This year has been... something. Between some uproarious elections and world crises, everyone is ready for this year to be done. It's been rough, but not fear not! I have compiled a list of (just a few) things that made this year okay.
You'll probably see a million of this same kind of article in the next couple weeks, and that's totally fine by me. Let's flood our news feeds with positivity, rather than with all the bad things that happened this year.
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Things aren't all bad, I promise.
1. Giant pandas are no longer endangered
Look at this baby! We're happy for you, giant pandas.
Read more about it here.
2. A meme actually accomplished something
Remember the "Ice Bucket Challenge" that was making its rounds in late 2014? Well, with the money raised from the challenge, a gene that causes ALS was discovered-- a true breakthrough in the study of the deadly disease.
Read more here.
3. Volunteers in India planted more than 50 million trees in 24 hours
In an effort to implement "reforestation" and to fight climate change, more than 50 million trees were planted in India in just 24 hours this year. That's a pretty good thing, if you ask me!
Check it out right here!
4. The US Army began offering 12 weeks paid maternity leave
This is double the amount that they had been getting previously. And it's paid!
Take a look here.
5. People donated to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence's name
And women everywhere laughed the entire time.
Read about it here.
6. Sweden literally ran out of garbage
Sweden is so good at recycling that they ran out of trash. Now they have to import it from neighboring countries, just so they can recycle more. Nice job, Sweden!
Check it out right here.
7. Dick Van Dyke promised to make an appearance in the remake of "Mary Poppins"
How can anyone not be excited?
(Also Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda will be in it. There is a God!)
Here it is.
8. Coffee consumption was proven to decrease suicide AND cancer rates
As if we weren't thankful enough for coffee.
Here are the facts!
9. Bob Ross finally got his spot on Netflix
Now you can see him make happy little trees as often as you want.
Read the article about his Netflix debut here.
10. Child mortality rates are down all over the world, and they keep decreasing
Enough said!
Check it out here.
There are so many other things that made this year half decent, too. In a year like the one we are wrapping up, it's easy to overlook the good. But, we have to keep these kinds of stories on our radar in order to move forward.
Don't let the bad things be forgotten, but don't forget that there is still good in the world, too.
