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"Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures."
-His Holiness The Dalai Lama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7SKnTHit4M
(Sorry if this has been posted before. I vaguely remember seeing some parts but not others. It's a wonderful story!)
You're welcome, Sue. 
I cried too at the tenderness and kindness of all involved, and the quick reactions of those jumping out of their cars to help someone not being able to cross the road in the last one. If I was driving behind someone who did that I would cry and smile and feel good all day! Anybody who beeped their horn would get a bonk on the head!
Cheryl, thanks for posting all the videos, you made me cry the happy tears this morning! It is so great to see so many people helping out where they can.
We hear so much about young people and shootings these days, and we wonder what the heck is happening to our society. We don't see them or hear about them very much, but there are many young people doing random acts of kindness every day.
This team visited many homeless persons and filmed their encounters. You can see the startled reactions of people living on the streets as they are given these small gifts. But perhaps the biggest gift was recognizing their humanity, their presence on this earth. There is great power in a touch and a smile. I found this video very heartwarming.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKz2DGcUbwE
His reaction:
I wonder when the last time was that he had a hug. 
This man was so happy to get a new shirt he put it on right away.
So many little kids living on the street!
Thanks for that last post, Mary. I missed it til now. Australia gets some really terrible fires and so many animals are killed. But there are a lot of people who try to help the animals wherever they can.
Thanks Cheryl for Malala post! She is so amazing and awesome!!!
Hello my other sisters I need to catch up in this forum.
I hope you are all doing well.
This post was modified from its original form on 14 Oct, 14:11
It is said by many, including her doctors, that her survival from the shooting is a "Miracle". We are going to hear again... and many more times, about and from this young woman, who may very well become the prime minister of Pakistan one day.
Malala before shooting, age 15:
Malala after shooting and in the U.K.:
Malala speaking at 2013 U.N. on her 16th birthday: (Wearing a shawl once owned by the assassinated Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto)
U.N. Speach:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SClmL43dTo
Some of Malala's most inspiring quotes:
“#MalalaDay is not my day, today is the day of every woman, boy and girl who has raised their voice for their rights"
"There was a time when women asked men to stand up for womens' rights. This time we will do it for ourselves."
More:
http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2013/07/malalas-10-most-inspiring-quotes-from-her-un-speech.html
We don't have to know this young woman to be proud of her, and it's proud I am! I call her a "woman" even though she actually is considered a "child" because of the things she has overcome and the path she is following to help millions of other girls and young women. I truly believe she is an "old soul" and her purpose here on earth has already been established.
Thanks for that link, Sue. We will have to put more info. on the "Celebrate Women" thread so we can keep track of her. We certainly haven't heard the last of Malala. She's only just begun. May God bless and keep her safe.
Malala wins another prize and is leading the pack for the Nobel Peace Prize announced tomorrow.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/malala-yousafzai-wins-top-eu-sakharov-prize-for-freedom-of-thought-1.1491561
Cheryl, you are so right, there is always another day and I'm a firm believer that winners are not only the ones who come in first. Winners to me are the ones who never give up, they succeed and win by overcoming obstacles others never have to deal with.
Glad you like it, Sue. I just watched it again and cried like a baby - again! I love the way his father pushed past the security, probably just saying, "That's my boy (or son)" and who's going to argue with that? And I love that there was a standing ovation. So much practice and training for that to happen. But there will come another day..... 
Oh Cheryl, you got me. Crying like a baby here, what a wonderful video, inspiring young man and a wonderful father. Perfect music for it too, one of my favourites.
A bond so loving and strong it will never be broken.
Sue, thanks for link about Malala. She is one of my favourite heroes of "today" and will definitely make a mark for the good in this world. The Taliban did not take down this beautiful spirit!
Malala is so very brave and I truly hope she succeeds in her quest for every child to attend school.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/malala-pakistani-schoolgirl-shot-by-taliban-given-children-s-peace-prize-1.1443095
Cheryl, love the photo and caption, best friends do truly wonderful things for each other, thanks for posting that.
