Category Archives: Making the World a Better Place

A Dying Wish: BIG Tips

Posted on August 1, 2012 by russtowne

A man not quite thirty years old had an interesting last wish: After I’m gone, give BIG tips to food servers. So far, three $500 tips have been given and more than $50,000 has been collected to be given out … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Generosity, Making the World a Better Place, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Aaron, big tips, dying wish, food servers, last wish, Seth, waiters | 4 Comments

The Toughest Nuts To Crack

Posted on July 29, 2012 by russtowne

A friend commented on my post “The Bond” mentioning the human element of the people on the wrong side of the law. I wanted to share my response to her with all of you and expanded it a bit for … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Courage, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Healing, Making the World a Better Place | Tagged courage, fierce, fierce love, Friend, futures, Love, pain, prison | 8 Comments

Overflowing With Joy

Posted on July 25, 2012 by russtowne

I am touched and honored when I receive a comment that a post about people and animals helping or showing kindness toward others brought tears to readers’ eyes. That’s because I believe such tears occur when eyes experience such a … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiring, Joy & Happiness, Making the World a Better Place | Tagged Happiness, help, Helping, honored, humbled, joy, kindm, kindness, others, people, tears, tears of joy | 5 Comments

Nikki’s First Touchdown

Posted on July 25, 2012 by russtowne

Dominic “Nikki” is a special needs child. He has Prader Willi Syndrome, a very rare condition. The clip below shows what happens when both coaches from OG football in American youth football league decided to put him in a play. … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, Compassion, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged American youth football league, Nikki, Nikki's, OG football, Prader Willi Syndrome, touchdown | 10 Comments

Hawa Abdi: “Equal Parts Mother Teresa and Rambo”

Posted on July 22, 2012 by russtowne

I just read an amazing article about Hawa Abdi but it was so profanity laced that rather than subject you to it, I went to Wikipedia and found a much-abbreviated version of this amazing woman’s life. She has stared down … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, Choices, Compassion, Courage, Generosity, Healing, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Patience & Persistence, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged doctor, Dr., gyn, Hawa Abdi, militia, Somalia, Somalians, warlords, wikipedia, Wikipedia.org | 8 Comments

I Love Happy Endings

Posted on July 20, 2012 by russtowne

Remember that bullied bus monitor? People from around the world have donated $700,000 to her to send a message that they’ve had enough of bullies and that most people aren’t bullies. Here’s a URL or link to a beautiful story … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundance, Bullying, Compassion, Dealing with Pain & Grief, Generosity, Healing, Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Pain & Grief, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged bullies, bus monitor, donations, retirement, suicide, vacation | Leave a comment

Every Waking Moment

Posted on July 20, 2012 by russtowne

I was just enjoying some wonderful posts at TalkToDiana when I read this question from Diana: “If you could post just one message to the world, what would it be?” Below is my answer. I’d love to hear/read how you … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Compassion, Forgiveness, Generosity, Love, Making the World a Better Place, Observations | Tagged Caring, compassionate, forgiving, generosity, generous, Heaven, hell, kind, kinder, kindness, Life, Love, loving, TalkToDiana | 18 Comments

The Great Blindini

Posted on July 19, 2012 by russtowne

I have a friend named Brent who is blind. He is also a magician. He calls himself The Great Blindini. Here are some snippets from a recent newspaper article about him: Magicians often don a blindfold at some point during … Continue reading →

Posted in Attittude, Choices, Courage, Creativity, Fear, Growth/Learning, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Stories That Touched Me | Tagged amazing, blind, blindness, Brent Gifford, children, courage, entertaining, fear, Friend, great, Hawaii, libraries, magic, magician, The Great Blindini | 25 Comments

Three Little Words

Posted on July 18, 2012 by russtowne

Sometimes kind people do unkind things, and it can be a kindness to privately point out the unkindness in a kind way. Often the three little words “That was unkind” said in a gentle and loving way can have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Compassion, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place | Tagged gentle, impact, kind, kindness, loving, positive, unkindness | 16 Comments

For Our Own Benefit Too

Posted on July 13, 2012 by russtowne

Life is a difficult ride. At times all of us will know pain, trouble, loneliness and struggle. That’s why it is so important for us to practice love and kindness. For your own benefit, as well as for others. I … Continue reading →