It’s 10 things day! Officially the best day, this week and every week.
While these roundups of joy may initially come across as light and fluffy, they serve an important purpose. We all need a respite from the troubling headlines and negative news that bombards us each day. The “information age” can be tough to navigate, as it’s so easy to get bogged down in all the things we wish we could change, but that don’t have easy or quick fixes. Maintaining hope is vital to fighting the good fight, and finding positivity to keep our energy up is neither a small nor insignificant thing.
Stories of human triumph, compassionate connection, impressive ingenuity—and yes, even entertaining animal antics—can serve as fuel to keep us going through difficult or dark times. We hope these offerings will lift your spirits and remind you that there’s good to be found all around us.
Hope this week’s list brings a smile or 10 to your face!
1. Cat interrupts girl’s opera singing to perform a ‘meowpurra’ of his own
from MadeMeSmile
I don’t care what anyone says, that cat is singing.
2. Pediatrician and father of seven explains why 8-year-old girls are the very best humans
@dr_mikem I think all kids are great ( obviously) but there is no doubt that 8 yr old girls embody all of the best human qualities. #kidsrock #pediatrics #pediatrician #pediatriciansoftiktok
It’s true. If we all acted with the magnanimity, empathy and compassion of 8-year-old girls, the world would surely be a better place. (And yes, he also explained what makes 8-year-old boys awesome, too. Read the full story here.)
3. 106-year-old tattoo artist becomes the oldest Vogue cover model and her story is something
Swipe through the slides to learn about the extraordinary Apo Whang-Od.
4. Witness the magical land art of Andy Goldsworthy, made just with nature itself
u201cAndy Goldsworthy is an artist that produces site-specific sculptures and land art using natural materials, ephemeral and transient because it returns back to nature . Here are some sycamore leaves around tree roots and Sumach leaves art nnud83dudcf8Andy Goldsworthyu201d— Science girl (@Science girl)
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Incredible what some perfectly placed leaves can do for the imagination. See more of Andy Goldsworthy’s work here.
5. Trevor Noah and Roger Federer made what might be the greatest tourism ad ever.
Not only is it enjoyable to watch, it’s also incredibly effective. Who doesn’t want to take a train ride through Switzerland after that? See more from behind the scenes of this fabulous collaboration here.
6. Mom creates epic Tokyo Alley Market sleepover space ever for her daughter
Cardboard Queen, indeed. Wow.
7. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the amount of disciplined training it takes to do something like this
u201cThis took 17 years of training to accomplish ud83cudff9 nnI started gymnastics when I was 6 u263aufe0fnu201d— Shannen ud83cudf49 (@Shannen ud83cudf49)
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The things humans can do when they put their minds to it. Dang.
8. Watch this student’s family react as he finds out if any Ivy League schools have accepted him
Young Zimbabwean guy getting his university letters
by u/Studog in MadeMeSmile
The culmination of years of hard work—and clearly some joyous support from his family.
9. Michael Che played a hilarious prank on Colin Jost during SNL’s ‘Weekend Update’ and they can’t keep it together
The worst thing for a comedian is to have your jokes bomb, so Che asking the audience to limit their laughter during Jost’s segments totally got him. (Thankfully, it’s all in good fun with these two, who are always playing jokes on one another. Read the full story here.)
10. May we all find something we love as much as this guy loves trains.
@francis.bourgeois 56098 and 50007 at Shawford Station and then Leamington Spa Station! @GB Railfreight #trains
Francis Bourgeois has gained a huge social media following for his child-like passion for trains. He’s downright giddy, every time. A delightful reminder to find something you love and go all in on the joy it brings you.
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