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Imagine a creature whose life spans almost two centuries, witnessing the evolution of the modern world from the early 19th century to the dawn of the 21st.

Harriet the tortoise wasn't just any tortoise; she was a remarkable being who lived through an era of profound change and development. Born in the early 1830s, Harriet's life story is intertwined with that of Charles Darwin, one of history's most celebrated naturalists. Legend has it that Darwin himself encountered Harriet during his pivotal visit to the Galápagos Islands as part of his groundbreaking research voyage on the HMS Beagle.

Harriet's incredible journey didn't end there. She traversed oceans and centuries, finally coming to rest in Australia, where she continued to thrive until her death in 2006. At the impressive age of 175, Harriet was a living bridge to a bygone era and one of the oldest mammals ever recorded.

Here’s a picture of Harriet:

Science

Scientific Proof of the Power of Mental Health Recovery Stories

We intuitively understand that knowing other humans have experience the same difficulties we face can be helpful. But how well do narrative first‐hand experiences of mental health recovery actually help? The first randomized controlled trial on the subject just came out.

Recent findings from the University of Nottingham, published in World Psychiatry, prove the power of shared personal stories in supporting mental health recovery. This pioneering research assembled a vast digital collection of narratives across various mediums, including audio, video, and text, illustrating journeys through mental health challenges.

Participants of the study, dealing with conditions such as anxiety and stress but not psychotic disorders, were granted year-long access to this resource. The outcome was a noticeable improvement in their quality of life, highlighting the value of relatable experiences in fostering hope and resilience.

Dr. Stefan Rennick-Egglestone, the study's coordinator, emphasized the importance of hope, stating, “Seeing that other people have had similar experiences, and that things get a bit better in the future, can give people hope.” This sentiment captures the essence of the research: that understanding others' paths to recovery can illuminate one's own way forward.

The study, initiated by Prof. Mike Slade, was inspired by his observations in clinical practice within the NHS. It was propelled by a £2m grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, aiming to methodically explore the use of recovery narratives as a tool for mental health improvement.

Despite potential concerns about the narratives triggering adverse reactions, the research found the positive impacts far outweighed any negatives. The stories, drawn from a global pool and unaltered from their original form, offered authentic insights into the recovery process, avoiding artificially positive portrayals to maintain realism.

An unexpected benefit of the study was participants reporting a heightened sense of life's meaningfulness, a factor known to guard against common mental health issues. This aligns with broader evidence suggesting the importance of finding meaning in life for psychological well-being.

The economic analysis presented a compelling case for the adoption of narrative-based interventions, demonstrating significant cost savings compared to traditional mental health treatments. This aspect of the research suggests a sustainable, impactful way to enhance mental health care without straining resources.

Looking ahead, the success of the NEON (Narrative Experiences Online Intervention) study opens avenues for applying narrative interventions across different health care contexts, including substance abuse and dementia care.

U.S News

The Tallest Building in America May Soon Be in… Oklahoma?

Developers have proposed the construction of the 'Legends Tower' in Oklahoma City, potentially becoming the tallest building in the United States. Planned as part of The Boardwalk at Bricktown development project, the tower is designed by architecture firm AO and real estate developer Matteson Capital.

If approved, the tower, standing at 1,907 feet, would surpass the height of the One World Trade Center in New York City, currently the seventh tallest building globally. The proposed development also includes three smaller buildings, featuring a public observatory, restaurant, and bar for panoramic views.

The mixed-use project spans approximately 5 million square feet, encompassing a Hyatt hotel, serviced condominiums, and 1,776 residential units, ranging from market-rate to affordable. Scot Matteson, CEO of Matteson Capital, believes the project will contribute to the city's economic growth by attracting investment, new businesses, and jobs.

AO managing partner Rob Budetti sees The Boardwalk at Bricktown as a catalyst for urban evolution, embodying the essence of Oklahoma City's past, present, and future.

Culture

Great Grandmother Knitts Wedding Dress

Shirley Ellicott taught herself to knit when she was 5 years old. She is now 80, and a great grandmother. She also just achieved one the goals she has had for many years… to knit an entire wedding dress.

It is an incredible looking dress. I would recommend checking out the link below to watch a quick video showing the dress. She also shares the reason why she finally got around to knitting the dress.

Environment

First Wild Sighting of a Newborn Great White Shark?

Drone footage captured off the Southern California coast may have provided a rare glimpse of a newborn great white shark in its natural habitat. Approximately 400 meters off the coast of Carpinteria, California, wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna and Phillip Sternes, a doctoral student in the biology department at the University of California Riverside, observed the 1.5-meter-long (5-foot-long) white shark while filming aerial footage.

The shark's atypical pale coloring and size immediately caught the attention of the observers, given that adult great white sharks typically exhibit a gray upper side and white underside. Upon closer examination of the images and video captured by the drone camera, Gauna and Sternes noted a thin, white film covering the shark, which appeared to be sloughing off as the shark moved.

Upon further analysis, Sternes remarked, "We enlarged the images, put them in slow motion, and realized the white layer was being shed from the body as it was swimming. I believe it was a newborn white shark shedding its embryonic layer."

Nicholas Ray, a researcher at Nottingham Trent University in the UK specializing in great white shark population dynamics in South Africa, described the sighting documented by Gauna and Sternes as "significant."

In an email, Ray stated, "This observation marks the beginning of scientists' exploration into the reproductive cycles of this endangered species. It could be a breakthrough discovery, emphasizing the need for increased protection in these regions."

The proximity of the filmed shark pup to the coast suggests it was likely born in shallow waters due to its age. However, some shark experts believe that great whites are typically born farther out at sea, as mentioned in the news release.

Greg Skomal, senior fisheries scientist at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries commented, "While the presence of this young white shark in this area supports this hypothesis, the actual birth was not observed. We cannot rule out that the shark, which is quite mobile, could have moved a great distance from the birthing area. Regardless, this is an interesting observation."

Mind Stretchers

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What is one thing that all people, regardless of their politics or religion, have to agree is between heaven and earth?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
His brother is 10. Half of 8 is 4, so Grant's brother is 4 years younger.

Chris Hostetler got his answer in first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.