An Uplifting Back-to-School Story: Christian and Connor and a Viral Act of Kindness

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures for more info. 

Hello everyone!  I hope you are doing well!

For today’s post, I thought it would be cool to do something related to going back to school. September is when students typically resume classes here in the States, and I’ve also been “back to school” in the form of some professional training I’ve undertaken. (The irony of my timing on that was not lost on me, but I promise, I didn't plan it that way. It's also why I now need more time between posts.)

Over the last several weeks, I’ve enjoyed all the pictures my friends have posted of their kids on the first day of school or heading to college, or pictures of how they're settling in. Some of those kids I have watched grow up, as proven by their parents posting side-by-side photos of the first first-day-of-school pic next to the current one. How has time flown so fast that kids I once knew as babies are now seniors in high school or even starting college?

Thank you for all of you who share their photos—it’s so fun to see your kids grow up.

I used to really love school when I was a kid. For one thing, I’d geek out about all the new school supplies, like pens and notebooks and Trapper Keepers—man, am I dating myself? Apparently they still make them, though—and for another, it was always great to see my friends again after a summer off.

But not everyone has a good time in school. Some may find it overwhelming, especially if they have any kind of sensory issues.

So I wanted to share this uplifting story about what one little boy did for another overwhelmed little boy on their first day of school. Check out this short video:

On the first day of school, Connor Crites started crying as he stood outside waiting to go into the building...until another little boy, Christian Moore, grabbed his hand and consoled him. Christian continued to hold Connor’s hand until the bell rang, then walked with him into the school.

Christian's mother posted a photo of the exchange on Facebook, and Connor's mom saw the post and responded “Tell your son I said thank you so very much! That little boy he helped is my son and is autistic.”

The story went viral, and the mothers were interviewed. Some things the two moms said really stood out:

“It doesn’t matter, you know, color. It doesn’t matter gender. It doesn’t matter disability. It doesn’t matter anything, just be kind, open your heart, and that’s what we need in this world.”

“One act of kindness can change someone’s life.”

“It can change the world; that’s all it takes.”

Amen to that, ladies!

I hope you enjoyed this story fitting the back-to-school theme. I love highlighting stories where kindness saves the day! It could have gone so differently: imagine if you were Connor and grew up with awful memories of your first day of school instead of the beautiful memory he will now get to cherish for the rest of his life! Same goes for Christian: he did good! I hope school continues to go well for both of them, especially knowing they have each other.

I hope your kids, if you have any, have settled back into their school routines happily. And if you’re like me and are also getting back into homework and classwork, much power to you! Because man... I'd forgotten how hard homework is! How did I do this every day before? 🤣 

Take care!


Have you heard any good news, lately? Drop a comment below or on the Facebook page!

Other sources for this story:

CBS News

People

 ~positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!~

5 Reasons Hugging is Good For You

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures for more info. 


This past weekend was the start of the Three Rivers Arts Fest. I’ve lived in Pittsburgh for 11 years and until this past Sunday, I had never gone to this annual two-week festival of art, music, and culture run by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. This year, I promised myself I would go, and I had a great reason to: I wanted to support my friend’s daughter, Lily Harvey, who was performing on Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pride coincided with the festival this past weekend, so there were a lot of people attending both events. While there, I saw several people wearing T-shirts that said things like “FREE MOM HUGS” or “FREE DAD HUGS.”

I thought that was a great idea! I know that some in the LGBTQ+ community have been rejected and disowned by their families for being who they are. Getting a hug from someone who seems like a “mom” or a “dad” may just give them the comfort and strength they need.

Indeed, there was a viral post about this very topic, and if you haven’t seen it yet, please stop reading this for a moment and go read this account, where the writer details moving stories about the people who asked for a hug during Pride. Go ahead—I’ll wait.

🧡   💛   💚   💙   💜

Okay, back now? Wasn’t that really touching?

I can’t imagine being rejected by my parents. I’m pretty positive mine would always love me no matter what. But many people aren’t as lucky, and they need our help. Being cared for, loved, and hugged are basic human rights, as far as I’m concerned. (And are awesome ways to disrupt negativity.)

So this got me thinking about hugs in general. I’m a pretty huggy person, so I wondered WHY do hugs help, and HOW do they help us?

I did a little reading on the topic!

Here is my summary of five reasons hugging is good for you:

1. Hugging releases brain chemicals that make you feel good.

When you are hugged by someone, your brain releases oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. These rewarding brain chemicals help cement emotionally positive experiences and help reduce stress levels.

2. Hugging reduces your heart rate and blood pressure.

Studies have been done that show both blood pressure and heart rate are reduced after the act of hugging. Having these two biometric stats lowered also contributes to the reduction of stress mentioned above, as well as less anxiety and a pervasive feeling of calm.

