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Uplifting News

Woman “Accidentally” Forgets to End Call Before Speaking About Daughter-In-Law

Even though we’re told we shouldn’t care what other people think of us, deep down, many of us still do. Wanting to be accepted and loved is natural, and it can be devastating to hear someone talk badly about us behind our backs. However, hearing someone say nice things about us when they don’t think we’re listening can be incredibly uplifting. One mother recognizes that, which is why she routinely "forgets" to hang up on her daughter-in-law.

Parents Find Out Their 9-Year-Old Son Has Given $15 to His Teacher - The Reason Why Brings Them to Tears
Uplifting News

Parents Find Out Their 9-Year-Old Son Has Given $15 to His Teacher - The Reason Why Brings Them to Tears

Many of us believe in the power of paying it forward, but Parker Williams took the term literally when he used his own birthday money to give his teacher a pay raise.A Well-Intentioned Little BoyBack in 2019, before parents everywhere grew an extra appreciation during the pandemic for all that teachers do, a little boy in Tampa, Florida, decided he wanted to let his teacher know just how special she is. So instead of using his birthday money to buy something for himself, the nine-year-old figured he would use it to give his teacher a raise.Parker Williams wrote his teacher, Mary Hall Chambers, a note and placed $15 in bills inside a plastic zip lock bag. Dear Mrs. Chambers, I don’t think that teachers get paid enough for what they do so will you accept this gift?Parker Williams' noteWilliams’ parents had no idea what their kid had done. They only found out about his good deed later, when his teacher returned the note with a special note of her own.“I can’t accept this but appreciate the gesture, Parker,” she responded. “Students like you are the reason I teach.”Spreading the WordParker’s father, Darrell, shared the note on Facebook, and local news stations picked up the story. Before long they were interviewing the family. "The first reaction was my eyes welling up with tears," Parker's mom, Jennifer Williams, told WFLA in an interview.“I think she’s a really kind teacher and she has her own way of teaching and she spends time on everybody,” the boy added when asked why he did what he did.Even though Mrs. Chambers didn’t accept the gift, Parker says that he still feels proud of his actions. “It made me feel really nice and good,” he said.I think more people should be nice because it’s just a better thing to do than being mean.Parker WilliamsLater, ABC News spoke with Chambers, who revealed that when she first saw the money she was confused. “When I looked at the note I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,’” she told the outlet. “I read the little note and I said, ‘Parker, this is so sweet and such a kind gesture… I can’t take your money, but I really appreciate you looking out for me.'”Appreciating TeachersJen Williams also revealed to ABC News that her son’s teacher often went above and beyond the normal school hours in order to communicate with them and to ensure their son was set up with everything he needs."Mrs. Chambers is emailing us many evenings, giving us ways Parker can improve, and things he's done well," she said. "It's becoming more of a 24/7 type job, but they're getting paid on the lower end of the pay scale."They are not rewarded entirely for the amount they [are] helping develop the next generation of children becoming adults.Jen WilliamsKids Are Always ListeningWhile Parker may not have run his raise idea by his parents, it’s probably safe to say that he was influenced by their way of thinking. Kids are always listening to our conversations, and they’re quick to model our behaviour. The fact that Parker wanted to give his teacher more money for the amazing job she was doing speaks volumes to how much his parents probably appreciate her hard work as well.It’s a valuable lesson when it comes to the way we speak around our own children, but also in terms of how we view those in society who have underappreciated jobs. Some may be quick to judge teachers for taking time off on holidays and over the summer, but the long, unpaid hours they clock in order to mould these future kids also can’t be discounted. It’s not just teachers either; there are so many people who volunteer their time or put in extra hours because they’re passionate about what they do or they want to help.So the next time you’re deciding whether to gift that teacher in your life something special for the holidays, or you see that they’ve spent extra time with your kid in order to help them, consider taking a second to stop and thank them for the amazing job they’re doing. Odds are they probably don’t hear it enough.More from Goalcast:Teacher Cries at Work When She Realizes Her Student Is Going to Bed Hungry – Then Jennifer Lopez Gets InvolvedStudent Is Unable to Walk at Graduation, so Teacher Gives Shoes off His Own Feet – But He Asks for a Favor in ReturnTeacher Takes Away 11-Year-Old Girl’s Book and Refuses to Give It Back – Angry Dad Decides to Confront Her

