A Little Good News: 6 Things Worth Smiling About This Month

There are some happy things going on right now and we should celebrate them! Sometimes its a family of beavers making headlines and other times its students finding a way to solve a microplastic problem.

Here’s some happy news for your day:

1. Kids are reading for fun again

For the first time in about five years, more kids say they actually enjoy reading. Around 36% of 8 to 18 year olds now read for fun, and the number is climbing instead of dropping. If you have been meaning to pick up a book that has nothing to do with a school, this is your sign.

2. Three teens invented a way to pull microplastics out of water

Three teenagers won the Global Earth Prize for a powder made from tamarind that grabs microplastics and pulls them out of water. They are still in high school. It is a good reminder that you do not have to wait until you have it all figured out to make something that matters.

3. A six year old found a Viking sword on a school field trip

On a normal school outing, a six year old spotted something in the ground that turned out to be a Viking sword buried for about 1,300 years. Most field trips end with a gift shop keychain. This one ended with actual history.

4. A guy mowing lawns raised $685,000 for a grieving neighbor

Someone who posts videos of himself mowing lawns for free started mowing for a senior who had lost her husband and was struggling with rent. It turned into a fundraiser that pulled in $685,000. Small kindness, very large ripple.

5. Laughing actually helps your brain learn

New research found that laughing does not only feel good, it makes your brain more resilient and makes learning a little easier. So the study break where you and your friends cannot stop laughing at nothing is doing more for you than it looks like.

6. Beavers fixed a flooding problem in London for free

A council in west London had a flooding problem that would have cost a lot to fix. A family of beavers moved in and handled it themselves. Nature quietly solving the problem without being asked.

What happy news have you heard lately?