The Optimist: The pandemic made them homeless. Post readers helped.

She woke up from a surgery with her hair perfectly braided. Her black male doctor had done it.; The way these older amateur athletes are staying fit despite the pandemic offers lessons for all ages; Go ahead and watch. Cute or funny animal videos can be good for you.; A woman is infertile, so her mother is carrying her baby for her; She was furloughed from her job. So she became 'Lasagna Lady' and made 1,200 pans of free lasagna for those in need. ; 10 socially distant date ideas that aren't just a walk or a video chat; Two sisters wanted to lift lonely seniors' spirits. Their organization has sent 14,000 letters.; My daughter reminded me that black joy is a form of resistance ; 'Survival mode is in our blood': How these sibling-owned restaurants are making it through the pandemic ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Limited time offer: Get one year of digital access for just $29.   View offer Sign up for this newsletter Read online Stories that inspire.     (Eve Edelheit for The Post) The pandemic made them homeless. Post readers helped. A Florida family received an outpouring of support after The Washington Post chronicled their struggle with homelessness after the coronavirus struck, leaving the parents without work. By Greg Jaffe ●  Read more »   She woke up from a surgery with her hair perfectly braided. Her black male doctor had done it. "It was a very nice gesture and it just spoke to my bigger point of having black doctors and them being able to identify with patients." By Soo Youn ●  Read more »   The way these older amateur athletes are staying fit despite the pandemic offers lessons for all ages "I'm taking it slow, just doing what I can, so I can be here helping people. Because that's my purpose," says a 79-year-old runner. By Matt Fuchs ●  Read more »   Go ahead and watch. Cute or funny animal videos can be good for you. Positive emotions can counteract negative ones and help us get things done. By Elizabeth Heath ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   A woman is infertile, so her mother is carrying her baby for her Julie Loving, 51, is five months pregnant with her daughter's baby. By Sydney Page ●  Read more »   She was furloughed from her job. So she became 'Lasagna Lady' and made 1,200 pans of free lasagna for those in need. "I can't change the world, but I can make lasagna," Michelle Brenner said. By Cathy Free ●  Read more »   10 socially distant date ideas that aren't just a walk or a video chat A room tour, a grocery run, music playlists and other creative ways to deepen a connection. Perspective ●  By Anying Guo ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Two sisters wanted to lift lonely seniors' spirits. Their organization has sent 14,000 letters. Volunteers from 49 U.S. states and 12 additional countries have sent notes to seniors through the campaign Shreya and Saffron Patel created. By Emily Giambalvo ●  Read more »   My daughter reminded me that black joy is a form of resistance It's hard not to believe that the only real and lasting weapon I have as a black mother is to circumvent these generations-long traumas with generational joy. Perspective ●  By Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts ●  Read more »   'Survival mode is in our blood': How these sibling-owned restaurants are making it through the pandemic "Business comes and goes, but the vibe of the neighborhood is so important. ... You've got to take care of your own people." By Ashley Nguyen ●  Read more »     We think you'll like this newsletter Check out Bold School for smart advice on how to get better with age, plus tried-and-true tips from our readers, every Monday and Friday for 12 weeks. Sign up »

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