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:

• Elf signs for Santa when he meets a deaf girl

• Chia seeds will help us tackle world hunger

• Native American language gets a spotlight

WE ALL DESERVE TO SPEAK TO SANTA

A four-year-old girl, Emily, experienced the magic of Christmas like never before. 

This little girl from Goole, East Yorkshire, who is deaf, faced disappointment not once but four times at festive grottos. They failed to deliver a promised British Sign Language (BSL) service. 

But things were different this year, thanks to a bit of holiday magic and community spirit.

Enter Holly the Elf, also known as Melanie Boyeson, a volunteer with a heart as big as Santa's sack. 

Melanie is proficient in sign language. After hearing about Emily's previous let-downs, she swooped in like a Christmas angel. 

She offered to be an interpreter at Airmyn Park Primary School's festive fair.

The scene at the school was nothing short of enchanting. 

Emily could communicate directly with Santa and his helper for the first time. No more relying on her mom, Tanya, to interpret; no more feeling left out. 

Her conversation with Santa and Holly the Elf was a jolly exchange about the gifts she dreamed of–a doll with a pram and a blue dragon.

The joy on Emily's face was a sight to behold. Her shyness melted away as Melanie engaged her in conversation, making her feel included and special. 

It was a moment of pure Christmas magic, a reminder of the holiday spirit.

It's a testament to the power of community. Hugo's school and the locals rallied to make this special moment happen, showing heartwarming care and compassion for a little girl they hardly knew.

So here's to Holly the Elf and every community that goes the extra mile to spread joy and make the holiday season magical.

🪸 Scientists find that some coral survives by remembering old heat waves

🇨🇦 Canada requires cars to go electric by 2035

🍛 The Polish parliament hosts their first-ever dedicated meal for homeless people in the area

🌱 Chia seeds are a superfood with the power to fight world hunger

🚗 New small turbines collect energy through cars passing by it on the highway

🏠 A veteran used to walk 30 miles to work but the community found him a new home

Get ready for a refreshing change in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where street signs are about to get a cultural makeover. 

Sage Brook Carbone, a member of the Northern Narragansett Indian Tribe, had a lightbulb moment at a powwow in Connecticut. She saw signs in the Pequot language and thought, "Why not in Cambridge, too?" 

So, she pitched the idea of adding Native American translations to city street signs, and guess what? Residents were all for it!

Soon, about 70 signs featuring the Massachusett Tribe language will pop up around the city. 

This is about more than just adding some cool factor to street signs. It's a decisive move to raise awareness about Native American communities and their languages. 

And the best part? It's sparking a much-needed conversation on important issues like land rights, discrimination, and Indigenous representation.

But Cambridge isn't alone in this trend. 

Across the U.S., states like Iowa, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are jumping on the bandwagon. 

From Meskwakiinaki along U.S. Highway 30 in Iowa to bilingual highway signs in the languages of the Seneca, Onondaga, and Tuscarora tribes in New York, this movement is gaining momentum.

As these signs go up, they're more than just markers on a road. 

They're symbols of a broader dialogue, an invitation to explore, understand, and appreciate the diverse stories that weave the fabric of our society.

“How I’ll hate going out in the snow…”

- Thank you for reading Grateful Gazette. Remember to breathe deeply to bring your mind back to your body 💜

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