The HeartWell Institute

01/30/2026

In a bright ray of hope for environmentalists, recent reports show that the population of Monarch butterflies in Michoacán, Mexico has doubled! This news brings relief after years of concern about the species’ decline, which had been linked to habitat destruction and climate change. The rise in their numbers is a sign that conservation efforts are making a difference and that with the right support, endangered species can bounce back.

Monarch butterflies are known for their incredible migration, traveling thousands of miles each year to reach their breeding grounds in Mexico. Their journey is one of nature’s most fascinating spectacles. The increase in their population is a testament to the power of targeted conservation efforts, proving that when humans take action to protect the environment, nature can heal itself.

This comeback is especially important given the global challenges we face in protecting biodiversity. Monarchs are not just beautiful creatures; they play a crucial role in pollination, which supports ecosystems and agriculture. By supporting their recovery, we’re helping preserve the delicate balance of the natural world.

It’s a victory for the planet, showing that with concerted effort, we can reverse some of the damage done to our ecosystems. This serves as an important reminder that conservation works, and that it’s worth investing in the health of our planet for future generations. 🦋🌍

01/30/2026

In the 1920s, a young Native American girl was sent to a government boarding school where speaking her own language was forbidden.
Her name was Esther Martinez.
She was told her language had no value.
She was punished for speaking Tewa.
They tried to make her forget who she was.
But they failed.
Esther grew up, lived a quiet life, and worked as a school cook and janitor. She wasn’t famous. She wasn’t powerful. But she noticed something heartbreaking — her community was growing silent. Elders were passing away, and the old words were disappearing.
At 54 years old, Esther made a brave decision.
She refused to let her language die.
She teamed up with a linguist and spent nearly 20 years writing down every sound, every word, every meaning of the Tewa language — something no one had done before.
In 1982, she published the San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary, saving a language spoken for over 1,000 years.
She didn’t stop there.
She helped start bilingual education so children could proudly speak their language without fear.
Her work was so powerful that the U.S. government later passed a law in her honor:
The Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act.
True strength isn’t always loud.
Sometimes, it’s a woman who refuses to let her people’s voice disappear.
— Esther Martinez
Sources: National Endowment for the Arts / National Trust for Historic Preservation

01/30/2026

01/30/2026

01/30/2026

THE TRAUMA OF RACISM
In 2019, the American Academy of Pediatrics added “Experiencing Racism” to the list of Adverse Childhood Experiences. BIPOC individuals living in America in 2020 did not need any pediatricians to tell them that, nor did generations of their ancestors. Racism is a trauma that impacts every area of civic life from health care to economic opportunity, to physical and social location to educational attainment to daily physical safety. White America has done everything possible to ignore the harm done and to shift responsibility back to the victims. Like every other trauma, not reckoning with it only makes it worse.
https://www.worcesteracts.org/node/29

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WorcesterACTs.org

01/30/2026

✍️ Perhaps we were once taught that it was okay to hold onto resentment when life felt unfair. Or maybe, like a vine growing slowly over time, these reactions became a habit we didn’t even realize we were wearing. We might find ourselves reacting with a sharp word or a heavy heart whenever the world doesn't move quite the way we hoped it would.

In the beginning, there can be a flickering comfort in blame. It feels like a shield, a way to stay in control when things feel chaotic. But that warmth is fleeting. Before we know it, we are carrying a heavy burden of resentment in our minds. We might find ourselves at odds with the traffic, the rain, our circumstances, or even the reflection in the mirror. When our hearts are full of these heavy shadows, the light of peace simply cannot find a place to rest.

Then one day—perhaps in a moment of stillness, through a message of kindness, or simply because we are tired of the weight—something gentle awakens within us. A deep, patient peace reminds us of a truth we may have forgotten: We do not have to carry this anymore.

Anger and hatred are like embers held in the hand; they only burn the one who holds them. They gently fade our joy and quiet our laughter. When we realize this, a beautiful shift happens. We see that we have a choice. We can choose the path of letting go, the choice of peace, the path of mindfulness.

With patient practice—by noticing these feelings as they arise and greeting them with mindfulness, choosing peace and letting go—we can begin to heal. We can choose to be kind to ourselves as we unlearn these old ways.

May we each find that blessed day when we realize that our hearts deserve to be light. And may we choose, with infinite compassion for our own journey, the path that leads us home to peace.

May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏

01/29/2026

https://www.mbsr-ecoawareness.org/

The Earth needs our love and care right now. For ourselves, for our global human family and for all our more-than human kin, we can step up to serve. 

01/29/2026

🌅 Good Morning! Day 96 (1/29/2026) Begins - We have just started our walk from Gasburg, Virginia, heading to Lawrenceville and Alberta. The journey continues through Virginia, one step at a time. We warmly welcome everyone to visit us at our stops!

📍 Use the Live Map in the pinned/featured post on top of our page to track our journey today and our stop locations. Check last night’s update for full details.

Have a peaceful day! May we be mindful in everything we do throughout the day. We invite you to walk with us in spirit. May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏

01/29/2026

Happier January - Day 29: Say hello to a neighbour and get to know them better https://actionforhappiness.org/happier-january