Results for "happy"
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Pat Morita nearly missed the opportunity that defined his professional career. He was working on and off as a stand-up comedian, barely making ends meet after a successful role in “Happy Days.” When he showed up to audition for Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” producer Jerry Weintraub couldn’t see the actor beyond his comedic roles and dismissed him. But Morita persisted, growing out his hair and beard. When he finally read for the part, Weintraub was sold, and the rest is history.
Morita’s life was anything but easy leading up to his seminal role. At 2 years old, he was separated from his parents and languished in a hospital until he was 11 due to tuberculosis and complications. He spent most of the time in a full-body cast. When he was released, he was detained with his family in an internment camp until World War ll was over. His family had to rebuild their lives, and Noriyuki Morita, nicknamed “Pat” by a priest who visited him often in the hospital, went to work to support them.
He worked his way up at Lockheed, working with engineers and programmers on missile projects before experiencing burnout. Perhaps he wanted to overthrow his heavy, dark childhood by making people laugh. Whatever the reason, Morita started working as a stand-up comedian in clubs around Sacramento and San Francisco. It was a grind. At one point, when he was out of money and prospects, comedian Redd Foxx stepped in and loaned him $3,500. It was a godsend, but so was Foxx’s friendship. Perhaps there would be no Mr. Miyagi if it weren’t for the kindness of the irascible Fred Sanford.
After a few bit parts in movies, Pat landed the role of Arnold on “Happy Days.” It was seemingly a role that would change his life, and it did. But Morita was typecast, and when the show ended, he couldn’t find work due to his ubiquitousness as Arnold. It was at this low point that he pursued the role of Mr. Miyagi.
“The Karate Kid” allowed him to reveal a bit of who Pat Morita is: a kind and patient mentor who cares deeply about teaching kids where they come from and how to overcome their circumstances as well as their prejudices. Morita’s later work focused on documentaries about the war, the sacrifices it entailed and the need to know our history so we can learn from it.
Noriyuki “Pat” Morita will always be remembered as a gentle and giving soul. His childhood and his family’s incarceration could have driven him into a bitter place. But he chose to find the good in people and in his life.
Be Happy… PassItOn.com®
Penny Doerge should have had a normal childhood, hanging out with friends and growing into adulthood before thinking about how she could change the world. But at an early age, Penny was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumors and can lead to brain cancer.
The prognosis was not good. But Penny had a life to live and refused to live it in darkness. In fact, she chose to spread light to everyone around her.
During the pandemic, Penny created a series of small gatherings called adventure camps for the neighborhood kids. Each child had a COVID test at the door, and then the fun began. It was Penny’s way of creating connections to overcome isolation. For those who couldn’t attend, she made funny TikTok videos and shared her artwork for those who couldn't attend. She loved to use her creativity to make ordinary things beautiful.
When it was time for another surgery — she had 15 in all — Penny would go about it in a businesslike manner. No complaining, no crying, just get through it and get back to living. Her mother remembers, “Somebody said Penny was an actress and the world was her stage. She was joy personified.”
Her teachers remember her as a hardworking girl everyone wanted to be around. She was happy and beautiful and artistically gifted. And she used those attributes to lift others. “She was a little angel,” her grandfather remembers. “She was fun and happy. Penny taught us a lot.” Her father adds, “She taught us how to treat other people.
Sometimes a very special person comes into this life to remind all those around her what we should really be about. We should make time to create beauty, and to share it. Penny’s artwork made people happy. Her notes and videos made people forget about hard things and focus on good things. Her friendship brought a sense of hope to everyone who wanted to be close to her. Her pastor says, “Penny was and will continue to be a bright light for her family and friends.”
Penny died at the age of 16. “She made a choice to live her life with joy and optimism,” says her father.
That optimism continues to burn bright. Her family launched Penny’s Flight, a foundation dedicated to inspiring others to live life as she did, according to the family’s motto, “It’s not your lifespan, it’s your wingspan.” The foundation raises money for cancer research and also celebrates life by sharing the message: Spread your wings. Shine your light.
Comedian Jimmy Fallon and former NFL quarterback Eli Manning have picked up the torch of Penny’s cause. And so it glows. The brief life of a young girl touches thousands of lives and reminds us all that we can soar to new heights, no matter who we are.
Spread Your Wings... PassItOn.com®
Maria and her parents moved to the US from Brazil one year before the pandemic. Better education opportunities lay ahead, and they were excited to get Maria into an American high school to prepare for college.
Each parent got a job, and Maria hit the books. She also signed up for a service club because she wanted the social interaction, the chance to work on her English skills and to be a part of the community.
“I love to serve,” Maria says, smiling and pulling her auburn hair back behind her shoulders. “I think it is my thank-you for the opportunities I have.”
She worked in the local food bank with other kids her age, organizing bags for families who were having a hard time making ends meet. But when the pandemic hit, she found herself at the food bank for another reason: to bring home groceries to her parents.
“We were all shocked when my mother lost her job. My friends at the food bank got me through it.”
Luckily, her father kept his job. And with classes moving online, Maria was able to secure a full-time job and do her class work at night. She earned just enough to cover a few utilities and help with the rent. It would have been easier for Maria to just drop out of school, but her goal in coming to America was to go to college. Three of her courses were college prep classes that demanded a lot of work. During her senior year, Maria worked 40-hour weeks and studied even more. Yet, in her spare time, she packed food bags for others before taking hers home.
Just before graduation, Maria came into the food bank. One of the volunteers started getting a bag ready for her.
“I don’t need one today,” Maria said. “My mother got a job. I’m here to help.”
Maria supported her family for eight months. She graduated on time and got scholarship offers from three different colleges. She moved to part-time work and has completed her first semester of college.
“My family means everything to me,” she says. “They sacrificed so I could be here. I was happy to help. I’m always happy to help.”
Responsibility... PassItOn.com®
Life can feel terribly unfair. And yet for some people, when life hands them the worst possible circumstance, they are at their absolute best.
Jessie Joy Rees is just such a person. The blonde-haired, California kid with the big personality as fun as a day at the beach became the voice of courage for kids with cancer. How can so much good be packaged in one so small? Athletic and outgoing, Jessie had her whole world in front of her, until she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2011.
Three weeks into her treatment, Jessie asked an uncharacteristically mature question for such a young girl. She looked out at the other children who were also going through cancer treatment and asked her parents: “How can we help them?” Jessie’s heart was bigger than any tumor. She wanted to comfort other kids who were going through treatment; she wanted them to be happy, no matter what. The morning after her diagnoses, Jessie was at the kitchen table assembling bags of toys for other cancer patients. “She was determined to make other cancer kids happy,” her father Erik tenderly remembers. “How could we not help?”