I'm impressed with anyone who would appear in front of Simon Cowell, the nastiest put downs I've ever heard come out of his mouth. Jonathan was 17, Charlotte 16 when the 1st video was made and he was just shaking with fear. They supported each other, Simon Cowell ended up admitting he was wrong!. Here is their final performance video. They did not win the competition, but to me they will always be winners. I love all the songs they sung too.
WOWEEE... Sue, the two stories were wonderfully amazing and inspiring - what the human spirit can achieve that's good!
But I burst into tears when that young man and women (I think both were teens) began to sing. It just so happens that that is one of my favourite songs, and the hearts and souls that went into singing it here certainly touched mine (gave me shivers). What a wonderful girl to befriend this talented young fellow who has probably been tortured by others one way or another. I bet their lives have forever been changed for the good. 
I was blown away by watching this video, was going to head it as don't judge a book by it's cover, but prefer the header about being friends,
WOW sUE THESE STORIES ARE AMAZING ITS GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES BUT THIS MAN AND WOMAN HAVE GONE WAY BEYOND THAT THEY ARE INPIRATIONAL
An inspiring story from Venazuela...
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/venezuelan-man-wins-award-homemade-prosthetic-arm-173925605.html
Here is an article of a really inspiring woman who has survived a brutal assault and will succeed in everything she attempts I'm certain.
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/blinded-ubc-student-finishes-thesis-heads-to-law-school-1.1362061
Wow, Mary, that's pretty neat! I've heard so many stories of car accidents where the dog has escaped from the car after the crash and can't be found. He or she may be badly injured and people can't find the poor scared babe. I have a friend who travels a lot and lets her little dog lay on her lap while she's driving. In an accident, the dog would be squashed, for sure. 
I think that law will soon be here as I've heard it mentioned a number of times.
this guy is a real hero he is an example to us all .By the way i as scrolling at the doggie in the seat belt and i just found out seat belts are the law now in ireland for doggies you get penalties on your licence if you dont have them
Link to this story:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/video/nypd-cops-act-kindness-goes-072600438.html
NEW YORK - A tourist's snapshot of a New York City police officer giving new boots to a barefoot homeless man in Times Square has created an online sensation. Jennifer Foster, a tourist from Arizona, posted a picture of Officer Larry DePrimo giving the man the all-weather boots and socks on a frigid night in Times Square on Nov. 14. The image became an instant hit on the NYPD's Facebook page. As of Thursday morning, more than 320,000 users "liked" his generosity and more than 78,000 had "shared" it. DePrimo tells Newsday the homeless man said he'd never had a pair of shoes. He says the man "smiled from ear to ear. It was like you gave him a million dollars." From the NYPD Facebook page: "Jennifer Foster of Florence, AZ was visiting Times Square with her husband Nov. 14 when they saw a shoeless man asking for change. She writes, 'Right when I was about to approach, one of your officers came up behind him. The officer said, 'I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let's put them on and take care of you.' The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years. I was never so impressed in my life. I did not get the officer's name. It is important, I think, for all of us to remember the real reason we are in this line of work. The reminder this officer gave to our profession in his presentation of human kindness has not been lost on myself or any of the Arizona law enforcement officials with whom this story has been shared.
My note: when we hear all those things about the "bad" cops, we need to remember how many good ones there are.
The roles can change over the years, but good memories never change when people take the time to make them.
"Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition, to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Awwwwwww Mary, how can one not smile all the way through that! I think that little boy with the pinata will grow up with the same love and respect for people and nature as the young man who so gently cares for the little hummer. Makes my heart happy! Thanks for posting that. I had to take a screenshot of how little he looks.
It's nice to be reminded of the GOOD people in the world! 
thanks for the optimistic video of the little boy Cheryl i agree with you hes a good kid
hummingbird rescue i thought Cheryl Lynn and Barb Kay and Les might like thishttp://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/
The empathy this little boy has for the pinata (that is in human form) is so touching. He's going to grow up to be a caring, loving, charitable individual. This really tugs at my heart! 
"We found this four day old pup on a beach near Homer, Alaska. He had been in the same area for a few days, he was very skinny, overheated and dehydrated. After sending a picture to the Alaska Sealife Center, we were told he was abandoned and should be rescued."
Hi Lynn and Les. I'm so happy you both got to see this. He was holding the dog so very gently as he slowly walked in the water, and can't you just tell the dog is totally comforted... and probably feeling less pain?