Chef Bans Rich Diners for Disrespecting Server in a Scathing Email - And Gives Her the Entire $1200 Bill
Uplifting News

Chef Bans Rich Diners for Disrespecting Server in a Scathing Email - And Gives Her the Entire $1200 Bill

Anyone who has ever worked in the service industry knows how challenging it can be. Because, people.And while most people give service workers the respect they undoubtedly deserve, there are always the entitled few who think that money trumps basic human decency.Tired of toxic customers mistreating his staff, one chef decided to take a stand. And all we can say is, "BRAVO."Chef Roasts Rude Customers in Epic TweetAfter witnessing a group of six entitled businessmen repeatedly disrespect his employee Lily, Lee Skeet, who works as a chef at Cora, in Cardiff, U.K., knew he couldn't just stand idly by.Despite the fact that the group had just racked up the largest bill in the restaurant's history, Skeet was so appalled by their behavior that he wrote the head of the party a scathing email, banning them for life. And then he tweeted about it (or more accurately, X'd about it).Captioning a screenshot of his salty smackdown, Skeet, who famously trained under Gordon Ramsey, wrote, "I’m not clout chasing or looking for likes. I just think we should start calling out rich people who think they can treat people like crap."In the letter attached, Skeet first thanks the unnamed diner for choosing his restaurant. Then he goes in for the kill."Dear xxxxxxx, I wanted to firstly thank you for choosing my restaurant for your meal tonight, and I understand you had the biggest bill we've ever had on one table here. Unfortunately throughout the evening, I was made aware that your party's behavior was inappropriate towards Lily, who runs front-of-house," the email read."She has told me that as a 22-year-old-girl she was talked down to, disrespected, and touched unwantedly by members of your group."In an interview with Wales Online, Lily shared that she was reduced to tears after being humiliated and degraded for three hours while serving the party a seven-course meal.Skeet goes on to explain that as the dad of a daughter, he was absolutely heartbroken for Lily and the emotional toll it took on her. "I have spent the last hour having conversations with her that break my heart, make me feel like a s**t employer and a terrible dad having my own daughter," Skeet wrote.What the Chef Decided to Do NextOriginally, Skeet planned to just refund the group their hefty $1200 bill, minus a $100 tip for Lily — a tip they initially failed to give her. Because demeaning her wasn't enough apparently, they then added salt to the wound and didn't even bother to leave her a tip. He concluded the email, "I would thank you to never come back to my restaurant. Lily means a lot more to me than money. I also think you should assess the people you surround yourself with."However, hours later, Skeet had a change of heart. He decided to hit the patron where it hurts — right in his wallet.He tweeted again, saying:"On reflection I reacted too quickly and emotionally last night. Sorry I was a little bit angry and protective. I’m not going to refund the customer’s money. I’ve instead kept it and transferred to lily x."And if you're currently questioning if your own work environment is toxic, this just set a whole new bar on what a healthy workplace looks like. Having Money Doesn’t Excuse You From Being a Decent Human BeingNot surprisingly, the X-verse applauded Skeet for having Lily's back and creating a workplace that values and protects its employees. His posts received over 150,000 likes and more than 2,000 people chimed in. One commenter wrote, "Your response to the trouble makers is excellent. Putting morals above money is a brave and admirable thing to do. I hope Lily is ok. Much respect to you."Another wrote, "So happy to see an employer stand up so fiercely and unwaveringly for a member of their team. I do hope they had the good grace and respect to do as you asked. I hope Lily is okay after that dreadful experience and if I’m ever in Cardiff I will most definitely come to Cora."A third commenter said, "Absolutely spot on. Workers are not the plaything of the idle rich, to abuse and insult as they want. Money doesn’t buy manners and humility…it’s how you’re brought up and the values installed in you. Top man."Skeet's bold stance against the mistreatment of his staff is admirable. Calling out toxic behavior and standing up for others when we see injustice or mistreatment is crucial to ensuring a positive work environment. Everyone, no matter what position you hold, is entitled to respect, fair treatment, and dignity. These are, after all, basic human rights. More from Goalcast:Boss Is Hesitant When Deaf Employee Asks to Become the Chef – Little Did He Know How Customers Would View HimAnxious Deaf Couple Tries a Popular Restaurant – Realizes the Chef Has Learnt Sign Language Just for ThemTeen Refuses to Go to His Graduation Because His Parents Can’t Make It – But His Manager Has a Different Idea

