Have you lost confidence in humanity?
It’s easy to focus on all the bad things going on in the world, but if you take a look around, you will find positive, everyday people doing nice things for other people. Motivated by their own unique situations, these people find creative ways to make the world around them a happier place.
We live at a break-neck speed, with life throwing hurdles in our way as we run through our lives. We can get caught up in all the bad things in the world around us. Instead, let’s slow down and find the good people who remind us of our own humanity and kindness.
Ten Kind People Who Restore Your Faith in Humanity
Here are ten people’s stories who will restore your faith in humanity.
1 – This woman provides and jobs for the disabled
When Erin Willman lost her vision at fifteen, people assumed she couldn’t do many things. But Erin refused to allow her disability to slow her down. Several employers declined to hire Erin. Instead, she decided to start her own business, and now she is the CEO of White Cane Coffee.
Her storefront coffee shop selling freshly brewed organic coffee to the residents of the small community of Warren, Pennsylvania. Plus, her company is impacting the lives of blind and autistic people through practical on-the-job skills. Erin’s White Cane Coffee shop currently provides jobs for eight disabled workers. Her goal is to inspire hope and the freedom of independence to her employees.
Because she experienced first hand the difficulties of living with a disability and feeling left out, Erin decided that every package of her coffee would include Braille on the label. Today White Cane Coffee is the first company to label its products in Braille.
“If you can change one person’s life, you are changing the world.” ~Erin Willman
Besides providing a liveable wage to each of the employees, the company donates some of its proceeds to The Sight Center for Northwest Pennsylvania, an organization that trains leader dogs for the blind.
Erin also works with schools that teach the blind and disabled. During her regular visits to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in Pittsburgh, she emphasizes the importance of work and self-reliance to the students and their need to grow in independence.
Erin spoke at the National Federation of the Blind Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her message of hope to those in attendance began with this statement,
“When you lost your vision, people stood in line to tell you what you can’t do, now let’s talk about what you can do. You have value, you have worth, and you can live an independent life.”
Another program close to Erin’s heart is the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center. White Cane Coffee created a special blend of coffee to raise support, so a portion of the proceeds from this special coffee’s sales goes to the center. Erin has inspired so many people. She says she never dreamed of being a CEO of a company, but she did dream of changing the world. Today Erin is doing this by providing jobs and hope to the handicapped community.
2 – Funny teachers go remote to provide stress relief for kids and parents
These ten teachers found themselves in a whole new teaching mode last spring. Just like their students, the teachers suddenly had to learn how to maneuver online learning. There have been many up and down during the year, but the teachers decided to make the best of it and have fun along with the kids. So, they created funny videos of themselves, played rock music to keep the kids’ attention, and posted silly teaching bloopers to encourage kids and parents to hang in there.
These ten teachers show their dedication and love for kids while keeping a good sense of humor about all the things that can go wrong. If laughter is good medicine, then these fun-loving teachers keep kids and parents healthier and happier despite the unusual circumstances.
3 – Dancing doctors blow off steam during the pandemic
In the midst of the stress and strain of the current pandemic, these doctors and health care workers found a positive way to release their stress. At first, they danced for its fun, but after realizing how helpful and uplifting it was for even their patients, they decided to create dance videos. When the videos went viral, other health care workers from other hospitals around the country joined in with their own dances.
Dancing is a great exercise and stress reliever. And as these doctors prove, dancing boosts your mood and makes you feel happier. So, take a cue from these docs and blow off some steam by dancing.
4 – One veteran’s passion for fitness leads him to help others
James Coley, an Air Force Veteran and personal trainer in Tampa, Florida, is making a huge difference in people’s lives. While helping friends work out at the gym, Coley suddenly realized he loved helping other people get into shape. His passion for physical fitness impacted lives, especially those who had significant weight to lose. His compassionate, caring attitudes inspired those who wanted to lose weight without making them feel judged.
One of his clients tipped the scale at 316 pounds, but after working with Coley, they weighed 175 pounds. Coley says he’s learned how to help others from his own experiences in life in the military.
He contributes the 3 D’s: dedication, determination, and discipline as what has helped him and what he uses to inspire others to get fit. He’s a great example of someone who has impacted many lives by simply doing what he loves: helping humanity.