You're right, Lynn, they rescued one another. There must be an incredibly strong bond between them that often needs no words.
When people in the world are rushing here and there and constantly multi-tasking, never having "time" to do things for others, a story like this may bring some to stop and think where their priorities really are. Perhaps holding a loved one who is in pain is the most important thing one can accomplish 'that' day/week, etc.
Oh Cheryl, that is such a beautiful photo and story that it brought tears to my eyes. God Bless Mr. Unger and his ex-fiancee for rescuing Shoep and then Shoep wound up rescuing Mr. Unger after the breakup of his engagement. The photo is so poignant and brings to mind my Mandy, who "hugs" me with her cheek next to mine when she gets frightened.
I saw the above man and his dog on the news last night and it made me cry -- it was so beautiful. The dog truly just "let go" and totally trusted this wonderful man. 
Daily Buzz (through Yahoo) – Fri, 10 Aug, 2012
Touching photo of man cradling sick dog to sleep goes viral. In case you needed another example of the profound bond between human and dog, a photo snapped of a Wisconsin man rocking his sick pooch to sleep in Lake Superior may fill that quota for a long time.
Photographer Hannah Stonehouse Hudson captured the image of her friend, John Unger, cradling his 19-year-old dog, Schoep, in the Great Lake. Schoep suffers from arthritis and his advanced condition has made it difficult for the aging canine to get any rest.
To ease his pain and help him relax, Unger started taking his best buddy out into the warm water. The gentle rocking motion acts as a sort of therapy and allows Schoep to grab some much-needed shuteye.
But what started out as a visual memento of Unger's deep love for his dog has touched a global heartstring. To date, the photo posted on Hudson's Facebook page has gone viral, attracting two million views and hundreds of thousands of "likes" and shares.
"I want people to identify with this photo, and remember a time when they felt safe, loved, and cared for," Hudson added.
Unger and his fiancée rescued Schoep when the Shepherd mix was an eight-month-old pup. Schoep had been abused by his former male owner and Unger told the Duluth News Tribune that it took close to a year before the dog was able to trust him.
Unger kept the dog after he and his fiancée split and he credits Schoep, named after a popular Wisconsin ice cream brand, with saving his life after the breakup caused him to spiral into a deep depression and experience suicidal thoughts. "He just snapped me out of it. I don't know how to explain it. He just snapped me out of it.
In Syracuse, NY, volunteers went on a mission to put a smile on a stranger’s face. American Bear Films and Guerrilla Goodness partnered together for an event called Kindness Captured: A Day of Bravery and Kindness.
This event, held on June 30, sent participants on missions to do random acts of kindness to strangers.
In addition to Syracuse, the event also took place simultaneously in New York City, Dallas, Boston, Seattle and Richmond, Va.The missions included picking a flower and giving it to a stranger, or writing a happy note and sliding it under an unknown door.
“We want to share the idea you can really brighten someone’s day,” said Greg Grano, one of the founders of American Bear Films.
http://www.guerrillagoodness.com/
http://www.hooplaha.com/kindness-captured/
Yay Mary... that is soooo cute! I love primates and have since I was a little girl. I think these little girls and/or guys are enjoying their baths so much. It looks like the one in front doesn't want it to finish; he hangs on with his toes when they take him out! lol I had to take a screenshot.
Don't they have the most trusting eyes? I don't know how anyone could hurt them.
Thanks Mary!
rescuers give orangutangs a spa treatment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyj-MxpmKmc&feature=colike
Plaza Cleaners in Portland, OR, helped over 2,000 unemployed workers who couldn’t afford dry cleaning. The store’s owner estimated that it cost his company $32,000 dollars.
...(cont'd)
Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over a year!
But yet they knew where they were going.
The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who'd saved their lives.
They stayed for two days and two nights.
Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.
...(cont'd)
Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked in such an organized way:
Walking slowly - for days - making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house.
Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller 'The Elephant Whisperer', bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.
On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died. He is remembered and missed by his wife, two sons, two grandsons and numerous elephants.
Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs.
Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved man-friend.
A total of 20 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African house.
Somebody loves this pup as much as their human child!
