In today’s media, there are a lot of negative, frustrating, and disappointing stories being published every second, but I am here to provide some good news to hopefully brighten your day. Reader’s Digest: Canada article, “Good News Stories From Around the World That Will Brighten Your Day” covered over 110 positive stories that will definitely put a smile on your face, so the following are a few of my favorite stories reported. 

26-year-old Adrià Ballester sits in front of Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf with a sign that offers free conversations. Ballester explains that humanity has lost the art of conversing freely, for the sake of it. In today’s world, it is simpler to just send a text or snap or any other form of virtual communication, but he wants to revive the practice of face-to-face communication.

 He has learned a lot from the individuals he spoke with, highlighting a conversation between himself and a 70-year-old Lithuanian woman regarding her time in a Russian concentration camp. Personally, I love this story, as people’s diverse experiences are highlighted, and I completely agree with Ballester’s message, for humanity is a slave to technology and we act like puppets for social media. 

39-year-old suicide bomber attack survivor, Neil Heritage, lost both of his legs in 2004; however, Heritage does not let his disability interrupt his adventures. Aside from his several achievements, he became the first above-the-knee double amputee to scale the Matterhorn, located in Switzerland– quite the accomplishment!

Italy’s oldest graduate, Giuseppe Paternò, earns first-class honors in philosophy, where he attended Sicily’s University of Palermo. At 96 years old, Paternò explains that it is “one of the happiest days of [his] entire life,” and that he has accomplished one of his dreams. He could not enroll in his youth due to the obstructions presented by the draft to war and his impoverished upbringing, but has accomplished to do so today– so heartwarming! 

The Dutch city of Utrecht has converted several of its bus stops into shelters and sanctuaries for bees. Over 300 of these “bee stops” have been advantageous for the environment and the bees, and on top of its eco-friendliness already, the team who cares for each location utilizes electric vehicles.

Although many of these stories start off sad and depressing, I love to see how people and cities make the best of the situations to better themselves that ultimately benefit society!