Uplifting Stories to Soothe the Soul
Find a Positive Wavelength
Joe Cocker and The Beatles said it: We get by with a little help from our friends. And by friends, here we mean podcasts, shows and movies. We are all for lifting your wilting spirits and locating optimism via multimedia support. After all, who among us hasn’t wallowed in a movie to prompt a good cry (raises hand and suggests The Way We Were. Sniff.)? Uplifting stories work the same way.
Here are a few media methods we’re using to flex our optimistic muscles.
The Sun Does Shine. Of course you knew Oprah would make the list. Here in parts one and two of a Super Soul Sunday podcast, she interviews Anthony Ray Hinton about his book The Sun Does Shine. Hinton spent thirty years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Thirty years. And did his heart fill with hate? No. Did he lose his will to live? Not at all. This tale of faith, forgiveness and hope in the face of adversity will have you wondering what it is you can’t tackle.
Paperclips. In this gripping documentary, teachers in small town Tennessee decide to teach eighth grade students about the Holocaust and what happens when prejudice goes unchecked. As the students try to grasp what 6 million people looks like, they begin the Paperclip Project, writing letters asking people to send them paperclips. The response eventually engages everyone in the community—and watching them embrace Holocaust survivors is about as uplifting as it gets.
The Gift of Forgiveness. Katherine Schwarznegger’s book shares stories of forgiveness—like a super-powered mood booster. With each short chapter knitting a distinct tale, it will infuse you with your recommended daily allowance of Vitamin O(ptimism).
Fab Five. If you’ve somehow missed the modern reboot of Queer Eye (or you need to be reminded to rewatch it), prepare to discover that the new Fab 5 has expanded its focus beyond straight guys, and brought all new mindfulness to their makeovers. In the context of our moment of division, the show’s original creator decided to bring it back and place the reboot in places like Georgia, Kansas and Missouri. The result: We are solidly united in our love of these five amazing men.
The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding. John Wooden, UCLA’s beloved men’s basketball coach, died in 2010, but we will forever have the gift of his TED talk. Wooden still holds the record for NCAA national championships (10)—seven of those won in a row. We would all say that makes him successful, but his definition of success demands more. Watch this gentle soul take you through his measure of true success (and walk away with restored belief that you are KILLING it).
