I found this story in the New York Times particularly touching. Many of us have heard horror stories about the meanness of girls to other girls in schools but just as often, there are nice girls among the midst, hopefully balancing out the scene. Take a moment, please:

My daughter Kate loves horses, her violin and, above all else, her friends. She also happens to have been born with dwarfism, a condition that makes her smaller than other kids. She will always be smaller. Kate’s fine with that. She doesn’t give it much thought, really. But I’ve become increasingly full of dread that her generation of mean girls will eventually stop accepting her for who she is, seize upon her obvious difference and just destroy her.

Kate goes to a school in St. Paul that teaches grades 1 through 8 (she’s a second grader), and when I was there for a parent-teacher conference a few months ago, I noticed the older girls traveling in packs, whispering, laughing with mockery at whichever poor victim they were savaging at the time. I didn’t know these girls, but I didn’t like them.

Next afternoon, I was riding the No. 63 bus home from work. At the stop after mine, five pretty, well-dressed teenage girls got on and sat right behind me. I wished I hadn’t forgotten my headphones that day because I didn’t want to hear the horrible things these girls were inevitably about to say. They talked nonstop.

“Hey, is it O.K. if Rachel comes with us on Friday?”

“O.K. But I don’t think I know her. Do I?”

“She’s my friend from that summer program. She’s really funny, I think you’d like her.”

“Great! I’m looking forward to meeting her!”

It seemed to me they actually talked like this. Flattering descriptions and anecdotes about Rachel followed. Miraculously, this conversation was conducted without sarcasm. Was I missing something? Wasn’t Rachel going to be ripped for being five pounds overweight or wearing the wrong shoes? I didn’t turn around, but I leaned back and listened closer.

“Sometimes I don’t think I’m as racially sensitive as I should be.”

“Well, we all have to work on that. But it’s a huge step to recognize it.”

“Thanks!”

Down North Smith we rode, past the hospital, up Grand. The girls talked in overlapping bursts and lots of sentence fragments, a little too loudly, but everything was friendly and positive. These weren’t mean girls. These were nice girls. As we passed over the freeway, I capitalized the Nice Girls in my mind to give them a title, to make them a team in the hope they would stay together. I needed them around when Kate got older. Maybe she could join them! Maybe they could get jackets made!

Read more….

The concept of a message in the bottle is heady and sweet. Perhaps because it represents the messages we toss out into the world every day, hoping that a certain someone will read it, understand it, understand you, connect with you, against all odds.

Over two decades ago, a German five-year-old threw a message in a bottle into the Baltic Sea from a ferry during a family holiday to Denmark. Now a 13-year-old Russian boy has found the missive, to the delight of the original letter-writer.

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Thirteen-year-old Daniil Korotkikh was walking on a beach in Russia when he saw a bottle in the sand.

It turned out to be 24 years old, having been thrown by a young boy off a ship in the Baltic Sea nearly a quarter century ago, the Associated Press reported. And it had a message inside, written in German.

The letter said: “My name is Frank and I’m five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you.”

Reporters tracked down the letter-writer Frank Uesbeck, now 29, from the address in Coesfeld, Germany which was on the letter. Uesbeck’s parents still live in the town.

“At first I didn’t believe it,” Uebeck told the AP, explaining how he barely remembered the trip. “He’ll definitely get another letter from me.” The two long-distance correspondents have since met via the Internet, after Daniil wrote his own letter to Frank.

Daniil found the bottle on a beach on the Curonian Spit, on the Baltic Sea coast, part of which belongs to Russia’s Kaliningrad region and part to Lithuania. The boy said he found it hard to believe that the bottle was so old and theorized it had been buried in the sand the whole time. “It would not have survived in the water all that time,” he said.

When the two met online earlier this month, Uesbeck gave his new address to Daniil. He said he would write back when he gets a letter from the youngster.

mdm — with wire reports

Just stumbled across this on Gimundo today….and wow! Some amazing websites to check out. Ben Franklin’s schedule alone is mind-blowing!

