of.? It is so easy to get caught up in the negative messages we receive from press, friends, and associates that we lose sight of the good things in life.? We are here.? We are able to logically think, and critically analyze our world, our life, our decisions.? We can make a difference.? Leaders are not born or made, they evolve from people who learn from mistakes and take an active role in the world around them.? ? We, through our actions, influence others.?

Today, as you go through your day-to-day tasks, look inwardly and ask yourself, is the example you are leading with bringing more positive energy and results to the world and people around you?? If not, what can you do to change?

As Maya Angelou once said, “If you don’t like something change it.? If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

I’m going to work to change my attitude and find more positives in a world flooded with negatives.? Care to join me?

It is easy, at times, to be wrapped up in our own little worlds.? It is easy, to remain uninterested in those that we don’t personally know or have any real connection to.? It is easy, just to keep going in the same tracks that you have walked in past years.?

It is easy, no doubt about that.? But, is it satisfying?? This year, as 2007 gets underway, I would challenge anyone and everyone to find one thing that is outside their normal scope and pursue making a difference.? There are so many worthy causes we can become a part of.? Whether you have a few hours a week that you can read to an elderly resident in a nursing home or someone confined to their own home; or perhaps, you have a few dollars left at the end of your week that you can donate to a charitable organization — it doesn’t matter.? What does matter is that you do something.?

Our world is a great place to be.? We have the power to make it even greater.? One person at a time, working together to make a difference.? Now that’s a New Year’s Resolution, we can be proud of.

This has been my mantra for the 22 years I have been working to get my college diploma.? It is never too late.? This past week, my family agreed as they watched me graduate.? It was a great feeling to have finally accomplished such a big goal.?

I read this week of a 100 year old man, Marvin L. “Hub” Northen, that also received? his diploma from Baylor University.? The man had left the university during the Great Depression? because he needed to work to help care for his family.? When he left, he was one chemistry credit shy of? graduation and somehow never made it back to finish the degree.? The school decided that the diploma was in order.?

The Associated Press reported that, “According to Glenn Hilburn, the retired chair of Baylor’s religion department, Northen has been participating in a class that can be substituted for the Chemistry 101 class he never took.

‘He’s passed this substitute class with a grade of A-plus without even knowing it,’ Hilburn said. ‘It’s Life 101. He’s mastered that course and mastered it well.’”

Congratulations Mr. Northen on a job well done!? Without even realizing it, you have also proven that it is never too late.

When Austin was age 9, all he wanted to do was make his schools’? basketball team.? He didn’t make it.? So, he decided to learn more about where his penpal lived instead.? What he found was startling.? Austin learned? that as a result of the AIDs epidemic in Africa about 15 million children had been orphaned.? Not knowing exactly what he could do, Austin put together what he called a hoop-a-thon (like a walk-a-thon but it involves shooting free thows? instead) on World AIDs day.? ? That day, Austin? shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during the period of time that Austin would be in school.? He took pledges from the community and when it was all said and done, Austin’s first attempt at fund raising raised? $3,000 which he then donated to World Vision to help take care of orphaned children.? ?

That was three years ago.? Each year this program has continued to grow as other children (and adults) have taken their shot at the freethrow lines.? The project has become a national movement and this year Austin hoped to do something? much bigger — in that he wanted to help build a school so that the children would have a chance to improve their lives.? ? As of last week, Austin and his? organization, www.hoopsofhope.org,? raised $100,000.? Working again in conjunction with World Vision, Austin was more than happy to announce that a schedule has been approved to build a new school in Zambia this spring.? ? ?

It only goes to prove that no one is too young to make a difference.? ?