I think you'll agree when I say that the past 7 months have been nothing short of absolutely insane. 2020 has thrown us everything a year can, and sometimes it can be really hard to see past the darkness in tough times. I know that for me, with so many things happening, I find myself feeling hopeless more than I should. Everything going on in the news and at the forefront of society seems impossible to fix and like our world is too far gone. It can seem like society will never heal and that everything is irredeemably evil, sad, and dark. It is times like this where I am learning to step back, take a deep breath, and remember that the world still can be a beautiful place.
We constantly consume media that reminds us of the world's faults and threats. To some extent, that is important. It is important to know what obstacles we and the world face everyday. It is important we keep up to date with the current health crisis and America's response. It is important to remain an active ally and activist and to fight for communities who need help. But, it is also important to preserve your own mental health. It is important to have hope. It is important to step away from the anger, sadness, and tragedy. Focusing only on the negative things happening in the world right now can make you feel anxious, depressed, and stressed. All of these can have serious effects on your life and health. That is, the constant focus on what is going wrong can quite literally start to kill you if you don't step away from it all.
Moreover, interacting with media and information we consume through it is a habit that consumes a lot of our days. News channels, social media, campaigns, family conversation, crime shows, and newspaper headlines are all regular parts of our day-to-day lives, and they also tend to focus on the scary and sad things in the world. The stories and reminders of death, rivalry, and violence are never-ending. This creates the idea that the world is also a never-ending pool of death, rivalry, and violence which can lead to feelings of fear, helplessness, and hopelessness, this is a communication phenomena explained by a concept called the "Mean World Index." The Mean World Index is actually part of a communication theory we should all be aware of, which is called "cultivation theory." I've created graphics to explain these to you.
These concepts help explain why it is extra work to find stories that are positive within our regular media consumption. The Mean World Index creates a self-perpetuating cycle where everyone perceives the world as violent and evil. People consume media, such as crime shows, which leads them to believe the world is full of crime. They then go on to produce their own media (such as news) that reflects what the media they consume has taught them about the world: that it is scary and dangerous. This makes everyone else focus their gaze on only the negative and therefore perceive that the world is dangerous and continue to seek out media that reflects that - thus the "self-perpetuating cycle". Therefore, it can be assumed that the negative gaze of media is slightly biased and does not always accurately reflect the world.
I've found that simply reading one story about something going right is enough to counter my inner Mean World Index, begin to change my perspective, and remind me that my perception that the world is hopeless and scary does not necessarily reflect reality. That is exactly why I committed to taking time every day to step away from the sadness and actively seek out happy stories. Don't get me wrong, I realize that some people don't get to step away from some issues entirely and that my ability to do so is a privilege. That said, I truly believe that we cannot help each other if we are not well ourselves and, therefore, if there is any way to distance ourselves - even a little - from the darkness, for just a moment, we should seize that opportunity. After all, if you are a hollowed-shell of a person, how can you be strong for the people who need help? If you are burnt out and exhausted, how can you keep pushing for change? If you have no hope that the world can become better, then how can you convince yourself to try at all?
What I have found through my search for proof that humanity is still alive and well has helped me remember why I keep going every day. It helps me remember that this is only one point in my life, and that change is possible because there are good people in the world. The truth is, there is more good going on than you think, and the world is certainly not always scary and sad. To help you see that, I want to share with you five good things happening in the world.
1. The number of people adopting and fostering animals has risen since the start of COVID-19
Less furry friends are sitting in shelters because they have been going to loving foster and forever homes at a faster rate since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Some people are choosing to adopt now for the convenience of being home to train while others are in need of a little extra company. No matter the reason, there are a lot more adorable animals finally getting all of the love, treats, and cuddles they deserve. Not to mention, the increase in adoption and fostering is so high that some places have even found it hard to fill their shelters which means less animals are going without a family. That is a supply and demand issue I think we can all get behind!
2. Search engine "Ecosia" has planted over 100-million trees
Every time you search for something on the internet, the company that owns the search engine you use (such as Google) receives a revenue from search ads. Oftentimes that revenue is used for things you will never know about. However, search engine Ecosia has pledged to use 80% of the revenue from every search to plant trees in places that need them the most. To date, they have planted over 100-million trees - that's 100,000,000 trees - to combat climate change and help communities who rely on trees as resources. Switching your default search engine to to Ecosia is really easy, and you can rest assured that every time you shamelessly search for another banana bread recipe for quarantine baking, you are helping protect the planet and generating good news for the world. Click here for more info, including their financial records to keep them accountable to their promise! Now, grab a masked friend and hug some socially-distant trees!
3. Germany has banned styrofoam and single use plastic
During my time in Germany I almost never saw a single-use plastic grocery bag or a piece of styrofoam. When you go to the store, it is expected that you bring your own bag. If you forget yours at home, you either purchase a reusable bag or you carry your items home in your arms. Very rarely did I find somewhere that offered single-use plastic bags to even the most desperate of customers. If anything, paper bags were available at an extra cost. Moreover, I ate a lot more takeout than I care to admit, and not a single thing was in a styrofoam container. Get this: all of this was before the ban was even agreed on by the German Bundestag. Moreover, the ban will not actually go into effect until summer of 2021 - saving the planet has just been a cultural norm. What's more exciting is that German residents still feel that Germany isn't doing enough to protect the environment and are asking for more to be done. We love seeing that a healthy consumer culture is possible!
4. Similarly, downtown Sydney, Australia now runs on 100% renewable energy
Downtown Sydney, Australia - home to over a quarter of a million residents - now runs exclusively on energy from two solar farms and a large wind farm. And get this: the power stays on even when its not sunny or windy! Science is cool, man. Anyways, this change will cut 70% of the city's carbon emissions by 2024, which is earlier than anticipated. It doesn't end there: this new deal even creates jobs and positively influences the economy! There's a little something for everyone :) To read more about it, visit this link.
5. Wine Fairies exist!
Ok, so this one isn't particularly exciting for me because I think wine tastes like someone peed in grapes and then stomped in the mixture with fungus-ridden feet. However, I realize that this is a fairly unpopular opinion, thus my sharing of the "good news." Wine fairies are groups of people who have been anonymously leaving wine and goodies on the doorsteps of people in their community to spread love, happiness, and support. Sound like something you want in on? You might have a wine fairy in your neighborhood and can sign up to be on their visit-list! If not, there is no better time than the present to achieve your childhood dream of being magical by becoming your town's very first wine fairy. Random acts of kindness create good news! I don't understand the appeal, but if you want to read more click here and let me know in the comments what I should do with my bottle should one appear magically on my doorstep.
Well, while that doesn't even scratch the surface of the wonderful things happening in the world, I hope it made you smile and helped restore some of your faith in humanity. I strongly recommend checking Good News Network to find more positive stories like these, share with me what you find, and subscribe for more content like this! Now, go out (with a mask), stand up for what you believe in, and stay up to date on the latest current events... but don't forget to take care of yourself by seeking out the good that undoubtedly still exists in the world.
Lastly, good comes from doing good. If you want to see good news, create it, no one else will do it for you. So, pick up that litter even though it's not yours*, pay for someone else's coffee even if they're a stranger**, or brighten someone's day with patience and love even if your day is hard. Be the change.
See you soon,
Sierra
*please wash your hands and don't touch your face
**please for the love of god wear a mask even when you're just grabbing a coffee...paying for someone's drink is nice but killing them or their loved ones is not
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