Living in close proximity to others, such as sharing walls, floors, and ceilings in an apartment building, means occasionally having to communicate when one person's noise affects another. That might look like a simple, "Hey, would you mind turning your music down?" or letting a neighbor know that stomping feet or loud voices carry farther than they might think.It's always a bit awkward to say something to a neighbor you don't know well, which is why some people simply leave a note. But a note an apartment dweller left for their upstairs neighbor about the sounds coming from their unit took an unexpectedly charming turn. from Apartmentliving The note reads: "Dear ____ in 201. I have to inform you of your cat. He or she runs around a lot. I can hear the pitter-patter of their feets on my ceiling. It's very cute and brings me a lot of joy when I hear it. Tell them to keep it up. [Signed] ___ (downstairs neighbor)."Some people seemed to misinterpret the note as a sarcastic complaint rather than the sweet letter it was. (Referring to paws as "feets" should have been a clue to the tone, but it's not always easy to read intent in a note that plays on a common trope.) But most people in the comments got the intended message:"Not gonna lie, you got me in the first half ? but I'm obsessed, I would've LOVED this when I lived in an apartment!""I was getting ready to tell you to get over yourself, but instead I'm here to tell you that you're awesome. Thanks for the smile.""I tell my neighbor this all of the time! I think she might think I'm being passive aggressive bc I ask about her cat when I see her but genuinely, I can't have a cat bc I travel too much and I am delighted when I hear hers jetting around and getting into stuff ?" Some neighbors love the sounds of other people's pets. Photo credit: Canva"I had three Irish tap-dancing dogs (or dogs who thought they could riverdance ?) living right above my head for a year. So. Loud. ?. They chased each other back and forth all hours of the day. I never fussed about it though. I got so used to it, I was actually able to tone it out and it was like ambient sound to me ?.""I used to hear my neighbors cats get the zoomies and it was so cute. You could only hear it if the apartment was completely quiet but it literally was the best kind of neighbor noise.""As a cat owner, I'd smile if I got this note. Also I can tell it's not sarcastic because you said 'feets' — a clear and friendly sign of a genuine cat lover.""I always feel bad when my dog plays sometimes.. she likes to stomp around with her toys. I asked my downstairs neighbor if he could hear her, and he said yes, but dogs can do no wrong. He always gives her a little treat when he sees her." Pembroke Welsh Corgi Dancing GIF Giphy "During covid lockdown and during stormy weather, my neighbor would use our floor's long hallway to run their corgi up and down for exercise. I absolutely loved to hear her exuberant pitter patters. She'd only make 3 round trips before tapping out.""I was in a second floor flat and after over a year finally met the neighbor who lived under me (identical floor plan). She and I both had dogs, but she didn't know I had one. She asked if we had kids because she could hear some running around in the hallway. I told her it was when we played with the dog and she was genuinely so happy to hear that, she hadn't minded when she assumed it was kids and said she liked hearing it and knowing there were people (or a dog) playing. It was really heartwarming." Meeting neighbors is the first step in building community where you live.Photo credit: CanvaIn reality, there are things about communal living that might genuinely be a bother, and there are times when it's worth saying something to our neighbors to make them aware. But we can also choose the attitude we take to hearing the sounds of life around us, whether it's kids laughing and playing or cats romping around with their little thunderpaws. There's something quite lovely about seeing someone choose to celebrate the joy of a cat rather than be annoyed by the kitty shenanigans upstairs. Sending a note like this is sure to bring a smile to a neighbor's face, making life in the same building more pleasant for everyone.This note is a good reminder that showing kindness to our neighbors goes a long way toward building the kind of community we all want to live in.

People are quick to point out when someone has changed their mind on a topic, whether it’s in the political world, where switching sides on an issue makes you a flip-flopper, or in our personal lives. When a friend suddenly changes their mind on an important issue, we become skeptical of their motives or whether they even have any genuine beliefs in the first place.Are we a little too harsh on people who change their views? Don’t intelligent people change their minds when presented with new information, while those who are more interested in protecting their ego cling to incorrect ideas even more strongly?Oscar Wilde on intelligence Legendary author, humorist, and raconteur, Oscar Wilde, sang the praises of those who can freely change their mind in an 1885 piece on painter James McNeill Whistler in The Pall Mall Gazette of London. “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative,” he famously wrote. — (@) Dr. Emma Jones, a physician and burnout coach, elaborated on Wilde’s quote in a recent viral Instagram post. She agrees that the ability to change your mind is a hallmark of brilliance.“Here's how you know someone is highly intelligent: It's not their degrees. It's this. It's what led Oscar Wilde to say that ‘consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.’ What he meant by that was that highly intelligent people know how to change their minds,” Jones says. Jones goes on to say that intellectually gifted people use phrases such as “I used to think,” or “That's a good point, let me reconsider.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emma Jones | Physician, Coach, Burnout Specialist (@ejones_md)Jones adds that mental flexibility is a sign of strong character. “Most people double down to protect their ego. But intelligent people update their beliefs. They get more curious instead of more defensive,” Jones continues. “They don't tie their identity to being right. And they treat being wrong like data, not humiliation.”Oscar Wilde had no problem with people who changed their mindWilde firmly believed that people should be mentally flexible and had zero issue with those who were wildly inconsistent in their views, as long as they were charming. “The well-bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves,” he wrote in 1894’s Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young.He’s got a point. Who's to say that we all have to carry around rigid worldviews and must be consistent 100% of the time? Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist and author of Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Great Things and Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know, also believes that being able to change your mind is a hallmark of intelligence. — (@) “A sign of intellect is the ability to change your mind in the face of new facts. A mark of wisdom is refusing to let the fear of admitting you were wrong stop you from getting it right. The joy of learning something new eventually exceeds the pain of unlearning something old,” Grant wrote on Twitter.Ultimately, maybe inconsistency isn’t a personal flaw but a way of adapting to a world constantly in flux. Those who lack imagination cling to their strongly-held views, while the wise continue to change. Great thinkers and psychologists agree that changing your mind shouldn’t be seen as a weakness but as a sign of a strong mind and character.

