Because we all need to be uplifted enjoy a good laugh…
Railroad to nowhere.Amidst the hubbub of the day-to-day, we often forget to take a moment to be present in our surroundings. This is the concept behind the design of the Seiryu Miharashi train station in Japan. Opened to the public in March 2019, the unusual platform has no exit and no entrance. Its name translates to “clear stream viewing platform,” referring to the picturesque view of the Nishiki River. When passengers disembark here, they’re encouraged to take time to admire the nature that surrounds them before setting off again. Experience the sceneryhere.
Coffee for a cause.Back in February, a new café opened its doors in Calgary, Alberta. Aside from a good cuppa joe, the Lil E Coffee Café brews greatness by teaching life skills and giving opportunities to those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The nonprofit’s concept was inspired by owner Paul Constance’s daughter Ella, who was born with Down syndrome. Staff currently consists of five employees with Down syndrome and five with autism. Read morehere.
Playing it forward.Devin Hinkston, a 30-year-old man from Alexandria, Louisiana, was driving around his hometown when he spotted a youngster playing basketball in his driveway. Upon closer inspection, he realized the boy was using a trash can for a basketball hoop. A firm believer in paying it forward, Hinkston gifted eight-year-old Jeremiah with a brand-new hoop. See Jeremiah in actionhere.
 |
| 5 Ways to Work with Your Brain for a Better Night’s Sleep |
|
With changing routines (or lack thereof) and increasing stress levels, sleep can become something elusive. By having a basic primal understanding of how our brain and body naturally wind down, we can set the stage for not just adequate but awesome sleep. Create your own ritual. Before reading the list of ideas below, remember that this is the number one rule. Creating your own consistent routine 30-60 minutes before a set bedtime is the absolute top tip to getting better sleep. Limit the light. Darkness tells the brain the sun has set and it’s time for sleep. Even the smallest beams of light (from the TV or other devices) can suppress melatonin production. Unplug from your devices and nix the Netflix. Humans have been falling asleep fireside since ancient times; try settling into bed with some candlelight instead of your bedside lamp. Consume lightly. While it’s important to limit food and liquid intake, having a light snack or cup of bedtime tea is a great way to make you feel satiated for a good night’s sleep. Foods such as cherries, grapes and oats have high melatonin content and are a perfect pre-bedtime snack. Embrace the chill. One of our bodies’ signals that it’s time for sleep is when the temperature drops as the sun goes below the horizon. We can mimic this effect by taking a hot shower or bath about an hour before sleep. Pink noise. Did you know that there’s more than one color of noise? While white noise has been proven to help you fall asleep faster, pink noise specifically helps to cancel out noises in your external environment and has been correlated with improved quality of sleep. There are many free sources, such as YouTube and Spotify, with a plethora of different sounds you can test to find out what works best for you. |
 |
| Houston’s Furniture King Opens His Doors to Those in Need |
| When Houston was in the grip of freezing temperatures and a subsequent water crisis that began in February of this year, furniture store owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale stepped up to the plate once again. Known for his charismatic television commercials in which he wears a mattress, the local hero opened the doors of his furniture stores to those in need.
McIngvale previously opened up his Gallery Furniture warehouses to those seeking refuge from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Storm Imelda in 2019. During the ice storms of early 2021, he did the same. The raging Winter Storm Uri left three million Texans without power and running water during record-breaking cold weather. Texas’s power grid is isolated from the rest of the country and failed to meet demand. Pipes also burst, leaving over 4.5 million homes and businesses without warmth and water. Unfortunately, the crisis was met with more than a few unsympathetic views and not enough action or help. Houston’s Mattress King wasn’t having any of that. Instead of standing by, he allowed anyone affected to use the beds and sofas in his showrooms and even provided entertainment on his stores’ big-screen televisions. His Houston store, which was powered by a 15,000-gallon diesel fuel generator, had only one working faucet for a time, but McIngvale brought in portable toilets and rigged a special system to provide the restrooms with extra water. And that’s not all. He made sure everyone was fed by paying food vendors to bring in hot food such as tacos, enchiladas and burritos. “It’s bitter cold out there, but it’s warm inside,” he said in a recent interview. “When it comes down to it, Texans will step up and get through the storm together.” |
