As thousands of U.S. churches have shuttered in recent years, some houses of worship are embracing a growing trend that reflects their faith-based values: repurposing or selling their land to be used for affordable housing. From coast to coast, churches with declining membership have partnered with developers to transform their unused spaces, urban planning expert […]
Canadian violinist Adrian Anantawan is changing the music industry for the better. Anantawan was born without his right hand and most of his forearm, but didn’t let that stop him from exploring music. The violin was his instrument of choice, so when he was 10, his family enlisted engineers to build a customized device to
The new school year has begun for many — and thanks to actor and singer Selena Gomez’s charity, the Rare Impact Fund, and Google’s philanthropic arm, more classrooms will be equipped to kick things off on a grounded, mindful note. This week, Google.org and Gomez announced a $10 million Teen Mental Health Initiative to directly
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Friends: We all need them. They can lift our spirits, offer support, and give us a sense of belonging. Research suggests they’re also crucial for health and well-being — people with strong friendships tend to be happier and live longer than those without. One meta-analysis found quality social ties are even more important than diet
From Close to Convenient: The 7 Types of Friendships Everyone Needs Continue Reading »
Charlie French has a remarkable gift for transforming blank canvases into vibrant, textured works of art. But it’s not just his paintings that are inspiring — it’s his incredible journey through adversity that has touched hearts everywhere. When he was 16, the abstract artist was diagnosed with Down syndrome regression disorder, or DSRD, a rare
In the United States, thinking and talking about death can be somewhat taboo, with many people preferring to keep the end of life out of mind. This tendency — perhaps along with our collective enthusiasm for “living in the moment” — may have the unintended consequence of placing us at a disadvantage when it comes to
On a hot summer day, mowing the lawn is the last thing anyone wants to do — even when temps are cooler, it isn’t exactly an exciting activity. But for people with physical limitations, financial constraints, or mental health struggles, yard work can go beyond being just a tiresome chore and instead become a virtual impossibility.
It’s part of the natural order of things that when a tire needs changing or a leaky faucet needs fixing, the first person many of us turn to for instructions is our dad. Bo Petterson is used to fielding those requests from his six children — and his millions of social media followers as well. The
Social media influencers can get a bad rap for incessantly advertising products, but one man is turning the stereotype on its head by promoting something you can’t buy in stores: gratitude. Using the handle Today.IAm.Grateful, 39-year-old college administrator David (who asked that we refer to him by first name only) posts short, daily videos of
A parent’s love is in a class of its own — strong, unconditional, and the subject of countless books, poems, and films. Unfortunately, many people within the LGBTQ+ community struggle to find acceptance from their parents or immediate family members, which is exactly where Free Mom Hugs comes in. “It’s not Free Mom Hugs’ intention
