Category: 03 – Extraordinary People – humanity at its best

I showed up for myself in a big way and left my job to work with special needs kids. I’ve never been happier.

My husband and son have supported me 150% in working and going through grad school … I am frequently absent from hanging out with them. It sometimes feels heart wrenching to me, but they root me on all the way … not to mention Silas (my husband) now does 95% of the cooking.

My previous boss from two jobs ago, he and I were both laid off at the same time at the same meeting. We were the last two employees left and the CEO shut the building down. We went over to his son’s shop and he showed me around, then I was over at his place… Continue reading landon r.

I showed up for myself, driving to Houston (3 hours away), to surprise my only sister for her 60th birthday. She wasn’t overjoyed to see me, but I’m glad I went. I needed to be there for her, since she lost her husband of 40 years in March. 2020 taught me even more clearly than… Continue reading lisa s.

For me this past year hasn’t been that much different. I have a stage IV diagnosis, so everyday I worry or wonder am I going to get sick or die, and as far as financially I can’t work a real job so that didn’t change … for so many of us who are living with… Continue reading bridgette g.

My sweet brother Tom … he has called me regularly (every few days) to see how I am doing and share information on the pandemic and the world.  We have the same viewpoint on many things and his rational, caring calls keep me grounded.  In a volatile time when so many people around me see… Continue reading terri f.

My friend showed up at my house with an orchid plant when my childhood home burned down in the wildfire this last summer. She knew how much of a feeling of grief and loss I would be experiencing even before I had time to realize it. The scene was apocalyptic, over 1,000 homes in my… Continue reading katie f.

Maker Nexus, a non-profit community makerspace in the San Francisco Bay Area, had to close its doors following the county’s shelter-in-place orders last spring.  Upon learning about the shortage of personal protective equipment, staff and members quickly designed a useful face shield in cooperation with local doctors. They produced shields by using the makerspace equipment, gathering donated… Continue reading amy r.

Second week of shutdown. No income. No idea when we’ll have income. Refrigerator stops working. One friend brought us her mini fridge and bags of ice for coolers. Another friend who was still working offered to pay for repairs or even a new one if needed. My husband watched hours of YouTube, tore it apart… Continue reading kerri b.

My husband had a psych hold last December. It lasted a month and a half. One of the friends he had alienated, fought with and pushed away kept showing up for me. House repairs. Hauling my trash. Sitting with me to do puzzles night after night because he knew I needed a warm body around… Continue reading kate b.