5 – Dancing against stereotypes
Twenty-seven-year-old Erik Cavanaugh set out to show that stereotypes are meant to be broken. Cavanaugh has been a dancer since he was 16. Today he dances professionally in Nashville, Tennessee. His dancing has gone viral, showing people that you can still perform graceful dance moves no matter what your body size. He competed on America’s Got Talent, where he did a ballet performance.
Cavanaugh hopes to inspire others to pursue dance if they choose. He creates videos to display his talents and depict his mood each day. He’s had 70 million views so far, and there’s no sign of his popularity letting up. His dedication inspires all of humanity to become more accepting.
6 – Inspirational marriage poem
When 25-year-old Taylor Myers posted her poem about divorce, millions of people found it helpful for their own relationships. Her “Relationships for Life Class” inspired her to write the poem. She said the class transformed her view of relationships and that her own relationships are healthier now.
As part of the class’s homework, Taylor had to interview dozens of adults who had been married and were now divorced. She asked each person if love was an emotion or a choice. Every person told her it was a choice you decide to make every day with a person who has the same commitment.
The people also told her that you couldn’t build a strong, lasting relationship based on feelings because feelings change all the time. Taylor says the interviews have changed her view of humanity and inspired her to write her now-famous poem.
7 – This inspiring teen raises money for cancer
When she was four years old, Megan Cross was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, a rare form of cancer. Fast forward to today, the 16 years old is celebrating 10 years of being cancer-free by raising thousands of dollars at the Terry Fox Run, a 10-kilometer run to raise money to fight cancer. Megan says she has strong memories of being in the hospital, getting chemotherapy, and all the ways people reached out to care for her and her family. She hopes to keep raising money in different ways, saying, “I think in 2020, we just need to keep moving and making the world a better place..”
8 – From custodian to nurse practitioner
Jaines Andrades started working at Baystate Medical Center ten years ago as a custodian cleaning operating rooms. Being in the medical environment inspired her to pursue a medical career. Today, she’s a certified nurse practitioner in trauma surgery. After getting her nursing degree, she worked as a nurse at Baystate.
But she wasn’t done pursuing her ultimate dream.
While keeping her job at Baystate, Andrades returned to school studying to become a nurse practitioner. She got the job as a nurse practitioner and was offered the job as a nurse practitioner in her current job. She’s inspired others to be humble and ready to work hard for your dreams. Her days as a custodian reminds her to treat everyone with dignity.
9 – Cancer survivor and mom inspires others
Today, six-year-old Kingston Forrest has a lot of energy. He wasn’t always so energetic. Diagnosed with leukemia at the age of one, Kingston endured many rounds of chemo for his cancer. He never lost his happy smile but found ways to entertain other patients in the hospital. Back then, the Pinky Swear organization supported the Forrests during Kingston’s cancer.
Today, both Kingston and his mom, Michelle, are both volunteers with Pinky Swear to support other families through their cancer journey. They’ve raised money for the organization and look for ways to encourage people they meet.
10 – Free ukulele lessons
Duncan Perry, a retired college professor, wanted to give back to others, so he played his ukulele for hospice patients. The patients loved hearing him play, and he loved bringing joy to humanity in the midst of their suffering. After he moved to a different state, he volunteered at a trauma unit to help people who were injured or dying.
But when Covid-19 hit, he couldn’t visit the trauma unit to play his ukulele. At first, Perry was tempted to feel useless that he couldn’t help anyone, but he came up with an idea to offer first responders free music lessons. He knew they needed an emotional outlet and that music could help them. Perry says music gives people peace.
He offered free ukulele lessons to first responders at Maine Medical Center, and instantly his classes were a hit. Each student was given a donated loaner ukulele for their lessons, and Perry played a song in the first lesson.
One student said that this year had been challenging for her as a nurse, but having these free ukulele lessons helped relieve her get through. In return, Perry says he’s found joy in sharing the gift of music and helping the first responders who have done so much to help others.
Final Thoughts on Meeting These Ten People Who Restore Faith in Humanity
During challenging times, we lose sight of the things that are most essential to a well-lived life. Stressful days erode our faith in humanity. But these ten people remind us that we still share this Earth with many wonderful people.
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