Dose of Optimism #3

From Hump Day to Help Day
 
Wednesdays are usually the day we’re getting over the hump of the week.  
 
But if you are like us, this week threw you for a loop. (THAT’s an understatement if there ever was one.) It’s taking time to reconfigure our lives and start to build towards a new “normal” as we work, play and live. 
 
So this week, let’s make ‘hump’ day a ‘help’ day. And here’s how you can help.

There are a lot of people in the gig economy hurting right now. Same with small business, small restaurants and other service providers. And there are countless nonprofit and social-service organizations around the country and world that need support in these most unusual times.

We are ramping up to share opportunities and calls for assistance with our networks via our Daily Dose of Optimism and the social channels we are rapidly building. You can help in three ways:
 

  • If you would like us to help promote your personal services, small business, nonprofit, cause or call to action, FILL OUT THIS FORM!

  • If you know people or business impacted by COVID-19 who could use the help spreading word of their offerings and needs FORWARD THIS EMAIL to them.

Bottom line, the more opportunities and needs we identify, the more we can share and help one another.  And that is how we can keep America Optimistic

With that, here’s your DAILY DOSE OF OPTIMISM:
 
In Italy, where currently the largest numbers are sick, a journalist and a techie got together to solve a problem: printing replacement valves for respirators.  The result?  Lives saved.  (via Fast Company)
 
In France, also hit hard by the virus, leading fragrance brand LVMH (which normally makes fragrances for its Christian Dior, Givenchy and Guerlain brands) is converting three of its perfume manufacturing facilities to make hand sanitizer instead. Doing so is not only helping respond to shortages, but keeping its employees working and paid.  Clean never smelled so good, right? (via Forbes)
 
And here in the U.S. of A., Mike Graham in Canton, North Carolina owns the local restaurant Jukebox Junction and is offering free food to people in his community because he wants people to stay calm and not be worried about how they’ll afford to feed their families. It’s an optimistic reminder that everyday ordinary people are making extraordinary gestures of help.(via RawStory)
 
That’s your daily dose of optimism for this hump, err, help day. Did you enjoy it?  Then maybe forward it to your family and friends who also could use a dose of optimism.  Have an idea, suggestion or optimistic invitation you want to share? Email us here.
 
P.S.    Who actually is this “us” and “we” that we keep mentioning? Well you might have noticed a new name on the “from” line the past few days… Kristi!   She is my good friend and partner Kristi Kendall and she and I have been collaborating for years on projects big and small. And now we are collaborating on this newsletter as our way of trying to help make America, and all of us, a bit more optimistic.   You can read more about Kristi at the Applied Optimism website.

Seth Cohen