1. Ben Franklin’s daily schedule [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickbilton/3779169741/
   Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocals, the lightning rod, and the first odometer, and helped draft the Constitution, among his many feats. He’s probably one of the most productive people of all time—so there’s a lot we can all learn from his daily schedule. Each morning, follow Ben’s example and ask yourself: “What good shall I do this day?”
2. CNN Heroes [ http://cnnheroes.com ]
   This section of CNN’s websites honors everyday heroes who strive to make the world a better place. If you know a hero, nominate him or her here. Don’t miss: Former addict gives homeless veterans a second chance.
3. Flickr – Most Interesting Photos [ http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/ ]
   Out of the millions of photos uploaded to Flickr’s galleries from all over the world, this is the page where the ones deemed the most interesting are spotlighted. Just hit refresh for a new page of photos, as often as you like.
4. Gives Me Hope [ http://www.givesmehope.com/ ]
   Givesmehope.com is a site for people to submit short, anonymous entries about inspiring moments in their own lives. Read the heartwarming entries, and submit your own. Don’t miss: the top GMH entries.
5. Guideposts [http://guideposts.org]
   This website features inspiring and positive content about celebrities and everyday heroes. Don’t miss: A Family Affair, a memoir about adopting a foster son after losing a sick child.
6. The Happiness Project [http://happiness-project.com]
   If you’re a regular reader of our site, you’re sure to be familiar with The Happiness Project, a blog we syndicate every week (and now a bestselling book!). In the blog, writer Gretchen Rubin analyzes many different methods of increasing happiness, and shares tips on what works. Don’t miss: Six tips for good deeds that take less than five minutes.
7. Help Others [http://www.helpothers.org]
   This wonderful site features hundreds of reader-submitted stories of acts of kindness they’ve witnessed. It also offers free Smile Cards, which you can use in a game of pay-it-forward good deeds. Don’t miss: Touched By a Daughter’s Kindness.
8. iJourney [http://ijourney.org]
   iJourney, short for “inner journey” offers a weekly reading from a famous thinker, writer, or philosopher, with the chance to offer your own reflections in response. Don’t miss: Receiving Each Day as an Invitation, by John O’Donohue.
9. Letters of Note [http://www.lettersofnote.com/]
   Here, you’ll find tons of scanned copies of vintage letters written by famous people throughout history, which often reveal much more about them than the tabloids and history books do. Don’t miss: this sweet and polite reply to a young fan from a not-yet-famous David Bowie.
10. Matt Logelin’s blog [http://www.mattlogelin.com/]
    Two years ago, Matt Logelin’s wife Liz died just hours after their daughter, Maddy, was born. In his blog, he transforms his grief into beauty with heartfelt stories about his new life as a widower dad, and lovely photographs of his growing daughter. The site contains some strong language, so if that bugs you, don’t visit—but otherwise, you’re in for a moving, bittersweet journey through one man’s struggle to come to terms with the loss of one great love, while gaining a new one. Don’t miss: 5 weeks ago (Tuesday).

Read more.

What good shall I do this day?

As I venture off on a 5 day trip, quotes on travel came to mind. Here goes before I hit the road!

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel
is to be able to experience
everyday things as if for the first time,
to be in a position in which
almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
-Bill Bryson

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I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.
I travel for travel’s sake.
The great affair is to move.
-Robert Louis Stevenson

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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
-Lao Tzu

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A man travels the world in search of what he needs
and returns home to find it.
-George Moore

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Experience, travel- these are as education in themselves.
-Euripides

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Only he that has traveled the road
knows where the holes are deep.
-Chinese proverb

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We must go beyond textbooks,
go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness
and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.
-John Hope Franklin

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Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I- I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost

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All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind
is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel:
one knows that the first joy can never be recovered,
and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes
but tries new places all the time.
-Paul Fussell

---

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry,
but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die,
it can introduce the idea
that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.
-Maya Angelou

---

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
-Martin Buber

Philosopher Martin Buber

Here’s a great video on a new form of energy that we’ve known about since we were kids:

Kite Energy May Soon Take Off

Excuses are always easy to come by. We have great imaginations and we’re quick thinkers. But people (and animals and institutions and organizations) need your help now! This article got me motivated - hopefully it will do the same for you!