3. Hugging may help fight infection.

With the reduction in stress, your body becomes more immune to infection. A study was done that showed a correlation between perceived social support and the effects of illness, showing reduced symptoms for those who felt they had good social support. And what is a hug if not a physical manifestation of social support?

4. Hugging creates stronger relationships.

It’s said that children who are hugged regularly grow up more secure, confident, and sure of their place in their family. It’s also said that couples who hug and cuddle each other have stronger relationships. Once again, those rewarding brain chemicals help cement a relationship through physical touch. Neurobiologist Mary Carlson studied orphans in Romania in the 60s and 70s and discovered there were negative effects to those who were not hugged or who did not have positive social interactions regularly; these effects included elevated stress hormones like cortisol.

5. Hugging may help reduce pain.

A study was done in which people were exposed to a moderately painful stimulus with and without someone they love touching them. In the former scenario, being touched by a loved one had an analgesic effect. Additionally, another study done on people who suffer from chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia showed a reduction in symptoms when they sought six forms of therapeutic touch. Hugging is a form of therapeutic touch, is it not? Okay, I know this one is stretching a bit, but hear me out. For instance, just this morning my husband hugged me, and I’m in a full-blown fibro flare, so if he used too much pressure, it would hurt a little bit. But emotionally, I felt much better for having gotten that hug, and indeed, I often turn to him for a hug in times of increased pain. A hug from Fred is my favorite medicine! Those positive brain chemicals and reward circuits are doing their jobs! So while this is anecdotal evidence, at best, I’m going to call it a a legit win.

Conclusion

So with all that science to back it up, I think hugging is an EXCELLENT way to combat negativity! It’s simple, it costs nothing, and it can put a smile on someone’s face again. Why not offer someone a hug today? Not only would you help someone feel better, I bet it would help you, too.

As for those people at Pride who were willing to offer comfort to complete strangers with a hug, once again I am SUPER proud of my city for showing such compassion. You have my mad respect, Pittsburgh!

Until next time, be happy! 💛🐝

 ~positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!~

Sources:
Brainfodder.org
Time
Healthline
Science
Gottman Institute
Elite Daily
The Telegraph

Fortune Cookie Friday: Good News for Bees

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures for more info. 

Hello, all!

Today I’d love to share a fortune cookie with you, and apply its message to a scenario I recently read about.

Great things are made of little things.  

You may have figured out that bees are near and dear to my heart. After all, this blog is called positively b.e.e. because of my childhood nickname of Bee and my desire to make a small difference in the world.

But bees–the fuzzy kind with stingers—are really important for more than just my own sentimental reasons.

They are pollinators—the reason we have crops to eat and beautiful flowers to see and smell.

They are an example of little things that help to make great things!

There have been reports of anything from Colony Collapse Disorder to pesticides to habitat loss to the planting of non-native plant species to climate change or any number of other reasons why bees and their colonies suffer, disappear, or die.

But with bees being important to our ecosystem, crops, and economy—other than becoming beekeepers, how can we help them?

Well, one guy named Dan Harris just figured one tiny piece of that puzzle out!

Dan is the inventor of a nifty device that you can use if you come across a starving bee on the sidewalk or patio. He figured out that bees’ fast metabolisms sometimes cause them to get caught short and have to rest, but without some kind of snack for them to nosh on, well...that’s basically a death sentence for a starving bee.

Each of these devices—no bigger than a credit card—holds three servings of a beekeeper’s formula to feed a starving bee. Simply peel back the foil and place the card down on the sidewalk next to the bee, and what do you know? They’ll climb on up onto the card and start chowing down, allowing them to continue their journey to the next flower or crop or back to their hive!

Dan has started crowdfunding the project and partnered with Richard Horne, who helped design and illustrate the cards. You can visit Bee Saviour Behaviour for more information, as well!

So, to go back to our fortune: Dan's invention is also a little thing leading to a great thing, don't you think?

I highlighted this story not only because it’s good news for bees, but also to get your creative wheels turning:

What small steps can you take today, this week, this month, or this year to solve a problem you’ve seen in  your community, your neighborhood, or your life? Or to meet a goal you have? Or to help someone out who is in need?

Share your story with me—I’d love to hear about all those wonderful little things that are leading to great things! 

💛🐝

 ~positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!~

Sources: 

The Guardian

Fast Company

When Scammers Struck, Someone Saved the Day

This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures. 

Happy Friday! I hope your week went well. Drop me a comment and let me know how things are going! We’ve had a decent week here at Chez b.e.e., for which I am very grateful.

I’ve been getting positive feedback from readers that they really like posts about acts of kindness  because it gives them hope for a better world. With that in mind, please enjoy today’s story coming from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Photo by Louis Smit on Unsplash

Most people have heard of Dave Chappelle, the famous stand-up comedian. He has been touring again after a hiatus, and tickets are at a premium.

