SOLD: Beautiful Happyzine

Who says mainstream media don’t offer their fair share of good news stories?  Well, um, I used to.  That was until I started working for a ‘normal’ newspaper and realised that 80% of the stories I was writing for the Nelson Mail are rather lovely and involve delicious, inspiring people who have the best of intentions.

So I had a quick look through some big online newspapers and I noticed some juicy Happyzine fodder.  Here it is.  Buckle up.  Things are gonna get sparkly.

Stuff.co.nz ran a story about a Christchurch couple living in a “super shack” as their actual home (rather large) was uninhabitable.  The shack was originally their sleep out, but thanks to its small size and some good insulation they were “cosy and warm” during the recent cold, stormy weather.  Just goes to show – small is good.

Religion is going green.  Stuff reports that while many religions have proven themselves hesitant to embrace solar and renewable energy, the head of the Roman Catholic Church Pope Francis is leading the way.  He’s embracing “environmental protection” in the name of 13th century nature lover – Saint Francis of Assisi.  He’s keen to help reduce climate change. Best of all is the in Australian church Caloundra Uniting Church has installed 24 solar panels, in the shape of a cross.

The final Stuff.co.nz story I found today is about nappy-free parenting.  Nice to see this one making into the mass media.  Five years ago I think they would have laughed at it, but it’s taken quite seriously in this article.  Gisela Roura doesn’t use nappies on her four month old son, Ilya Bayona, when they’re at home.   She does this in the name of sustainability and cost saving and just plain listening to her child.  The article reports that elimination communication is growing in popularity.

The Nelson Mail have run a nice story about yet another raw milk franchise being set up in the region.  Thanks to Village Milk, which started up in Golden Bay (that’s my ‘hood) a growing trend of dairy farms are switching going to low impact, smaller scale dairy farming and legally selling raw milk at the farm-gate.

Finally I noticed a really nice column in the NZ Herald written by life coach Louise Thompson.  This lady’s on my page baby!  In this blog she talks about the power of focusing on the feeling when creating the life of our dreams.  In her “happiness series” she encourages you to take time out to create a “longer term, big picture view” of where you’d like your life to go.  I’m so down with this!  She speaks in my language!  She asks: “How will you feel cooking for the new boyfriend? Loved? Excited? Attractive? Be creative and look for ways to incorporate those feelings into everyday life now.”  I love it!  I do this myself, daily.  And believe me, it works.

That’s me.  Over and out.

Charlotte

Charlotte Squire is the founder and creative director of www.happyzine.co.nz

Tags: good news, positive news