The next time we find ourselves falling into these six negative mindsets, we should repurpose them as motivational tools instead.

1. I have no time/I’m so incredibly busy.
This is the most common excuse people give when asked why they do not volunteer. First of all, if we were all really as busy as we pretend to be, we would barely make it to the bathroom on a daily basis. Get started by picking apart your week. How many hours do you watch TV? Can you donate two of those hours to your community? Consider starting small. Pick one Saturday, Sunday, or evening a month to volunteer. Look at your priorities and evaluate how you spend your time. How much of your week is dedicated to giving back to your community?

2. I’m so tired after working 9 to 5, Monday through Friday.
Getting out of your apartment, interacting with others, and actually doing something besides watching America’s Next Top Model marathons on VH-1 every weeknight will reenergize you. You’ll become more centered and cultivate a greater sense of purpose in your life. It’s like working out; we all complain we’re too lazy and tired to work out, but once we get in the habit of it, it becomes an invigorating part of our lifestyle.

3. I don’t have anybody to go with me.
You know that girlfriend who always says you never have time for her? Bring her. Bring your mother, bring your partner, or bring your pessimistic coworker. Think of it as an opportunity to reconnect with your favorite people in a way that doesn’t include spending money. Better yet, do it alone. You’ll definitely meet other fascinating individuals with similar interests. My friend Sara met her fiancé when volunteering at Houston’s Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. If you’re in a new city and looking to meet new people, volunteering is an amazing way to make connections.

4. I don’t care about helping other people; nobody helps me.
Take this opportunity to affect your karma. Karma is the belief that, for every good or bad thing you do, something good or bad will come back to you. If you start helping others, maybe somebody will notice your unique radiance and help you. If it worked in the days of ancient Hinduism and Buddhism, it will surely work today.

5. Tell the homeless to get off their butts and get a job.
I can’t convince you in one sentence that it just isn’t that simple for a homeless person to pick up and get a 9 to 5 job. Why not volunteer at a shelter and meet some homeless people? Ask them how they became homeless. I bet your attitude toward homelessness will change.

6. I can’t make a difference; I’m only one person.
Yes. You. Can. In the words of renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

It is abundantly clear that we have no real excuses to not volunteer. Now all we need is to identify how to get started.

Shelby Jennings, an avid volunteer since childhood, turned her passion for serving up some love to her community into a career. She moved to Washington, DC from San Diego, California in order to work for the Corporation for National and Community Service. She lent us her expert advice on how to start volunteering. “Find a place where you will use your skills, learn new ones, or learn about a new issue. Figure out not only what you want to get out of it, but also what you want to give back—this will help you sustain your efforts. Commit yourself to a timeline—stick to it. Also, if you have a particular cause or organization you’re interested in, just ask!” Shelby also advocated volunteering in fields that you’re interested in working in as a resume builder or in a position where you could build skills that could help you get a job in the future.

Sometimes the sheer number of organizations that need volunteers can be daunting. A simple three-step process to figure out the best way to commit ourselves to helping others can help ease any overwhelming feelings.

1. Choose causes that make you excited.
If you love to travel, volunteer with an international organization; if you love to garden, find an environmental organization; if you adore spending time with kids, volunteer to tutor students. There is an abundance of need for your expertise, time, and love all over your community.

2. Find events that match your needs.
After you have selected the type of organization you wish to volunteer for, choose a specific opportunity that fits your skills, interests, and schedule. Once you find a non-profit that fits you, go ahead and introduce yourself.

3. Surf the Internet to find out what’s out there.
Volunteermatch.com is an incredible Web site to start your volunteering endeavors. They have an immense online network of organizations eager for your help. It is incredibly simple to register and begin your search immediately. If you register with an organization through VolunteerMatch, an automatic email will be sent to that organization notifying them of your interest. They will then contact you and you will be on your way. A great feature of VolunteerMatch is the ability to be a virtual volunteer. The Virtual section offers volunteer opportunities from your home or desk. That means you can volunteer using your computer, Internet connection, phone, and/or fax.

