Artists Set Up 'Free Store' in NYC

Sounds too good to be true right? Nothing is free! But this is:

Artists Athena Robles and Anna Stein created the store in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District to distribute everyday goods at no cost.

Using the bartering system, visitors to the store on Nassau Street can trade or donate. But they don't have to. Stuff given away has included t-shirts, sneakers, a video camera and a pair of blue drop earrings.

Thirty-five-year-old customer Peter Tambini told the New York Post, "It feels like shoplifting with permission."

The temporary art installation was funded through grants. (from AP)

> Learn more at their website

Watch a CNN video on the store (I love the on the street interview reactions -people are so suspect nowadays!):

High School Band Director Spreads Inspirational Messages

Here is a great example of an everyday person doing extraordinary things.

It began as a tool to help a student shift negative attitudes.

Now, Gary Rupert's daily message, called Today's Task, reaches a network of people via e-mail in at least 14 states.

A publisher in Indiana has plans to print a manuscript of a collection of Rupert's motivational writings, titled "Today's Task - A Thought-Provoking Look at Lessons I Learned as a Teacher."

While Rupert, director of bands at Smithsburg High School and director of jazz bands at Hagerstown Community College, finds it rewarding to know so many are interested in his daily message, he also is surprised.

"It happened purely by accident," Rupert said. "I think it's interesting so many people are reading it. I'm just an ordinary guy doing an ordinary job."

> Read more here at The Herald Mail

Oh and if you want to receive Today's Task via e-mail - contact Rupert at rupergar@wcboe.k12.md.us. How great it is to have extra life lessons from your band teacher!

Beautiful Views

Two minutes of beautiful landscapes:



> Watch more videos like this

Beautiful Examples of Animal Photography

I found the bird examples from the following post to be my favorite. This last one here is my absolute favorite - it looks majestic and the colors are...sublime.

> 35 Beautiful Examples of Animal Photography (Smashing Magazine)

Related Sublime Goodness Posts:

• The Moon...In Pictures
• Beautiful Desktop Wallpaper
• Beautiful Examples of Tilt-Shift Photography
• Winter Wonderland

Firefighter Meets Woman He Saved 40 Years Ago

This would be an amazing story by itself - a white firefighter saving a black child forty years ago in a burning building. But now, years and years later, the young child is all grown up and wants to make sure that firefighter knows she is grateful.

A Boston firefighter and the woman he rescued from a devastating blaze as a baby 40 years ago have been reunited. William Carroll, now 71, crawled through the flames on his stomach to rescue Evangeline Harper, then an infant. A photograph of the white firefighter emerging from the burning building, giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a black child, became a symbol of hope during an era of racial upheaval. Only when Harper tracked Carroll down, though, did they finally reconnect, in an emotional meeting last week. “Thank you so much,” she said. “Thank you for remembering me,” he responded. (from The Week)

> Read the full story in The Boston Globe

Watch a video of the reunion:

"The Shining" by Badly Drawn Boy

From the first track off of Badly Drawn Boy's near perfect first album. I love the beginning of this song and everything after. The cello (or is it a violin?) plays a simple melody and then the horns come in and then the guitar...the whole song shines on and on until the end.

Close your eyes and listen:


Faith pours from your walls, drowning your calls
I've tried to hear, you're not near
Remembering when I saw your face
Shining my way, pure timing
Now I've fallen in deep, slow silent sleep
It's killing me, I'm dying

To put a little bit of sunshine in your life

Soleil all over you, warm sun pours over me
Soleil all over you
Warm sun

Now this slick fallen rift came like a gift
Your body moves ever nearer
And you will dry this tear
Now that we're here, and grieve for me, not history
But now I'm dry of thoughts, wait for the rain
Then it's replaced, sun setting

And suddenly you're in love with everything

Soleil all over you, warm sun pours over me
Soleil all over you
Warm sun

One Man Helps the Disabled See the World

Traveling is one my favorite things to do. Whether it's the new sights and sounds, enjoying new restaurants and shops, meeting new people or just savoring the "newness" in and of itself, traveling feels fantastic for your mind and body. But obviously, not everyone can travel - and it is particularly difficult and intimidating if you are disabled.

Craig Grimes, who broke his back 12 years ago, has just made it easier by launching the first online booking travel site this week for disabled travelers - Accessible.travel.

