Hey, y’all! Welcome to the very first edition of the David Begnaud newsletter. Think of this as our weekly catch-up — a place for joy, inspiration, and those little reminders that the ordinary can actually be pretty extraordinary. My hope is that this space feels good to you, that it makes you smile, maybe even sparks people to make a difference in some small way. I’m really excited you’re here!
This week… the cop who worked overtime for a stranger, the woman who waited 80 years to become a flower girl, and the comedy audience that saved a life.
Also, if you could do me a favor… it would mean the world to me if you could spread the word by sending this email to five friends. And if you’re one of the lucky friends to have been forwarded this email: Welcome! You can subscribe right here.
Stories Sent To Me By You
“I finally got my wish at 88 years old.”
That’s Marianne Baumgarten from Minnesota, who sent me the most beautiful reminder that dreams do come true… even if they are postponed.
At 8 years old, Marianne was set to be the flower girl in her dad’s cousin’s wedding. As she describes it, fulfilling that role was to be the “highlight” of her childhood.
But, little Marianne was struck with measles just before the wedding, and was heartbroken to learn she wouldn’t be able to perform her duties with the illness. It just wasn’t safe for her to attend.
“I couldn’t be consoled,” Marianne said … even as her family promised she’d get another chance one day.
Fast forward decades later to the pandemic of 2020. Marianne, not wanting to go to the grocery store alone, turned to the app Nextdoor to see if someone would be kind enough to accompany her. A neighbor named Elizabeth volunteered, and the two quickly became friends.
In time, Elizabeth and her boyfriend had a little girl, Willa, and later decided to marry. When wedding plans were made, Elizabeth gave Marianne the surprise of her life: an invitation to join now-three-year-old Willa as one of the flower girls.
Courtesy of Elizabeth Judd
Courtesy of Elizabeth Judd
Eighty years after her childhood heartbreak, Marianne finally walked down the aisle with flowers in hand — her dream fulfilled.
Thank you, Marianne, for sharing this gem of a story. If you have a story that you think we’d all smile about and love to hear, write to me. Click the link below and send it to me and my team.
In the sweltering Detroit-summer heat, 70-year-old Dory Oliver gripped a walker in one hand and a lawnmower in the other, determined to tame her overgrown yard.
Three companies had promised to help her, but none showed.
That’s when Officer Jonathan Cox noticed. Moved, he told her to “go inside.” He’d “be back after work.”
True to his word, Officer Cox returned after his long 12-hour shift, ready to serve.
From @davidbegnaud IG
From @davidbegnaud IG
And he went above and beyond the call of duty. Not only did he mow her lawn, but he also cleared the gutters, removed debris, and worked until the yard was transformed into something unrecognizable. Something beautiful.
It took two days of work, but Cox insisted he felt “blessed to help others.”
Dory, stunned by his kindness, said, “I’m still in awe of what he did for me. He doesn’t even know me.” Today, she calls him her “adopted grandson.”
What started as a simple act of service grew into something far more lasting: a bond that turned two strangers into family.
It’s a reminder that the slightest gesture — like mowing a yard or checking on a neighbor — can reveal the best of humanity.
DO SOMETHING GOOD
Send a note to the Wyandotte Police Department in appreciation of Officer Cox
Quote That Hit Me
“If you have health, you have hope, and if you have hope, you have everything.”
What other content should I create?
Stories From The Week
☀️ At a comedy show in Spokane, a man suffered a heart attack mid-performance. What happened next was remarkable: the comedian, Drew Lynch, stopped the show, and strangers in the audience sprang into action.
For more than five minutes, the man had no pulse. But thanks to the quick, coordinated efforts of total strangers, he was revived right there in the club.
CPR saves lives. Get CPR certified.
☀️ In late August, two homes were destroyed by a fire in Utah. There, three teenagers — Carter Jacobson, Gabriel Hernandez, and Cammerin Inselsberger — sprang into action.
The group of teens saw smoke in the neighborhood as they got closer to the home. They heard a dog crying for help, and they ran toward danger instead of away. Their split-second decision saved lives...
He Beat Cancer With A Song
Roger Blevins Jr. spent decades touring the world, his soulful voice filling rooms with joy. Then cancer took most of his tongue, leaving doctors unsure if he’d ever sing again. Today, against all odds, his voice has returned — carrying not just a melody, but a testimony.
From You…
Reactions to our stories from last week
“I love watching your show because every segment makes every person want to be a better person. It’s not the celebrities, it’s not well-known people, it’s everyday people like me, and it’s like hey, they did it, she did. O!? She overcame this? I can do it too. I’m serious!”
“In the current situation in the USA, your articles are a lifeline of hope, compassion, and kindness. Thank you for showing us that there’s good out there, even in the middle of the storm we’re in.”
“‘Compassion’ is a subject that should be taught in every elementary school in this country — wouldn’t be difficult to develop a curriculum if all the teachers had easy access to your hundreds of meaningful stories that you and CBS have brought to us through the years!”
Send us your feedback for a chance to be featured here. All you have to do is reply to this email. We can’t wait to hear from you!
What I'm Enjoying
📓 Book: Barry Diller, a legendary personality in media, shares his public and private battles amid running Paramount, Fox, and now, IAC, in his memoir.
📺 Watching: Bad Bunny’s residency concert, livestreamed from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Prime Video, Amazon Music, and Twitch.
On A Personal Note…
Judge Frank Caprio — known as the “kindest judge in America” — has passed away. I met him in Providence while profiling him after his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. What struck me was his buoyancy, even in the face of tough news. In his late 80s, he walked me through the home where he grew up without running water, the place he first lived, and the courtroom where he became a legend.
He had become an international sensation — not for being loud, cruel, or judgmental — but for being kind. His mercy and humanity went viral.
What if more of us tried to trip the algorithms with that?
—David
Made with love by David Begnaud and the team.
Stories that set your soul on fire.
