Art & Good News 12-30-2023
Weekly roundup for December 30th, 2023 with art and uplifting stories
Starting with some art…
Eeyore is the ultimate example of pessimism. Given the world today it can be easy to see the world as he does. Most news outlets take the Eeyore approach to what is going on. They look at the downside and instead of offering solutions they only tell you what is wrong. As we approach 2024, we need to remember the positive and good we can do in the world, we need to look for the solutions and the opportunities to improve our lives. We can make the world a better place for us and for those who follow us if we remember that we don’t always have a storm cloud over our heads.
Now to the Good News…
For this last post of the year I am choosing 3 stories from my most popular Good News posts over the past year. Happy New Year all you wonderful people; may your 2024 be amazing!!
Breaking the ice: Swedish city combats winter loneliness with “say hello” campaign
Winter has come to the northern hemisphere, and with the cold season in full swing up here Sweden has rolled out a campaign that is designed to combat loneliness. Called “Säg hej! (say hello!)”, it is designed to help people feel seen and that in turn brings with it a feeling of warmth to the cold winter months. I think we all have had feelings of loneliness in our lives and the act of a smile or a nod can go a long way to making people feel less alone. It can also foster a sense of belonging and inclusion for immigrants, or those who might otherwise feel like they are outsiders. Personally, I had never really considered how far a simple hello could go and I am resolving to make more of an effort to do this small act of kindness.
Inside the world’s first native bee sanctuary (plus, how to really save bees)
We all want to help the pollinators of the world, but the owner of the world’s first native bee sanctuary says we are going about it all wrong. We can do more, and those steps we can take are quite easy to do. If we leave our outdoor spaces as wild as possible, stop using chemicals on our lawns, and eat organic (agricultural pesticides kill pollinators). I try to make sure my garden beds are full of wildflowers every spring and summer, and my littles love when the butterflies start coming around.
Artist Creates ‘Encyclopedia of Invisibility’ To Tell Lost Stories
Do you know who Matthew Henson is? I didn’t either, but he was a co-discoverer of the North Pole and the inspiration for Tavares Strachan to create an Encyclopedia of invisibility. He recently did a TED talk on the 12-year endeavor, and personally, I have never wanted a book more. With 17,000 entries, it is amazing to have so many stories saved from being lost to history.
Thank you so much for joining me on my journey through the good news this week. We need to remember that there is light at the end of every tunnel and that together we can make the world a better place.
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