A Tokyo Teacher's Lessons in Empathy

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October 22, 2011 a project of CharityFocus Empathy is the greatest thing. There's an expression I love: 'Let people live in your heart.' - Toshiro Kanamori, 4th grade teacher - A Tokyo Teacher's Lessons in Empathy "What's the most important thing this year?" asks Toshiro Kanamori to his students? "To be happy!" comes the joyous response. The class goal truly is to understand how to be happy and care for other people. It sounds like the sort of class a stressed or overworked adult would find, long after they graduated school. Instead, it is a different teaching approach taken by a grammar teacher in Tokyo, Toshiro Kanamori. One tradition in his class is that every day, three students read out "notebook letters," authentic journal entries that express happiness, irritation, gratitude -- or, as 10-year-old Ren expressed -- sadness over his grandmother's death. Watch Kanamori in action in this video, as he uses Ren's letter to teach his students how to understand their inner thoughts, and deeply empathize with each other in the process. { read more } Be The Change Share an authentic "notebook letter" with a child in your life, and invite her/him to do the same. COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News Secrets of the 100-yr-old Marathoner The Man Who Stopped A Nuclear War 'Barefoot' Grandmothers Electrify Rural Communities The Man Who Doesn't Ask for Money DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 109,761 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other CharityFocus projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More

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Secrets of the 100-yr-old Marathoner

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October 21, 2011 a project of CharityFocus The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running. - Fauja Singh, 100-yr-old Marathoner - Secrets of the 100-yr-old Marathoner Most people hang up their boots as they get older, but Fauja Singh only began running in his eighties. At the age of 94, he ran a full marathon in less than 5 hours, but on 16 Oct 2011, at the age of 100, he still has it in him. Singh did what no other person has done: he became the oldest person and the first centenarian to finish a marathon. Along the way, he's received sponsorship deals, but he donates it all. "I'm not really interested in all the rupees, I give it to charity," he says of his sponsorship deal. "Money can be saved and spent and lost and made. At my age it's nice just to do this. [...] Look how blessed I am. What's not to be happy about?" { read more } Be The Change Do something that gives you meaning and joy, regardless of whether you think you're too old or too young. COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News A 15-Year-Old's Bucket List Goes Viral A Missed Flight & A Connection Found A Blessing from A Homeless Man Family Finds $45K -- And Returns It DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 109,703 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other CharityFocus projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More

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7 Ways Sharing Can Make You Happy

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October 20, 2011 a project of CharityFocus The miracle is this: the more we share the more we have. - Leonard Nemoy - 7 Ways Sharing Can Make You Happy One silver lining in dark economic times is that as people learn to make do with less, they are discovering the many benefits of sharing. New psychological research suggests that sharing fosters trust and cooperation in the community and contributes to personal well-being. Researchers are finding that sharing impacts people in the very specific ways that are closely linked to increased happiness. These include effects such as improved physical health, increased levels of trust, causes for gratitude, opportunities for cooperation, and more. Here are 7 ways sharing can make you happy. { read more } Be The Change Reflect on a recent time someone shared something with you. Let them know about the impact of their generosity. COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News 10 Keys to Happier Living Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Time How One Teenager Used Her Life Savings A School for the Homeless In Las Vegas DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 109,670 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other CharityFocus projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More

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Why Do Some People Learn Faster

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October 19, 2011 a project of CharityFocus Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. - Samuel Beckett - Why Do Some People Learn Faster Why are some people so much more effective at learning from their mistakes? A new study by Jason Moser at Michigan State University is premised on the fact that there are two distinct reactions to mistakes, both of which can be reliably detected using EEG. The first reaction is called error-related negativity (ERN). It appears about 50 milliseconds after a screw-up and is mostly involuntary. The second signal, which is known as error positivity (Pe), arrives anywhere between 100-500 milliseconds after the mistake and is associated with awareness. The latest research suggests that we learn more effectively when we have 1) a larger ERN signal, suggesting a bigger initial response to the mistake and 2) a more consistent Pe signal, which means that we are probably paying attention to the error, and thus trying to learn from it. This Wired Magazine article delves further into the neuroscience of learning from mistakes. { read more } Be The Change Recognize and embrace your next mistake. Then learn from it. COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News Visit the MET From Your Desk Being the Change In Bihar Whiz Kids: 5 Amazing Young Inventors Mother of All Languages DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 109,628 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other CharityFocus projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More

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Becoming a Presence Activist

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October 18, 2011 a project of CharityFocus The dream was always running ahead of one. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was a miracle. - Anais Nin - Becoming a Presence Activist "A friend of mine is visiting from out of town and staying in East Oakland, in an area that's infamous for its gang violence and unrest. This friend happens to be a monk. He shaves his head and dresses in the traditional brown robes of his monastic order -- not the kind of person who blends easily into the background. Having spent many years making compassion a conscious practice, his response to situations is to try to do his bit to spread goodness. So he went out for a walk, just to engage with the community. As he was walking up 35th Avenue, a couple of tough-looking street youth yelled out to him: 'Hey man!' He turned around, looked at them and said, 'Yes?' 'Are you a Buddhist monk?' 'Yes, I am.' 'You look hella peaceful, man!'" A poignant reflection on what it means to become a 'presence activist.' { read more } Be The Change Give the gift of presence: shine extra care and attention onto all your interactions today. COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News Secrets to Longevity How We Can Change Our Minds Squeeze Out Your Creative Juices Live Boldly DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 109,581 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other CharityFocus projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More

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