12-year-old Jessie had a 1% chance of beating cancer. So, she decided to make the most of her time. The packages became hospital-safe plastic jars stuffed with toys, crafts and activities to surprise children while they are in the hospital for treatment. Aptly named JoyJars® using Jessie’s middle name, JoyJars contain a little bit of fun during mundane days, but mostly they contain a little bit of Jessie’s optimism that fills the room every time one is opened. One mother sent a tender thank you: “JoyJars have helped lift our spirits during Travis’ ongoing battle with his brain tumor.”
It is a special soul who can radiate so much good in so short a time. Jessie Joy Rees passed away less than a year from her diagnosis. But her parents keep the joy alive. More than 400,000 JoyJars have been delivered to children undergoing cancer treatment in all 50 states and over 50 countries. For each, there is a bit of Joy to help them through the tough times. And to give them courage, there’s also a bracelet stamped with Jessie’s mantra: Never Ever Give Up. “Jessie would never ever give up,” says Erik. “And neither will we. Every child facing cancer should know they are loved and supported.” For more information visit www.negu.org
No matter how long or short our lives turn out to be, there is always room for a little joy.
Never Ever Give Up... PassItOn.com®
In a time when it seems like conventionally beautiful people rule the world and so much of who we are depends on fitting in, Kodi Lee breaks all the barriers. With seemingly “perfect” performers gracing our screens and large stages, it often feels like there is no room for the rest of us. Kodi Lee is a reminder that all are important and everybody has a voice worth listening to. But it wasn’t always so.
Kodi Lee was born in 1996 with optic nerve hypoplasia, a condition that left him legally blind. He survived a lifesaving surgery at five days old and, in his early years, was diagnosed with autism.
To see him enter the stage brings two emotions to the surface: You may feel like you want to protect him from failure, and you want to cheer him on. Even Simon Cowell rose from his seat the first time he met Lee on “America’s Got Talent.” The famous judge and producer was worried for the young man who wobbled a bit when he walked and couldn’t make eye contact. But with the aid of his mother, Kodi Lee made his way to the piano bench.
The audience grew silent, their faces filled with hope and fear. Fingers resting on keys, lips testing the distance to the microphone, Lee transforms into a performer who delivers raw, emotional lyrics drawn out of some inner power. His voice settles into the tones of a seasoned traveler who has seen and understands the world. His pitch is perfect, and his range is remarkable. When he sings the lyrics to Calum Scott’s “Biblical,” it feels like the whole world is laid bare and the love he sings about is the only thing we really need.
Lee is the child of Tina and Eric Lee. Because his ability to communicate is limited in some ways, he looked deeply for avenues of expression and connected with music. It is like a door that, once opened, floods his senses and focuses his talent. He is only one of approximately 25 people in the world considered a musical savant. He has an audio-photographic memory and holds a library of songs in his mind, everything from jazz to R&B, pop and classical.
When he first performed on “America’s Got Talent,” the audience was mesmerized and thrilled. The standing ovation carried on to his next performance. Lee was overjoyed. The happiest place in his life is at the piano in front of an audience, not because it shines the light on him but because it makes people so happy.
As we look at our own images on our screens, save a few spaces for messages that reach out and make others happy. No matter who we are, something profound inside us connects to people and brings them a little joy, a little encouragement and a big smile.
Sing Out... PassItOn.com®
Phil Mortillaro is the son of immigrants. He has worked as a locksmith since he left school in the eighth grade. All five of his children grew up watching their father work hard in his Greenwich Village shop, but only his youngest son followed in his footsteps and became a locksmith as well.
As wave after wave of immigrants have found new lives in this country, their stories have inspired the generations that started here, in a new place, with new opportunities and a strong sense of the traditions that shape their families. The Mortillaro children all went on to successful careers, grateful that their father worked so hard to provide them opportunities. But Philip, the youngest, saw a different path.
He reminisces about being raised in the business: “I was literally in the shop from day one. I saw you (his father) in the shop, and I thought, I can do this. I realized that everyone loves my dad. One half of that is because he’s a great guy, and the other half is because he is the guy who helps you even when other locksmiths can’t.”
Phil Senior brightens when he talks about his kids. It’s clear that he is proud of them. He has been a good father and made sure they had what they needed to get a good start. He is also part of a very encouraging statistic. According to the Pew Research Center, second-generation citizens improve their lives beyond the level at which their parents lived.
Phil would shy away from taking credit for his children’s success. He’s just happy they are all doing well. But ask his son what the secret to making it is, and he’ll tell you it’s all about taking care of other people, being there to help, being fair and treating people the way you want to be treated.
“Coming from immigrant parents, you can never work hard enough,” the son says. And it’s not the smarts that make a difference; it’s recognizing your own abilities and putting them to good use.
“I’m no genius,” Phil Senior says, paraphrasing IBM founder Tom Watson Sr. “But I am bright in spots, and I stay around those spots.”
The youngest son pays tribute to his father this way: “You raised five kids, and not a single one of them did not want for anything. That’s hard to do for someone who just went up to the eighth grade.”
Phil Senior counters with, “You do your best, kid. That’s what you do. Your honest best.”
The work ethic, integrity and sense of responsibility to the future: That’s what Phil Mortillaro leaves as a legacy to his children. His son tries to measure up to the expectations every day.
“You are always my barometer. You never let anyone down. That’s what sets you apart,” Philip says.
From a son to a father, and a father to his family, the key to happiness is to be your best in all situations. That is what opens doors.
Be The Key... PassItOn.com®
In 1929, as the American economy crashed and one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, Joe Rantz stood on the planks of a dilapidated porch and watched his father, stepmother and younger brothers drive away.
It was raining. Rantz was 15 years old. He had been taking care of himself for five years, tending his vegetable garden, sleeping at the schoolhouse where he chopped wood in exchange for a bed, and hauling heavy trays of dishes and food back and forth from the cookhouse to the work camp where the loggers took their meals. He had learned to forage food in the woods, skillfully swing hammers and axes, and sharpen buck saws.
He was self-sufficient. But it was a different matter to be entirely alone, his parents no longer able to take care of him. His father’s last words hung in his mind like the damp air around the unfinished clapboard house he was left with: “Look, son, if there’s one thing I’ve figured out about life, it’s that if you want to be happy, you have to learn how to be happy on your own.”
It was little consolation for a boy left with a can of bacon grease, a chunk of meat and a few eggs. The small town in the Pacific Northwest where Rantz was abandoned provided hard opportunities for work digging out stumps, de-barking logs and hacking irrigation ditches into the rocky soil. Rantz finished the house, learned to play the banjo and worked weekends driving draft horses that dragged massive logs he had felled in the woods. His formative years were spent in manual labor, living alone in the woods, and school years where he worked equally hard to make grades. But he yearned to be part of a family.
