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Dear #Positivity Friends,
When I was a kid, a public service campaign ran on TV during Saturday morning cartoons that promoted keeping our local communities clean of waste and litter. The ads would show someone carelessly tossing a bit of trash on the ground while the voiceover reminded us “Don’t be a litter bug” or “Every litter bit hurts.” As a result, an entire generation of American children—myself included—became little soldiers in the war on litter. Decades later, we still drop every piece of trash in a garbage can as if it’s our solemn civic duty.
Tinged as it was with Madison Avenue slickery, that ad campaign represented a simple but sophisticated lesson in personal responsibility: You’re in charge of you. So do what you can do to make things better. (And while you’re at it, do what you can do not to make things worse.)
Today, when you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the troubles going on in this world that you feel powerless to change, remind yourself that there is always something you can do today—right now—to make things a little better. You can give your elderly neighbor a hand with his groceries. You can drop off a sack of kids’ books at the family homeless shelter. You can bring a cup of tea to someone in your office who’s having a bad day. You can plant a tree. And you can always grab that plastic grocery bag that’s blowing around on the sidewalk and put it in the trash, right?
This quiet bit of giving costs nothing but it rewards you immeasurably every time you do it. So do yourself a favor and give one of these invisible gifts every day when no one’s looking!
As always, I hope that you are enjoying my newsletter. If you miss any edition, you can find it on my website. Pass this newsletter along and encourage your family and friends to sign up.
With immense gratitude and positivity,
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Do you want to get growing? Become a member of Neighborhood Farms USA® and you’ll get hot gardening tips from our master gardener, free design plans for indoor and outdoor gardens, and a monthly newsletter loaded with scoop about planting, growing, and harvesting your own food. Your membership will help support our mission to promote community gardening that supports health, wellness, and nutritional education in neighborhoods across the country. Go to the Neighborhood Farms USA website to join today!
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Bird watchers in Sheffield, England got a surprise this fall when a small, yellow and black bird was spotted on a local resident’s clothesline. This scarlet tanager—native to eastern North America—doesn’t turn up in Britain very often. It’s believed that the bird was blown off course during its yearly migration to South America, when it crossed the path of October’s hurricanes in the southern United States. The sighting caused quite a stir among avid birders, some of whom travelled hundreds of miles to see the little guy. The last sighting of a scarlet tanager in the UK was on an island in the Outer Hebredis in 2014, so when this recent opportunity arose, 75-year-old bird enthusiast Dave Stone eagerly traveled 280 miles to add this bird to his watch list. “I’ve been doing this since 1985,” Stone said. “If I get this bird, it will be my 500th.” | |
A waiter at Smitty’s Restaurant in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada is going the extra mile to make his customers feel welcome. Saskatchewan is home to the Cree Nation, whose native language is unique and difficult to master. After hearing his customers conversing in Cree, Adam Rieger became curious to learn the language. With their help, he has been studying basic Cree, complementing his in-person instruction with YouTube lessons conducted by a member of the Cree Nation. Rieger says that customers are often surprised when he speaks to them in their language, but they’re always enthusiastic and encouraging. “Languages are like a bridge and open doors that really communicate respect to people,” Rieger said. “It’s been really beautiful, honestly.” | |
Initially, local divers thought the huge shadow they saw in the southwest Pacific Ocean of the Solomon Islands was a shipwreck. But when they took a closer look, they were astounded to realize they’d discovered the largest single coral ever found. “Just when we think there is nothing left to discover on planet earth, we find a massive coral made of nearly one billion little polyps, pulsing with life and color,” said Enric Sala, a National Geographic explorer in residence. The coral, species Pavlona clavus, spreads 111 feet long and 105 feet wide across the seafloor, providing shelter and sustenance to countless underwater creatures. Scientists and researchers believe it’s been growing for about 300 years and they’re anxious to see how it continues to develop in the future. Sala enthused, “This is a significant scientific discovery, like finding the world’s largest tree.” Maybe better! | |
NEW RELEASES!
FREE #Positivity® Wallpapers Available Now!
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As a thank you for being a member of our community, we're excited to offer exclusive access to our FREE #Positivity® digital wallpaper.
Simply click the button below to enjoy this unique collection of backgrounds on your desktop, tablet or phone!
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Tip of the Month
Discipline can change the way you do business. Activities like defining clear objectives, establishing a consistent routine, and minimizing distractions help you stay focused, organized, and accountable in your work.
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Check Out Our Web Series
Moshe is passionate about highlighting small businesses and what makes them unique, successful, and fun.
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Follow #MosheMeansBusiness on FB and Instagram for more tips! | | |
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The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
In this smart, gently rebellious book, scientist and scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer brings our attention to the serviceberry tree, which freely shares its abundant wealth—its lush foliage and sweet berries—with birds and wildlife in its natural community. In turn, the tree’s own propagation and survival is ensured. A member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer makes a compelling argument that applying this reciprocal giving model to our day-to-day lives could make right out of much of what’s wrong in our often inequitable, winner-takes-all society. Above all, this book reminds us of the life-giving interconnectedness of the natural world, of which we so often forget we’re a part.
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If you like our #Positivity® Newsletter...You’ll Love Our Podcast, Common Denominator. Each week, I have inspiring conversations with great thinkers. | | |
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Dr. Jenelle Kim is a 9th-generation Master Herbologist, best-selling author, and internationally recognized wellness expert. She shares the power of living meditation, how to manage and master fear, and why you must “stop being drunk on your own thoughts.” | |
Catch up on previous episodes:
- Get Started In Real Estate Investing For As Little As $250 with Alex Blackwood
- Real Estate Strategies To Make You BIG Money with Todd Nepola
- How Trump’s Election Victory Could Change the Real Estate Game with Moshe Popack
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Spreading #Positivity®
Thank you, readers, for sending us your photos with your comments. We are so excited that you are helping spread a positive message everywhere you go! Let’s keep spreading #Positivity® together! Send us your photos and stories to info@moshepopack.com and include your name and social media handle. We will feature them in the next newsletter and on Facebook!
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