Inspiration Friday: Hope & Science 2025.10.03

Inspiration: Happy Friday!
Today is the 276th Day of 2025.

We have $276,000.00 today.
10% savings = $27,600.00
40% taxes = $110,400.00: This week I am expressing gratitude for these tax dollars being spent to support Shenandoah National Park located in the state of Virginia. Shenandoah officially became a National Park in 1935. You will find among other wonders the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, Shenandoah River, Skyline Drive, waterfalls, and President Hoover’s restored summer home to explore. LEARN MORE HERE!

How will you spend the remaining $138,000.00 today?

HERE IS MY PLAN: Hope and Science

“My job is to collect stories of hope – because there’s so much going on that’s awful. Animals becoming extinct, forests disappearing, people suffering tremendously. If this is the only aspect that gets out to the general public, they think there’s not much we can do, and they do nothing. And so, these stories that show what can be done I think are tremendously important.” –Dr. Jane Goodall

How are you showing up in the world?

This week, the renowned scientist, conservationist and peace activist Dr. Jane Goodall left planet Earth. She inspired many people to become research scientists and advocates for conservation. Dr. Goodall also wrote over 30 books, some for adult readers and others for children. Eight-year-old Gloria is one of those budding scientists who reads to me on Wednesdays. Ironically, this past summer one of her library books was by Jane Goodall called Rickie and Henri: A True Story. It’s about a baby chimpanzee and Henri the dog becoming friends. Gloria enjoys learning about animals, nature, and Earth. She wants to be a Forest Ranger like her dad when she grows up.

How are you showing up in the world?

$100.00: Self-care. I am paying for internet connection. Being on zoom, listening to children read is self care in action. Connection matters.  And I love that!

$0: Priceless: Give a smile.

“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing/ Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I show now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.” –Henri Nouwen

Today is the 24^th anniversary of World Smile Day.  This event was founded by freelance artist Harvey Ball who created the “Smiley” Face button in 1963 to improve morale at an insurance company. The theme of World Smile Day is “Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.” It costs nothing and can make a difference in our world. One of my favorite “Smile” stories occurred at my first job where I was working as a cashier in a big box retail store. It was on a busy autumn Sunday where customers were gathered in long lines with overflowing carts full of sale items. There was an old man grumping about the wait when a young girl standing in line behind him pulled on his jacket. The old man looked down and gruffly said, “what do you want?” The girl took a Smiley Face pin off her coat and gave it to the old man. She said with a gentle grin: “This button will help you find your smile.” He graciously took the button, put it on his jacket and stopped complaining. Our joyful moments are stored in the memory banks of our mind and can be reused to release a surge of happiness chemicals in the body on command. That’s right, one way that we can infuse our current situations with a joy booster is to simply imagine a joyful moment from the past. And you can create a current joyful moment by sharing your smile. How are you serving humanity today?

$136,900.00: This money is supporting the Jane Goodall Institute Roots and Shoots Programs. Where the focus is on “Nurturing the Compassionate Leaders of Tomorrow”. Learn more here: Jane Goodall Organization   Respond to life with love. Repeat. What would it take?

$1000.00: This week’s date with my husband includes taking a long hike under a canopy of trees that are changing their colors for the season.

How loved can you stand it?

Flow Five Friday: Current “real” life expressions of gratitude, love, and contribution to wellbeing.

$5.00: this week’s five-dollar bill is inside the library book titled: The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall. I am choosing to be the energy of what works in life.

Five increments of time: This week I helped a friend update her list of 50 Living Intentions. Being there; how does it get better than that? How are you “Flowing Five” this week?

Well-Being: Something that I am doing or not doing for self-care in real time. I am looking at people in the eyes and smiling. Connection Matters. It costs nothing and makes this world a better place by elevating our own happiness. No matter what is going on in life, we get to choose how we feel. What are you doing or not doing for self-care?

Planet Awareness: Contributing to the health of Earth.

 “But consumers, at least if they’re not living in poverty, have an enormous role to play too. If you don’t like the way the business does its business, don’t buy their products. This is beginning to create change. People should think about the consequences of the little choices they make each day.” –Jane Goodall

I don’t buy or use Round Up because it kills the pollinators.

What are you doing for the health of our planet?

Hold Space or Contribute to a Friends Life Intention

This week I am supporting Gloria, one of the grade school students who reads to me on Wednesdays. One of her living intentions is to become a scientist with the National Parks or a Ranger with the United States Forest system. One way that you can help support Gloria’s living intention is to imagine her reading, learning, and exploring nature weekly. Or take a walk with a friend and share stories that make you smile.

Choose joy. Be kind. Love others and strive to be a better human. What would it take?

Choose to feel good. Be Joy. 
Practice gratitude. Amplify Kindness. Expand Generosity. 
Ask, Receive, and Give with More Ease. 
Respond to life with Love.

PS: If you have been playing with me for several years, below are the current daily deposits in other years Vibrational Accounts: