Homes for the Homeless
Homelessness is a fluid state. While the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 578,424 homeless in January 2014, some advocacy groups say more than 3 million Americans experience an episode of homelessness each year: a night, a week or a month in a motel, in a recreation vehicle or on a friend's couch...but a few organizations like Housing First are trying to change the odds.... posted on Sep 29, 5734 reads

The Noble Art of the Manly Cry
One of our most firmly entrenched ideas of masculinity is that men don't cry. But historical and literary evidence suggests that, in the past, male weeping was regarded as normal in almost every part of the world for most of recorded history. Consider Homer's Iliad, in which the entire Greek army bursts into unanimous tears no less than three times...... posted on Oct 7, 9198 reads

A Recipe for Change
Studies in neuroplasticity indicate how new impressions stimulate and even feed our neurons. It's time to celebrate the fact that what we think changes the physical structure of our brain. When we change our minds, we change our brain. This piece shares more.... posted on Oct 23, 22897 reads

The Cave Digger
In the high desert of northern New Mexico Ra Paulette, with only his dog for company, has spent the past 25 years scraping and shaping New Mexico's sandstone into man-made caves of art. He calls them his wilderness shrines -- massive in scale, poetic in their design. If his work takes your breath away, that's just what he hoped it would do.... posted on Nov 10, 9170 reads

BJ Miller: What Really Matters at the End of Life
"At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it's simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician at Zen Hospice Project who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients. Take the time to savor this moving talk, which asks big questions about how we think on death and honor life."... posted on Nov 16, 68515 reads

The Way We Think About Work Is Broken
What makes work satisfying? In this TED talk, psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that there are intangible values that our current way of thinking about work simply ignores. He describes how the ideas human beings create shape human nature and that it is time to revisit our ideas about the way we work.... posted on Nov 26, 19281 reads

The Problem of Precrastination
We all know that habitually putting tasks off for a later time can be problematic. But what about getting tasks done more quickly than is necessary? Recent research out of Pennsylvania State University documents a phenomenon called "precastination," a tendency to hastily complete tasks in order to get them over with. This article recounts several studies that illuminate the problems with precastin... posted on Nov 28, 7963 reads

The Couple Who Feeds Hundreds Each Day
After the heartbreaking loss of their only son, Pradeep and Damyanti Tanna, a couple from India, transformed their lives in a beautiful effort to honor their son Nimesh's giving spirit. Family friend Kintan Parekh sums up their ongoing endeavor as such, "There couldn't be a better tribute to Nimesh. He was a person with a golden heart." Read on to learn how this couples' generosity has touched hu... posted on Nov 4, 15734 reads

Three German Students Surprise a Homeless Guy
This sweet film is a heartwarming story of compassion and creativity. By using the universal power of music, walls are brought down to expose a universal issue. It also highlights the ability we all have to bring about change, simply by making a positive difference to someone's day. ... posted on Nov 20, 4736 reads

Two Little Pieces of Chocolate
Francine Christophe was born in 1933, the same year that Adolph Hitler took power in Germany. When she was eight years old, she and her mother were deported to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. In this interview for "Human," a film project directed by photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, she recounts an extraordinary tale of generosity at a time of great privation. ... posted on Oct 31, 6369 reads

The Power of Gift Culture
"I read a book called The Gift by Lewis Hyde. I think it struck me on several levels. The book has many layers; it's about creativity and art...having gifts that come to us from somewhere outside our own willpower, something we can't completely control; how creative work wants to be shared as a gift; how this "circulation of gifts" co-exists uncomfortably in a market economy, in transaction cultur... posted on Nov 1, 12743 reads

An Illustrated Love Letter to Canine Companions
There's something deep nestled within a dog's unconditional love, that prompts humanity's abiding devotion to these gracious,four-legged beings. In our worst of times, they are always there -- cold nose pressed firmly to heart, reminding us that we are not alone. In her beguiling book, Beloved Dog, artist Maira Kalman brings to life the deep bond between humans and their canine companions.... posted on Nov 8, 14438 reads

One Man's Journey Back from the Brink
In late 2012, Brice Royer was lying on a bed in terrible pain. He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer -- and, in unbearable pain, was contemplating taking his own life. But something kept him going, long enough to find a purpose within his suffering. From the ashes of hardship, he realized the blessing of unconditional love. Read on to be inspired by one man's miraculous journey.... posted on Nov 15, 7691 reads