Rantz was in high school when rowing coach Alvin Ulbrickson stopped by looking for recruits for his team. He was impressed with Rantz’s strength in a gym class and left a card. The University of Washington had a strong rowing tradition. Coach Ulbrickson was always on the hunt for diamonds in the rough, and Rantz was exactly that.
Rantz had grown up by the strength of his back, but he had done no rowing. Still, he wanted to better himself by going to college. He worked extra hours with his shovel and axe, saved everything he could and showed up at the boathouse hoping to earn a scholarship. He was one of 175 freshmen competing for 80 spots. To make the varsity spot, Rantz would have to excel from the lower training boats to the junior varsity boat, where he could get noticed and hope to be selected for the top nine-man crew.
The training was brutal: early-morning rowing on icy cold water during snowstorms. Burning lungs aching for air and muscles so depleted they had to be willed to continue. Off days were spent cutting or dragging lumber. Summer work included hauling rock at a quarry.
Through it all, Rantz became the one person everyone could count on. The physical work didn’t seem to bother him. He was at home in the boat — the synchronization of oars and breathing, the pull of a common goal, the bond of brothers he finally had. There would be victories against all odds for the boys in the boat, including the gold medal in the 1936 Olympics. But when Rantz agreed to have his story told, he grasped the author’s hand and, with emotion in his voice, said: “Not just about me. It has to be about the boat.”
Determination carries us through the first part of the race. It is family that gets us over the finish line.
Pull Together... PassItOn.com®
His class on happiness has the longest waiting list in Harvard’s catalog. He recently published a book with Oprah Winfrey. He is in demand on college campuses nearly everywhere.
Arthur Brooks is not a rocket scientist, a pop star or a professional athlete. Yet he gives us all what we want a little more of: happiness. He speaks to us because life is complicated, communities are stressed, families are overworked and the future seems uncertain.
Understanding what drives Brooks to make the world a happier place requires a look at his humble beginnings. He grew up in Spokane, Washington, and played the French horn.
“Music is a kind of meditation on things that are beautiful,” he says. “But I wanted more.”
He left the California Institute of the Arts to join the City Orchestra of Barcelona, Spain. While working full time, Brooks earned his master’s degree in economics. Then, he moved back to California to work for RAND Corporation while earning his Ph.D.
Being curious is a good thing, and learning is a good thing. Curiosity gives us a better understanding of the world and our place in it. But Brooks wanted to implement what he was learning. Later, he began teaching at Georgia State University and then Syracuse University. He discovered that he was interested in the economics of behavior, or how the way people feel determines how they act, and how they act determines how they feel.
Diving into human emotions and how they motivate and shape us became Brooks’ passion. He became an advisor in public policy and studied productive societies. What he discovered was that, aside from some cultural differences, the most productive societies were also the happiest.
“Happiness isn’t found in some finite checklist of goals that we can diligently complete and then coast,” he says. “It’s how we live our lives in the process. That’s why the four pillars of happiness are faith, family, community and meaningful work.”
Faith keeps us humble and teachable. When you believe there is a power greater than you, you accept corrective criticism more readily. Family often supports us when we need them and provides a place where we also teach, love and serve. Community is our broader obligation to provide for, protect and encourage others. And when we have work with a purpose, we move forward through menial tasks, knowing we are building something greater than ourselves.
Learning to be happier takes practice. Daily practices such as taking note of what we are grateful for, meditating on a higher power, connecting with family and serving in our communities make our lives match our beliefs. When we live what we believe, we do become happier. And maybe more importantly, we make those around us happier, too.
Be Happy... PassItOn.com®
In times of trouble, or even at the end of a long workday, many people turn to a familiar source of comfort: their animal companions. It’s no different after a disaster — for good reason.
From the time the first wolf cub was domesticated beside the cave fire to our day — when different breeds of dogs lounge at our feet, playfully wake us in the morning, and warn us of danger — dogs and humans have created a special bond. Canines are the perfect pet: loyal, fun-loving, always happy to see us. On the farm, dogs were utilitarian. They herded sheep, stood guard against predators and kept the lonely sheepherder company with conversations in yip and yowl, whine and growl.
Cats were equally useful in keeping mice out of the farmhouse and feed bins. Always on the prowl, they kept troublesome pests away while still making time to provide a little companionship on the porch in the afternoon sun. Our love for these domesticated animals is as ingrained in us as the characteristics of the animals of our affections are in them.
Pets began as a privilege of the aristocracy. Noblemen and women bred dogs for hunting and lapdogs for fashion. Egyptians viewed cats as sacred and magical, even worshipping them. Today, many of us have pets simply for the companionship. They soothe us on stressful afternoons, lowering our heart rates and brushing away loneliness as we brush their coats to grateful purrs. Some act as guide dogs or helpers for the deaf or disabled. Service dogs calm anxiety, and the family pet helps children express their emotions.
But these animals depend on us, and when hurricanes hit Hillsborough County in Florida and displaced thousands of people, many pets were stranded in the mayhem. Anxiety was high. The one thing that helps most in a crisis is knowing everyone is OK, including pets.
That’s why Captain Dusty Mascaro went wading into debris-filled water to bring a little comfort to the displaced. His mantra is to make sure “no one — human or animal — is left behind.” Captain Mascaro carried dogs large and small through the muddy water. Altogether, his team rescued 104 pets.
After the rescue effort, a makeshift shelter in a bus was packed with furry friends. At the end of a long couple of days, there was a wonderful reunion. Many people had lost homes and keepsakes and were facing months or even years of rebuilding their lives. But thanks to Captain Dusty, they would not be alone. Having a loyal companion to start over makes the journey a little easier.
For Captain Dusty Mascaro and his team of white knights, it was all in a day’s work. They are happy to serve their community. The payoff for them can be summed up in a photograph of Captain Mascaro and a grateful rescued dog: “This dog’s eyes say it all.”
Be Grateful… PassItOn.com®
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes features some pretty remarkable kids. Teens are cleaning up our oceans, feeding their underserved peers, creating tutoring networks and collecting donations for the homeless. Many have used their screen time to mobilize volunteer efforts in ways that the previous generation just couldn’t do.
One prizewinner stands out not only for her innovative thinking but also for her inspiration. Jordan Reeves was born without the lower part of her left arm. When she was 11 years old, she invented a prosthetic arm that shoots biodegradable glitter. Her invention got the attention of Marvel Comics, which created a superhero based on Jordan. She also helped Mattel design a Barbie that uses a prosthetic leg. She spoke at TEDxYouth and wrote a children’s book that helps kids understand how to talk about disabilities.
