The Longest Winter

By Joseph J. Mazzella on February 19, 2014 / 9,400 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on February 19, 2014 / 9,400 views

It has been the longest Winter this year. First came the weeks of the polar vortex accompanied by record breaking, below zero temperatures, frozen water pipes, and wind chills that cut into your bones like an icy knife. Next came the snowstorms one after another burying our cars, driveways, and homes under several feet of wet, heavy, snow. Day after day I spent my time shivering and shoveling with an aching back and...

Lucky To Have Him

By Judy on February 14, 2014 / 7,825 views

By Judy on February 14, 2014 / 7,825 views

While our elderly neighbors were away, my fiance shoveled their walkway. They came home with their grand kids ready to shovel them out and were pleasantly surprised to see it done for them. Since it snowed more last night, Ryan went over today and cleaned off their car, without letting them know that it was him looking out for them. They caught him in the act and brought us some fudge. I'm lucky to have this man...

Kinderstruck

By Sound As A Crystal on February 11, 2014 / 1,639 views

I saw that word, kinderstruck, on urbandictionary.com. I’m not even sure if it’s a real word, but even if it’s not, I love it. There is no other single word that evokes that feeling you get when a sound or smell puts you back in time to your childhood, feeling the simple pleasures and impressions you had before you inherited the worries of adulthood. Some of the things that make me kinderstruck: Jonie...

Helping JP

By Crystal on February 11, 2014 / 4,895 views

I wanted to reach out to see if you can help with my friend, JP's story. He was diagnosed with T1 Diabetes at age 3 and has inspired me since I met him! He is an amazing young man, who is active in the community, with dreams and ideas of how to inspire other T1 diabetics reach their dreams. He has just moved to San Francisco from a Luling, LA to attend the Academy of Art University. He is the first person in...

Happy In This Life

By Joseph J. Mazzella on February 11, 2014 / 11,976 views

"How can you be happy in this life?" That was the question at the end of the letter. It was sent by a troubled, young woman who had read another of my stories on the internet. She had written about how she had tried all the ways popular in this world to find happiness. She had spent money, gambled, had casual sex, and tried both drugs and alcohol. All of it had only left her with pain in her heart and longing in her...

From Paralysis To Guinness World Record Ocean Rower

By Sarah Weldon on February 11, 2014 / 6,218 views

By Sarah Weldon on February 11, 2014 / 6,218 views

In 2001 I had it all, a good job, pension, mortgage, financial stability, and was over the moon when I was offered the chance to undertake public health research on maternal and child health in the urban and rural slums of Tamil Nadu, India. Unbeknown to me, my body had an adverse reaction to a routine travel vaccination, and whilst in India I developed sudden onset paralysis, which took a good 18 months to recover...

The Importance Of Paying It Forward

By Meetal Desai on February 10, 2014 / 5,851 views

I am an Indian-American that was raised Hindu- my parents have become more religious as I have gotten older but my sister and I were never taught the Hindu doctrine growing up. Instead, my parents would encourage us to embody the many community-centric principles and the spirit of generosity embodied by Hinduism by participating in acts of service and always paying it forward. In my personal life, I feel a...

Why I Will Buy My Children Tablet Computers

By Layla Everard on February 09, 2014 / 5,895 views

I am currently watching my 6 year old twin daughters create some wonderful artwork using plastic bottles, cello tape and lots of paint whilst my nearly 3 year old son is happily playing with his wooden train tracks. All this when there are 3 tablets turned off nearby. The only thing that is unusual about this scenario is that it's a rarity in this house for all three children to be playing so quietly and without...

I Hurt My Son's Feelings...But The Story Does Not End There

By Clara on February 09, 2014 / 6,090 views

By Clara on February 09, 2014 / 6,090 views

I hurt my son's feelings and felt terrible about it, but the story doesn't end there. As a mom, one of the last things I ever want to do is hurt my child. Sometimes I get lost in a moment of frustration and before putting any thought into what I'm about to say, the words just come out. It's during moments like these that I am more apt to hurt my son's feelings. Although this doesn't happen too often, when it...

A TRUE FRIEND HELPS YOU BE BETTER

By A Perfect Perception on February 03, 2014 / 4,446 views

By A Perfect Perception on February 03, 2014 / 4,446 views

“Some people expect me to be loyal to them or agree with them even if it means compromising my values or doing something against my conscience. Those aren’t true friends.”—Nadeine. “My sister is my best friend. She pushes me to do things outside of my comfort zone and helps me to be more outgoing. She tells me the truth even if it isn’t what I want to hear.”—Amy. “When I went through a rough...

Warm On The Inside

By Joseph J. Mazzella on February 03, 2014 / 5,404 views

It was the latest of a series of arctic blasts that had made for a brutal Winter here in the mountains of my home. I woke up shivering and shook my head as I saw the frozen ice patterns on the inside of my windows. After a hot breakfast I bundled up to go down and warm up my car before driving out. The house door opened with a loud crack as the ice broke on the door knob. I stepped out into the deathly quiet of the...

YouTube Video With A Purpose

By Lori on January 30, 2014 / 5,565 views

To the girls who made the YouTube video "Outskirts Movement": Thank you. You are truly inspiring and a reminder that there is still hope. You have dedicated so much time to such a simple and beautiful cause, enjoying the little things in life. I hope everyone takes a second to watch this video. ...

#HonoringMaura, Spreading Maura's Joy

By Gina on January 29, 2014 / 7,171 views

By Gina on January 29, 2014 / 7,171 views

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the death of one of my best friend’s sisters, Maura. She was twenty-one when she died, only a year younger than me. I never met Maura, but she has a reputation for having been full of life, love, and abundant happiness. After she died, her older sister, Mary, noticed that she had a now-permanent smile on her face. In all of her pictures, she is bursting with energy....

CHANGE YOUR LIFE : Play And Stay Tour

By Jacob Acosta on January 28, 2014 / 5,421 views

By Jacob Acosta on January 28, 2014 / 5,421 views

People should help people. Good deeds should be done to breed more good. That is the whole idea behind my next national tour (I'm a musician). I think my news story says it best :) Jacob Acosta PLAY AND STAY TOUR KGUN9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_002O-hkx0 And I need help with the voice. I only have 38 days left in this campaign: The "CHANGE YOUR LIFE" : Jacob Acosta 2014 National...

There Is No App For That

By Joseph J. Mazzella on January 28, 2014 / 1,817 views

By Joseph J. Mazzella on January 28, 2014 / 1,817 views

There was a new commercial on television the other day doing its best to sell the newest smart phone on the market. It made it sound like you could solve all of your problems if you just bought this device with its countless functions and applications. After it was over I looked down at my simple flip phone that I used mainly as a pocket watch and sometimes to call my daughter. Then I smiled and slipped it back in...

Do Divine Duty Of Blood Donation And Feel Divine Happiness

By Vineet Mittal on January 23, 2014 / 1,898 views

One day I met a man in the hospital, who needed blood to save his daughter. He was struggling to get blood for her and curiously asked my blood group. My blood group was the same needed for his daughter. Before that I never donated my blood, so I was afraid of doing this and really in a dilemma on what to do? Then suddenly I saw a little girl in the hospital, who was suffering from a critical disease and...

Blessings In Disguise. A Conversation With God

By George on January 22, 2014 / 12,502 views

By George on January 22, 2014 / 12,502 views

God, can I ask You a question? God: Sure. Me: Promise You won't get mad. God: I promise. Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today? God: What do u mean? Me: Well, I woke up late. God: Yes. Me: My car took forever to start. God: Okay. Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait. God: Mhhmmmmm Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a...