January 13, 1966, was a big day in television history. Darrin and Samantha Stevens welcomed their first child, daughter Tabitha. During the season 2 episode And Then There Were Three, the Bewitched storyline changed, giving Samantha and Darrin a whole new set of adventures. Eventually, the couple would also have a son, Adam, in season 6, to align with star Elizabeth Montgomery’s real-life pregnancy. In honor of her television birth, Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha, shared a sweet throwback photo from her Bewitched days. Erin Murphy Hasn’t Changed Much Since Her Tabitha Days At 61, Erin Murphy has the same sweet smile she had as a little girl playing Tabitha on Bewitched. She posted a photo on Facebook of herself on the set standing in a playpen. “On this day in TV history, I was born on Bewitched…60 years ago! Happy TV birthday to ME!” Erin Murphy wrote. Fans loved seeing the throwback photo, but some had a hard time believing it’s been 60 years since we met Tabitha. “Tabitha you definitely are not 60 today,” a fan wrote. “Maybe 45 at max.” “Happy Birthday to Tabitha. My mother watched the show and I remember how excited she was when Tabitha was born. I can’t believe that was 60 years ago,” another person wrote. This fan remembers the episode very clearly. “Emotional scene between Darrin and Endora in front of the babies at the hospital. Eve Arden was hilarious as Nurse Kelton as she tried matching wits with Endora and Serena.Endora ended up naming Tabitha,” they wrote. Another fan close to Erin Murphy’s age still watches Bewitched. “I love sharing Bewitched with MY grandkids…we were born just a couple months apart…so you & Bewitched show the styles and strollers/car seats of OUR time…LOL. Love ya, grrl!!” They wrote. This story’s featured image is by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world where headlines often spotlight urban crime, New York City just made history— but for all the right reasons. According to the NYPD, 2025 marked the lowest number of shootings ever recorded in the city’s history, a milestone city leaders are celebrating as a testament to strategic, data-driven policing and community resilience. “In 2025, New York City recorded 688 shooting incidents,” said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference last week. “That didn’t just break the previous record set in 2018; it shattered it, with 66 fewer shootings than that benchmark year.” Even more striking, Tisch noted, was the record set in December: only 35 shootings were reported citywide, the fewest ever in any month on record. “We see the headlines and we hear the pundits talk about crime being out of control in our city,” she said. “These numbers tell a very different story.” Precision policing and community partnerships At the heart of this shift is what officials call a “precision policing strategy”. This is a multi-pronged approach that includes ramping up patrols in areas most affected by gun violence and targeting organized criminal networks. “Make no mistake about it,” Tisch said, “these reductions are the product of our precision policing strategy, putting an unprecedented number of cops on the streets and in the neighborhoods driving violence.” The NYPD deployed thousands of additional officers on foot posts and conducted targeted takedowns of violent gangs, leading to significant progress that, officials say, sets New York apart from other major U.S. cities. Tisch also noted her developing partnership with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, describing their working relationship as “close and productive”. Their alliance is something that both she and the mayor suggest is instrumental in steering the city toward a safer future. Crime stats show broader progress Beyond gun violence, the NYPD reported an overall drop in major crime across the five boroughs. There was a three percent decline in major crime in 2025 compared to the previous year, with 121,542 incidents reported versus 125,026 in 2024. Murder rates dropped by more than 20 percent citywide, with 77 fewer homicides than the year before. Robberies fell nearly 10 percent, and both burglary and theft saw modest but meaningful declines. Hate crimes were down by 12 percent, and antisemitic incidents fell by three percent, though they still made up 57 percent of all reported hate crimes. “Antisemitism continues to be the most persistent hate threat that we face,” Tisch said, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and education. There were a few areas where crime ticked up. Rape cases increased by 16 percent, a change that NYPD attributed to new legislation enacted in September 2024, which broadened the state’s legal definition of rape to include more forms of sexual assault. Felony assault also rose slightly, by 0.4 percent, due in part to domestic violence cases and assaults on public employees. Safer streets, stronger communities City leaders emphasized that these improved numbers are more than just statistics. Every number represents lives changed and communities healed. “Each of those percentage points adds up to dining room tables without an empty seat, lives freed from the dark cloud of grief, children that grow up with a parent at home,” said Mayor Mamdani. Governor Kathy Hochul echoed that sentiment, calling the numbers “nothing short of extraordinary.” Reflecting on her first year in office in 2022, she said, “Today is a milestone—something I think we could not have foreseen four years ago.” Looking ahead While challenges remain, 2025’s record-low shooting rate and broader crime reduction give officials hope for sustaining this progress in the years ahead. With continued investments in targeted policing, community partnerships, and support for violence prevention efforts, city leaders believe the trend can continue. As Tisch summed it up, “New York City has pushed gun violence down at a scale unlike any other city in the country.” And if the numbers are any indication, the strategy seems to be working.     