Welcome back, Wonder-Ready Readers,
Just a bit back, Jonathan got to attend his version of the Super Bowl, AKA Comic-Con. He had his comfortable shoes ready, and a custom-made Star-Trek backpack filled with enough snacks to survive a small apocalypse. His mission: to conquer the con (and resist buying a suitcase full of too much merch).
Meanwhile, back at home base, Mandy took on the role of Mission Control. Her task? To do some last-minute digital reconnaissance, finding pro-level tips to help him navigate the glorious, chaotic sea of cosplay and panels.
Mandy often likes to go into research mode, diving into multiple things simultaneously. So when she was calling Jonathan to read him some great Comic-Con tips she had found, she forgot she was actually quoting a self-help thread…
"Be curious and open to the new."
"Don't compare your experience to someone else's.”
"Release the need for a rigid outcome.”
Mandy was halfway through the masterpiece of convention wisdom, feeling like she’d found the Holy Grail of how-to guides, when she remembered she was actually reading the self-help section on Reddit… Whoops!
But Jonathan assured her it was precisely the pep talk he needed. He was having so much trouble deciding which panels to attend, constantly carrying around some heavy FOMO the size of a convention tote. He thanked her, and Mandy patted herself on the back, delighted to discover that the tools for navigating a massive, overwhelming event seem to be the same exact tools for navigating life…
Lesson logged.
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Positopian where we share positive news, fiction, resources, & insights to help you become the best version of yourself…
Positive Quotes:
“Your light may not reach everyone, but it will reach those who are seeking it. Keep shining.” ~Eugene Ng
“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” ~Roy T. Bennett
“I can’t cry about having a lot on my plate when my goal was to eat.” ~Biggs Burke
“Joy comes to us in moments – ordinary moments. We risk missing out on joy when we get too busy chasing down the extraordinary.” ~Brené Brown
“Every little action of the common day makes, or unmakes, character.” ~Oscar Wilde
“Everyone comes into a relationship with baggage. You can either trip over each other’s stuff or unpack it together.” ~Hu Dalconzo
“You can’t always control what goes on outside. But you can always control what goes on inside.” ~Dr. Wayne Dyer
“Complaining about your circumstances is the glue that keeps you stuck to them.” ~Peter Sage
“Worrying is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength- carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ~Corrie Ten Boom
“No one knows what you have been through or what your pretty little eyes have seen, but I can reassure you ~ whatever you have conquered, it shines through your mind.” ~Nikki Rowe
“You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you.” ~Josh Shipp
Positive Images:
Positive Resources:
Fun is not just enjoyable, it's also essential for your health and happiness, says science journalist Catherine Price.
The building blocks of fun: Playfulness: doing things without obsessing over the outcome. Connection: sharing experiences and interacting with others. Flow: being so engaged and focused you lose track of time.
The best way to have more fun is to reduce distractions (e.g., don’t be glued to your phone), Connect more with people, add small, harmless rebellions—shake up routine and give yourself permission to drop what doesn’t serve you.
Doctors Say These 9 Habits Can Actually Make You Smarter and More Creative
Becoming smarter isn’t always about acing trivia night or speaking more than one language—it’s about building the kind of brain health that helps you think faster, remember more, and solve problems with ease. Fortunately, the brain is equipped to adapt and grow stronger through lifelong learning and intentional routines.
Small changes, like the ways you move, sleep, and lounge, can rewire neural pathways to improve cognition over time. Ahead, we asked doctors to share the most impactful habits that are proven to enhance brain function. Weave these practices into your daily life for sharper focus and long-term mental health.
Key Takeaways
Quality sleep and daily physical activity form the foundation of your brain health.
Trying new hobbies or even letting your mind wander helps your brain stay flexible and build stronger connections.
Small daily habits, like staying social or listening to music, can sharpen your thinking.
Positive News:
This Wild Orangutan Tried To Save A Man From A Snake Infested Pond Believing That He Was In Danger. The Man Was Actually There To Remove Snakes From The Pond To Keep The Apes Safe.
Prabhakar was on a safari with friends at a conservation forest run by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) when he witnessed the scene. He told CNN: “There was a report of snakes in that area so the warden came over and he’s clearing snakes.
“I saw an orangutan come very close to him and just offer him his hand.”
Prabhakar said it was difficult for the guard to move in the muddy, flowing water. It seemed as if the orangutan was saying “May I help you”? to the man, he said.
“I really wasn’t able to click,” he said. “I never expected something like that.”
“I just grabbed that moment. It was really emotional.”
‘Miracle’ as lost surfer washes up on remote island eight miles from shore
When a teenage surfer left his home in the Australian fishing town of Wooli on Wednesday afternoon, cycling with his longboard under his arm, he had planned only for a leisurely surf. He wouldn’t make it home again for almost 20 hours…
A hunch held by his father, though, may just have saved the teenager’s life, after a “one in a million” rescue operation eventually found him, exhausted, on the uninhabited North Solitary Island, a rocky nature reserve almost eight miles out to sea. Terry Deefholts, an estate agent, pleaded for his son’s safe return on social media, calling early on Thursday morning for anyone with a boat, drone, plane or four-wheel drive, as well as beach walkers, to join the search.
“I am asking anyone with a seaworthy vessel to please meet me at the main Wooli boat ramp and take me to sea to help with the search,” his post read…He was proved right. Darcy was found alive on North Solitary Island about 9:30am on Thursday. The search party that located him roughly 19 hours after he left home included his uncles, Mitch and Dave, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.
A Champion Off the Court: Alonzo Mourning Helps Build $37 Million Affordable Housing Complex for Seniors
A new affordable housing community for seniors in Bradenton recently opened with fanfare — including a visit from a celebrity who helped make the project possible!
Positive Ponderings:
If I asked you to name all the things you love, how long would it take you to name yourself?
A man asked his gardener why his plants grew so beautifully. The gardener said: 'I don't force them to grow. I remove what stops them.'
Your entire life will change when you realize that anything above zero compounds. That showing up consistently matters more than showing up perfectly. That small things become big things. Never allow optimal to get in the way of beneficial.
Imagine reading a book with no way to turn back the page. That's life.
Always remember to go out there and "Chews" Wonder and Joy :)
~Mandy & Jonathan Chew
Always inspirational 🙏❤️😊