The Life We Spend at Work
Most of us are taught from a very early age, that hard work is the key to happiness. As a result, we learn to measure success in terms of benchmarks and milestones, rather than the satisfaction that comes by way of the doing. Though, what if we could view things in an entirely new way? In this thought-provoking interview, organizational psychologist Adam Grant discusses the newer value measuremen... posted on Nov 22, 9570 reads

20 Amazing Pictures from Outer Space
As humans have begun to explore the mysteries of outer space, both by sending unmanned probes and physically traveling beyond the Earth's atmosphere, a vast number of amazing pictures have been collected. Often photographs of outer space are recorded for the purposes of science, but are also often breathtakingly beautiful images revealing the wonders of the universe. This post brings together 20 o... posted on Nov 9, 384715 reads

Welcome to the Empathy Wars
Critics of empathy call it biased, saying we should unemotionally help the greatest number. But Roman Krznaric suggests two kinds of empathy: 'affective' -- feeling or mirroring others' emotions, and 'perspective-taking' empathy -- imagining oneself in someone else's shoes. He gives examples of how they can work together, from sympathetic focus on a child caught in a mineshaft (affective) to the ... posted on Dec 14, 12420 reads

On Seeing
In this simple and poignant reflection, photographer Paul Van Slambrouck shares a moment of quiet revelation that illuminated for him the beauty of truly seeing the majestic world we live in.... posted on Dec 16, 10796 reads

What Generous People's Brains Do Differently
Some people make giving look effortless. They're the kind of people who bring donuts on Friday mornings and don't think twice before helping overwhelmed colleagues. Others face more of a struggle when it comes to putting the group first. So how do the givers do it? New research from the emerging field of neuroeconomics suggests that being generous is not as tough as some people think. ... posted on Dec 25, 11916 reads

Does Trying To Be Happy Make Us Unhappy?
"As we muddle through our days, the quest for happiness looms large. In the U.S., citizens are granted three inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the kingdom of Bhutan, there's a national index to measure happiness. But what if searching for happiness actually prevents us from finding it?" Read on to learn more from Adam Grant about why we might need to change our fo... posted on Dec 28, 20855 reads

A New Home For Brothers Reunited Against the Odds
This is the time of year families reunite to celebrate the holidays. Many people travel a long way to be with their loved ones. For some, the distance is so great it's measured not in miles -- but in years. CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports on a reunion a decade in the making. The moving story of three children thrust unexpectedly into foster care, the brother who dreamt of bringing the... posted on Dec 17, 4584 reads

The Dogs that Protect Little Penguins
When foxes discovered little penguins on a small Australian island, they nearly wiped the colony out. But a farmer came up with a novel way to protect the birds -- and the story has been made into a hit film.... posted on Dec 20, 24623 reads

5 Ways to Show Kindness this Holiday Season
"With the holiday season upon us, it's easy to feel pressure that you aren't spending enough, doing enough or otherwise keeping up with everyone else around you. If that's the case, log out of Pinterest, take some deep breaths and remind yourself that true holiday spirit can't be bought -- no matter how good the bargains get." This lovely piece offers up 5 immediate ways to be kind in this season ... posted on Dec 24, 13891 reads

Unexpected Joy on the Copenhagen Metro
In the quiet of the Copenhagen Metro, the clear, sweet notes of a flute panned across the train. As commuters looked on with smiles, the members of the Copenhagen Phil joined into a rendition of Morning Mood from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, Op. 23. As listeners drank in the beauty of the melody, perhaps they were aware that at least for this particular commute, they were bonded with the strangers on... posted on Dec 29, 5059 reads

Ten Ways to Set A Positive Tone For the New Year
"For thousands of years, humans have marked the beginning of a new year with sacred festivals. January is named after the Roman god Janus, whose two faces looked to both the past and the future. As you consider the many days ahead in 2016, take some time to reflect on the past as well. Try these tips if you're searching for ways to make this year's New Year's celebration more meaningful."... posted on Dec 31, 57448 reads

A Simple Formula for Changing Our Behavior
"I had just walked into my daughter's room as she was working on a science project. Normally, I would have been pleased at such a sight. But this time, her project involved sand. A lot of it. And, while she had put some plastic underneath her work area, it wasn't nearly enough. The sand was spreading all over our newly renovated floors." When a fraught interaction with his daughter led Peter Bregm... posted on Jan 4, 44230 reads

The Top 10 Kindness Stories of 2015
What if we invited people from different parts of the world, to sit around a fireplace and share stories of their experiences with kindness? A kind act that they may have done, received, or been a witness to. That is what the online KindSpring.org community looks like. It's hard to select a few stories from thousands that were shared. Some are small acts that make someone's day, while others are l... posted on Jan 5, 35843 reads

Stop. Look. Go: Practices for Grateful Living
"All of us want to be happy...by experiencing, by becoming aware that every moment is a given moment -- it is a gift! You haven't earned it. You haven't brought it about in any way. You have no way of assuring that there will be another moment given to you. Grateful living -- that's the most valuable thing that can ever be given to us." In this beautiful video, filmmakers from Gnarly Bay have used... posted on Jan 26, 5620 reads

Bhutan's Dark Secret to Happiness
"Citizens of one of the happiest countries on Earth are surprisingly comfortable contemplating a topic many prefer to avoid. Is that the key to joy?...In Bhutanese culture, one is expected to think about death five times a day. That would be remarkable for any nation, but especially for one so closely equated with happiness as Bhutan. Is this secretly a land of darkness and despair? Not necessaril... posted on Mar 5, 25360 reads

Serving Up Dignity: A Soup Kitchen Set Up Like a Restaurant
The Kansas City Community Kitchen has been serving the community as a soup kitchen for 30 years. But this February, it re-opened its doors with a new restaurant-style initiative that allows the homeless to "dine with dignity." The new process includes greeters, waiters, and menus that lets diners choose what they want to eat.... posted on Mar 27, 10361 reads

Six Ways to Help People Change
"Often in life, you may find yourself trying to help other people change. Whether you're acting as a mentor, a parent, or a well-meaning spouse, you hope to exert a positive influence and assist someone in reaching their goals. What's the best way to do this?" Read on for six scientifically-backed tips. ... posted on Mar 22, 26662 reads

Be The Punchline
In comedy, first there is the setup, then the punchline. In his life, comedian Michael Jr. understands that doing TV shows and making people laugh is just the setup. His punchline is to make laughter commonplace in uncommon places. Watch this film to learn about one of the most powerful moments in Michael Jr.'s comedy career. ... posted on Mar 29, 3966 reads

Generosity: The Most Powerful Animating Force of Art
Annie Dillard notes, "People love pretty much the same things best. A writer, though, looking for subjects asks not after what he loves best, but what he alone loves at all...Why do you never find anything written about that idiosyncratic thought you advert to, about your fascination with something no one else understands? Because it is up to you. There is something you find interesting, for a rea... posted on Apr 15, 13002 reads

The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers
"How do creative people come up with great ideas? Organizational psychologist Adam Grant studies 'originals': thinkers who dream up new ideas and take action to put them into the world. In this talk, learn three unexpected habits of originals - including embracing failure. 'The greatest originals are the ones who fail the most, because they're the ones who try the most,' Grant says. 'You need a lo... posted on Apr 28, 29123 reads

The Paper Bag Boy of Abu Dhabi
As a young boy, Abdul Muqeet's concerns are not about playing sports or being with friends. Instead, Abdul is on a mission to protect his world. After learning about the terrible effects of plastic bags on the environment, Abdul decided to take a stand. Since he was 8-years-old, Abdul has been making paper bags from recycled newspapers. To date, he has completed over 5,000 of his "Mukku bags," don... posted on Apr 13, 4399 reads

5 Life Lessons from My Specially-Abled Son
Global tech executive VR Ferose has been celebrated for his considerable accomplishments in the business world. The guiding inspiration and motivating force in his life? His five-year-old son Vivaan who was diagnosed a few years ago with autism. "My journey as a parent of a specially-abled son has been one of extreme emotions -- from disappointment to hope; from pain to joy; from love to anguish -... posted on May 2, 15192 reads

Pronounce a Silent Blessing
"I think that the best way to discover what pronouncing blessings is all about is to pronounce a few. The practice itself will teach you what you need to know. Start with anything you like. Even a stick lying on the ground will do. The first thing to do is to pay attention to it. [...] The more aware you become, the more blessings you will find." This beautiful passage reawakens us to the power of... posted on May 8, 17149 reads

On Art & Mindfulness
"The qualities that distinguish great art from the rest are, directly or indirectly, related to ethics. At the heart of great art you will find love and compassion. A great work of art cannot come from hatred or cynicism." What is it that makes some works of art stay alive long past the time in which they were made? Artist Enrique Martinez Celaya shares some powerful reflections.... posted on Jun 22, 4360 reads

