In today’s world, there is so much negativity. You can barely watch the news without hearing death reports or natural disasters. So many people avoid watching the news because it is full of sad or scary stories. Every day, people are doing things that are worth recognizing. People are returning home from war, getting engaged, or overcoming adversity. Sometimes you watch a video and it tugs at your heart strings. Something about the video connects to you and it makes you emotional, in a good way. These videos aren’t stories that were necessarily reported on the news, some were, but many weren’t. These videos motivate me to be a better person. I compiled a list of videos that are filled with so much love and happiness that you may be moved to tears like I was. These are the stories that I wish I could hear about more often. We only see the darkness in the news, so here is some light.
Welcome Home
Members of the military come home every day. When a military man or woman surprises their family, you can’t help but tear up. Below are some of the most powerful videos that I found on YouTube.
Daddy’s Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooh-Mfour80
Son With Cerebral Palsy Walks to His Military Father for the First Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hU6gR4zHnM
ESPN Homecoming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dKWq0CzK-k
Marine Surprises Sister on Her Wedding Day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfj4s7OaMZQ
Will You Marry Me?
Many girls dream of the day they get engaged. So, watching men plan and propose to their girlfriend can bring out many emotions- the “that could be me one day” emotions. There is also something about seeing grown men tear up and show these feelings that also makes me tear up.
From Middle School to Marriage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc6Q8kC0Qe4
First Date to One Knee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVTr5MNa_8Y
Marry Me: The (Fake) Musical
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCarqdOldE0
Visually Impaired Man Proposes After Seeing for the First Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNp_jc0nPY
Seeing the World
Unless you are born blind or become blind throughout your life, you can never understand what it is like to not see. The ability to see the world around you is often taken for granted. With advancements in technology, some blind people have been given their vision and are seeing the world for the first time.
Two Blind Sisters See Each Other for the First Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EltIpB4EtYU
Blind Man Sees Wife for the First TIme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqnCEgi_URs
A World in Color
They may have their eyesight, but to live in a world without seeing the true color of the grass or the flowers can be difficult. A world in black and white is not nearly as beautiful as a world in color.
People Seeing Color for the First Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9nYSJLwXEI
Hearing the World
Like blindness, deafness can only be imagined if you’ve been deaf yourself. Having a phone call or hearing waves is often taken advantage of. It may be annoying to hear your mom yell at you, but hearing no sound at all is by far more difficult. With new visual technologies, more auditory technologies are also being invented.
29 Year Old and Hearing for the First Time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOo3jzkhYA
Compilation of Hearing for the First TIme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N69APck0fUw
A Turkish Town Learned Sign Language for Deaf Woman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otUJzNtRPhw
One Foot in Front of the Other
Everyone learns to walk when they are a toddler. It is a part of life- a baby’s first steps. Unless of course, you are born with some disease or condition that impairs your ability. Then there are people who had that ability taken away by an injury or a condition developed later. These are the people that must learn to take the first steps again.
Surprising A Nurse by Walking Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U96qP-gWWPo
First Steps at Graduation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJJOdjlRbQo
We’re Your Family Now
Not everyone is fortunate to have two loving parents. Some are born to no loving parents and are put into foster care and others lose their parents through tragedy. Getting adopted is one of the greatest days in someone’s life. Being able to adopt is also one of the greatest days in someone’s life. Adoption proves that family isn’t reliant on blood relationships, but the love you share.
Alex and Britney Adopted from Foster Care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyLGbhVWnTo
Adopted by Stepfather at Graduation Party
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCLb5MKz8gg
Adoption Gift for Stepfather’s Birthday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_oSboUiJwg
Reunited
Some people don’t know their family- they get separated for one reason or another. Finally meeting or seeing your family after separation is so special. In other cases, your paths crossed in the past and you meet again. You never know if a good deed will come back to change your life. Reunions are full of emotion.
Twins Reunite After 70 Years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0G0Eub6YmY
Twins Separated at Birth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeNKMxsqYE
Sir Nicholas Winton Saved Their Lives, and They Reunite to Thank Him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQzqfsgftBo
Cop Saved A Man’s Life 19 Years Earlier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBO8Q-52md8
10 Years Later, Mom and Son Reunite