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- ☀️ Birds Make Us Feel Better
Inhale the present, exhale the past.
Now let your breath guide you back to the present moment where peace and mindfulness reside.
Thank you for reading today’s edition of Grateful Gazette 💜
Here’s what to know for Thursday:
A birdsong can make your day better
Sarah Jessica Parker wants to return a lost check
A dog saves the world’s smallest penguin
BIRD IS THE WORD
Are you looking to inject a little more happiness into your life? The answer is more straightforward than you think and hanging out in your backyard.
No, it’s not the raccoons getting in your trash. It's birds!
The little creatures tweeting away in your garden might be the secret to feeling better. A couple of studies last year found that listening to birds chirping could be a real pick-me-up for our brains.
You might wonder why birdsong?
Well, it's also the connection to nature they provide that adds a jolt of good vibes to your day.
Imagine being in the middle of a bustling city, surrounded by skyscrapers, and then a bird song pierces the noise. It's like a tiny audio portal, connecting you to serene, natural environments.
These little creatures are like happiness ambassadors, bringing us a dash of joy with their presence. One study found this happiness can hang around, working its magic for hours even if you don’t spot or hear any more birds.
Listening to the chirping birds is not just a casual pastime; it's a way to tune into nature and let the soothing sounds wash over you.
So the next time you feel low or stressed, step outside or open your window. Pay attention to the birds; let their songs fill your ears and your mind.
🗞 More Good News
📚 A school district refuses calls to ban books about sex & gender identity
📡 Ford reverses course and decides to keep AM radio in new cars
🥲 Students & families surprise this Michigan teacher after their final chemo treatment
🎤 A teenage Taylor Swift fan sets up a foundation to find bone marrow transplants after surviving cancer. She was thanked with a fantastic surprise
🍸 Sarah Jessica Parker found a $4,700 check on the ground and is now trying desperately to return it
✨ A “digital bridge” helps a paralyzed man walk again
☀️ The Bright Side
This story is about how a chicken farmer helped the world’s smallest breed of penguin back from extinction.
His solution was simple: dogs.
More specifically, Maremma dogs.
These good boys help protect the penguins from foxes, an invasive predator that wiped out large numbers of Little Penguins in the early 2000s. This sounds like a sad story, but I promise it gets better after the middle part.
There’s even a movie made about Swampy Marsh, the farmer who took it upon himself to convince the city that his plan would work.
The dogs changed the foxes’ behavior and forced them back out of the Little Penguin habitat on Middle Island. It was the same tactic Swampy used to protect his chickens.
The only thing holding him back was a pile of paperwork and the time it took him to train the canine guardians. Luckily, the city saw the good nature of the idea and decided to lift the dog ban on Middle Island and stop the public from visiting.
The penguins were saved!
An official group now trains Maremma dogs to protect these adorable, flightless birds.
It’s called the Middle Island Penguin Project. You can learn more about it here.
🎨 Creative Corner
Today’s arts and crafts moment is called a “Dandelion Goblin.”
I had never heard that phrase before, but the two felt tusks and big green ears warmed my heart. The fur even looks like moss, right?
I love that even though dandelions are considered a weed, they’re given a new perspective here.
Somehow you put dandelions and goblins together and get this cute little thing.
Such a clever creation!
- Thank you for reading Grateful Gazette. Remember to breathe deeply to bring your mind back to your body 💜
