Good Morning! 🌞

Many Christians world wide are currently practicing Lent. Lent is a 40-day period in the Christian calendar that leads up to Easter, traditionally marked by fasting, prayer, and penance. It commemorates Jesus' 40 days spent in the wilderness. While rooted in Christian tradition, the practice of Lent offers benefits that can resonate with anyone. The act of abstaining from certain foods or habits can lead to greater self-discipline, mindfulness, and a sense of personal achievement. It provides an opportunity to break from routine, reassess one's lifestyle choices, and focus on personal growth and well-being. Whether or not you're a Christian, I encourage you to try it out someday.

Perhaps you could abstain from negative, fear mongering news for a week and only read the Daily Upsider 😉 

Health Sciences

Hug Therapy Aids Premature Baby Development

In a Cordoba hospital in Argentina, volunteers step in for newborns facing challenging circumstances. Babies, placed in incubators due to reasons like parental absence because of work, substance abuse, incarceration, injury, or death, benefit from 2-hour shifts where volunteers, known as "huggers," hold them, aiming to reduce the time spent in machines and support growth.

The Provincial Maternity Hospital of Córdoba has 50 volunteer huggers (49 women and 1 man), addressing the need for human touch for premature babies or those without their mothers. Despite the current team, there is a significant demand, with 200 individuals on the waiting list.

The initiative aims to ensure that these babies feel cared for from birth. Volunteers, like Irma Castro, express admiration for the infants' resilience and their innate desire to live.

Nancy Sánchez Zanón, head of the Maternity Neonatology Department, notes a considerable number of NICU babies requiring such attention. Ana María Rognone mentions inspiration from a similar program in Buenos Aires, originating from a Canadian infant cuddling program for babies born to mothers addicted to heroin.

The act of hugging provides more than emotional support; it directly impacts the baby's physiological well-being. Volunteers explain that when held, babies conserve energy and enter a state of relaxation, enabling healthier growth. This human contact promotes neurodevelopment and reduces stress.

The hospital's focus on human-centered neonatal care brings love and humanity to these little babies in a setting that is normally dominated by technology and strangers.

World News

Revolutionary Sewage Treatment

An Indian entrepreneur, Tharun Kumar, developed an innovative wastewater treatment system that operates without energy consumption or the use of chemicals. Kumar established ECOSTP in 2017 to address the pollution issues exemplified by Bengaluru's Varthur Lake. An Indian entrepreneur, Tharun Kumar, developed an innovative wastewater treatment system that operates without energy consumption or the use of chemicals. Kumar established ECOSTP in 2017 to address the pollution issues exemplified by Bengaluru's Varthur Lake.

Inspired by Hinduism's sacred animal, the cow, ECOSTP is based on the four-chambered stomach of cows, where anaerobic bacteria break down waste without oxygen. The septic tank's design includes layers of cow dung for bacterial action, gravity-driven water flow through multiple chambers, and a final filtration stage involving sand, gravel, and vascular plaInspired by Hinduism's sacred animal, the cow, ECOSTP is based on the four-chambered stomach of cows, where anaerobic bacteria break down waste without oxygen. The septic tank's design includes layers of cow dung for bacterial action, gravity-driven water flow through multiple chambers, and a final filtration stage involving sand, gravel, and vascular plants.

The resulting water meets health standards for toilet and gardening use. With support from a grant by Biomimicry Solutions, ECOSTP has gained 325 clients across 22 Indian states. Notably, their unmanned and unpowered septic tanks save substantial operational costs. Kumar emphasizes their achievements in converting billions of liters of sewage into clean water, saving power compared to conventional systems, and contributing to a reduction in coal consumption, a significant factor in India's electricity generationThe resulting water meets health standards for toilet and gardening use. With support from a grant by Biomimicry Solutions, ECOSTP has gained 325 clients across 22 Indian states. Notably, their unmanned and unpowered septic tanks save substantial operational costs. Kumar emphasizes their achievements in converting billions of liters of sewage into clean water, saving power compared to conventional systems, and contributing to a reduction in coal consumption, a significant factor in India's electricity generation.

Looking forward, ECOSTP is exploring the potential of anaerobic bacteria to address harmful compounds in industrial effluentLooking forward, ECOSTP is exploring the potential of anaerobic bacteria to address harmful compounds in industrial effluent.

Entertainment

Alan Ritchson on His Faith and Mental Health Struggles

Alan Ritchson, known for his roles in Prime Video's "Reacher" and movies like "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and "Fast X," recently shared candidly about his mental health struggles. In a conversation with The Christian Post, the 41-year-old actor, married with three sons, discussed how turning to his faith helped him recover from a suicide attempt.

During a podcast with Christian Huff, Ritchson reflected on a challenging phase in his life marked by a midlife crisis, marriage issues, fame's downside, and career challenges. Despite his struggles, he found solace in prayer and reading scripture, realizing God's constant presence even in his darkest moments.

While acknowledging his ongoing battles with anger, rage, and shame, Ritchson emphasized the transformative role of faith. He now actively incorporates his Christian beliefs into his life, launching a YouTube channel called "InstaChurch" in 2022. On this platform, he addresses various topics anchored in faith, including marriage, mental health, addiction, depression, and his own diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Ritchson hopes that by openly sharing his struggles, he can inspire others to do the same. He believes connecting through shared pain fosters empathy and understanding. Despite the courage required to discuss personal challenges, he sees it as a responsibility to initiate deeper conversations and break down emotional barriers.

Sports

On this Day in Sports History

One hundred eleven years ago today, the Yankees became the first team to train outside of the United States when they started spring training in Bermuda. The team’s island ballpark in Hamilton was a converted cricket field, and most of their competition throughout the duration of spring training was provided by the Skeeters, a local team from New Jersey.

The team, which was managed by Hall of Famer Frank Chance, finished the 1913 season in 7th place with a 57-94 record. After a disappointing season, the Yankees front office decided not to return to Bermuda in 1914, or any season after that. I’m sure the players enjoyed it!

Mind Stretchers 

⁉️ 

What English word has three consecutive double letters?

The answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretcher was:
96!! 🙂 

Martin Walter got the correct answer in first! Honorable mention goes to Chris Hostetler who got his answer in just 10 seconds after.

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 this 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.