
Everyone can all use a little lift at the end of the week, and we've collected some of this week's best stories to provide just such a pick-me-up. Here are 10 things we want to share, just because they made us so darn happy.
1. Introducing Lila, the U.S. Capitol Police's first emotional support dog.
After the traumatic experiences of January 6th, Capitol Police officers could definitely use some extra support. Lila, a two-year-old black lab, will now serve as the department's first full-time emotional support dog. Look at that sweet face!
We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our Department!\n\n2-year-old Lila is our first full-time emotional support black lab. Lila's first day is on July 5.pic.twitter.com/e6eX6gH77u— U.S. Capitol Police (@U.S. Capitol Police) 1623261800
2. Speaking of the Capitol, take a look at this week's gorgeous solar eclipse behind the dome.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson shared the stunning "ring of fire" image on Twitter. Always a treat when nature gives us a great show.
What a way to start the day!\n\nIncredible shot of the "ring of fire" #SolarEclipse over the Capitol this morning from Arlington, Virginia.pic.twitter.com/OAtredqkiH— Bill Nelson (@Bill Nelson) 1623329994
3. Colorado sees its first wild wolf pups in six decades.
In the 1940s, the gray wolf was eradicated in Colorado by trappers and hunters, with the support of the federal government. Whoops. This week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced the first evidence of wild wolf breeding in the state, a sign of hope for the endangered species. Read more about the discovery here.
Photo by M L on Unsplash
4. 30-year-old singer with terminal cancer amazed and inspired with her performance on America's Got Talent.
Singer Jane Marczweski, who goes by Nightbirde when she sings, is on her third round of cancer and was given a 2% chance of survival. Her America's Got Talent audition with her original song, "It's OK," brought the house down, but her attitude and unique perspective on life are even more beautiful. Read more of her story here.
Golden Buzzer: Nightbirde's Original Song Makes Simon Cowell Emotional - America's Got Talent 2021youtu.be
5. Meet America's first gay married couple, who legally got married decades before it actually became legal.
Through some careful reading of the letter of the law and some simple name changes, Jack and Michael McConnell used a legal loophole to get married 32 years before Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004 and 43 before it became federally legal in 2015. Read their story here.
The Story Of America's First Gay Wedding 50 Years Agoyoutu.be
6. 43-year-old mother of 4 qualifies for the women's platform diving finals at the U.S. Olympic trials.
Laura Wilkinson has competed in three Olympic games and took home the gold in women's platform diving in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Now, 13 years after retiring from the sport, she's looking for a fourth chance to medal. "When I retired at 30 I was old back then," Wilkinson told TODAY, "so this whole journey has just been a crazy, fun road." Read more about her incredible comeback here.
7. Teen's co-workers at Waffle House come together to ensure he can attend his graduation in style.
Timothy Harrison didn't have his cap or gown or tickets for his high school graduation. He didn't even have a ride to the ceremony. But his manager and co-workers at Waffle House stepped up to support him. Read the story here.
8. Border collie missing after being thrown from a car in an accident was found herding sheep in a nearby farm.
Good doggo's gonna be a good doggo, no matter what. Tilly, a two-year-old family dog from Hayden, Idaho, was thrown from the trunk of the car during a collision and ran off. Thankfully, he was found doing what he was bred to do—herding sheep in a nearby farm. Read the story here.
Image by Couleur from Pixabay
9. High school principal in North Carolina gave graduating seniors a sweet sendoff by serenading them with 'I Will Always Love You.'
Principal Marcus Gause told ABC News that he was a bit nervous because "nobody sings behind Whitney Houston and the greats like Dolly Parton." However, he said, "the lyrics were really what I was trying to portray to my students." (Did we mention the man can SING?)
In North Carolina, this principal stood at the podium on Graduation Day.\n\nInstead of just a speech, he performed Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" to the entire graduating class.\n\nWarning \u2014 It's the best seventy seconds you'll spend today...\n\n#Amazing pic.twitter.com/QC23Ol9SY1— Goodable (@Goodable) 1623283115
10. 3-year-old dancing along to choreographed group dances is just the joy we all need to take into the weekend.
Tiny dancer Liang Liang first went viral in 2019 for his impressive dance moves, but this revival was so very needed. There's nothing better than little kids dancing, but when they have actual skill, it's even better. Get it, little man. See more of Liang Liang here.
Better here\u2026pic.twitter.com/EfMH5V2pZU— #FreePalestine\ud83c\udf39M4A\ud83c\udf39ACAB\ud83c\udf39 (@#FreePalestine\ud83c\udf39M4A\ud83c\udf39ACAB\ud83c\udf39) 1623294969
Hope that brings a little needed light and delight to your week! Keep sharing the good to make the world better.
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There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."