News
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To Hug or Not to Hug!
I'm confused about hugging. In light of the recent Biden hugging controversy, I thought I’d survey our readers. Can you tell us
which of the following behaviors is still acceptable?
• A celebratory hug with team mates after a great athletic achievement
• As an adult, hugging your Mom and Dad
• As a teacher, accepting a hug from a student who is appreciative of what he or she learned
• Hugging a “long lost friend”
• Hugging a person you admire
• Hugging a survivor from a flooded cave? From a collapsed mine?
• Hugging a politician who you’ve supported for two years, and who then wins the election
• Hugging a doctor who saved your life
Here at The Make Life Good Company we think that the world is a better place with hugs. But it seems that theyaren’t acceptable when given by politicians.
Hmmmm…..
We want to be politically correct. So send us your thoughts.
I’m exhausted from all this thinking. I think I need a hug.
THE MAKE LIFE GOOD TEAM -
Christmas Trees and Small Acts of Kindness
Thirty years ago, in Urbana, Ohio, Tracy Bild and her brother wanted to buy a Christmas tree as a present for her Mom. But that would take money, which they didn’t have.
So they decided to visit their local Dairy Queen, run by a man named Gerald Woodruff, who locals called “Jug,” to scrounge for coins in the parking lot and even in the seams of the restaurant seats. This was somewhat fruitful, but not enough to buy a Christmas tree, which were being sold in the Dairy Queen’s lot.
But Mr. Woodruff (or “Jug”) noticed what was taking place. Known as a kind man, he gave Tracy and her brother a Christmas tree. He called it “the best tree in the lot.” Tracy joyfully brought it home.
But the story doesn’t end there.
It turns out that Tracy and her family maintained a friendship with “Jug” for the rest of his life. Although Jug is recently deceased, she still socializes with Jug’s family from time to time.
Kindness isn’t something we expect, but we do privately crave it. It even has some interesting qualities. According to the experts,
- Kindness begets kindness
- The more kindness we get, the better our lives become
- The earlier we receive kindness, the better our lives become
There’s also a kindness hormone called “oxytocin.” It makes people smile, as it does the recipients of smiles. It even changes our biochemistry.
Sounds contagious to me. All we have to do is smile at others, and extend acts of kindness to them, as soon as we can.
And perhaps go looking for a Christmas tree, whether we have the money or not.
It just might lead to a lifelong friendship.
“Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” from the Make Life Good Team.
Source: Sunday Morning, CBS, 12/17 -
Was 2017 the "Best Year Ever?"
On January 6, 2018, Michael Kristof, an editorial writer from The New York Times, proclaimed 2017 “the best year ever.” Here are some of the impressive list of accomplishments affecting human welfare in 2017 that he brought to our attention as proof:
- A smaller share of the world’s people were impoverished, illiterate, or hungry
- A smaller number of children died
- Every day more people have access to electricity
- More people gained access to drinking water
- More children’s lives were saved by vaccinations
- Fewer people have been blinded by diseases such as trachoma, disfigured by leprosy or suffer from other ailments in general
Did I miss something?
While impressive, there must be more to this story. Let’s balance this view with a look at some other, quite different, events of 2017:
- President Trump took office
- Las Vegas Strip shooting
- Fort Lauderdale Airport Shooting
- Hurricane Irma
- Bombing at UK Ariana Grande Concert
- Hurricane Harvey
- Texas Church Shooting
- Orlando Police Shooting
- San Bernardino shooting
- Hurricane Maria
- Southern California wildfires
- Death of Tom Petty
…and many more
So what’s up here? Your list may be different, but it’s clear that 2017 may have been great in some ways, but certainly not in others.
It turns out that, in 2017, Mr. Kristof also wrote about positive life changing achievements in 2016, against the backdrop of the world’s negative news stories. He will probably do so again in 2019 about 2018. His real message this year, and in all years, is that our progress should empower us to battle the world’s “moral threats.” There are certainly many of them to attack.
At The Make Life Good Company, each day we see far too many people who appear to have missed the train of success, who received the “bad hand,” or who simply need a friend. We are saddened by our observations. That’s why we strive to “remind, encourage and inspire” people to make life good for others.
It would be wrong for all of us to think we are done now because of our achievements in 2017, no matter how impressive they may have been.
But we don’t think you will.