Did this story stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Once the last ornament is packed away and the holiday chaos gives way to quiet, it’s not just us that are lost between festive cheer and the routines of daily life; your home may feel like it’s in limbo, too. But this in-between moment is actually the perfect opportunity to shift your space into something calmer, clearer, and more you. If the idea of a home refresh fills your mind with worries about logistics and costs, never fear. You don’t actually need to take on a renovation or drain your savings to get there. With a few creative moves and guidance from two experienced interior designers, you can breathe new life into your rooms with minimal investment. Let’s look at five smart, doable updates that bring beauty, comfort, and fresh intention to your space in 2026. 1. Soften the mood with layered lighting Lighting does more than help you see. It shapes how you feel in a space. But expensive new fixtures or fancy dimmers aren’t obligatory for improvement. According to Erica Davis, principal designer at Eralyn Interiors, even small tweaks can shift the energy in a room. “Try changing out lampshades, or just clean the ones you’ve got,” she says. “Swapping shades seasonally is a fun way to shift the mood.” She also recommends unifying bulb temperatures across your home for a more cohesive atmosphere. “A cool daylight bulb in one room and a warm tone in another can feel jarring,” Davis says. Want to go further? Add table or shelf lamps to dim corners to create warmth and visual depth. A few cozy glows in the right spots can make your home feel more welcoming instantly. 2. Shop your own shelves for a reset Sometimes, the best upgrade is simply re-seeing what you already have. Davis recommends this zero-dollar design trick: take every object off your shelves, coffee tables, and bookcases. Put them all in one place, then start over. “Rearranging things you already own in a fresh way can completely change how a room feels,” she says. As you restyle, mix up object heights, cluster items in odd numbers, and play with layering. Avoid the trap of placing the same types of items on every shelf. Add a leaning frame or stack of books to break the pattern. You’ll be surprised how a little experimentation can turn everyday objects into a curated story, making the whole room feel renewed. 3. Erase the wear-and-tear from holiday traffic After a season of guests, gifts, and dragging tree branches, your walls and baseboards might be showing signs of wear. But that doesn’t mean you need to repaint an entire room. Pamela O’Brien, founder of Pamela Hope Designs, keeps a touch-up kit close by. “I store small jars of leftover paint somewhere easy to reach, like a pantry shelf,” she says. “That way, it’s quick to fix nicks or scuffs before they add up.” Often, a gentle scrub is enough to erase handprints and stains, especially on walls near light switches or stair railings. Doing this one small task can make your home feel cleaner and more cared-for overnight. 4. Scale up your artwork (or mirror) for major impact A simple way to elevate your space without a high price tag is to go big with your wall art. Instead of hanging multiple smaller pieces, O’Brien suggests opting for one large statement piece that draws the eye. “Large art feels important and creates a gallery-like atmosphere,” she says. Bonus: it also covers wall imperfections that are hard to fix. Framed prints, secondhand finds, and downloadable art from online shops are all budget-friendly options. Vintage portraits or classic landscapes in ornate frames can add character and sophistication. If you’re working with a smaller room, a generously sized mirror can serve the same purpose—opening up the space and bouncing light for a brighter, airier feel. 5. Rethink your rug placement (not just the rug) The rug may not seem like the most flexible part of your decor, but as O’Brien asserts, a small shift in placement can change a room’s flow. “Sometimes all it takes is rotating it, or pulling it away from the wall,” she explains. “Repositioning can better anchor your furniture and improve layout.” Her advice is to make sure larger furniture like sofas or beds has at least the front legs sitting on the rug. Smaller pieces can sit fully inside it, creating a sense of connection and balance. If a rug doesn’t work in one room, try it in another. “That rug that’s too small in the living room might be perfect for your guest bedroom,” O’Brien adds. When shopping for a new one, come prepared with furniture measurements and fabric swatches. That way, you’ll find a size and color that actually work with your space. A quick and easy home refresh to match a new season You don’t need dramatic changes to fall back in love with your home. The updates that make the biggest impact are often the simplest. They’re the ones that help you feel more at ease, more inspired, and more in control of your environment. Whether you’re realigning your rug, restyling a shelf, or simply giving your walls some TLC, these moments of design care can reflect and support the life you want to live in the year ahead. Remember, sometimes the best way to shift your mindset is to shift the space around you, even just a little.   Did this story stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.