Most of us would have been happy that the message of inclusion is getting out there. And it’s pretty cool to be a media celebrity. But that’s just the beginning for Jordan. Her dream is to help kids with disabilities design their way into a world where they don’t always fit. The mission of her nonprofit, Design With Us, is to “build solutions to help bring extra joy to disabled young people. We believe sharing design and STEM knowledge empowers youth to create their own solutions.”
Jordan has teamed up with industrial designers and created virtual and in-person workshops for disabled youth, mentoring them in the process of bringing their inventions to life. Now, hundreds of supporters around the country are bringing disabled kids into the conversation of inclusion.
Sometimes, it’s all too easy to focus on the challenges facing our kids. But as we do, let’s not forget the kids like Jordan who are turning those challenges into opportunities.
Opportunity... PassItOn.com®
Most of us have memories from childhood that go something like this: You’re not leaving the table until you eat all your vegetables.
How lucky we were to have nutritious food, even if we had to learn to like it. According to the Houston Health Department, for nearly one-quarter of children living in Houston, Texas, the choice to eat healthy doesn’t exist. They don’t have access to fresh produce, only canned and packaged goods. A lack of fresh meat and produce in your diet can lead to increases in depression and obesity and greater risks for heart disease and cancer. A poor diet is also tied to poor performance in school for young children.
Annie Zhu was shocked to find out so many children in Houston lived in food deserts — areas without access to fresh food. She was also shocked to see how much fresh food supermarkets discard every day. So she and her twin sister Shirley went to work.
First, they partnered with the Houston Health Department to distribute food at community centers. With the help of Second Servings, they collected surplus food from grocery stores and began organizing monthly markets. They even connected with human service agencies to provide help beyond food. Lastly, they developed (and coded) a simple app that tells people when and where the markets are. Since the food is fresh, it needs to be picked up right away, so they developed the text and messaging app Fresh Hub.
Each month, Fresh Hub organizes high schoolers who don green shirts and go to work setting up stands of fresh produce, baked goods and packaged meats. The Zhu sisters and the green dream team have distributed over 1,500 pounds of food. And while families are collecting food, volunteers are entertaining kids with art projects that teach healthy eating.
At the end of the day, Annie says the two are happy to be making a difference. “Frustration over the unfair circumstances built into society led us to meet incredible people,” says Annie. “I know I’m not alone on this journey to help the underserved — and I know my journey has only just begun!”
Good for you, Annie and Shirley, for doing something that’s good for all of us.
Be Healthy... PassItOn.com®
Children need heroes. They help kids cope with the world around them, providing a little bit of hope and a lot of entertainment. The classic heroes are always on the side of justice and compassion. They make things right no matter the odds. And in our world of uncertainty, our kids definitely need a bit of help keeping their balance and looking forward to a better future.
Even more, for some kids, the odds just seem to be stacked against them. They lie in hospital beds through long illnesses, away from playgrounds and classrooms where their friends can embrace them. Some kids will return to hospitals again and again as they go through treatments for cancer or kidney diseases that make them regulars. It’s a tough road, and the pandemic made it even rougher by limiting the number of visitors a child patient could see.
So imagine being a 6-year-old child in a hospital bed when Spiderman knocks on your window!
Having Spiderman close gives you the courage to face the coming days, and it certainly brightens the moment he pays you a visit. That’s why recently, for four hours, Spiderman and Captain American dangled from the roof of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The kids were thrilled. The staff cheered. And the parents cried. It was one of those magical moments when everything that’s right with the world converges into an explosion of emotions. Kids and parents find a little more hope, a little more courage. And healthcare workers find themselves smiling, a relief that has been a long time coming.
Farther south, another team of window washers also made their appearance as superheroes at a hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the children were ecstatic. The distraction from their pain is beneficial to their mental health and even helps them heal faster. But most importantly, it makes them happy.
We can all be somebody’s superhero for a day, an hour or just a moment. Distracting someone from the pain they are feeling with a little something to cheer them up just might make their day. And you don’t have to dangle from a rooftop to do it.
Be Super... PassItOn.com®
Life never really turns out the way we expect it to. We have dreams and expectations. And dream-come-true stories are everywhere — except, it may seem, in our own lives.
It would be easy for most of us to feel like we somehow got shorted in life. Not Barbara. As a child, Barbara never quite found the bond with her parents that all children need. Her father left the family early, and Barbara’s mother worked menial jobs and jumped from marriage to marriage.
Barbara looked for stability in marriage herself, hoping a husband could share the load and fill in the empty spaces of her life. But soon after her son was born, her husband left, and Barbara now had two people to take care of on her own.
“I couldn’t let my life keep me from caring about other people,” she says. “Maybe it’s unfair or just the way it turns out for people, but I still had a son.”
Barbara raised her son the best she knew how and “he turned out pretty well,” she says, smiling. And after the hard years of making ends meet and giving him a good start, she made a career change.
“I never thought I was supposed to feel sorry for myself,” she says. “And I like people.”
Barbara became an in-home caregiver for elderly people in their last year of life. She spends 10-hour days, six days a week, with people who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, sometimes sleeping on their couch when they are afraid to spend a night alone. Most don’t have families close by, and Barbara becomes the one person they rely on for everything: meals, bathing, bathroom duties, daily walks if they are capable, cognitive exercises like crossword puzzles and re-learning family faces.
She only charges what the family can afford and only works with one client at a time. “They become the family I never had, over and over again,” she says, laughing.
The spaces left empty by Barbra’s childhood are filled with memories shared with her from lives waning in the twilight. For 30 years, she has been making people feel good at a time when most would just be waiting to pass, alone and unnoticed. To see their faces when they are with Barbara, you’d think the last years were the best.
“I’ve found something I never had,” Barbara says. “We make each other happy.” Family... PassItOn.com®
Eliza Zenger teaches dance, music and arts to adults with disabilities. Their performance is the most beautiful you will ever see.
In an attention-seeking world where perfection is the constant pursuit, one group finds the truest form of pure emotion. At a performance of Utah’s LEADD (Learning and Engaging through Arts Discipline and Development) Adaptive Dance, Eliza leads a small ensemble of adults with disabilities in a performance that features musical instruments, dance, poetry and a choir.
The stage is matte black, with curtains pulled to the side and colored spotlights pooling on the floor. The accompanist is a Juilliard graduate who volunteers because she loves the authentic reaction to the music. The performers wear matching T-shirts and tights; they sit nervously together, hugging each other for support.