Hairstylist Takes One Look at Woman and Refuses to Give Her a Haircut - The Reason Why Makes Her Sob
Uplifting News

Hairstylist Takes One Look at Woman and Refuses to Give Her a Haircut - The Reason Why Makes Her Sob

In a world of more than 50 million Americans living with autoimmune diseases, the stories of discrimination against them are all too common. This is the tale of Julia Apodaca-Lane, a woman battling not only psoriatic arthritis but also the stigma attached to her condition.Psoriatic arthritis is a daily struggle for Julia. It comes with the added burden of psoriasis, a condition where skin cells build up, leading to itchy, dry patches. The most critical fact to remember about psoriasis is that it is neither rare nor contagious, but unfortunately, ignorance sometimes fuels discrimination.Why One Hairstylist Refused to Give Customer a HaircutJulia decided to share her recent encounter with discrimination when she went to her local SmartStyle salon in Tuscaloosa for a simple haircut. She recounted the painful moment when the stylist, instead of welcoming her, asked, "Are you contagious?" The hurt in her voice was evident as she explained, "I’ve got some psoriasis on my forehead, that you can see. It’s on my scalp. I have psoriatic arthritis. So it’s just psoriasis."It's disheartening that some people remain unaware of the nature of psoriasis and the fact that it poses no risk to others. It's a condition that shouldn't interfere with something as basic as a haircut.While Lataya Aaron, from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, clarified that stylists have the right to refuse service if they believe their health is at risk, it's crucial to emphasize that compassion should always be part of the equation. She noted, "A kind word goes a long way. It should have been personal and private. […] I feel that because you want to treat people like you would want to be treated."For Julia, the experience at SmartStyle was far from compassionate, and although the stylist was within her rights to refuse service, the emotional toll on Julia was undeniable. As she recalled the incident, tears welled up in her eyes: "I got to the car and I just sat there and sobbed. Just cried and cried and cried. I mean, like, ugly, heaving sobbing."What made it worse was the heightened self-consciousness Julia felt: "I’m paranoid about it. About people looking at me and not knowing what it is. And she made me feel self-conscious. She made me feel like I had done something wrong. That there was something wrong with me. And while I know that these things aren’t true, it doesn’t mean that you’re not going to think them."Why a Woman Highlights the Importance of Speaking KindlyJulia's story doesn't end with her struggle; it's also about finding strength and solidarity in a support group for people with psoriatic arthritis. She found encouragement and perspective, understanding that judgments are often passed without knowing the battles others are fighting.In Julia's words: "You don’t know that about the person, so be kind. You know, whether they have something wrong with them or not, you should be able to give them the best service that you can."The good news is that Julia's story caught the attention of SmartStyle's District Manager, Jason Emerson, who has taken corrective measures to prevent future incidents with that stylist. Moreover, he's turned this unfortunate event into an opportunity for the company. SmartStyle will provide continuing education for all its employees at salons across the state to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases and to ensure that no one else feels the pain Julia experienced.Julia's story reminds us that compassion, empathy, and education are powerful tools against discrimination. It's a story of resilience and a call for a kinder, more understanding world.More from Goalcast:Man’s Wife of 50 Years Starts Going Blind – So He Goes to College to Learn How to Do Hair and MakeupTeen Hairdresser Leaves the Pub With Her Friends – Finds an Angry Note Shaming Her for Parking in a Disabled SpotRude Men Told Woman Who Uses a Wheelchair She ‘Wasn’t Worth Loving’ – Then This Man Got Down on One Knee