His story is very inspiring - I love his outlook:

Mr. Grimes, who today is launching the world's first instant online booking engine for disabled travelers, has dedicated the past five years of his life to helping people with disabilities become more adventurous. From helping a quadriplegic woman from England attend her son's wedding in Barcelona, to showing Nicaraguan war victims how to navigate the streets of Matagalpa in a wheelchair, the British advocate has been helping disabled people around the world – through his various smaller travel Web pages and in person – to push their limits and challenge their comfort zones.

Immediately after being discharged from a British hospital after falling out of a tree and breaking his back 12 years ago, Grimes boarded a plane with a friend and spent two weeks traveling around Holland – his first test of life in a wheelchair.

"After an accident, you can either sink into depression, or get on with your life," Grimes says, adding that he was "more depressed before the accident." He's since traveled to 13 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

"I truly believe that travel is rehabilitation. I am living proof of it," he says.

Now, Grimes wants to help other people with disabilities experience the same.

> Read More at Christian Science Monitor


*Note to Readers: Posting will be erratic or absent completely until 2/25 as I'll be in Washington D.C. for work. In the meantime, Please peruse the archive or these suggested sites.

Boy Asks Friends for Food, Not Toys on Birthday

What an inspiring story this is. Five-year-old Jackson Mayberry in Nebraska decided that he has enough toys so instead asked friends to donate food to a local pantry for his birthday. Food pantries everywhere are having a rough time keeping up with demand, and some can thank this little altruist for helping make a tiny dent.

> Watch the Short Video about Jackson

A CNN Video of the story is also here.

> Learn more about Hunger at Feeding America

Related Sublime Goodness posts:

• Share Our Strength's "Operation No Kid Hungry"
  

(Sorry, I couldn't embed the videos - it wouldn't let me!)

5 Surprising Happiness Habits That Could Change Your Life

Happiness. Pursue it. If you are a regular reader, you know how much I like short little articles with some great takeaways. A few days ago, I came across "5 Surprising Happiness Habits That Could Change Your Life" from Hotel Seoul Korea:

Most of us avoid doing anything that remotely scares us. That’s a shame because doing something scary every day is one of five surprising happiness habits that could change your life.

If you want to be happier, try looking for opportunities to do something scary. In doing so, you won’t just be taking my advice but the advice of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “Do one thing every that scares you.” You will know when you are scared. Recognize your fear, acknowledge it and then do whatever it is anyway. I once confronted my own fears by plummeting 500 feet in a bungee jump. Talk about scary and exhilarating! What scares you?

I don't know how realistic it is to do something scary every day, but shooting for once a week sounds doable. I also like her idea to celebrate one success every single day - now that I can do every night before bed!

> Read the full article here

You might also like these related Sublime Goodness posts:

• The Secret to Happiness: Seven Ways to Savor Life
• Happiness Habit: Routines to Make Your Life Richer & More Productive

* Hat tip to Happytweets for the tip on the "surprising" story

Elizabeth Gilbert: A Different Way to Think about Creative Genius (TED Talk)

One of the best things about the internet is that you can find almost anything. For example, can't attend the exclusive invitation-only TED conference? Doesn't matter, because many of the best talks there are posted online for you and me.

One that really caught my ear recently is by the author of the enormously successful book "Eat, Pray, Love" - Elizabeth Gilbert (that book is on my shelf and now I REALLY want to read it!). Here's the gist of her talk:

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

It truly is. I love the story of the poet chasing the poem...Enjoy:

"These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding

It's fitting that for Valentine's Day weekend, I post a sublime song that could melt even the coldest heart. "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding is one of those songs that I still get goose bumps listening to...years and years later. His voice is just perfect here.

Close your eyes and listen:

BTW, I'm not sure why, but I still find it a little funny that I was introduced to this song via the "Dirty Dancing" soundtrack in 1987. That was such an eclectic collection!

Another Hudson River Rescue

I love stories like these where someone makes a selfless decision in an instant:

New York City officials are hailing an unemployed computer consultant who dove into the frigid Hudson River to save a woman from drowning. Eric Pienaar was walking his dog when he spotted the woman sobbing at the Battery Park promenade in lower Manhattan. Pienaar tried to console her for half an hour, but she kept saying she wanted to kill herself, and eventually jumped over the railing. Pienaar, a certified scuba diver, followed her into the icy currents, grabbed her, and clung with her to the sea wall. “There was no way we were going to get out,” he said. “It was just too high.” He screamed for help, and rescue workers fished them both out of the water. The woman, who was not identified, is said to be doing fine. (from the Week)

He went out to walk his dog and ended up saving a life.