Unfortunately, scammers are getting better and better at victimizing people seeking tickets for big acts such as Chappelle’s. When one couple was scammed out of $500 for tickets to his show in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chappelle stepped in.

Deidra and Eddie Dickens wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day by seeing one of their favorite comedians. Since Eddie sometimes uses a wheelchair, Deidra wanted to ensure tickets they purchased would be at the end of a row to allow for that. She found tickets on Craigslist and paid $500 for them, but it turns out the seller wasn’t legitimate, and she never received them.

What happened next is amazing:

(If you prefer not to watch a video, there are links to other sources at the end of this post.) 

What a stand-up guy Dave Chappelle is, isn’t he? He didn't have to do that for them, but he did, and by doing so publicly, he brought awareness to the issue so other people would hopefully not get hurt.


What do you think of this story? Let me know in the comments, below! I hope it’s given you a smile, and that your week ahead is fabulous. See you next week!

💛🐝

Other sources for this story:
Fox
CBS
People

 ~positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!~

The Science of Kindness

This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures. 

Hello everyone! I hope you’ve been having a wonderful week. 

Today I want to talk about kindness. I don’t know why this popped into my brain, but it did, so bear with me. 

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

We all know that it’s good to be kind. We’re taught as children to be kind to others, share our toys, be nice, say “please” and “thank you,” and help our friends. Some of us have done volunteer work throughout our lives, or at the very least, helped a neighbor bring in their groceries or shovel their walk.

I really like highlighting ways to be kind to each other here on this blog. I’ve recognized that not only does being kind to people make me feel good (indeed, it makes me feel good to write this blog every week), but I’ve noticed that when one person is kind, then there is a tendency for other people to be kind, as well. And it’s not because of some weird peer pressure thing, either; it really does seem to be, well… CONTAGIOUS.

So the other night, I was sitting here wondering what I was going to write about, when a thought popped into my brain: 

“I wonder if there’s any science behind kindness being contagious?” 

So I did some poking around, and found some interesting things that I will summarize at a very high level with proper attribution to original sources so you can deep-dive the topic. Please support these scientists and writers and go read their original work, okay? 

Okay. Here goes:

Scientific American conducted a study in which they added $1 extra onto the payment for participants in the study, then gave people the opportunity to donate any portion to any number of charities. They also let the study participants see a made-up list of others’ donations, and it turns out, when they thought others were being generous, they were generous, too. (And if they thought others were stingy, they were stingy.)

Next, Scientific American wanted to find out what the empathy factor would be in these acts of charity: were they simply acts of imitation, or did people who witnessed or performed an act of charity have more compassion and empathy overall? They gave participants a seemingly-unrelated “pen pal” task, in which they read a letter from someone describing the ups and downs of their life, and then were asked to write a letter back to that person. 

Turns out, after witnessing people donate money generously, participants were friendlier and more compassionate in their letter responses to their “pen pal.”

So what is the mechanism that is happening within us, either biologically or sociologically, when witnessing others being kind? Scientists don’t fully understand that, yet, but there are some theories.

According to this article on the Good News Network, it may actually be some kind of evolutionary holdover, and there was another source that may support that. In his paper, Darwin’s Compassionate View of Human Nature, Paul Ekman, Ph.D. discusses Darwin’s telling of a story in which a little monkey tried to protect his zookeeper from a vicious baboon attack, despite the fact that the monkey was, at all other times, terrified of the baboon. Darwin theorized that when we witness suffering, we also suffer, so that in order to stop our own suffering, we will try to stop others’ suffering, too. But how does that fit in with evolution? The idea is that in order for the species to survive, inevitably one member of the species may sacrifice themselves to protect those who have a better chance of surviving. 

Additionally, the Good News Network's article discusses something called the “Helper’s High”—certain parts of the brain are lit up by witnessing or participating in acts of kindness, and certain hormones are released, as well, such as oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. To expand upon this, check out this cool infographic by Dartmouth summarizing the physiological and other effects of random acts of kindness. 

Anyway, this long summary of articles about the science of kindness is brought to you courtesy of my curious brain. 😄 I hope it was as enlightening to you as it was to me, and inspires you to do some more looking into the matter for yourself. Do go read the source material I provided, or do some Googling; there is a TON of info out there!

I wonder: does this discussion inspire you to do something kind for someone today? Let me know your thoughts, below. After all, when we are kind to others: 

...we can disrupt negativity like a boss!

base photo courtesy of Josh Appel on Unsplash

Have a great week, everyone! 🐝

(Sources: Scientific American / Dartmouth / Paul Ekman, Ph.D. / Good News Network)

 ~positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!~