Fred Rogers said, “Look for the helpers” (see last week’s post). But you can do more than that. You can be a helper. Being a helper, not expecting anything in return, is a mindset, a responsibility, and an expression of love. To paraphrase former President Barack Obama said the best way you can not feel helpless is to help others. To me, there are saints every day. They stand up and help others and live for others and do things for others. Theodore Melfi Your Mindset Service to others is a mindset. You don’t have to belong to a specific religion or even have a lot of money. All you need is the desire to help and the willingness to get up and do something. No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another. Charles Dickens The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well. Ralph Waldo Emerson Volunteer “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If […]

Are you disheartened and afraid after the recent horrific shootings in California, Texas, and Ohio? Take a minute to refresh yourself. The news this weekend was overwhelming. People responded with grief and anger and a variety of other emotions. All those responses are appropriate. But it’s easy to take too much of that in. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be healthy enough physically, mentally, or emotionally work the changes we want to see. Mr. Rogers said there’s comfort in looking for the helpers, and he was right. So, take a minute and look for the helpers. Let’s get started: A Step Toward Cleaner Oceans Irish Teenager Wins Google Science Award for Removing Microplastics From Oceans “He used magnets to attract microplastics from water. The project found that a magnetic liquid called ferrofluid attracted the tiny plastic particles and removed them from the water. After nearly a thousand tests, his device successfully removed about 88 percent of the microplastics from water samples.” Read more. Community Donation Event While shopping for sandals for their vacation, her daughter asked to buy shoes for a classmate. It inspired her mother. And her mother inspired their whole community. “A 9-year-old girl who […]