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    Reader's Digest Magazine
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    Inspirational Stories

    Reader’s Digest has the stories to lift your spirits and fill you with hope in your darkest moments. We’ve promised to be a source of joy, and these stories deliver. From everyday heros to reunited long-lost siblings, we’ve got the stories to inspire you.

    At 39, Disability Activist Melissa Blake Is Modeling In Her First Runway Show At New York Fashion Week

    How an Activist with Disabilities Went from Being a Role Model to a Runway Model

    A disabled activist won’t let Twitter trolls stop her 
from seeing herself as she really is—a star.

    This Musician Asks Kids to Trade Their Guns in for Trumpets to Help Combat Violence in New Orleans

    Alarmed by a tragic shooting in 
his hometown, a New Orleans musician 
gives hope to...

    A Surf Board Drifted from Hawaii to the Philippines and Started a Friendship Between the Two Owners

    It traveled over 5,000 miles across the ocean and was still in one piece.

    I Was Bullied on Valentine’s Day as a Kid. Here’s How I Spread Kindness on February 14 as a Teacher Now.

    As a child, I had a humiliating experience on February 14. Now that I’m a...

    A Dog Was Trapped in a Cave for 30 Hours. It Took 8 Cavers to Find Him.

    Buzzman the dog hadn't returned home for a few hours. Thinking it was unusual, his...

    15 People Share the Silver Linings They Found Amid a Pandemic

    This year, many of us have new appreciation for life’s simpler joys. RD readers share...

    How This Quadriplegic Man Learned How to Move His Limbs…with His Mind

    Ian Burkhart was the first quadriplegic to regain control of his body using his thoughts.

    This 11-Year-Old Mows Lawns to Raise Money for Social Justice

    Meet Jack, a young boy giving up the money from his summer job to support...

    A 14-Year-Old Boy Helped Save Another Boy’s Life After Meeting Him Through a Video Game

    The friendships that teens build online can be stronger than you think.

    This Tattoo Artist Helps People with Scars Love Their Body Again

    The first fingernail tattoos started off as a joke—but soon he was getting the attention...

    21 Extraordinary Stories of Generosity That Will Stay with You

    These acts of kindness—big and small—speak to the generosity of the American spirit.

    12 LGBTQ Activists Who Have Changed American History

    It's hard to imagine where gay pride would be without the work and efforts of...
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    10 Extraordinary Ways Kids Are Giving Us Hope in the Time of Coronavirus

    These ten examples will inspire you and the children in your lives to shake off...

    Students Noticed One Boy Was Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day, so They Stepped in to Help

    "They went home and hunted through their own drawers and closets."

    Her Hometown Was Broken After Multiple People Took Their Lives, so She Set Out to Create Signs of Hope

    Her heartbroken hometown needed a sign, so she gave them one.
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    I Rescue 100 Cats a Year—Here’s What I Want You to Know

    Each day a cat is rescued is an emotional rollercoaster of heartache and triumph, and...

    14 Heartwarming Stories of Nurses Who Went Above and Beyond Their Call of Duty

    These (and all) nurses deserve a major thank you.

    25 Moving Acts of Generosity Proving That Kindness Will Win Over Coronavirus

    During challenging times, kindness always wins.
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    Read One Teacher’s Genius Response to the Question “What Do You Make?”

    Teacher Taylor Mali's unforgettable, searing retort to a thoughtless question certainly put a dinner companion...

    A Football Player Decided to Donate Bone Marrow—He Never Imagined That It Would Save a Little Girl’s Life

    When Mike Mushaw decided to donate bone marrow, he not only saved a life but...

    A Toddler Was Playing on Train Tracks as a Train Approached—The Conductor’s Quick Action Saved Her Life

    The engineer could never stop the 6,200-ton train in time. So when the conductor saw...

    After Living on the Streets, This Man Takes Every Opportunity to Help Others

    An imperfect man finds the perfect way to give back.
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    During the COVID-19 Crisis, This Man Helped People in Need Get Toilet Paper

    When Jonny Blue realized that people were hoarding toilet paper, he set out to make...