Category Archives: Inspiring

What Disability? This Girl Has a Super-Ability!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by russtowne

“A first-grader who was born without hands has won a national penmanship award”, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. “Annie Clark, a 7-year-old at Wilson Christian Academy in West Mifflin, Pa., got a trophy and $1,000 as one of two national winners … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Inspiring, Optimism, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Annie Clark, beat all the other students in her school, daunting, daunting challenges, Excellent Penmanship, grasps the pencil between her arms, Nicholas Maxim, Nicholas Maxim Special Award, penmanship, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, super-abilities, Super-Ability, warmed the hearts of many, West Mifflin, Wilson Christian Academy, Zaner-Bloser | Leave a comment

In Places No One Has Ever Been

Posted on April 18, 2012 by russtowne

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” –Albert Einstein

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged Albert Einstein, Einstein, find himself, follows the crowd, in places no one has ever been, walks alone | Leave a comment

Sometimes…

Posted on April 18, 2012 by russtowne

Sometimes when things appear to be falling apart, they may actually be falling into place. I saw the above comment somewhere recently and wrote it down. It has sometimes been true for me and hopefully for you too.

Posted in Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged appear, appearances, falling apart, falling into place | 1 Comment

6-Year Old’s Lemonade Stand Raises $10K to Fight His Dad’s Cancer

Posted on April 17, 2012 by russtowne

Despite having cancer, Randy Cox is a lucky man, and I’ll bet he knows it. His six-year old son Drew Cox started a lemonade stand to help raise funds to fight his father’s cancer. What happened next was truly inspiring. … Continue reading →

Posted in Generosity, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged $10, 000, boy, cancer, cars lined up around the block, donations, Drew Cox, Family, inspiring, It's a Wonderful Life, kid, kindness, Lemonade stand, Life, long and healthy life, Love, neighbors, Randy Cox, six-year old, son, wonderful | Leave a comment

People Who Rekindle the Inner Spirit

Posted on April 17, 2012 by russtowne

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” -Albert Schweitzer (I … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged a helping hand, a kind word, a reassuring look, A.Word.A.Day, Albert Schweitzer, Anu Garg, burst into flame, fire, flame, hand, Helping, inner fire, inner fire goes out, inner flame, kind, kind word, lit, lit my fire, making the world a better place, ready smile, reassuring, rekindle, Schweitzer, smile, thank, thank you, thankful | Leave a comment

Fifth Grader Creates A Video Game For His Blind Grandmother

Posted on April 17, 2012 by russtowne

When a fifth grader wanted to be able to share the video game fun for his beloved blind grandmother, he created one from scratch, and in the process won his school’s science fair. http://tinyurl.com/7v98wdm

Posted in Creativity, Grandparenting & Grandkids, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged blind, blind grandmother, fair, Fifth-grader, game, gandma, grandmother, School, science, science fair, video, video game | Leave a comment

Never Too Old

Posted on April 14, 2012 by russtowne

I just saw a fun and inspiring short video of a bunch of 66-80 year olds from a retirement community form a flash (or should I say “dance”?) mob at a local shopping mall. Looks like their having fun while … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Humor, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Unexpected Pleasures, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged dance mob, Dulles, entertaining exercise, flash mob, fun, never too old, retirement community, seniors, shopping mall, video, young at heart | Leave a comment

I P O Y

Posted on April 11, 2012 by russtowne

I occassionally write the letters “I P O Y” on the bottom of emails and other written communicationss to one of my sons. The reason for doing so takes a little explaining but involves Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged anxieties, anxiety, Audiobook, author, better world, Caring, children, childrens', compassionate, confidence, confident, death, empathetic, fear, Fred Rogers, Friendship, gentle, I P O Y, IPOY, kids, kind, letters, Life, loving, making the world a better place, Mister Roger's, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers' Neigborhood, safe, safe space, self-worth, show, son, sons, television, their world, troubling, TV, world, writer | Leave a comment

I Will Not Forget You

Posted on April 10, 2012 by russtowne

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.” -William Arthur Ward I like and believe in … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Quotes I Love, Relationship Lessons Learned | Tagged A.Word.A.Day, Anu Garg, encourage, follow, I will never forget you, Life, Relationships, William Arthur Ward, wise | Leave a comment

The Day Girls Saved Me

Posted on April 9, 2012 by russtowne

Many years ago I was in a high school Marine Corps JROTC program as the Vietnam War was coming to an end. It was not a real popular time to be in uniform. It was a turbulent time. One of … Continue reading →