Although exams are upon us and days of darkness lie ahead, I’m here to offer you a positive distraction that may just inspire you to push forward. In light of the constantly negative and frequently frightening current events we’ve been hearing about in the news, I’m here to give you some hope for humanity. Here are the top eight heartening, truly uplifting moments of the year that are bound to make your day at least slightly better.
8. A boy and an older man that are 57 years apart have a conversation
This month, FACTS posted a wise yet sweet video that recorded a young boy and older man having a conversation about life, love and aging, according to TODAY. At the end, both participants offered advice to each other that everyone should really be remembering. “You don’t have to be rich to be happy,” the man says. “Do the things you like doing that make you feel good, because when you’re happy yourself, everybody else is happy.” Meanwhile, the boy also offered important words of wisdom. “Don’t be silly. Don’t bully lots of people. My friend Alex in school, whenever he gets hurt, I hug him,” said the boy.
7. Santa uses sign language
A British mall Santa made a young girl’s day when he was able to communicate with her through sign language, according to TODAY. The viral video shows the toddler’s mother apologizing for her daughter’s inability to speak well, but Santa handled the situation like a pro. “As soon as it happened, the whole area just went silent. Everyone was just spellbound by it. People were crying in the crowd,” said Graeme Skillen, the Cleveland Shopping Centre manager. “Members of our security staff were almost crying. It was just an amazing moment.”
6. People react to being called beautiful
Shea Glover, 18, was originally conducting an independent project that turned into a social one when she asked students and teachers from her high school to pose for a photo. While recording she told them the purpose of her project: “I’m taking pictures of things I find beautiful.” The response? Genuinely humbling reactions that show the impact a subtle compliment can have on a person, reminding us all how far a kind gesture can go to make someone’s day.
5. First-generation Americans talk about the American Dream
Buzzfeed gets real with this video interviewing first-generation Americans about how they envision the American Dream. The interviews were filled with words of hope. Many sought opportunities not only to aspire to their ambitions but also as a way to thank their parents and support them. Their experiences serve to teach us to be grateful and see things from a perspective not many may take the time to understand.
4. Santa tell autistic boy it’s okay to be himself
Need another reason to believe in Santa Claus? Well, the real one may have made an appearance at a Michigan mall this month when he interacted with Landon Johnson, a young boy who feared being on the naughty list because of his autism, according to MLive. “I said no one is naughty. We are always trying to do better,” said the Michigan mall Santa as he took Landon’s hand. “There are no children on the naughty list. They are all on the good list.” Naomi Johnson, the young boy’s mother, shared the moment on the mall’s Facebook page. She said that the moment touched her heart because it gave her child the confidence to talk about himself, which she added does not happen often, reports MLive.
3. Barbie gets it right and encourages girls to imagine the possibilities.
“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that, through the doll, the girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices,” said Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie. This commercial is downright adorable, and while it is humorous, it does promote an important message about showing girls at a young age just how far their ambitions can take them without gender limitations.
2. UF family reunion during Ole Miss game.
Besides UF’s victory, another cry-worthy moment was in the first half during a break in play when a serviceman was reunited with his family after his fifth completed tour in Afghanistan, according to SEC Country. Chief Warrant Officer Kristian Denkins surprised his four children and wife on the field, which resulted in loud cheers from the crowd and tears from his shocked family.
1. Little girl who lost her family to arson gets her Christmas wish.
Although her background story is terribly tragic, Sa’fyre Terry rose above it all and is celebrating her new cards and gifts, thanks to Facebook. In May 2013, an arson fire broke out in her home, burning 75 percent of her body and killing her father and three siblings, reports ABC News. Now all the little girl wants for Christmas is cards for her card tree, which has come true thanks to the powers of social media and holiday spirit. “She’s a living message to people that there’s hope, and no matter what you can get through anything,” said Liz Dolder, her aunt. “That’s why we share Sa’fyre with everyone.”
Our final exams may be draining and your life (along with your GPA) may seem to be going downhill, but we all need to remember that there are some things bigger than a test score. These top eight moments are the truest example of how the season of kindness can rise above the darkest of times and can serve as inspiration to keep moving forward. Happy holidays to all, and may the exam scores be ever in your favor!
Photo Credits:
www.seccountry.com
www.abcnews.go.com
www.mlive.com
www.today.com
www.pinterest.com