Hundreds of thousands of thoughtful readers already start their mornings with The Good. Come sit at the table with us.
An Uber ride to the ER formed a 7-year friendship
Published 4 days ago • 4 min read
Hi there.
Welcome to today's edition of The Good – a gentle pause in your day, filled with beauty, kindness, and inspiration. Each morning, we gather little reminders of what’s good in the world and place them in your inbox.
To listen to an audio version of today's edition, check out The Good Podcast.
Seven years ago, a University of Texas at Austin student named Joey Romano broke his wrist and called an Uber instead of an ambulance. Driver Beni Lukumu not only got him to the ER, he stayed for six hours, handled the paperwork, and refused payment, shared TODAY. The two have stayed friends ever since. Joey says that simple kindness helped him see good again after deep grief. The experience showed that presence can be medicine, and strangers can become family through the simple act of showing up.
It turns out, one compassionate choice can ripple for years. We don’t always need the perfect words or a grand gesture. Just a hand on the hard day, a ride, a seat in the waiting room. That’s how hope travels.
WHETHER YOU'RE DEALING WITH GRIEF, WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR COPING STRATEGIES, OR YOU'RE JUST FEELING DOWN – THERAPY IS FOR YOU.
BETTERHELP MAKES STARTING THERAPY EASY, AND IT'S 100% ONLINE.
Here’s how it works:
1. Take our questionnaire and get matched with a therapist. 2. Schedule a time to meet and communicate on your terms. 3. Reach out to your therapist anytime, from anywhere.
Some ads are placed to help us keep The Good free and full of optimism. Thanks for supporting our mission to share a little more light each day.
the future of vision care looks bright
A breakthrough study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has shown that a tiny light-powered eye implant may help people with severe vision loss see again. The new device, called the PRIMA system, combines a paper-thin chip placed under the retina with special glasses that project gentle infrared light onto it. This light helps send visual signals to the brain, essentially recreating how the eye naturally works.
After a year, more than 80% of patients in the study regained enough central vision to recognize letters and words, offering new hope for those living with blindness caused by advanced macular degeneration. More than a medical milestone, it’s a glimpse of what’s possible when technology learns to work in harmony with the human body.
When Reginald Dwayne Betts was 16, he went to prison for carjacking. Alone in solitary confinement, a smuggled copy of The Black Poets found its way to him and changed everything. Books became his lifeline, his teachers, his escape. Years later, as reported by The Washington Post, Betts is a Yale-trained lawyer, poet, and founder of Freedom Reads, a nonprofit that’s built 500 libraries inside prisons nationwide. His mission is simple yet radical: to bring beauty, imagination, and possibility to those facing incarceration.
For Betts, and for thousands who’ve discovered his libraries, reading is a quiet form of freedom. They provide a way to remember one’s humanity, to practice empathy, and to dream forward. It’s proof that even in the hardest places, words can open doors to hope, change, and possibility.
As we approach the end of the year, one clear theme has defined 2025 in travel: depth over distance. Shared by Project Bold Life, travelers traded bucket lists for belonging by seeking out places that invite real connection and deep cultural immersion. From Kyoto’s timeless tea houses to the spirited medinas of Fez, the sacred stillness of Lalibela to the rhythmic energy of Havana, this year was about being a participant, not just a visitor. It was a return to meaning through travel that feels less like escape and more like engagement.
Photo by Gentle Giant Productions, courtesy of Vecteezy: Havana Vieja, Cuba
This year reminded us that the most memorable journeys are the ones that transform how we see not just the world, but ourselves within it. Whether learning to weave in Cusco, meditating in Chiang Mai, or cooking with locals in Ubud, travelers rediscovered something vital: that wonder grows when we slow down long enough to soak it all in.
Some ads are placed automatically to help us keep The Good free and full of optimism. Thanks for supporting our mission to share a little more light each day.
a gentle reminder to refill your cup
In a world that glorifies busyness, true self-care can feel like a luxury, but it’s actually a lifeline. Harvard Health reminds us that self-care is simply maintenance for being human. When we move our bodies, eat foods that nourish, find calm in the small moments, and rest deeply, we’re refueling the energy that allows us to show up for ourselves and those around us. It’s the oxygen mask rule of life: caring for yourself first means you can keep caring for everything else that matters most.
The beauty of self-care is that it doesn’t demand perfection or a wellness retreat. It’s found in simple choices of taking the longer walk, saying no when you need to, or trading scrolling for sleep. When we treat our bodies and minds with the same care we give the people we love, we quietly build a more grounded, generous version of ourselves. And that’s the kind of nourishment that lasts.
With Cash App, you can round up your spare change from everyday purchases, earn up to 4% interest,* and transfer money anytime—all without hidden fees.
*Cash App is a financial platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms & Conditions. To view the eligibility requirements for sponsoring a teen, please visit the Sponsored Accounts section of the Cash App Terms of Service.
*We only share what we genuinely love. If you choose to shop through one of our links, The Good may earn a small commission. It won’t cost you anything extra—and it helps us keep the goodness going.