“I hope I remember everything,” Annie says, squeezing her mother.
“You will.”
Educators of those with disabilities have learned that self-expression through the arts connects their students in profound ways, opening pathways of trust and receptivity to learning.
“What is really beautiful is the relationships they build with each other and the connections they make with teachers and volunteers,” says Eliza. “I really love them. There is so much honesty and humanity.”
They dance to “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” letting all that emotion out in both choreographed and spontaneous movements, personal interpretations of the words. They are not in sync with the music, but they are in sync with their emotions. There are hugs during the dance, and tears in the audience.
A reading of Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” leaves one young woman crying as she recites the last line. She bows her head and is consoled by two of her classmates. They sing a medley of songs, letting the words express what’s in their hearts. Not everything is on key, but the sentiment is in perfect pitch.
“They feel every emotion at a much deeper level than we do,” Eliza says. “Happy and sad.”
If you are looking for perfection, you find it in the lives of imperfect people. They dance to the tune of their own souls and sing straight from the heart.
“These are just beautiful human beings,” Eliza says. “And they have so much to give, so much to teach all of us.” It’s as if negative circuitry has been disabled, and if that’s a handicap, we should all be limited in such a way.
In a world of influencers, let’s take a step back and feel the true rhythms of life resonating from those who were born with far less pretense or prejudice than most of us may be susceptible to. Joy is the gift they share. Encouragement is what they offer. Love is the space they live in.
Joy... PassItOn.com®
Anna Devolld likes creepy crawly things in the garden. And buzzing, fluttering little creatures in the air. That’s because Anna is passionate about pollinators.
As a teenager, Anna worried about the little things that keep our world beautiful and our orchards producing food. Her first project was creating activity and coloring books for kids to help them understand how important pollinators are to our planet. Next, she created Pollinator Packs: plants that attract bees and other pollinators to your garden. It wasn’t long before she was part of community councils encouraging the planting of pollinators in communities and roadside corridors. She now serves on her local government’s environmental advisory commission.
Anna has been featured by Earth Force during its Environmental Action Civics Week, on the Disney Channel, in the Garden Club of America Bulletin and in Scholastic Magazine. You might say she’s been busy as a bee.
“One out of every three bites of food we take is dependent on pollinators,” Anna tells us. “Butterflies, ladybugs, hummingbirds, even bats. Sadly, every one of these creatures is declining at an alarming rate.” Anna’s solution is to increase habitats that attract pollinators and to educate the next generation about the importance of creating pollinator-friendly spaces.
So, the next time you take a bite out of a crisp apple or a delicious peach, or even better, enjoy your favorite fruit in a home-baked pie, think about all the little creatures that made it happen. Then think about Anna and how one teenage girl is making sure millions of pollinators are happy and productive.
We all can make a difference. As Anna says: “Find something you are passionate about, no matter how small, and see how you can change the world.”
Be a Little More... PassItOn.com®
Surgery is scary enough for any of us, but when you are a child, and everyone is bigger than you, it can feel like a nightmare. That’s why it matters so very much what happens before, during and after treatment — especially when what happens includes a bit of humor.
Modern medicine alleviates more pain and suffering for children than ever in world history — everything from removing an appendix, to hernias, to fixing broken bones and orthopedic problems, to cancer. Without these fixes, children can suffer socially and emotionally as well as physically. But it’s hard for a child to grasp the long-term benefits of surgery when confronted with bright lights and unfamiliar faces.
To help children find the courage to face these fears, a doctor in Colombia has special scrubs made for his little patients that change them from vulnerable humans to brave superheroes. He carries the patients through the hallway on his shoulder as they thrust their hands forward, parting the clouds of anxiety and soaring toward a better life, one that gives them confidence that they can overcome challenges.
Not surprisingly, the little superheroes also give their parents the courage to endure the wait while they are in the operating room. Patiently explaining a complicated surgery in medical terms does not always allay the fears. The doctor’s empathy may be felt, but building trust in the process needs more than a quick medical education. Seeing that their children trust the doctor allows parents the chance to take a deep breath, and knowing a doctor cares enough to address those fears in such a wonderful way is also a confidence-builder.
Even as modern medicine improves in dramatic ways, we humans will always need each other. Laughter is the best medicine. As Patch Adams, the real-life doctor immortalized on film by Robin Williams, says: “Laughter boosts the immune system and helps the body fight off disease, cancer cells as well as viral, bacterial and other infections. Being happy is the best cure of all diseases!”
One person, the right person, can lead a child to victory. That person doesn’t have to be a doctor or even a superhero. All one has to do is make a child feel courageous. We ensure the happiness of the world when we do so. So, let’s make superheroes of children, and heed the words of Patch Adams: “The reason adults should look as though they are having fun is to give kids a reason to want to grow up.” Be Super... PassItOn.com®
The early 1900s in America were rough years for much of the population. The economy was strained, the great flu pandemic shortened lifespans, World War l took its toll, and many common diseases were not yet treatable the way they are today. But the working class found ways to thrive. They were resourceful, lived in close-knit communities and looked out for each other.
We often look for ways to be happy in our day. Looking back at how our great-grandparents lived gives us a new perspective. Their values, hard work and optimism for the future cleared the path for each of us. When Bernetta McKindra started looking into her family tree, she found her grandfather, Henry Perry, the Barbecue King of Kansas City.
“He came to Kansas City when he was 15, by steamship. He came alone, and he brought with him this method; you could take these cheaper cuts of meat that was thrown out from the packing plants and make it be tender, make it be delicious, make it be where people stand in line and wait for it [with] that beautiful art of smoking that he perfected,” Bernetta says.
Henry Perry honed his skills in restaurants and on steamships. He perfected the art of slow cooking over coals, a process that encouraged people to take their time eating. And eat they did. When he opened his restaurant, word quickly spread. People traveled from great distances just to eat his food.
But with all the time spent preparing meals and running a restaurant, Henry had little time to write his life down. Bernetta only learned of her famous grandfather when she overheard a conversation. And that set her looking into the smoky, savory past. “It was a glorious time. It was a time of reckoning that not only was this man being recognized, but he also was my blood relative,” Bernetta says.
It was also a time of segregation. But that didn’t stop people of all colors eating together. In fact, Henry’s Barbecue was one of the few places in America that was integrated. “It was a place where segregation ended when you walked through the door,” historian Sonny Gibson says. “People were just hospitable. They loved to sit there and eat barbecue.”
Bernetta carries on the tradition of having people over for dinner. Her friend Ray Mabion delivers memories with a deep, mellifluous voice, the kind that has been smoked to perfection next to a barbecue pit: “BBQ was always there. How wonderful it is to be invited to your house and those wonderful Sunday meals. You are an excellent cook; it is in your gene pool.”
