Feel Good Stories!

Hello All,

Every now and then I just want to read/hear feel good stories. Stories that are uplifting, awe inspiring, and just plain happy. These stories help me on days that are tough or dreary. They also remind me about all of the good things in life. So I thought you might like some too!

I absolutely fell in love with Zaila Avant-garde, the first African American to win the Scipps National Spelling Bee. The 14-year old from New Orleans won after correctly spelling murraya (a type of tropical tree) and before that, words I had never even heard of, querimonious, solidungulate and Nepeta. (I had to look all of those up!) When she realized she won, she jumped in the air and twirled around. I loved her pure joy. I loved her smile. I loved her determination – she practiced 13,000 words a day to get ready for the spelling bee! Zaila is now  looking for new challenges to tackle! And all of this from a young woman who is already in the Guinness Book of World records for the most bounce juggles in one minute – and is hoping to play basketball at Harvard before a career at NASA or with the NBA. I have no doubt we will be hearing about her for years to come!

Then there is the story about the ten extremely talented high school students from The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland who invented and then built an award-winning wheelchair stroller – the “Wheelstroll” – for a teacher’s husband to use! The husband of Chelsie King, a middle school teacher at the school,  had his life change after brain surgery left him with speech and balance issues which have caused him to use a wheelchair. After the King’s found out a baby was on the way, they immediately began to think about how he could be involved caring for the child, things that able-bodied parents don’t have to think about. Ms. King met with Matt Zigler, the head of the school’s Innovation and Technology Lab, who teaches a class that creates objects/tools/etc. for social good. (BTW – how cool is that!) The class took this project on, interviewed the family, collaborated on design ideas and created this incredible wheelchair stroller! The high schoolers entered the 2021 International Make: Able Challenge Competition – and won! The judges awarded The Bullis students both “Best Inspirational Story” and “Best Showcase of Iterative Design”. Now Mr. King has the tool he needs to take his new son on stroll by himself! And these students are my heroes!

What lengths a young man went to impress a girl! In the spring of 2018, Dax Hurst went to a college function and registered with a stem cell and bone marrow registry….all to impress a girl. In 2019, he was contacted because he was a perfect match (an identical blood match, which happens about 1 in a million times) for a bone marrow transplant for a baby boy who was born with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder, also known as Bubble Boy Syndrome. When he found this out, he stated he couldn’t resist this request and donated his marrow and stem cells. Dax saved the baby’s life. He was united with the now 2-year he saved just this year. Dax – I have no idea if you got the girl, but you certainly impressed me!

This story actually started in 2019 too – in Brazil. During a heavy rain, a little kitten sought refuge inside the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (the Brazilian equivalent of our American Bar Association). He decided to stay – and the lawyers were just fine taking care of him. Some people started to complain (mostly because he was so tiny) that the stray cat was trying to make friends with them. The Board of the Order decided to hire “Dr. Leon Advogato”….as a lawyer! Dr. Leon got his own company badge, wore a bowtie or tie and spent his days welcoming guests! His picture graces the banner of PhylPhacts today. Sadly Dr. Leon died in June of 2020. Leon inspired the lawyers to work on animal rights, launching an animal rights institute, called the Instituto Dr. Leon. In keeping with Leon’s memory, the OAB adopted a new “cattorney”, Dr. Leona!

I will end on this note – my great nieces and I heard back from Mondelez International…..who owns Nabisco…..who makes Oreos! It was sort of a form letter that they jazzed up a little bit – but we were excited we got a letter! They noted they were “always delighted when young entrepreneurs like you care enough about our products to offer their own creative ideas.” Then there was a lot of legal stuff about their “unsolicited ideas” about, among other things, “recipe ideas”. So though our ideas won’t be sent to the “Collaborations Team”, “various Mondelez International teams do review comments such as yours, which help us identify consumer trends, preferences and needs.” AND – as they “applauded our creativity”, they sent coupons for free Oreos! Woohoo! We considered that a win! BTW – there are two new special edition Oreos coming out – salted caramel brownie Oreos this month and apple cider donut Oreos in August! Be on the lookout!

I hope these stories brought a smile! Happy Friday Eve!

Phyl