Here’s a live stream from NASA of earth from the space station. This reminder that all of humanity currently resides on this spinning globe is a great way to feel awe, inspiration and connectedness. Take a few minutes to relax and see our home without borders, disagreements, or nationalities. Just one world that we all inhabit. Enjoy.

Click on the image to see the video.

From The Cascade Business News

As clients cancelled their house cleaning appointments amid COVID-19 fears and social distancing, Cleaner Living NW owner Elizabeth Buchanan asked her clients, “Would you like to donate your clean to a medical worker instead?” Many stepped up and said “yes.” Medical workers in Central Oregon, on the front line of the pandemic, are working long hours and putting their own lives at risk. As a way to give back, Cleaner Living, with the help of their clients, wants medical workers to be able to come home from a long day of work to a clean, disinfected space.

“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of our clientele,” said Buchanan, “and so grateful to have a way to…

It’s the start of a new week here in Backyard Bend and we found Positive News to help keep those positive vibes and brain activity going. If you have something positive to share with the community contact us at info@backyardbend.com and we’ll help share it. Stay positive this week, it’s good for your health.

Local photographer, Jill Rosell started a Facebook page a few months ago for local small business owners called I Love Bend OR Businesses. When she started it the economy was good and there was no Coronavirus. Little did she know this page would become a resource to support local small business during this time. Check it out and support local small businesses. I Love Bend…

From the Science of Kindness By David Fryburg

In my exploration of how kindness connects people, it has become pretty clear how being kind to someone else uplifts both and creates a positive link between them. I have read many times how good people feel after helping someone through volunteering, or even holding a door (and felt it myself).

If pressed to explain why it feels good, it is clear that helping someone else (or simply seeing kindness) sets off a series of changes in my brain like the release of endorphins, the internal opiates.  Spiritually, of course, helping someone is the right thing to do. The biological connection between my spiritual understanding and how I feel suggests that nature…

From Wired By JONATHAN WATTS AND NIKO KOMMENDA

Reductions in traffic and industry have lowered nitrogen dioxide levels—offering an accidental glimpse into what a low-carbon future might look like.

The coronavirus pandemic is shutting down industrial activity and temporarily slashing air pollution levels around the world, satellite imagery from the European Space Agency shows.

One expert said the sudden shift represented the “largest-scale experiment ever,” in terms of the reduction of industrial emissions. READ THE ARTICLE HERE.

Readings from ESA’s Sentinel-5P satellite show that over the past six weeks, levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over cities and industrial clusters in Asia and Europe were markedly lower than in the same period last year.

Nitrogen dioxide is produced from car…

From The Good News Network

These two teens’ big hearts and their break from high school in Maryland was the highlight of 73-year-old Jimmy Kraft’s week.

The two sophomores from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland have devised a way for Marylanders to get together and protect their grandparents and loved ones who have health conditions, by delivering the groceries and necessary supplies they need.

Kraft, a retired grandfather, has been sheltering at home during the coronavirus outbreak, unable to shop for himself. He is also raising his grandchild who is severely handicapped.

Concerned about contracting COVID-19 and bringing it home to his grandson, Kraft was yearning for some fresh food to be delivered, and he found Teens…

From The Elephant Journal By Tash Pericic

I live in Croatia, which has just closed all schools, restaurants, bars, and non-essential businesses for the next 30 days; we are self-isolating and practising social distancing but a full lockdown, house-confinement scenario is probably on the horizon.

There is no sugar-coating the fact that these are scary times but amidst the fear and uncertainty, I feel like I am waking up, like the world may be waking up with a fresh pair of eyes. The question that arose from within, as clear as the plane-free blue skies, is this: READ THE ARTICLE HERE.

As a society, we have been on a trajectory that is simply not sustainable. Perpetual economic growth is…

Here is a video created by Henry and Everette Graff from Highland Elementary that was shared with us. This is truly inspiring and shows how each of us can make a difference. Nice job boys!

Smiling and staying positive is important for our health. These boys are “community inspired” and we are stoked to share it with the #backyardbend community.

We want to hear from the community. Do you have a positive video, message or story? Send it to us and we’ll share it. Send us an email at info@backyardbend.com.

Local company, Oregon Spirit Distillers has turned its production to sanitizer for our community. How positive is that! They need our help. Below is their statement on the project. Please consider donating to help as they produce this valuable necessity for organizations and first responders that need it.

From Oregon Spirit Distillers.

In case you haven’t heard…we’re making hand sanitizer! We’ve been giving it away to the community out of our bottle shop using the funds from our GoFundMe campaign as well as taking donations at the distillery.

We have run short on packaging supplies as our nation is finding out our supply chain isn’t endless.  We are now asking customers to bring their own containers and we can offer…

An inspiring story of man’s best friend.

From National Geographic

While serving in Afghanistan, U.S. military combat dog Layka was shot four times by the enemy at point-blank range. Despite her injuries, she still attacked and subdued the shooter, saving her handler and the other members of the team. Seven hours of surgery and the amputation of one leg saved her life. Her handler, Staff Sgt. Julian McDonald, fought hard to adopt her and she’s now become a part of his family.