We are more alike than we are different.
By focusing on what we have in common rather than on snap judgments and stereotypes, we create space for deeper, more meaningful connections.
We achieve greater outcomes when we come together with mutual respect and a willingness to look beyond our perceived differences.
I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. – Mother Teresa
Here are a few stories that highlight our potential to drive positive change in the world.
- An organization uses the transformative power of storytelling to build empathy
- A teenager’s art project brings her closer to her classmates
- A salon customizes its approach to cater to special needs clients
- Live music helps comfort stressed shelter animals
Positively Uplifting Stories | July 7 2025
This special initiative encourages people to overcome differences and create empathetic connections.
Narrative 4 harnesses the power of storytelling to help young people around the world bridge divides.
In their story exchange sessions, each participant is encouraged to share stories from their lives with the person they are paired with. Then, each person recounts the story they heard in a first-person voice.
This enables participants from all walks of life to develop greater empathy, shift perspectives, and help break down stereotypes.
“Hearing other people tell my story, I feel like I can understand myself and see myself more as kind of part of a bigger picture, as opposed to in my own world, which I think, especially with the digital era, it’s really hard to do that,” said Tristan Risi, a participant.
A young woman paints incredible portraits to connect with her peers.
Waunakee High School senior Molly Schafer used her artistic skills to reconnect with her classmates before graduation.
By putting in 600 hours of work, she created portraits of 44 students in her class. Every painting reflects a moment of connection she experienced with that classmate. Molly then gave the portraits to the students as graduation gifts.
Her ambitious art project has created a ripple effect of positivity within her school community. Now, other classmates want one of her paintings too!
“You can’t go through life thinking that you don’t have friends because they don’t like you. Because that’s not the case, people aren’t thinking that hard about you. It’s all in your head. You just have to try,” said Molly.
A San Antonio shop redefines the salon experience for special needs clients.
For those with sensory perception issues, getting a haircut can be quite a challenging experience.
The Morgan’s Salon in San Antonio creates a welcoming, calming environment for special customers who need a little extra time and patience.
The stylists at Morgan’s Salon are committed to ensuring a positive salon experience by focusing on each customer’s comfort and sensory-sensitive needs.
They take extra care to meet the client where they are.
“That’s what we’re all about here is inclusion. You can get a haircut here, I can get a haircut here. And, so can anyone else, even with acute special needs, it’s for everybody,” said Gordon Hartman, founder of Morgan’s Salon.
Volunteers provide a musical enrichment experience to stressed homeless animals.
Yuvi Agarwal is the founder of Wild Tunes, a non-profit that recruits musicians to play in animal shelters.
So far, about 100 volunteer musicians and singers of all ages and abilities have become a part of the organization’s Stars for Paws program.
Yuvi believes that positive human interaction and exposure to music have a calming effect on animals, which helps increase their chances of being adopted.
“You don’t have to understand the lyrics to enjoy the music. Just enjoy the melody, the harmony, and the rhythms. So, it transcends linguistic barriers, and it can just transcend species,” said Yuvi.
Thank You for Reading and Have a Wonderfully Uplifting Week!
Every one of these stories gives us lovely examples of people thinking of others, and making choices to spread kindness and work together to bring about positive change. Do they inspire you to do something in your community?
Tell us about it! We’d love to share one of your stories in a future article. Connect with us on our Instagram page, or just share your tale in the comments below.
We really appreciate every one of you who read these stories and come back week after week. Have a wonderful week ahead and take care of yourselves!