🌞 All-Terrain Wheelchairs

Daily Upsider - Thursday, January 4 2024

Thursday, January 4 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 
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Today’s Upside

Innovation

All-Terrain Wheelchairs

All Terrain Georgia

The All Terrain Georgia initiative, driven by the motto "Everyone deserves a chance to play," provides free all-terrain wheelchairs at select Georgia parks for individuals facing physical challenges. These robust, motorized wheelchairs, resembling off-road vehicles with large, sturdy wheels, play a practical role in improving access to outdoor spaces.

In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Aimee Copeland Foundation, founded by Aimee Copeland—an integrative therapist and outdoor enthusiast who faced a life-changing accident resulting in amputations, established her foundation to promote healing for people of all abilities by creating accessible outdoor environments.

These all-terrain wheelchairs are specifically engineered to navigate rough, wet, sandy, or snowy terrains, enabling individuals who may struggle with traditional wheelchairs to explore trails safely. Given that 11.1% of U.S. adults have a mobility disability, and only a limited percentage of national park trails are wheelchair-friendly, the initiative addresses a significant need.

The all-terrain wheelchairs can be expensive, costing between $13,000 to nearly $30,000. Luckily, All Terrain Georgia offers free wheelchair usage to eligible individuals who meet requirements, get certified, make reservations, and have a buddy for assistance at participating state parks in Georgia.

Melanie Dunn, a double amputee and the assistant director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation, stresses the practical impact of experiencing nature. The initiative aims to help individuals with mobility impairments feel a sense of normalcy, connected to friends and family while enjoying outdoor activities like fishing or picnicking at Georgia State Parks.

Looking ahead, the foundation plans to extend its reach by moving the all-terrain wheelchairs to other parks within the Georgia Department of Natural Resources System.

Environment

World’s Top New Electricity Source by 2025


The International Energy Agency's latest Electricity Market Report 2023 brings news of a significant change in the global energy landscape. Projections indicate that 90% of the new upcoming demand for electricity, from now until 2025, will be met by clean energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power.

This shift is also expected to make renewables the dominant global electricity source within the next three years, accounting for 35% of the world's electricity and surpassing coal. The report highlights the desire for increasing sustainable energy solutions. The future seems geared towards renewables taking a leading role in meeting the world's growing electricity needs.

World News

Canadian 'Star Trek' Fan's Ashes Soar to Space with TV Stars

Getty Images: Michael Ochs Archives 

Gloria Knowlan, an avid "Star Trek" enthusiast who passed away 12 years ago, will have a unique resting place—her ashes are among 250 memorial capsules scheduled for launch into space later this month. Organized by Celestis Inc., this spaceflight, set to reach approximately 330 million kilometers from Earth, includes the remains or DNA samples of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and Original Series stars Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, and James Doohan.

Knowlan's son shared that his mother, after her husband's death in 2002, immersed herself in her passions, particularly "Star Trek." Her love for the show manifested in collecting replica starships and decorating her Christmas tree with a homemade Borg cube.

The memorial spaceflight, offered by Celestis Inc., will see small capsules of human remains or DNA sent into space for tribute purposes, with options ranging from a few thousand dollars to $13,000. The upcoming launch, set for January 8 from Cape Canaveral, marks a significant moment as it ventures into "deep space," a departure from the usual capsules that are set to orbit, then eventually return to Earth.

Charles Chafer, the co-founder and CEO of Celestis Inc., expressed the importance of the mission, stating that the trip aims to test the capabilities of the Vulcan rocket, commercially owned and aptly named, to become the first commercial spacecraft to land on the moon. The inclusion of memorial capsules serves as a secondary purpose for this pioneering journey.

Culture

Animal Shelter Empty for the First Time in Almost 50 Years!

Adams County SPCA

In a rare feat, Adams County SPCA in Pennsylvania recently announced that its kennels are empty for the first time in 47 years. The animal shelter successfully adopted out 94 animals and reunited 26 strays with their owners since November 1, clearing its kennels that were nearly full just two weeks ago.

The staff and volunteers worked diligently to process adoptions, which included spaying, neutering, vaccinations, and health tests. With 598 animals adopted and 120 pets reunited with owners this year, the shelter is now assisting other shelters in Pennsylvania facing capacity issues.

According to the ASPCA, millions of animals enter shelters annually, making efforts like those of Adams County SPCA crucial in finding homes and reducing euthanization rates.

Quick Gratitude Reset: 10-Minute Brain Rewire

  1. Sit comfortably, eyes open or closed. Ensure a straight spine by swaying gently. Feel your body settle.

  2. Take slow, natural breaths. Relax, letting go of tension. Foster relaxed alertness.

  3. Notice your current mood without judgment.

  4. Shift by listing things to be grateful for—people, circumstances, opportunities. Thank parents, grandparents, and appreciate life experiences.

  5. Acknowledge gratitude for health, mind, talents, and relationships. Extend thanks to family, friends, and mentors.

  6. Reflect on gratitude for the earth, water, food, and air. Choose one thing you're grateful for and relax.

  7. Visualize a deeply cared-for person and a moment of strong connection. Recall details without judgment.

  8. Feel the emotions of that moment—love, contentment. Let sensations come and go without analysis.

  9. Focus on one aspect of the moment. Let gratitude fill your mind and body. Take a few more breaths.

  10. If you feel like it, take some time after and express gratitude to someone you thought about by texting or calling them.

Mind Stretchers

What does this image mean?

Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:
A mirror! 🪞 

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From the Community

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