Bernetta adds: “When you know what you come from, and it’s good stock, it makes you stand a little straighter, makes you walk a little more upright.”
Honor the Past... PassItOn.com®
Caitlin Clark is the best college basketball shooter ever. She is also an inspiration to young girls everywhere who have hoop dreams. While Caitlin represents stardom, she also reveals the hard work and selfless play.
One of Caitlin’s young fans is Linnie, a player on a ninth-grade basketball team in a small town far from Iowa. One evening, late in spring, Linnie walks into a gym that is more crowded than it has been all season. Her team has won all its games. But Linnie has seen her playing time go down as the team has moved up the charts to this final contest. Tighter games mean keeping the best players on the court. Still, Linnie knows she also has a role to play, to be the best player off the bench. For most of the game, Linnie cheers her teammates on, shouting encouragement. She gets her four minutes of play at the end of the third quarter, when she earns a steal and a basket. Ultimately, her team wins the championship and a lifetime of memories. Her basket was a three-pointer, and her teammates call her shot the Caitlin Clark. Linnie is ecstatic. Even though her team won by 20 points and didn’t really need her basket, it feels good to be a part of it all.
Teams are built from bottom to top, not the other way around. There will always be those rare superstars, but games are won when there is a bond between all teammates and they work together as one. That’s something Caitlin Clark knows, and she has high praise for her teammates. “I’m just so thankful. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them,” she says.
Watching Clark’s highlight reel is like replaying childhood hoop fantasies. She makes shots so deep they seem only possible in your dreams. Getting less attention in Caitlin’s game is her ability to pass and make those around her better: Caitlin is also the leader in assists this year. The supporting cast is better because of her, and she is breaking records because of them.
“At the end of the day, we have a really great team. And that’s what makes it so fun,” she says.
The players on the bench cheering on the starters are the same ones who push themselves hard in practice to give the starters a competitive look. They dish out compliments, work hard in the weight room, study film, make the whole machine better — and get little credit for it. Sure, they’d love to be Caitlin. But more important, they love her.
When we celebrate others’ successes, we share in the elevation of all. After the championship game, Linnie is on the couch getting texts from her teammates. “Great steal!” “Nice shot!” “You killed it!” Each of us may have that moment when all our dreams align, and we are the superstar. Until then, we can be happy in our own progress, our relationships, our knowledge that whatever our note in the grand symphony of life, we can play it well.
Act Well Thy Part... PassItOn.com®
A smile is the most universally recognized language of friendship. It crosses cultures and bridges languages. It is the connection between friends and the bond between mothers and newborns. It is the first expression of love in an infant’s life.
That first smile is a baby’s recognition of her mother. It is the first shared awareness that the child knows how to connect. As we get older, it is the expression of contentment, happiness, love, forgiveness, empathy and reassurance. A smile can mean so many things that Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is the most debated and recognized painting of all time.
For da Vinci, the smile represented the ideal of happiness — a concept that is hard to define. Perhaps that is why the Mona Lisa is so universally appreciated; everyone who looks on the warm colors, the relaxed hands, the confident posture and the contentment in the eyes sees their own life and the relationships they enjoy.
The Mona Lisa’s smile is a canvas for our own interpretations. The young mother may see the Mona Lisa as a maternal overseer, watching her children grow. The grandmother may see the growing family and reflections on a life well-lived. A young girl may see confidence in the future. And the husband may see an ideal to which he perhaps aspires, serenity amid the stresses of life.
How did the artist capture so much universal emotion in a single painting? This was da Vinci’s genius. He was a great observer of life. Born into what was described as the lower class, young da Vinci showed artistic promise. He began as an apprentice at age 14, which would have included grinding pigments, mixing paints and preparing canvases. He learned the chemistry of color and the mathematics of perspective. As he grew and learned from the masters of his period, he kept furious notes on everything, from how water currents moved to how light played on different surfaces.
He began his paintings by laying down the dark of the shadows and layering colors and glazes until the light felt like it was emerging from the surface. The subjects he chose to paint were often everyday townsfolk. He enjoyed the real lives of real people. He had a great love for his students and was revered for his gentle ways. A lifelong vegetarian, he also had a tender heart, often going to the market to buy caged birds only to release them.
Many art experts speculate that the Mona Lisa is a disguised self-portrait. Da Vinci was shy and handsome as a young man. It is said that he painted the simple portrait of a contented woman to capture the very idea of happiness in himself and as a universal emotion. It is that smile that has lasted all these years, a reminder that all of us can find our own happiness. And we can make others happy as well, with just a smile.
Smile... PassItOn.com®
For most people, running a successful business and raising a family check all the happiness boxes. For Mike Linton, one of the perks of growing a business was that it afforded a dream trip to Africa.
A safari gave Linton a chance to see a unique part of the world graced with majestic wildlife and centuries-old cultures. “On the last day of the trip, I was talking to a photographer. She told me about a woman who was heavily involved in humanitarian work. I asked if I could meet her,” Linton recalls.
With only a few hours available before Linton left the country, he had a conversation that would change the course of his life. “For years, I had been searching for a meaningful way to help refugees. A speaker in our church called all of us to do what we can, and in Nairobi, I found something I could do.”
On a return trip, Linton visited the Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenya. Erected in 1992, the sprawling camp houses nearly 300,000 refugees from war-torn Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and 16 other countries. Many of its residents know no other way of life.
Kakuma is literally a nation within a nation, supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and donations from nonprofits and staffed mostly by volunteers. Getting out requires mountains of paperwork, seemingly impossible-to-navigate procedures and a very small chance (1%-5%) of ever receiving resettlement elsewhere. In the meantime, residents must survive on the less than $10 a month that UNHCR provides. So they do whatever they can — but if that blessed day comes when they can find asylum in another country, they need skills and education to adapt.
“We quickly learned that our friends in the camp are resourceful, eager learners and have ambitions,” Linton says. They are also the experts at what needs to be done. They just need a little training, a few tools and some lifelong friends. “Our mission is to help them be self-reliant so they can survive without us.”
Projects so far have been small enterprises: Taking care of chickens and harvesting eggs for sale. A sewing shop. Participants apply to the Entrepreneur Training Center program to receive six weeks of education in accounting for their business, managing inventory and profit, etc. At the end of the course, they’re awarded a small grant and get started.
“We have regular check-ins to help them grow their business,” says Linton. “Most of the businesses have successfully grown, but we’ve seen a couple of businesses fail, and that can be discouraging. But at least they had the opportunity to learn something and try again.”
Maak Impact’s mission is to get people good living wage jobs.
