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Welcome to today's edition of The Good – a gentle pause in your day, filled with beauty, kindness, and inspiration.

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CHOOSING COMPASSION IN ALL SEASONS

Los Angeles–based caregiver David Heavens began offering free dog walks to seniors after facing homelessness, hoping simply to do something good. That choice led him to Frank, a 91-year-old Navy veteran, and into a bond that evolved from neighborly help into shared meals, daily care, and a friendship they now describe as family, according to People.

By showing up for Frank and listening to his stories, helping with routines, and choosing companionship over convenience, Heavens found stability and meaning. Care can travel full circle, shaping both the one who gives it and the one who receives it.

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DISCOVER YOUR PERKS

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AN OLYMPIC ICON, REIMAGINED

The 2026 Winter Olympics torch was designed by MIT professor and architect Carlo Ratti to be lighter, simpler, and more sustainable than any before it. Officially named “Essential,” it weighs just 2.5 pounds and is built to withstand wind, weather, and altitude on its 7,000-mile journey from Olympia to Milan. The torch centers the flame itself, powered by renewable fuel and visible through a slim opening, according to Popular Science.

Made primarily from recycled aluminum and designed to be refueled up to ten times, Essential reflects its surroundings as it travels, subtly shifting color from city lights to alpine snow. The result is a future-forward design that blends ancient symbolism with modern restraint, and carries the Olympic flame forward with care.

SCREENING MADE SIMPLER

Researchers at MIT have developed a portable ultrasound sensor that could make it easier for people at high risk of breast cancer to scan more frequently, helping catch tumors earlier, when treatment is most effective. The compact, low-cost system produces real-time 3D images and removes many barriers of access tied to bulky machines and specialized technicians.

Early testing shows the device can image the full breast with remarkable clarity using just a few gentle placements, and researchers are now expanding clinical trials while working toward an even smaller, smartphone-connected version. It’s a promising step toward more convenient, preventative care that puts powerful screening tools closer to the people who need them most.

COURAGE, PRACTICED

While studying in New York, Michelle Poler realized fear had been shaping her choices for years, so she committed to a bold experiment: facing one fear every day for 100 days. She later spoke on the personal project in a TEDx talk in Houston, where it resonated widely, both there and online, for its honesty and relatability.

Along the way, Poler discovered that most fears follow a predictable pattern before action, and trace back to just a handful of roots like rejection, embarrassment, and loss of control. Fear doesn’t disappear, but when we meet it with intention, it stops running the show.

WATCH

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A BRAVER KIND OF PEACE

Safe, intentional risks may actually help reduce feelings of anxiousness by restoring a sense of choice and self-trust. A writer at The Good Trade shared how making values-aligned, manageable changes helped her feel more grounded, confident, and emotionally steady over time.

Through insights from therapists and nervous-system science, it’s a reframing of safety that includes movement, curiosity, and growth. When risks are paced, values-aligned, and self-chosen, they can ease anxiety by reminding the body and mind that the unknown isn’t always dangerous, and that we’re capable of meeting what comes next.

OLYMPIC GAMES BY MARKUS OSTERWALDER

The Design*

COMPENDIUM

Tell Me More: A Game of Questions to Deepen Connection*

THE MOUNTAIN IS YOU BY BRIANNA WIEST

Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery*

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