Issue # 1
Hi! Thanks for subscribing. I’m so happy you’re here! Good Things is your weekly solution to the weight of the world. There’s so much goodness out there, but sometimes in your quest to find it, you get stuck in comment sections and lost on a rabbit trail of posts about the latest happenings around the world, and how it’s all going down hill.
Look - we love good journalism. And we need quality news! But also, let’s have some perspective and set limits for our minds. There’s very little you can do from your bed first thing in the morning, or your makeshift home office on a work break while you telecommute for the foreseeable future. So let your mind take in the good, and scroll down!
Ready for some good things?
Let’s kick it off with something so good and adorable that you might just watch on repeat. I’m of course referencing a Koala Joey celebrating his first birthday with his besties at the zoo. His gifts: a bag of eucalyptus (I assume) and a koala stuffed toy. After two full weeks of social distancing, seeing little Johnny snuggle with his people and celebrate a full year of life was just enough to bring me out of the void of feeling like there’s no end to this chaos.
And since animals will always be the things that save us, CNN compiled a list of zoos that offer live-streaming of their animal exhibits during the day. They say that it’s for kids to tune in, but the kids can wait. Mommy needs to see adorable animals. One of my favorite videos (that’s right - video TAPES) was a Jack Hanna video about a zoo trainer who adopted a baby river otter and let it splash around in his bathtub at home. To this day I dream about that somehow being a situation that I could find myself in.
Here’s some good heart-warming news: according to this article from The NY Times, there’s been an uptick in pet adoptions of late. If you’re looking for a good way to beat the isolation doldrums, perhaps now is the time to foster or adopt a pet! Many of us hold off on bringing pets into our lives because our lifestyles don't allow for the beginning adjustment period. But if you don’t work in an essential job role (a big THANK YOU and WE OWE YOU to the medical staff, delivery people, grocery store employees, law enforcement and emergency staff, and all the others who are out in the streets trying to help us all to recover during this pandemic!) then maybe now you can take the plunge. If you don’t know where to start, head to Petfinder and dive in.
Or maybe it can be a shallow testing of the waters with your toes! Start out with a couple of simple house plants and hang a bird feeder outside your window, or wade in up to your knees and get a few fish! Nothing is more relaxing than watching fish swim around, and that’s just a scientific fact.*
*it isn’t. But Wellington seems to agree - see below.
In more animal news, have you seen the penguins of Shedd Aquarium pretending to be tourists? Penguins and otters are the cutest animals in existence, so watching lil penguins waddle around and check out their neighbors will turn your mood right around, guaranteed.* The Shedd Aquarium Twitter feed is a great place to lose yourself if you’re looking to mindlessly scroll through your phone.
*not legally guaranteed
I promise I didn’t set out to write a newsletter about animals, but how can I not include all of those stories? On to the non-fauna:
Here’s a big one: for now, CO2 emissions are down around the world. The Venice canals are clearing up, (importantly, they aren’t yet clean and that distinction matters.) The effects may not be long term after the virus passes and life resumes, but it’s a good message and warning for humanity about how the Earth needs to function. Take this breathing time and consider how you can make small (or big!) changes after this to help the environment. I wrote a little bit about that here.
It somehow seems that sitting around your house all day makes you more tired than being out and about in the world. I don’t really understand it; lounging around makes you more tired than work, parenting, keeping a gym schedule, and everything else going on in your life? But it is what it is, and gyms are now closed. We have to keep our blood flowing somehow! If you can’t get outside very much, or are looking for variety, check out Dance Church! You can tune in to their live streams and get your dance on! I don’t consider myself to be an amazing dancer, so I’m always intimidated to try classes (you know, in public.) This is a good way to get your body moving and get comfortable in the privacy of your own home. But I do encourage you to film yourself and send the video to friends, because we can all use some good content these days. Plus, it’s never a bad idea to be able to laugh at yourself.
Speaking of laughing, I have been LIVING for Tony Baker and his anthropomorphizing comedy. I would like to say that the conversations I have with my dog are a direct result of having little other company for weeks, but in fact this is just the way I live my life. So a comedian doing voiceovers of animal gifs checks all my boxes. I know I said “on to the non-fauna,” but I guess I can’t venture too far out of my comfort zone. I have spent a lot of time scrolling through Tony Baker’s Instagram and absolutely cracking up. Do yourself a favor and check out his page if you don’t already.
It’s always a good idea to read, especially in the midst of a pandemic when all we can do to help is donate money and stay at home. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes is a book that showcases complicated pasts and adult romance, and it’s just light-hearted. It’s a little bit mature, but harmless. You can read it at night without worrying about sleeping poorly because the content weighs on you. It’s just a good fun story, you’ll end up caring about the characters, and you’ll breeze right through. Find it on Amazon or Indiebound, or have you checked out your local library’s e-book selection?
PS: if you purchase through the Amazon link, I’ll receive a tiny percentage of the profits. It costs you nothing extra, but you should know where your dollars are going!
The Hidamari Cooking channel has become my go-to for calming videos. There’s something about watching these lovely treats being crafted with no talking or commentary that quiets my mind and makes me feel very sleepy. They’re quite pleasant to watch, and I always find it interesting to see ingredients and packaging from around the world.
So, stick with getting your news from good sources, but make sure you’re also feeding your mind a healthy dose of positivity. Let yourself enjoy these stories, and we always welcome feedback! Shoot an email to hannah@goodideagirls.com with your thoughts. And if you think a friend could use some good things in their life, share this with them! Good begets good :)
Want more content? Check out what the Good Idea Girls have to say today! We’ll see you back again on Monday with some more Good Things!