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Stuff to Feel Good About!

A collection of 15 issues

Things to Be Hopeful About in 2025

"You are brilliant and the earth is hiring," environmentalist Paul Hawken once wrote for a commencement address. And it's not just the earth who's hiring. Kindness, justice, gentleness all have many, many openings, too. But first, we need a bit of hope, don'

Preparing for the Road Ahead

On a bitter January DC day in 2009, Congressman John Lewis approaches Barack Obama, who moments ago was sworn in as President. The Congressman holds out a commemorative photo to the new President. Would you sign this? he asks. The President autographs the photo. First, though, he writes four words:

A Post-Election Love Letter for You

"I know there are a bunch of you whose work lives have been turned upside down in the last week, and I'm sorry," the Senate staffer wrote to anyone who cared to read. The staffer's world had been upended a decade ago when the

Comforts for this Moment

Wherever this moment finds you, know you are not alone. I'd love to throw a log on the fire, bring you a mug of something warm, sit across the soft couch and hear how it is to be you right now. But since I can't, I

Making Good Change No Matter the Election Outcome

My favorite annual seed catalog just arrived in the mailbox, signaling the start of autumn. It comes on that wonderful old newsprint that leaves ink residue on your fingertips. The page of peach trees has instructions for grilling peaches; the page of shrubs has encouraging reminders not to give up

How to Win at Policymaking

The journalist David Plotz has what he calls the Plotz Principle, and I'm here to say that it might be one of the smartest, most underutilized policy strategies out there. Whomever is having the most fun wins. Take - as we recently discussed here - Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa

The Brilliance of Pizza Policy

On a warm day in May, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut took to the steps of the Capitol. "We are here to declare that New Haven is the pizza capital of the United States!" she enthused to a cheering delegation of roughly 100 CT pizza makers holding pizza

An Antidote to Burnout

In high school, a buddy of mine auditioned for a play with a bit I still remember. He walked onstage, took off the glasses he'd worn for as long as I'd known him. I can't see a whole lot when I'm not

How to Win By Losing

Most folks outside of Ohio don't know John Boccieri's name. Perhaps most folks inside Ohio don't know his name either. Or even how to pronounce it (BOW-cherry). But John Boccieri is a name worth knowing. He's a son of Youngstown, was an

What Quietly Helps Hold Democracy Together

There's a place where you can take stuff home for free and be trusted that you'll bring it back. The stuff isn't grimy or second-rate or chaotically strewn about, but systematically organized, updated, and cared for by professionals. This place also offers other free