Training

We practice positivity today to build a better tomorrow.

Happy Monday everyone!

Welcome to our new subscribers, and welcome back to returning subscribers! 😁 I am so thankful you are here. I couldn’t ask for a better audience to grow with; you have all been incredibly kind and patient, giving me encouragement in the comments and in person while I learn what works and what doesn’t.

Photo by Charles Forerunner on Unsplash

Paid subscribers have heard this before, but I am working on adjusting my writing schedule to better serve each of you with consistent posts. While I love bringing you all deep dives like Addition > Division and What We Make, the research involved in them often takes 10+ hours. I have a few of those posts in the works, however, most weeks will switch to a shorter post with one or two highlighted news stories.

Have a positive story you want me to highlight, topic you want me to deep dive, or a question you want answered? Post them in the comments or send them to me at Seeds@SowingHope.how 🌱

And now, lets get into the meat of why you come to Sowing Hope! 😁

Seeds Are Sprouting

We’ve got two stories close to my heart. Both are going to improve a lot of peoples’ lives and give them space to enjoy their lives more.

Lower Costs for Seniors

Last year, part of the Inflation Reduction Act began capping insulin for seniors at $35 per month, giving the generations who worked their whole lives a bit of breathing room in their budgets. Before the provision started in 2023, many older Americans with diabetes paid $400+ per month or had to ration the medicine they needed because they couldn’t afford it. The cost to produce a month of insulin is about $15, so now families can much more reliably get the medicine they need.

Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Starting in 2024, seniors’ annual out of pocket costs are also capped at $3,300 for the year. Additionally, Medicare can now negotiate the prices it pays with the pharmaceutical companies for 10 drugs. That’s huge to help lower healthcare costs for seniors.

Here is the link to more information an everything in the above 2 paragraphs about lower healthcare costs for seniors (link). It’s a gift link, so no paywall 😎

To those of you with extra wisdom 😉, I hope these benefits make things better for you and those in your circle.

High Speed Rail

I mentioned in the December Rested post how we were getting huge investments in rail infrastructure. We talked about how the upgrades and expansions include Washington, Florida, California, and Maine plus states in between like my home state of Tennessee.

In addition to those investments, we now have more information about another high speed rail project. This time in Texas, the project would connect Dallas and Houston to cut travel time in half. The project will also help save lives by giving people an option to avoid Interstate 45 which was deemed the deadliest road in the U.S. Giving Texans another option that is safer and faster is definitely something to look forward to.

Here is the link to more information an everything in the above 2 paragraphs on the project (link).

Congratulations to my Texan readers. 😁 🚉

Final Thoughts

I attended a community meeting tonight seeking solutions to help people without homes. I’ll likely do a deeper dive about how my community is working together to improve lives…but I have to say it was up-lifting. A room full of local leaders and average citizens who just want to be there for their neighbors.

It was healthcare workers, elected officials, teachers, mental health professionals, and so many others coming together and find solutions to meet the needs of humans in our community.

That’s it for tonight. Comment below with what you’re doing to help your community and don’t forget to be awesome. 🎉