If your inbox is anything like mine, you probably expected a list of social distancing guidelines when you opened this email. If that’s what you’re looking for, open anything above or below me and chances are good you’ll find it. (Go ahead, I’ll wait here.)

Now that you’ve done that, I’d like to offer you something just as important (if not even more so)…

Let’s take a few minutes to recognize the good things that are happening in our world. Is it just me or have people been smiling a little more readily these past couple of weeks? Neighbors are reaching out to one another. And despite all the self-isolation, people are connecting in more meaningful and creative ways.

Take a moment to look beyond the headlines and you’ll find something heartwarming and absolutely inspiring: people helping people, animals and the environment!
And… if you’d love to get some support for yourself or someone you know… please check our our Find-A-Coach directory. We’ve got 100’s of coaches who are currently offering free to low-cost coaching to those in need. View Directory

So as an antidote to the deluge of warnings, restrictions and closures, here’s a list of 10 positive things happening all around us…

  1. JOANN Fabric published a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a face mask. Volunteers have made more than 10 million masks which have been donated to local hospitals. (My 79-year-old mother is producing 4 to 5 masks an hour. Thanks Mom!) Volunteers for the Oregon Humane Society are doing the same for veterinary staff. Animals still get the care they need, and their people stay safe in the process. If you sew, here’s the tutorial: https://www.joann.com/make-to-give-response/.
  2. Young people are delivering food and necessities to vulnerable individuals. Volunteer organizations have popped up throughout the world allowing university students and other young people to fill a shopping list that includes food, prescriptions and other essentials for older and at-risk people.
  3. Communities answer the call for help from animal shelters. From California to Connecticut, dogs and cats are being fostered and adopted in droves. The uptick in community response has a dual benefit: it allows shelter employees the opportunity to stay home if needed and provides the foster caregiver with companionship during social isolation. This is a biggie for me. So if you’ve taken home a rescue animal: THANK YOU! If you’re interested in fostering or adopting a pet, a good place to start searching within your local area is https://www.petfinder.com/.
  4. Distilleries are creating hand sanitizer instead of spirits. For some, it began as a novelty, providing things like juniper-scented hand sanitizer to employees. But as the pandemic worsened, countless distilleries around the world, including Anheuser-Busch, began working with the red cross and other aid organizations to supply hand sanitizer to first responders and other essential caregivers. Smaller distilleries are using their supply of high proof alcohol to manufacture hand sanitizer then provide it free of charge to support their clients and friends in the bar and restaurant industries.
  5. People are reaching out to nursing home residents with cards, letters and drawings. While most nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the United States continue to limit in-person visits, adults and children alike are now sending messages of support through handmade cards, letters and drawings. Sometimes the recipients are friends, sometimes complete strangers. Becoming a pen pal is a great way for younger people to help while connecting with the wisdom of an older generation. If you have kids at home who may be interested, contact the director of a facility in your area and ask about writing to a specific resident.
  6. The National Parks Service partnered with Google to create virtual guided tours. Though not specifically created as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, this virtual resource offers the unique ability to explore some of the most picturesque spots in the country. Plan an upcoming trip or relive memories of your favorite national park. If your local hiking or outdoor area is closed, get a dose of the outdoors by taking one of the guided tours here: https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/welcome
  7. Air is cleaner, water is clearer after noticeable drops in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The dramatic halt to industrial operations throughout the world has resulted in better air qualities and cleaner water around the globe. Fish are now visible in the once-murky Venice canals, and NASA reports a drop in nitrogen dioxide over China resulting from a 25 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the end of January. It’s a silver lining sort of thing. The human cost has been terribly high. Yet this insight allows scientists and other researchers to better plan for and help us avoid the destructive impacts of climate change.
  8. Win-win for local eateries and medical staff as people donate takeout to doctors and nurses. Two dozen artisan-crafted donuts for the folks in ER admitting. Coffee and breakfast sandwiches for nursing staff. Full meals catered to on-duty medical personnel. These are just a few examples of the ‘adopt a doctor or nurse’ programs that many food service providers are working to fill around the country. It’s been a great way to alleviate some of the burden on those who work 15-hour days to keep the virus from spreading and care for those who’ve been diagnosed. It’s also helping sustain our local eateries.
  9. Hotel chains and state governments reserve blocks of rooms for homeless individuals to self-isolate. Across the country, tens of thousands of hotel rooms and trailers are being procured to allow homeless people to self-isolate and wash their hands frequently – both of which are critical to protect against the virus. Sometimes funded through state resources, sometimes volunteered by the hotel chains, these spaces protect a segment of the population often at greater risk due to a prevalence of underlying health issues.
  10. Coach Training World coaches are offering free and sliding-scale coaching services to help those in need.
    For everyone from small business owners to individuals, our coaches are offering their experience and expertise to help overcome the personal and financial impact of the coronavirus. Find a coach who specializes in your industry or personal need here: GO NOW!

Have you heard about a positive story not covered here? Share it with all of us in the comments section below.