Good News Tuesday: Special Santa, Green Light for Migraines, Nurse Ingenuity, One Love, and Rain in Australia

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Sensory-Friendly Santa for Kids with Special Needs

A mall in Lexington, Kentucky open early to create a safe and comfortable environment for kids with special needs. Dimmed lights, less noise, engaging activities, and wheel chair accessibility make it easier to include more kids in the Santa experience.  Here’s the story with a video.

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Green Light Could Relieve Migraine Pain

There’s something about green. The following article explores research using green light for migraine and other kinds of pain. The main study has people sit in a dark room with a green light for an hour a day with reduction in symptoms over time. Of course quiet time in a dark room might also be a factor. I can’t help but wonder if being in a room full of green plants would also help.  Here’s the article from the Good News Network

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Nurses Turn Surgical Wrap into Sleeping Bags for the Homeless

2000 large sterile wraps were being thrown away every day. But nurses at Tampa General Hospital had a different idea.  Imagine if every hospital did this?

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One Love

This is not new,  but it came across my bow wanting to be shared again. In 2018, a thousand strangers, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, got together and sang Bob Marley’s “One Love.” Here’s how it turned out.

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Rain Dance

It’s been raining in Australia! Some fires might still be burning, but we celebrate the joy of rain where it falls.  This video shows a group of firefighters with one breaking out in dance. If you can’t see it, go to the YouTube link.  There’s one more below.

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Got good news?

Please share in the comments!

Wishing you comfort, peace, and joy through the holidays.

Merry Christmas!

Painting This Angel Boosted My Immune System

Thrift Store Angel by JoAnne Silvia

I was sure I was coming down with a cold. Extra congestion with body aches signaled the onset. But I was determined to get started on the angel.

I’ve been saying “I’m supposed to be painting angels,” for a couple years. When a new thrift store,  “Angels Among Us,” opened near my neighborhood, I started to think about painting an angel on the side of their building. So I got some scrap wood and practiced by painting the angel sculpture  in their store.

Angel in Green Dress by JoAnne Silvia

Then I used the other side of the scrap of wood to experiment.

Angel with Mary and Joseph by JoAnne Silvia

Close up of the angel guiding the holy couple, by JoAnne Silvia (after I added the heart light)

 

I still have a little more green to paint on the pink ribbon.

During this time of contemplating angels,  I started painting a wind up musical PINK robed Santa Clause I bought at our church yard sale, because he played “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and I wanted to paint his robe red. Who ever heard of a pink Santa? Working on this simple project helped me realize how much I love painting, coloring, and making art of any kind.

 

 

So, Saturday, in spite of feeling congested and achy, I bought the paint and went to “Angels Among Us,” a place where they they give away extra gloves and hats to kids. And they always have a free box outside. Here’s their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/princessplaceangels?fref=ufi&pnref=story

I discovered how to use the existing rough white background instead of white paint to create highlights. But even cooler than that, was how my cold symptoms went away when I got in the painting zone. I didn’t even notice that it was getting cold as the sun moved toward the horizon. I live in the south, so by cold, I mean below 65 degrees. The wind chill might have been close to 60 by the time I finished for the day.  But my cold symptoms were gone!

I could tell my body was fighting something off. Painting was, and is, my tonic. Okay, I took a little echinacea, but the natural high of making art was what really kicked that virus’ butt.  I’m convinced.

Painting the thrift store angel wasn’t all smooth sailing. I couldn’t get her hands right. Then after getting the basic form on the first day, I stepped back and saw that one arm was clearly longer than the other, and one wing was way smaller than the other. So today, I took some vacation time from my job to fix her and give her a halo.

Even though painting this angel on the side of the building had it’s challenges, it was exciting and fulfilling. It felt right to be doing what I was supposed to be doing.

Painting is coming back home to my soul. It’s about time.

Next, I hope to work on the sign. I can’t wait!

My mom, who passed away a few years ago, collected angels. I wonder if she had anything to do with this. I think she’s smiling.