How to Cultivate Ethical Courage
Have you ever been in a situation where, morally, you know how you want to act or respond, but instead react differently due to outside pressures and influences? If yes, you are certainly not alone. This insightful article from the Greater Good Science Center, offers up three useful practices that can help you stay true to your core values.... posted on Oct 1, 17579 reads

Does Forgiveness Make Kids Happier?
Parents of young children may find themselves constantly trying to teach their kids to apologize for their mistakes. In the process a key area of development that tends to get overlooked is the art of forgiveness. In this helpful article from the Greater Good Science Center, author Sarah Wheeler offers up tips that can assist in teaching children how to forgive, and be the happier for it.... posted on Jun 19, 17509 reads

Your Brain is Not a Computer
"The validity of the metaphor that our brain is like a computer is generally assumed without question. But it is, after all, just another story we tell to make sense of something we don't actually understand. And like all the metaphors that preceded it, it will certainly be cast aside at some point -- either replaced by another metaphor or, in the end, replaced by actual knowledge." Read on to see... posted on Jun 21, 10154 reads

The Chicken Lady
An article in a local newspaper spurred Amy Murphy to ask a local fried chicken restaurant if she could have their leftovers at the end of the night. With the help of friends, the Chicken Lady sets up the equivalent of a pop-up restaurant every Monday to serve her homeless friends. Murphy does not consider what she does "feeding the homeless," rather, it is serving friends. They are part of the sa... posted on Jun 24, 4788 reads

How Music Bonds Us Together
Most everyone would agree that they enjoy listening to music, whether it be live music, the car radio, or maybe from your smartphone with the headphones on. But now researchers are discovering that more than just a universal mode of satisfaction, listening to music can actually help foster an environment where people have stronger social relationships and a healthier sense of community.... posted on Jul 16, 23460 reads

Caught Red-Handed
Benedictine monk, Brother David Steindl-Rast rises to the challenge of reporting on what he has stolen for a magazine's issue on Theft. Check out his heartfelt confessions, that range from stealing a bird's egg from a nest at age five, to swiping food when he was starving ("Stealing in wartime was a far more pragmatic matter. Motives and consequences were plain. You stole because you were hungry... posted on Aug 8, 12082 reads

The Loneliness of the Modern Nomad
Author Kira Newman shares insights from Melody Warnick's new book, "This Is Where You Belong," where Warnick chronicles her own journey toward "place attachment," a series of research-backed experiments and practices designed to make one love where one lives... posted on Aug 31, 15226 reads

Is Artistic Inspiration Contagious?
When you hear the word contagious, most people assume it applies to catching the flu or a cold from someone. But researchers are now finally testing to see if there is some contagious inspiration between reading and writing that would ultimately show "the power of the written word as a vehicle for sharing the peaks of human experience." ... posted on Aug 24, 8039 reads

Reclaiming Friendship
Is friendship indispensable or have we corroded its meaning by applying the word too often when we mean 'acquaintance' or colleague? C.S. Lewis believed that friendship, "like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself ... has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." Maria Popova examines the meaning of friendship in detail, and concludes that, at leas... posted on Sep 1, 14897 reads

Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile
When the dotcom bubble burst, hotelier Chip Conley went in search of a business model based on happiness. In an old friendship with an employee and in the wisdom of a Buddhist king, he learned that success comes from what you count.... posted on Sep 2, 26985 reads

Love's Footprints: A Bittersweet Tale of Lost & Found
"My colleagues who know about Pet Grief said "Get a paw print from Stella before she dies." Determined to honor her passing exactly right, I vowed "I will get that footprint." So begins this powerful story of a woman, a dog, two compassionate Vet Techs, and love's footprints...not always the ones you want, but the ones you need.... posted on Sep 19, 15166 reads

James Doolin: A Relationship with Reality
James Doolin's paintings of Los Angeles reveal essences of the place on another scale. As he said, "Being a painter, just watching is so important. Just watching everything!" He was a searcher. "I wanted to confront the great things. The three years I spent living in the desert were probably the high point in my life. You see things you would never see unless you're alone." At such moments sudden... posted on Oct 28, 3305 reads

Online 'University of Anywhere' for Refugees
"The University of the People, based in California, is a fast-growing, non-profit project designed to provide higher education for those with the academic ability to study, but without the ability to pay or without any practical access to a traditional university. "There isn't a better reason for the invention of the internet," says the university's founder and president, Shai Reshef. The universi... posted on Nov 12, 8754 reads