1800volunteer.com is another outstanding Web site to embark on your quest for volunteer opportunities. You can start by searching for volunteer opportunities that match your interests. Next, you create a free account that enables you to easily sign up for volunteer opportunities. And finally, you can start volunteering!

Volunteer centers will hook you up! The best part is that pretty much every city has one. Google your city’s volunteer center, call them up, tell them you’re interested, set up a meeting, and you’ll be on your way. They are knee-deep in your community and keenly aware of the opportunities available to you.

We all lead lives full of commuting, conference calls, and social engagements. But imagine how much better we’d feel if we dedicated just a few hours out of our hectic schedules to causes that truly need our help. Some people are driven by selfless ambition. Some are on a quest for social equity, or want to bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment to their own lives. Others view the opportunity to volunteer as a chance to give back to their community. However we find the motivation, volunteering has the potential to improve our lives and the world around us.

By Shyla Batliwalla for Divine Caroline

Source: Gimundo.com

Just stumbled across this piece in the DailyGood.com and wanted to share it. Who doesn’t like quick and easy answers? Have a great weekend. Do something wild and wonderful.

Surprising ways to instantly improve your mood

by Gretchen Rubin

Being happier doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next 30 minutes, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you’ve achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood.

1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you’re on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better…

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you’ll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also…

7. Save someone’s life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good?it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it ’til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you “should” or “need to” learn about. Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal, but in fact, research shows that happier people are more sociable, likable, healthy, and productive?and they’re more inclined to help other people. By working to boost your own happiness, you’re making other people happier, too.

Years ago, I frequently attended a movement class in Philadelphia held by Manfred Fishbeck and Group Motion. He still holds weekly movement classes and they are pure transformation. Live musicians supply the rhythms while a group of strangers move and dance and laugh and express. By the end of the night, you feel free, light and back to your core self.

You don’t need to know how to pirouette or tap; you just need to know how to move. We all know how to, though we often convince ourselves we’re cursed with “two left feet.” The truth is, movement is there at your disposal at any time.

So turn on some music. Close the curtains. And allow yourself to express yourself through YOUR form of dance. It doesn’t have to be right or pretty, just authentic. It can be slow, it can be erratic. Just let your body do the talking. After 10 minutes, evaluate how you feel. I’m going to lay money on “better. Much better.”

Photo Source: Jessica Florence at Flickr

This video tells the charming story of two local shopkeepers who are lucky enough to be invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince Williams and Kate Middleton.

(Hint: the scent of good curry won the soon-to-be royal couple over!)

Good Curry = Royal Wedding Invite Video

Music and space travel has gone together since we first heard 2001 A Space Odyssey. But this astronaut has her own tune to play:

NASA astronaut Cady Coleman has been giving her flute collection quite a workout in the past few weeks, more than 200 miles above Earth.

“I play the flute on the ground and it’s one of the things I love to do,” said Coleman during an interview with National Public Radio. “One of the things that I think is important to do is to try to share how amazing it is up here. I relate to flute players and I just wanted them to understand what a cool place it was and how many possibilities there were to play music up here on the space station.”

Coleman brought with her to the station four flute-like instruments in her small allotment of personal items. The collection includes two items from the traditional Irish music group The Chieftains - a penny whistle, which is similar to a recorder, from group-leader Paddy Moloney and a very old Irish flute from Matt Molloy.

There is also a flute from Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and her own personal flute aboard. “It is really different to play up here,” Coleman added. “I’ve been having the nicest time up in our Cupola. I float around in there. A lot of the times I play with my eyes closed.”

During the NPR interview she played Bluenose by Stan Rogers on her personal flute. She also played a tune for the following interview with Houston’s KHOU-TV. Other astronauts have flown flutes in space aboard the space shuttle. Ellen Ochoa, who is a classical flutist, brought her flute on STS-56 in 1993 and took a moment to play it during an educational event. John Herrington, who was the first tribal registered Native American astronaut, brought a wooden flute with him on STS-113 in 2002. The flute was hand-carved by a member of the Kennedy Space Center Native American Intertribal Council.

Must see video!

Source: Happy News