One of the biggest benefits of traveling abroad is being able to return home and get a fresh perspective on where you live.
French engineer Geoffroy de Reynal had a powerful awakening after leaving his home for a year and coming back.
"I was living abroad in Montenegro for a year, and there are not much people living outside there," he told ABC News. "When I came back to France, I was surprised by the number of homeless in the streets, so I decided to come up with an idea to help them."
France has seen an increase in homeless over the past decade due to the global financial crisis as well as an influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East. According to France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), more than 12,000 people sleep on the streets of France.
"In most cities, the official homeless help program is saturated, even in wintertime. Every one of us have seen people unsheltered sleeping straight under the snow," Reynal said.
In the winter of 2018, Reynal used his own money to create an igloo-like dwelling that traps body heat inside so the homeless can stay warm sleeping outdoors. The igloos are made from Polyethylene foam, a material that retains body heat.
The igloos are lightweight and foldable so they are easy to transport from place to place.
The shelters are covered in aluminum foil to keep the weather out and heat in. The inventor says that the inside of one of his igloos can be up to 50° F warmer than the outside.
After seeing that his early models were a success, Reynal started a crowdfunding campaign where he received around $20,000.
"Using my resources and the money from the crowdfunding campaign, I built 20 igloos prototypes this winter and distributed ten in Bordeaux, and ten additional in Paris," he said.
Over the past two years, the "Iglou" — French for igloo — project has expanded its reach to the Czech Republic and Reynal has no plans of slowing down.
"My ambition is to produce these igloos on a large scale, hundreds or even thousands of them," he said. "I also want to make some improvements: putting wheels under the igloos to make them easier to transport, or build larger modular igloos for families."
He also hopes to bring his invention to the United States where homelessness is on the rise.
"In countries like Poland, there are lots of people living in the streets," he said. "In the U.S., igloos could be very useful in cities such as Chicago that are very cold and snowy during the winter."
Reynal's igloos are the perfect example of someone using their unique talents to help those who need it the most. Imagine how much of a better place the world would be if we all took our special talents and used them to help those in need?
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.