“1,000 jobs in 1,000 days,” says Linton of the nonprofit he cofounded in 2021. “We have nearly 100 so far, and we’re just getting started.”
It turns out that a little education and focus can go a long way. It takes the right know-how, some patience, and somebody willing to put the work in to improve their life. In its first two years, Maak Impact grew from a businessman with a desire to help to a full-fledged school, instructors, volunteers, a networked economy of goods and services and a lot of happy families.
“I can now afford food for my daughter and for her to go to school,” says Dusabe, a woman who now sells 75 eggs a day from her little chicken operation. As Linton reflects on the last year, “I have learned that these people don’t need a handout; they need a hand up.”
Make an Impact… PassItOn.com®
James Croll was born into abject poverty in 1821. From birth, a slight deformity on the front of his skull made him the target of mocking children and adults alike. As a result, he developed a withdrawn personality that he eventually turned into an advantage — and an inspiration for us even today.
The small farm in Scotland on which he grew up required long days of labor just to subsist. He had no formal education, although his parents taught him the basics. After a series of job failures, and nearly starving to death, he took a job as a janitor at Anderson’s College and Museum in Glasgow. He acquired two things with the job: enough money to live on, barely. And access to the school’s library.
Croll was an avid reader, obsessive about understanding the world in which he lived. He devoured science texts, following a trail of hypotheses through the shelves, taking notes and writing down his own theories. And he did something remarkable. After 16 years of self-guided study, he wrote to the authors of scientific papers and challenged their theories. One scientist who replied was Charles Darwin. There were others.
The next step was even more audacious. Croll began submitting his theories to scientific magazines. He did leave out a few details with his signature: “James Croll, Anderson’s Institution.” While he was technically employed by the college, he was still a janitor.
When the scientific community learned of his real occupation, they were astonished. Here was a humble man, self-taught, a hermit living in the library penning letters that challenged theories, and hypothesizing himself. On learning of Croll’s uncredentialed past, they could have dismissed him entirely. Instead, Darwin himself signed Croll’s certificate of nomination to join the ranks of The Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists.
The story of James Croll doesn’t end with his finally getting recognition for his theses. And it would be a happy story if all he had achieved was finally putting food on the table and living a comfortable life. But there is more: Croll, the former janitor, introduced a breakthrough in thought concerning the causes of climate change.
Croll’s paper would influence future scientists and contribute to the mathematical understanding of our solar system, the way our earth changes and how ice ages happen. The New Scientist credits Croll as “the father of climate change research.” Quite the feat for a poor farm boy who took a job as a janitor to put bread on the table and feed his curiosity at the same time.
Croll is a reminder to all of us that anything is possible if we just put our mind to it. And, as long as we have good books to read, there will be great discoveries that help us understand our world, and ourselves.
Read A Book… PassItOn.com®
Longtime friends Alex Lewis and Matt Koch hiked into the Colorado backcountry in December of 2016, planning to spend four days in the wilderness, miles away from the nearest town.
The first leg of the trip was a three-mile ski into a hut at base camp. The uphill climb was an arduous journey that had its reward of solitude and beauty. The friends were making a pilgrimage of sorts to the wonder and awe the winterscape provided. A year earlier, Matt had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was now cancer-free, and the trip was a ritual celebration of life.
“This trip was kind of an opportunity for me to prove to myself that I could do things that required a physical fitness level I thought maybe I’d never have if I was a cancer survivor,” Matt says. “This was my message to the universe of like, ‘You didn’t get me. I’m still here.’”
Backcountry skiing has its challenges, and this seemed perfect for Matt and his new lease on life. But the physical demands began to take their toll. Heavy snow weighed down every step as they herringboned their way forward. Matt became painfully aware that his recovery from cancer had taken a toll on his physical health beyond what he had realized. He was not in the physical shape he needed to be.
Night quickly approached. Temperatures were dropping, and the wind picked up. The two seasoned outdoorsmen decided to burrow into the snow and make a shelter in the trees. They could rest for a few hours, regain some energy and push on to the hut in the morning. But the wind kicked up, and the shelter collapsed.
After a cold night, the two were happy to see there wasn’t much farther to go. But there was a lot of fresh snow. “Our progress was pretty slow because of the steep terrain. And I just remember taking this step, and, all of a sudden, hearing this rushing water sound,” Alex recounts. “And being knocked off my feet onto my hip and starting to slide. And I realized that I had triggered an avalanche right underneath me.”
The avalanche left Matt stranded up higher and surrounded by heavy snow that was very difficult to traverse. Alex hiked his way back to Matt. The young man who had courageously fought cancer was exhausted from his struggle to overcome the elements.
“I had nothing left,” Matt recalls. He didn’t have the strength to go up or down. He made the difficult decision to stay and send Alex for help. It was extremely hard for Alex to leave, but he knew it was the only chance to save his friend. He skied the treacherous canyon toward the road until he could get cell reception and called the sheriff.
It would be six hours before Matt was pulled from the mountain. He would spend weeks recovering from hypothermia and frostbite.
“I was so weak and demoralized and just frustrated and angry with myself for allowing this to happen. I just completely did not respect Mother Nature and her power,” Matt says.
The ordeal left Alex guilt-ridden. It was difficult for him to face his friend. Ten years later, they came together to tell their story on StoryCorps, and that’s when forgiveness and understanding finally came.
Matt had no idea his friend blamed himself for the near-death experience. When they were finally able to talk about it, the feelings poured out of each of them, and all blame and pain dissipated.
“You did everything within your power,” Matt says tearfully to his friend. “You did everything right. You rescued me, you saved my life.”
Forgiveness… PassItOn.com®
Tobie Spears has always had wanderlust. As soon as she graduated from high school, she left with a friend and trekked around Europe.
“We just made our way the best we could,” she recalls, laughing. “Two kids out to see the world.”
The trip was a valuable education. Spears realized how fortunate she was, and that making a big difference doesn’t take a big effort, just a little time and a lot of love.
“I knew I had to do something,” Spears says. So naturally, she hit the road again. This time, she and her new husband packed the car and drove south through Mexico and into Guatemala. It’s a beautiful place, with verdant jungles, crystal lakes and wide rivers. Its residents have lived there for thousands of years. Spears began to wonder what good she could do.
“The people are happy,” says Spears. “They just need a little help.”
In a Guatemalan village, Spears and her husband rented a small house. Living conditions were more primitive than back home, but the simple life was appealing. Despite their cheerfulness, the local people didn’t have enough to eat. Their education was poor. They had no real way of sustaining themselves.
Spears wondered what she could do that would make a lasting change. “We didn’t want to just give them a few things and go home,” she says. “We want them to be able to sustain themselves.”
