The world is draining, lives are chaotic and sometimes you can feel suffocated by negativity. But do not forget — there is an unbelievable amount of good happening in the world right now, and I urge you to take five minutes out of your day to let some positivity blossom in your life. Below are some uplifting recent events that have occurred. Hear about the joy, and leave feeling lighter than before. Perhaps one of the moments will even make you smile. Give yourself a break and a chance to remember that even though the world is sometimes cruel, there is still an overflowing amount of good in it.
- Memunatu – A British surgeon just saved the life of Memunatu, a baby with a fatal tumor on her neck. The abscess was compressing her airway, and Dr. Leo Cheng from Royal London Hospital repaired it. The best part: it was done through Mercy Ships, so the operation was completely free for her family.
- Healing hearts – Scientists have found a way to reactivate a gene that creates new heart cells. This gene originally turns off after birth. If scientists continue with this breakthrough, the human heart can begin to repair itself after damage like a heart attack, and it could end up saving the lives of millions of individuals.
- Cake Giver – Manolo Betancur, owner of Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves the homeless population near his town with free cakes. He has been giving back to the community for 12 years, touching others’ lives deeply. This year marked his 300th birthday cake delivery.
- The Earthshot Prize – Founded in 2020 by Prince William, current heir to the British throne, The Earthshot Prize, is an initiative to propose solutions to environmental problems. The Earthshot Prize just announced its 2025 winners. Bogotá, Colombia was one of the winners, noted for its strenuous efforts to cut air pollution. By creating the biggest cycle network (routes for bicycles instead of cars) in South America and reducing speed limits everywhere, they have cut air pollution by a quarter since 2018. It is expected that they will be carbon-neutral by 2050. Other winners included re.green, which is focused on restoring Brazil’s Atlantic Forest; Lagos Fashion Week, which makes environmentally sustainable clothing and Friendship, which helps Bangladeshi communities prepare for natural disasters and access public services.
- Next Chapter – In 2021, Colorado created a pilot program called Next Chapter, which paired veterans with mentors to give them a strong support network. Colorado’s veteran suicide rate used to be higher than the national average, but as of June, it was found that more than 80% of veterans reported a decrease in suicidal thoughts and self-harm. Next Chapter is directly making a positive impact in the Colorado community, shaping veterans’ futures and redefining the stigma associated with their post-service health.
- Seaside Outing – Breadline Africa, a nonprofit poverty relief organization in Southern Africa, hosted their 25th year of the Seaside Outing. It is a day when they take toddlers to experience the beach for the first time. For some of the children, it is their first time building sand castles and collecting shells. Local businesses and community members donate beach day materials like sunscreen and flip flops. It marks a day of learning, love and laughter.
Even though these wonderful stories do not erase the hard parts of the world, they remind us that goodness is constantly unfolding in quiet corners and unexpected places. Goodness does not ask for attention; it just keeps going, keeps healing, keeps creating joy. Let these moments be proof that the world is still full of people choosing kindness, innovation and care. Hold onto that — hold onto Memunatu’s tumor-free smile, the people fighting for their Earth or the children playing at the beach for the first time. Let it soften your day, even if just for a moment.
The next time everything feels heavy, remember that somewhere out there, someone is making the world a little brighter — and that light always travels farther than we think.