> Read more at the NY Daily News

Kids Read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

It was 200 years ago today that Abraham Lincoln was born (Charles Darwin too). Having grown up in Illinois and having lived in the southern part of the state for awhile, I've had a special closeness to whom many consider our greatest president.

Anyway, amidst all the celebration and news today, my favorite story was this one - kids in Lincoln's birthplace reciting the Gettysburg address (that boy in the tie is so adorably dedicated!).


...and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Koala Rescued from Australia Fires

No doubt you have heard about the bad news to come out of Australia and my heart goes out to everyone touched by that tragedy. As a sublime side note to come out of that awful story is the above. That picture made me smile today - here's the context:

It was a chance encounter in the charred landscape of Australia's deadly wildfires: A koala sips water from a bottle offered by a firefighter. David Tree noticed the koala moving gingerly on scorched paws as his fire patrol passed. Clearly in pain, the animal stopped when it saw Tree.

"It was amazing, he turned around, sat on his bum and sort of looked at me with (a look) like, put me out of my misery," Tree told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I yelled out for a bottle of water. I unscrewed the bottle, tipped it up on his lips and he just took it naturally.

"He kept reaching for the bottle, almost like a baby."

> Read More at Yahoo News

* Hat tip to The Today Show on Twitter for the picture.

The Moon...in Pictures

"The moon is a silver pin-head vast, That holds the heaven's tent-hangings fast."

-William R. Alger

A few nights ago I was driving home and struck by the beauty of a full moon. How many times have you looked up at the moon in awe? One of the things I like to think about when gazing at the moon is this - that as much as man has changed over time, thousands of years ago, "primitive" man looked up with wonder in much the same way.






> View More Pictures of the Moon @ Flickr.

I particularly enjoyed this set called "I heart the moon" by Ben.

> Explore the Moon.

The Best Laughing Baby Video - "Ethan Laughing"

People love cute animals and babies - that much is certain. I wanted to post something short, sweet and funny to liven up your week and this clip is - dare I say - perfect.

A friend passed on the following short clip of a baby laughing so hard he falls over.

And what is driving this kid so wild? Elmo? A funny joke? Another baby? Nope - just his dad tearing a piece of newspaper! Adorable.



Also, notice that this video has been viewed over 21 million times!

"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve

Another Sunday, another sublime song. This week I wanted to include a song that makes you turn up the volume and sing. Thus, I give you "Bittersweet Symphony" by one of my favorite British bands, The Verve. The strings in this song and everything from Richard Ashcroft's voice to the drums to the little guitar frills just fill me with awe.

It's been just over 10 years now that this song was released and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.

Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

...'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life...

Close your eyes and listen:

Iraq Vet Surprises Son in Kindergarten

It was a story like this that led me to start this blog:

Gabriel Hurles' sixth birthday party wasn't a surprise, but his present sure was. The kindergartner was so engrossed in the cupcakes his mother brought to his class on Wednesday that he didn't notice the enormous wrapped box off to the side.

"That's one big, giant present," a 6-year-old classmate told him. "See what you got, Gabriel."

Gabriel peeled back the wrapping paper to find the surprise of his young life — his father, an Army mechanic back in Nevada on leave from his second tour in Iraq.

"It's my dad!" he announced to his classmates at Sutro Elementary School in Dayton, a few miles northeast of Carson City. "Hi, Daddy."

Army Spc. Casey Hurles, 23, hadn't seen his son since he left in June. When he learned his leave would coincide with his son's birthday, he hatched a plan to hide out in the 4-foot-tall box. (read more @ KansasCity.com)

I am a veteran myself, and even though I didn't have kids during my years of service, I used to be so touched - to tears even - when I witnessed families reuniting. I'll never, ever forget coming back from seven months in Bosnia-Herzogovina and standing in a gymnasium with my unit...minutes from being let free to our own devices. We all stood in rows while a Colonel welcomed us with congratulatory words, but I don't think anyone was listening. Across from us, all you could see were wives and children with smiles from ear to ear, bouncing in their seats, so eager to touch their loved one again. I was so happy for all of them. As a father now, I can't even imagine missing my daughters that long.

Watch Gabriel open his birthday present:

Teen Shields Boy from Bullet

What a week - I didn't intend to post two heroic stories in three days, but then Jullaion Jones goes and potentially saves a 6 year-old boy's life.

Here are the details that occurred during a high school basketball game in Kansas City:

...15 men stormed a gymnasium, gunfire erupted, and player Jullaion Jones quickly left the game and shielded DeSean Merritt, 6, who had lost his father Sean in the confusion.