Together, let’s make 2019 the “best year ever!”
The Make Life Good Team
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The Make Life Good Company Contributes to the Recently-Dedicated Station Nightclub Fire Memorial Park
The Make Life Good Company, a social good lifestyle products company, was one of many individual and corporate contributors to the construction of the Station Fire Memorial Park in West Warwick, R.I., which was dedicated recently (5/21/17) to honor the 100 music fans who perished in the Station Nightclub fire on February 20, 2003.
The Make Life Good Company donated one of hundreds of bricks used for pathways throughout the memorial park. It is inscribed with the words "The Make Life Good Company" with an emphasis on the words "Make Life Good."
"The park is a lasting memorial to all those who were killed and injured as a result of the fire and we wanted to contribute in our own small way to all of those who were affected by the fire," says David J. Wudyka, president of The Make Life Good Company. "Our contribution of a brick represents our hope that all of those who visit the memorial park in the decades to come will be always mindful of taking actions that do, in fact, Make Life Good for others, including protecting people from an event like this from ever happening again."
The fire on Thursday evening, February 20, 2003, was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the band Great White, which ignited plastic foam used as sound insulation in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage of the Station Nightclub. A fast-moving fire with intense black smoke engulfed the club in less than six minutes. Video footage of the fire shows its ignition, rapid growth, the billowing smoke that quickly made escape impossible, and the exit blockage that further hindered evacuation. The toxic smoke, heat and the stampede of people toward the exits killed 100; 230 were injured and another 132 escaped uninjured.
The dedication ceremony was attended by hundreds of family and friends of those who died and many of the more of the injured survivors of the fire, including Rhode Island native, recording artist and NBC “The Voice” season 11 runner-up in 2016, Billy Gilman, who performed his song “There’s A Hero” (written by Don Cook and John Jarvis) at the dedication ceremony. Rhode Island dignitaries also spoke at the ceremony, including Gina Russo, chairwoman of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation and a survivor of the fire, Rhode Island U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Jim Langevin, Governor Gina Raimondo, and former Governor Donald Carcieri, who was the governor of the state at the time of the fire and its aftermath.
The mission of The Make Life Good Company is to remind, encourage and inspire people to “Make Life Good!” for others through positive, pro-active messages on the products the company offers on its website (MakeLifeGood.co), The company is based in Wrentham, Mass.
Rhode Island native, recording artist and NBC “The Voice” season 11 runner-up in 2016, Billy Gilman, sings his song “There’s A Hero” (written by Don Cook and John Jarvis) at the dedication ceremony of the Station Fire Memorial Park, West Warwick, R.I., which was held recently (5/21/17) to honor the 100 music fans who perished in the Station Nightclub Fire on February 20, 2003. The event was attended by hundreds of family and friends of those who died as well as many survivors of the fire. In the background (l - r) are Congressman Jim Langevin (RI), Senator Jack Reed (RI), Gina Russo, chairperson of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation and a survivor of the fire, Gene Valicenti, dedication master of ceremonies and news anchor at WJAR-TV and WPRO-AM, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, and former Governor Donald Carcieri and his wife Suzanne.
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Pay It Forward
In this new age of technology, we've become connected seamlessly to happenings in our hometowns, states, countries, and around the globe that touch us. The Internet is at our disposal every day, providing us with stories just minutes old.
Though these stories are varied, many are uplifting accounts of kindness: a waitress gets a large tip, many times greater than the bill, because a patron overhears she's a single mom struggling to pay rent; a woman takes care of an elderly couple's home and pets while one of them is in the hospital; a kid grows his hair out and cuts it to give to his friend who is sick and losing his.
These are exceptional examples of kindness and empathy with an important layer to it: none of the people above expect anything in return for their actions. Selflessness is the concern for the well being of others and the action that comes with it. The concept of pay it forward is rooted in this selflessness, with hope that once we receive or benefit from a kind gesture, it's then rewarded with a gesture of its own.
With world Pay it Forward day upon us, we at The Make Life Good Company encourage everyone to participate not just on this one day but everyday in any small way possible.We are connected to each other in such a way today that our reach is not limited to our immediate circles. Our reach is worldwide. And it is our gesture that is remembered by those who are touched.
Pay It Forward.
"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." - AesopTo buy this t-shirt, please click on it.
