You may not believe that 2018 was a great year because we often don’t hear about the good news. We did have many challenges as a nation and as a planet, but we also had many tremendously beautiful, inspiring things happen.
Conventional news trends towards the negative. We have an instinctive bias towards the negative so that we can be watchful for danger. It’s important to give the good news equal time.
There are so many great people out there doing daily, quiet acts of beauty in humble ways that have a tremendous positive impact on the world. There’s even one story about animals doing kind acts.
Many of these stories made me tear up. I hope you enjoy them. Let’s spread more good news and positivity into the world in 2019. Here are 15 stories to inspire you.
For Animals:
1. Man finds meaning playing piano for rescued elephants
Watching these giant, intelligent creatures enjoying music (especially the blind one) is magical. This you’ve got to see.
2. Baby Cow Escapes Slaughterhouse and Is Raised by Deer Family in Snowy Forest
This amazing occurrence was captured on video. It sounds like something out of a fairy tale, but it’s real. Animals can be so compassionate. You’ve got to see this.
3. Animal Lovers Celebrate ‘Clear The Shelters’ With Pics Of Pets Finding New Homes
Oh this will warm your heart.
4. Uber driver stops on busy NY road to rescue injured hawk
Many drove by but this hero decided to take compassionate action. “When you have a big heart, you do something,” said Kasim Eldilemi. Exactly! It only takes one kind person to make a difference.
5. Hawaiian man free dives and spends 45 minutes to cut rope off the neck of a 20-foot long endangered shark.
The man repeatedly dove to depths of up to 60 feet, holding his breath for long periods of time, to free the shark, who appears to wait calmly for the man to finish helping. The man’s son filmed the rescue while his daughter swam the 150 pound rope to shore so it couldn’t endanger any more creatures. So many blessings to this family!
People Helping People:
6. Single father on a NYC subway is visibly struggling as he tries to help his 9 year old son with math homework.
As a total stranger comes to his aid, it was captured in an image that has gone viral and inspired comments such as ‘there is hope for us all’ and ‘I really love seeing [expletive] like this especially in New York because we really just don’t give a [expletive] about what the person next to us is going thru.’ Read this beautiful story here.
7. Family brought to tears after store employee aids young man with autism to stock shelves, an act the boys father calls ‘a miracle in action.’
A young man followed his intuition and patiently tuned into the desires of a stranger, without expectation of anything in return (although he ended up with a car and a college scholarship as a result of his kindness!).
“I was just being me, that’s it. I just wanted to help somebody out, enjoy something,” said Jordan as he wiped away tears. Read this heartwarming story here.
8. Malian immigrant is dubbed Spiderman after he saves life of French child hanging from a balcony by scaling the outside of a building
While many just watched, this young man sprang into action, endangering his own life but saving the baby who was miraculously hanging on by his fingers. His brave actions were rewarded with expedited citizenship. See the story about how this undocumented immigrant became a national hero here.
9. Drag queens move in, brighten the lives (and improve health) of residents at retirement home
This you’ve got to see. The drag queens brought Zumba classes, aromatherapy, nail sessions, false eyelashes, and lots of sparkle — all intended to brighten the lives of those in elder care. A wonderfully creative act of healing and fun. And FYI if I’m ever in housing for the elderly, please bring me drag queens. 😀 Check it out.
10. 8-Year-Old Boy Stops Traffic to Help Elderly Stranger
This little guy may be small but he’s a true gentleman. Watch as he asks his mom to pull their car over so he can assist an elderly woman with a walker trying to climb her stairs.
For the Planet:
11. Bye-Bye Plastic
As of the end of 2018, at least 32 countries around the world now have plastic bag bans in place — and nearly half are in Africa! China said it had seen a 66% reduction in plastic bag usage since the rollout of its 2008 ban, and that it has avoided the use of an estimated 40 billion bags.
India’s second most populous state, Maharashtra, home to 116 million people, banned all single use plastic (including packaging) and India’s environment minister also announced the country would eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022.
Adidas expects to sell 5 million pairs of shoes made from ocean plastic this year, and committed to using only recycled plastic in its products by 2024. Hooray!
12. Young people around the world are taking matters into their own hands and demanding action.
Meet the 15-year-old Swedish girl on strike from school on behalf of the planet. She says: “I am doing this because nobody else is doing anything. It is my moral responsibility to do what I can.” Amen, my sister!
One of her teachers says: “Greta is a troublemaker, she is not listening to adults. But we are heading full speed for a catastrophe, and in this situation, the only reasonable thing is to be unreasonable.” Here’s to the troublemakers.
13. Village in India Plants 111 Trees Every Time a Little Girl is Born
In this region where historically, the birth of a girl was considered a burden, locals are rejecting that unfortunate cultural norm in a way that both celebrates girls and helps the environment. I love creative solutions to age-old problems! Read about this win-win here.
14. 12-Year-Old Girl Helps to Save Monarch Butterflies
After hearing Jane Goodall speak about the dire plight of the monarch butterfly, this young woman sprang into action and galvanized her whole city! Now the threatened monarchs have a rest stop on their migratory route. Read more here.
15. Tiny Nation of Palau Bans Sunscreen that Harms Coral
Sunscreen plays a tragic role in killing coral. Now that we know, steps are being taken to save our reefs before it’s too late. Thank you, Palau, for taking the lead.
How are you inspired to bring more goodness into 2019? How will you focus your attention on goodness so it can infiltrate everyday and spread? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.
Thank you for reading and for all the good you bring into the world everyday, just by being you!
Wishing you many blessings,
Erin
Have a friend who might enjoy some good news? Please share this with them!
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You can join me for an online Mindfulness Training or Mindfulness Teacher Training. Click here for details.
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