Jullaion got hit, the bullet grazing his body, but he will survive. Jullaion Jones is a hero and this story will bring tears to your eyes about how one kid did what was right, so very right, and so very fast, to risk his life for another. (from HipHopMusic.com)

Jullian has a lot to be proud of right now and deserves every accolade. Thank you for your inspiration!

> Read More at the Kansas City Star

Watch the short CNN video wrap-up below. My favorite part of it is at the end, when Jullaion and DeSean are walking down the hall like brothers - so wonderful.

The 100 Most Beautiful Words

I love words. I've been a lover of books, writing and reading since I was a child - so much so that I became a high school English teacher for a short while until fate took me in a different direction after I moved to Madison. I'm still a big literary buff and now revel in reading stories with my two little daughters (I'll never get tired of "Where the Wild Things Are").

Anyway, when I came across this list of the 100 most beautiful words in English, I had to share it with you. The list was compiled by "Dr. Goodword" (Dr. Robert Beard) at alphaDictionary.com and over his long career he has compiled a list of the most beautiful words in sound and meaning.

My personal favorites from the list:

• diaphanous
• evanescent
• ephemeral
• felicitous
• loquacious
• onomatopoeia
• panacea
• serendipity
  

> Read the Full List Here @ alphaDictionary.com (list includes the definitions too)

In case you were wondering, that image above is from Wordle - an online toy that creates beautiful "word clouds" from text you provide. I created the above from my most recent posts on this blog. Cool eh? Create your own here.

* Hat tip to the DailyGood for the tip on the Beautiful Words link.

Boy, 5, Saves Dad's Life

Here is a remarkable story of a quick thinking kid who is now a little hero. Even more remarkable is the outpouring of support for the father after community residents heard the episode started because he couldn't afford his medical supplies.

Danny Stephen says he was trying to cut back on the use of test strips Saturday when he collapsed, unconscious, on a couch for 10 hours.

Stephen's son, Jude, was the only one home at the time. At dinnertime, he tried to wake his father.

"I literally just passed out," Stephen said. "I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. What came out was mumbo-jumbo."

Stephen said he mumbled the word "juice," and his son thought he was saying "Jude." Once the Bear Creek Elementary School student realized what was happening, he began to pour honey and juice into his father's mouth. Jude then hand-fed his father cupcakes.

"He knows my expressions when my sugar's low," said Stephen, who was diagnosed with diabetes 26 years ago. "He saved my life. All I remember is sort of coming out of it."

> Read More about the Story here.

Watch a short CNN video:


The father seems so proud. Heck, even I am!

Fifty People, One Question: New Orleans

This short video is fantastic. From the creators - Delltree:

When we set out to film, it was another New Orleans day. Once you get past the inevitable grime and heat, you feel a certain energy or “atmosphere”. Like a kid throwing himself into a mud fight.

It’s a simple question. And the answers can lead us anywhere. So go ahead, ask yourself…

"By the end of today, what do you wish to happen?" The answers will surprise you - (yes, people do want money...) - I love the little boy who wants to be married to the girl behind him. Or the guy who just wants to be happy and enjoy life (yes!). It's not even ten minutes and worth every second your eyes lay on it.


Fifty People, One Question: New Orleans from Benjamin Reece on Vimeo.
> Read more responses here and even post your own.

* Hat tip to my pal Brent Dixon for this great tipoff.

The Secret to Happiness: Seven Ways to Savor Life

In the spirit of a recent post on small routines you can undertake to make your life richer, I came across a similar article with some great idea that I have to share.

St. George Magazine (Southern Utah) details seven "science-backed strategies you can do right away to boost your well-being." Scientifically proven! My favorite ideas that they list:

• starting a journal to reflect on daily positive experiences (I say, why not a blog?)
• paying it forward (obvious, but try it for a week and you'll be blown away)
• writing a letter
  
• learning something new (I've started this blog in late December and the experience has been fantastic!)

Intrigued? Read the short piece here and get ready to change and be happy.

* Hat tip to happytweets again for this article

"Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips

This is the beauty of sublime music - you can go from Elvis to a Hawaiian singer to Al Green...to the Flaming Lips. They are a longtime favorite of mine and "Do You Realize??" is a song that distills everything I love about them. It's different, makes you think, singable, and all around beautiful. I hope you enjoy it too.

Do You Realize - Oh - Oh - Oh
Do You Realize - that everyone you know
Someday will die -

And instead of saying all of your goodbyes - let them know
You realize that life goes fast
It's hard to make the good things last
You realize the sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round

Close your eyes and listen: