Good Begets Good
Although I don’t watch or listen to the news, bits of information about what is going on in our country and around the globe still manage to enter my world. And, it doesn’t sound good. Based on what filters through, it sounds like there is a lot of polarity and either/or power struggles going on. I’m saddened by this because – and some may call me ignorant or “Pollyanna-ish” – I choose to live in a world of possibility. It may take a little more upfront time, and maybe more upfront effort, but I bet, if we all took that extra time to be creative and listen with our open hearts, really good healthy solutions would surface and we would be ready, willing and able to take advantage of them for the betterment of all.
Since this is the holiday issue of the Northeast Journal, and ‘tis the season to be jolly and generous, I have decided to share some of my favorite tools which help me keep all of those positive possibilities at the forefront of my daily thoughts and consequent actions. Think of it like a shopping list for the soul!
StoryCorps: I’ve talked about this amazing organization in a previous holiday issue Publisher’s Note. I cry every time I listen to these stories of ordinary, everyday people sharing a slice of their life. It’s so real and base-level human, it can’t help but touch and uplift. www.storycorps.org
Soul Pancake: I first saw this on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday (which I also found by accident). I forgot about it and then found it again by accident the other day. These are YouTube videos with different themes that reveal what’s real and amazing about being an open-hearted and spirited human. “Our brain batter of art, culture, science, philosophy, spirituality, and humor is designed to open your mind, challenge your friends, and feel damn good.” www.soulpancake.com
Intelligent Optimist: Formerly known as ODE, this bi-monthly magazine covers national and international stories about what’s going right in our world. While a wide variety of topics are covered, the lens is skewed to view what is working or what people are doing to make positive change. I am always reminded about how I have the power to change the way I think and act through the inspiring examples in this excellent publication. “The world is a better place than you think.” www.theoptimist.com
YES!: This is one of the first positive publications I discovered about 15 years ago. It’s an ad-free non-profit quarterly magazine and is entirely subsidized by its readers and donors. “YES! Magazine reframes the biggest problems of our time in terms of their solutions. Online and in print, we outline a path forward with in-depth analysis, tools for citizen engagement, and stories about real people working for a better world.” www.yesmagazine.org
Experience Life: This is an actual health-and-fitness magazine that inspires rather than makes us feel bad about ourselves for not measuring up. It’s all about life balance with stories covering the full range of people trying to live healthfully in our Western society. “Experience Life is the award-winning whole-life health and fitness magazine dedicated to empowering people to become their best, healthiest selves.” www.experiencelife.com
Happy, healthy, harmonious holidays!
Jen
P.S. If you find this list helpful, please contact me (publisher@northeastjournal.org) and let me know. I have sooooo many more resources to keep you happy for the rest of your life!
