98 Comments
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Donna's avatar

Thank you very much for this post. Refreshing, comforting and encouraging.

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James Lucas's avatar

🫶

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It's Come To This's avatar

Wonderful post -- and stories. Thanks for passing them on.

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you for your kind words.

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Moments of Wonder's avatar

Lovely. I did not know about Bill Murray and the painting, "If this girl in the painting can keep going, maybe I can too".

Visiting museums, wondering at monuments or landscapes does us a lot of good.

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James Lucas's avatar

🫶  

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Mega's avatar

Thank you for this, we need these every week as its a struggle to read the news every week

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James Lucas's avatar

I couldn’t agree more.

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Lee Kemter's avatar

Wow James. This was fun. It' nice to be uplifted. It's a better way to start the day than endless doom and gloom. I always enjoy your posts but this one was special.

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James Lucas's avatar

Love hearing that! Thank you so much, Lee.

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Nadina's avatar

Youtube restores my faith in humanity. Whenever i need to do something outside of my skill area i turn to youtube and find a human being who has taken the time to make a “ how-to” video. I have changed the lock on my door, cooked dinner, repaired clothing,, and learned many other skills from youtube. Thanks, everyone.

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NanJ's avatar

I learned to paint in oils from an artist on YouTube, Mark Carder, who shares his entire teaching experience in his videos - and all are free. I am so thankful for his generosity.

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Hans Jorgensen's avatar

Tree by tree, art by art, listening on the bridge - hope in the repeated little practices and seemingly random intersections.

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Eva Telenius-Lowe's avatar

Who doesn't suffer from bad news overload...?! Thank you so much James for this beautiful positive post, just what we all need. 💖 😘 There is kindness and positivity everywhere in my experience, you need to actively CHOOSE to avoid being sucked in this seemingly endless tornado of negativity. It takes energy but it benefits you health. 😊

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Jacqueline Billy's avatar

Thank you, Eva, it is the best way to take care of myself as well. Positive thoughts turn into positive behavior, such as being kind and loving to myself and others! ❤️

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Eva Telenius-Lowe's avatar

Atta girl❣️ And thanks for following me. 😍

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Sandra McGrandle's avatar

I just followed you too. 😊

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Jacqueline Billy's avatar

Eva, I truly agree with you. And I am also not going to allow the present hate in the political situation turn my mind into a place my soul does not want to connect with, I need to cultivate kindness and love within myself and others.

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Eva Telenius-Lowe's avatar

Thank you Jacqueline, I am so glad that my reply resonated with you. 😊 I wish you well on your journey of avoiding hate and negativity, instead developing kindness and love. ❤️

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Sally Ripple's avatar

Thank you for this. The most important words were from my mother, many years ago. "Allow for the passage of time. Wait."

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Life Lived Italian's avatar

Wonderful post-- hopeful and positive but real, and not sentimental. All of these people did the hard work that goes beyond simple optimism-- planting, nurturing, listening, welcoming. I'm never quite sure which comes first-- the right attitude or the right actions. Not sure if it matters.

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James Lucas's avatar

I’ve always felt that attitude blooms from action. The mindset appears once we begin.

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Sandra McGrandle's avatar

Well said!

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sharon f's avatar

This article did some good today.

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James Lucas's avatar

That’s exactly what I was hoping for.

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Robert W Hermann's avatar

Thank you James Lucas! All of your work and posts collectively do exactly what you are illustrating in this post. Thank you for being there.

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you so much, Robert. It means the world to me.

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Milret2's avatar

Wonderful stories and they recharge me. Thanks for sharing all of them

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James Lucas's avatar

My pleasure!

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Social SLP's avatar

This was such a beautiful read. Brought tears to my eyes to see such good out there. It’s a good reminder that even though there’s an onslaught of horror, gloom and doom, there are also many, many examples of goodness, kindness and hope. May we all remember and exude this light during dark, uncertain times.

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Nina Jade's avatar

Did not expect to sob at a Substack article today, but my heart was so deeply stirred and moved by this. Especially the GG Bridge story, which immediately put me in tears. Thank you for sharing this reminder of how good humans are. And anyone who references LOTR is golden to me, hehe. 🩷

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James Lucas's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing this. LOTR rules.

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Sandra McGrandle's avatar

This was sincerely one of the best articles I have read on Substack, James. I knew any article that started out with that Two Towers film quote from Samwise Gamgee was bound to be great!

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Jacqueline Janssen's avatar

Always nice to have good news.

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