Like many people, Gemma Hartley struggles with depression and anxiety. For five years, she used meditation to keep her symptoms in check. But one day, facing some tight writing deadlines at work, she felt herself beginning to slip back toward her old symptoms. This time, … [Read more...]
It was a quiet night, and Dorrie Nuttall was fast asleep. Her seven-year-old son was sleeping next to her, hooked up to a machine, which was supposed to alert her if his glucose levels were too low. The alert never came. Not from the machine, anyway. Jedi, Luke’s adorable … [Read more...]
In Iceland, elves are a part of the national culture. Many of the country’s 230,000 citizens believe they actually exist. This belief is what led a mob of 150 men and women to protest a NATO military base in Keflavik in 1982. They believed the military was disrespecting the … [Read more...]
Take a look at the pink circles. If you’re like most people, the circle on the right probably looks bigger, but they are actually the same size. People of the Himba tribe are not so easily fooled by optical illusions like this. The Himba can be found in the small town of … [Read more...]
Topher Brophy described himself as a self-absorbed narcissist. He played competitive sports obsessively to keep his mind off of his empty life. Then one day, Brophy hurt his back. Suddenly, he was forced to slow down and take a good hard look at his life. That is when it … [Read more...]
At this time of the year, a multitude of professional Santas don their counterfeit facial hair and yuletide apparel to spread holiday cheer. These individuals commonly work in shopping malls and at private events to maintain the illusion of Santa Claus for the enjoyment of their … [Read more...]
Should a robot, no matter how intelligent, have the same rights as a human being? Some say the Saudi Arabian government appears to think so. They created the world’s first robot ‘citizen’ in 2017. Her name is Sophia. Saudi Arabia is in a state of change. In 2018, they granted … [Read more...]
Babka Vanda’s grandmother claimed to be able to heal people with just a whisper. The local priest forbade her from treating people until, one day, a snake bit the priest. Vanda’s grandmother whispered words into the wind, and just like that, the priest was cured, and she was … [Read more...]
As a teenager in Ghana, George Mwinnyaa fell seriously ill. After sacrificing three chickens to the gods, he miraculously healed. Now a student of public health at Johns Hopkins University, he doesn’t think it was the sacrifice itself that saved him. He thinks it was the act of … [Read more...]
Professional musician Robin Spielberg says music saved her daughter’s life. In 1998, Spielberg was pregnant with twin girls when she suffered complications. An emergency cesarean was performed during the 22nd week of pregnancy. Sadly, one of the twins passed away, but Valerie … [Read more...]
Florence Manyande’s string of bad luck began in 2010. She had lost seemingly everything and was severely depressed. She was at rock bottom. But then, she was given a blessing in disguise. She was hit by a car. By the time of her accident, Manyande’s husband had left her. She … [Read more...]
Phil Libin hasn’t eaten in days, but he says he feels euphoric and full of energy. Libin is one of many Silicon Valley executives who swear that regular fasting is changing their lives. He even claims that forgoing food has made him a better CEO. New research supports what … [Read more...]
Like many people in Uganda, Charles Watmon has difficulty living with the things he saw and did as a soldier. An unexpected friend now helps him shoulder the burden. That friend’s name is Ogen Rwot, and she is a cute, friendly, caramel-colored dog. For a decade, Watmon fought … [Read more...]
The date is September 22nd. The year is 1692. On Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts, a mob gathers. They are there to witness eight of their friends and families sentenced to death. The crime? Witchcraft! The bloodthirsty crowd is immune to the tears of the condemned. In … [Read more...]
Croatian Music teacher, Frane Selak, is what you’d call a lucky guy. He’s cheated death seven times and won the lottery. You could say he’s led a charmed life, but Selak doesn’t feel lucky. He explained, “I never thought I was lucky to survive all my brushes with death. I … [Read more...]
Vietnamese man, Thái Ngoc, got a fever in 1973 and hasn’t slept since. You would expect his life to be a train wreck, but he claims to be going strong. He is a farmer and has no problem doing manual labor to support his family. He even spends some nights doing extra farm … [Read more...]
In 1922, Albert Einstein was staying in a hotel in Tokyo. Without any money to tip a hotel delivery man, he instead gave him a couple of notes on hotel stationery about happiness and success. While the man was probably unable to read the advice, he recognized their value and held … [Read more...]
Derek Simmons was enjoying a beautiful day at the beach with his family when he noticed something odd. A group of people near the pier were pointing at something in the water. He and his wife thought it was just another shark, but they walked toward the commotion anyway. As it … [Read more...]
Keri Brandt was a vegetarian, and David Off was a rancher. Some might say he made his living raising cattle, but many of Keri’s vegan friends probably would say he made his living killing cattle. On their first date, he took her on a cattle drive. She wondered what she was doing … [Read more...]
When 91-year-old George Doughty was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia, his 92-year-old wife, Dorothy, feared the worst. He was sedated and moved to intensive care three days later. His wife of 68 years was unable to visit him because she suddenly became ill with … [Read more...]
