Stories that inspire   Courtesy of Alexandria Police Department These cops donated a piggy bank full of money after thieves stole one from a young boy The yellow piggy bank was shaped like the popular Pokemon character Pikachu. By Dana Hedgpeth  •  Read more » With Obama visit, Cubans hope for home run in baseball diplomacy The Castro regime will press for a deal to allow Cuban players to sign directly with Major League teams. By Aaron C. Davis  •  Read more »   While his parents slept, this 7-year-old boy’s life was saved by Jedi, his diabetes-sniffing dog Thanks to a super sense of smell that scientists still don't quite understand, diabetes-alert dogs know that their owners are in peril even before an alarm goes off. By Sarah Kaplan  •  Read more »   3 ways in which a 3D printer may one day save your life The 3D printing industry is struggling, but health care applications could bring great benefits. By Bhaskar Chakravorti  •  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Hero professor who helped Flint families now working with nonprofit to test anyone’s water for lead They're doing more than just talking about the problem. By Colby Itkowitz  •  Read more »   A principal met a student she expelled, and it changed her approach to discipline The encounter made her examine her own role in the school-to-prison pipeline. By Emma Brown  •  Read more »   Peyton Manning’s handwritten letters to his fellow players left an indelible mark Manning, who retired after 18 seasons Monday, paid his respects the old-fashioned way. By Kent Babb  •  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   These are the 11,000 soldiers who might save Afghanistan But the commandos and special forces fear they are being overused — and misused. By Tim Craig  •  Read more »   These teen scientists, vying for $1 million in scholarships, will give you faith in the future They're solving problems related to kidney disease, lung disease and plastic litter. By Emma Brown  •  Read more »   Flesh-colored tights: Empowering my daughter through dance I had never seen ballet tights this color in person. With a color palette that included Toasted Almond, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mocha and Espresso, my daughter's dance experience began to sink in. By Garlia Cornelia Jones-Ly  •  Read more »   Recommended for you   In Sight A curated view of your world in photos, in your inbox weekly. Sign Up »         Share The Optimist:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you signed up for The Optimist or because it is included in your subscription. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071