Good News: Things to smile about this week, January 31, 2021

By Nanci Dixon
In the midst of an abundance of bad news – rising COVID numbers, unemployment, evictions, homelessness and hunger – some good news stories still bubble to the surface.

We find ourselves mostly posting bad, sad or frustrating news in our Sunday newsletter. It’s not our fault, of course, but we want to make sure you come here and smile too. That’s why we’re bringing you this “Good News” column.

“LIVE AS IF YOU WERE TO DIE TOMORROW. LEARN AS IF YOU WERE TO LIVE FOREVER.” —Mahatma Gandhi

 It’s never too late to reach for your dream. Giuseppe Paternò did just that when, at 96, he received first-class honors from the University of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. He didn’t start working toward his degree until 2017. He was prevented from attending university by war and poverty when he was a young boy. While his neighbors and friends didn’t understand why he was doing all this at his advanced age, he said graduating was “One of the happiest days of his entire life.”

“JUST TRY NEW THINGS. DON’T BE AFRAID. STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONES AND SOAR, ALL RIGHT?” —Michelle Obama

Dreaming of trying something new too? This woman just needed some support.

Two young skaters help an older woman skateboard for the first time and she’s stoked
by u/Le7enda in aww

“BEING DISABLED SHOULD NOT MEAN BEING DISQUALIFIED FROM HAVING ACCESS TO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE.” —Emma Thompson

A 62-year-old wheelchair-bound grandmother in Hanau, Germany, was frustrated by the number of shops and cafes in her town that were inaccessible to wheelchairs. Rita Ebel and her husband started building ramps out of Legos, of all things! She wanted to bring attention to barrier-free travel and her brightly colored ramps now color the doorsteps around the town. Shop owner Malika El Harti says that you can easily see the ramps and now can get into her hair salon without an issue.

“NO ONE IS USELESS IN THIS WORLD WHO LIGHTENS THE BURDENS OF ANOTHER.” —Charles Dickens

When these two groups of rockhopper penguins on the Falkland Islands got together, one little penguin left with the wrong group and didn’t know what to do. His penguin pal stepped in, hopping over to help bring him back.

 

“KEEP SMILING, BECAUSE LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING AND THERE’S SO MUCH TO SMILE ABOUT.” —Marilyn Monroe

Humans aren’t the only ones excited about a new arrival…

Two storks celebrating their first egg!
by u/Pappy_Smith in aww

This is what’s known as a New Zealand bottle opener
by u/NeverEnoughSPF in funny

 EVER FEEL JUST TOO, TOO TIRED?

when a warm hand is spotted
by u/PrestigiousDoubt in aww

Too tired to eat
by u/jamesUK134 in aww

Derping is exhausting…
by u/feathersoft in AnimalsBeingDerps

ENDING THIS WEEK’S GOOD NEWS WITH A LITTLE BLISS

Wishing you a relaxing, blissful week.

Nothing but bliss
by u/Xenos_Aimes in aww

 

Read last week’s Good News here.

Hear a “Good News” story? Please use the form below to tell us about it. Include a website or link to a video. Thanks!