Uplift your spirits and feed your soul with a good news cycle | Norment

In recent months, we’ve been inundated with enough bad news to last for decades. From gun violence to details of the January 6 insurrection to rising inflation to the war in Ukraine, the news is bleak.

But we can’t let the downside of life put us in a permanent funk. Though it’s hard to recognize sometimes, there are positive things happening right here in Memphis and in other parts of our great country as well.

The key to strengthening your mental health is to find those bright gems among the debris. Let them lift our spirits above our everyday troubles.

Here are some things that we can feel good about. Let’s find something to make us smile and feel good every day. It’s a good elixir for the soul.

Gas Prices Continue to Fall. The good news is that the price of gasoline is now below $4.50 a gallon, a 10 percent dip since a June peak of more than $5 a gallon. Energy analysts say U.S. consumers are spending $140 million less on gasoline each day than we were in mid-June. If the downward trend continues, it will benefit the economy across the board. Fuel costs affect the price of all goods that are shipped.

St. Jude pledges $1.4 Billion

Memphis’ world-renowned children’s research hospital has pledged more than $1.4 billion more funds to expand the facility’s campus and hire more staff, among other needs. The recently announced additional funds will bring St. Jude’s total planned expenditure to $12.9 billion by 2027 for the expansion plan started in 2021.

Ja Morant commits to Memphis “family”

The talented NBA star is happy to call Memphis home, and we are overjoyed to have him. Morant recently unveiled a five-year contract extension for $193 million. Wow! “I feel like the whole organization is my family, Memphis is my family and that’s why it’s my home,” the ball player has said. Morant says he enjoys making people happy, and along with his Grizzlies teammates he does that for Memphis. He also made a waitress very happy with a $500 tip. And she didn’t even know who he was. That brings joy to my heart.

Barkley boosts Spelman College

NBA legend Charles Barkley is continuing to express his charitable spirit by donating $1 million to Spelman College in Atlanta. The daughter of John Hudson, a longtime friend and business partner of the sports analyst and Hall of Famer, is a student at Spelman. Hudson said, “This is just another indication of Charles investing in something that is close to his heart.” Barkley previously has donated to other HBCUs, including Alabama A&M Huntsville, Morehouse College, and Miles College in Birmingham.

Rhodes’ NSF Grant Also Helps HBCUs

Closer to home, Rhodes College has received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to fund fungi research that may create more effective anti-fungal drugs. Rhode’s chemistry professor Loretta Jackson-Hayes and biology professor Terry Hill are leading the research, which will involve students from local high schools as well as students at LeMoyne-Owen College, Rust College, Lane College and Tougaloo College, Jackson-Hayes’ alma mater. She says such summer research led to her becoming a scientist, and “it is an honor to have the opportunity to impact students at my alma mater and other HBCUs, in addition to students at Rhodes College.” Brava!

Memphis Charity Sends Medical Supplies to Ukraine

As you read this, Memphis Mission of Mercy’s shipment of almost 20 tons of medical supplies is making its way to war-torn Ukraine. The local charity for years has been gathering medical supplies for the Philippines with hopes of eventually building a hospital there. With construction delayed due to COVID-19, the nonprofit’s board decided to send some of the supplies to Ukraine, where they are desperately needed now. Among the items shipped are hospital beds, stretchers, tourniquets, materials to treat burns and battle gauze. Big thanks to Memphis Mission of Mercy and the local hospitals and organizations that have donated these needed items.

Church Covers MLGW Bills for 100 Customers

More than 100 MLGW customers are thankful that Oak Spring Baptist Church near Arlington helped pay their utility bills during this exceptionally hot summer of exceptionally high bills. The church donated $40,000 to MLGW’s Gift of Comfort program to help customers in the Millington and Arlington areas. It is the third time Oak Spring Baptist Church has given to Gift of Comfort in that past 18 months. The church also donates to local organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Memphis and the Salvation Army.

Job market is bustling

U.S. employers added 372,000 jobs in June. In addition, the unemployment rate has stayed at 3.6% for four consecutive months, the government reports. The hiring pace indicates companies are increasing workers to satisfy customer demand.

Health care added 78,000 jobs, while professional and business services (accounting, engineering, legal services) added 74,000 workers. Another sector that includes restaurants, hotels and entertainment hired 67,000 new employees; and transportation and warehousing added 36,000 new workers. Wages also continued to grow in June. Good news!

Ida B. Wells Plaza Renovation

Fundraising for renovation of the Ida B. Wells Plaza kicked off on her 160th birthday (July 16, 2022) at the Beale Street site of the installation of the statue commemorating the legendary journalist and anti-lynching crusader. Earlier this year, the city designated nearby section of Fourth Street as Ida B. Wells Street.

The $300,000 renovation will include additional educational placards sharing Wells’ story and accomplishments, as well as more greenspace and sitting areas. The plaza is adjacent to the church where Wells once ran a newspaper.

Young Rock will Rock Memphis.

Our city will be in the spotlight as the television comedy makes Memphis its backdrop for its third season. The NBC series is inspired by the life of actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who established his wrestling career in the Bluff City. Go Memphis!

Let’s take these kernels of positive news and grow them by sharing with others and creating our own positive gems. We all must take time to smile, to laugh, to feel great. Good news is a blessing for the heart but also for the body and soul.

Lynn Norment, a columnist for The Commercial Appeal, is a former editor for Ebony Magazine

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Focus on the good news and your soul will be uplifted | Norment