So they started teaching, focusing on three major areas: Nutrition. Self-sustainability. Income opportunity.
Education is key to all three. The Spearses taught skills like how to use a sewing machine, how to create a more productive garden, how to charge for services and manage resources. The first few years focused on completing projects, although traveling four times a year makes it difficult to keep the effort going.
In time, the locals took to it. They began using vertical gardening techniques, which made more vegetables available. A few sewing machines arrived, and skilled seamstresses emerged. And Spears realized she needed help.
She recruited friends, and the effort was organized into a nonprofit: Be Humanitarian. With the formalization of a legitimate nonprofit, sponsors and more volunteers joined the initiative. A community grew up around the village in Guatemala, supporting, loving and especially learning.
As Spears’ own family grew, her children became actively involved. Volunteers are in the village four times a year, mentoring, working, sharing love and discovering what really matters.
“My time in Guatemala changed my outlook on life,” writes Emery, a volunteer. “I learned it’s the people you meet and the relationships you build that will fill your life with the feeling of true and genuine happiness.”
Wander. Wonder. Do Good… PassItOn.com®
“I met Muhammad when I was 6 years old,” Yolanda Ali remembers. “I knew then that there was something special about him. Just the way he carried himself, the way he treated people.”
Yolanda Ali would eventually marry the man who graced the cover of seemingly every magazine throughout a career that took him from a teenage gold medal winner to the heavyweight champion of the world. But it wasn’t his prowess and showmanship that attracted her to him. It was his heart.
“We were walking together one day in Los Angeles on our way to a juvenile detention center Muhammad wanted to visit. A man passed by going the other direction. Suddenly, Muhammad stopped, ran back to the man and gave him all the money he had in his pocket. I asked why he did it — the man didn’t ask for it. And Muhammad just smiled and said, ‘He looked like he needed it.’ That was Muhammad. He wanted everybody to be happy.”
The world was in turmoil for most of Muhammad Ali’s life. Race relations were strained. The Vietnam War burned in the distance and on living room TVs. Labor disputes, political firestorms, the grind of everyday living during years of high inflation took their toll on the daily interactions of people everywhere.
Muhammad Ali had been the target of more than his share of unwarranted attacks. “He met hate head-on with compassion,” Yolanda says. “And it never failed him.”
Perhaps the relationship that most epitomizes the character of Muhammad Ali is with Howard Cosell, the bellicose broadcaster with the stiff delivery and standoffish demeanor. Ali would muss Cosell’s hair, play games with him and draw him down off his tower. The two came to love each other.
“Muhammad could get through to anybody,” Yolanda says. “Whether it was talking a man off a ledge of a high-rise or jetting off to Iran to negotiate the release of prisoners, he cared about people, he cared about the outcome. Whoever he talked to, whether a child at a hospital or a political diplomat, Muhammad would touch you. It was his way of connecting, just that human touch.”
“Muhammad made everybody around him a better person. Just to be around him made you want to be more compassionate, more kind,” remembers Greg Fischer, former mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, Ali’s hometown.
“He wanted to serve people,” Yolanda adds. “The Ali Center is a reflection of that. And the Muhammad Ali Index is his way of teaching compassion. He was a great teacher.”
Yolanda took up the torch decades ago, not only honoring her late husband’s vision, but forging ahead with the tools that make it possible.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” Muhammad Ali said. Yolanda is the epitome of the kind of rent-paying tenant the earth needs. She is using the Muhammad Ali Index to influence cultural trends by measuring baselines of human behavior in communities and identifying areas of focus.
“You have to know what kind of help a community needs in order to be effective,” Yolanda says. Like a trainer helping an athlete develop specific muscles, the Muhammad Ali Index identifies the “muscles” in a community that need work, measures the progress and pushes toward the best outcome. Impact partners then organize volunteers and resources specifically targeted at addressing the identified needs.
“You lose nothing when you fight for a cause,” Muhammad Ali said. “In my mind, the losers are those who don’t have a cause to fight for.” Yolanda adds: “We all have something to give: a moment, a smile, a conversation, a handshake. The cause for all of us is to make the world around us a little better because we are here.”
Fight For Compassion… PassItOn.com®
The best material for a comedian starts at home. Funny observations of life and relationships are often the comic’s way of coping with stress or nervousness. Insecurities and vulnerabilities disappear when you can make somebody laugh. All that’s needed is an audience.
As a boy, Adam Sandler shared a bedroom with his older brother. That’s where the schtick began. It was there that he gained confidence.
“My older brother was always nice to me. He would tell me I’m funny all the time and that I was great on the guitar and that I could sing as good as Steven Tyler,” Adam Sandler said in his acceptance speech for the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center. “When it came time to pick my college major, my brother was the one who said I should be an actor. ‘You're as funny as Rodney Dangerfield and Eddie Murphy.’ I never thought of that, but he just made me feel like I was. He's the one who brought me to Boston when I was 17 years old. I was a senior in high school, and he brought me to do stand-up comedy at Stitches Comedy Club. I went up there and I was terrible. I don't even know what I said. I was like in a fog, I was just babbling. I remember one guy's screaming out ‘He still has a retainer!’ On the way home my brother made me feel like I had the best set of any comedian that night. ‘They loved you.’”
Sandler’s confidence began to grow. He showed up at more amateur nights. He brought his guitar to help focus his nervousness and he sang those iconic silly songs. And people loved it. When this goofy boy in a man’s body who made us all laugh at our own imperfections and foibles was discovered by the producers of Saturday Night Live, he jumped in with both feet, writing and acting in skits, always treating others the way his brother treated him: collaborative, encouraging, and above all else, kind.
“My parents did everything they could to give me crazy confidence,” Sandler says. That confidence led him to his own style of funny. He created and starred in quirky movies like “Billy Madison,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Happy Gilmore” and “The Waterboy.” Through it all, he maintained his kindness and respect for others. His reputation is one of collaboration, not ego. He makes friends for life and is famous for delivering elaborate gifts to co-actors.
Sandler has been in 27 films, most of which he helped write and create, and most of which make us laugh. But perhaps even more impressive are his dramatic roles, like switching from a loveable comedy role in “50 First Dates” to the deeply flawed yet charismatic New York City jeweler who is spiraling out of control in “Uncut Gems.”
Doing comedy relies on finding something inside yourself that can be observed and expressed in a funny way. Drama requires stepping outside yourself, even becoming the opposite of who you are. It’s this range that makes Sandler so impressive. To reach that acclaim and still be the nice guy on set is wonderful to see. It all began with an older brother who believed in him.
Confidence… PassItOn.com®