20 Happy Stories from 2020
While the bulk of 2020 has been anything but “happy” (unless you like riots, fires, and getting quarantined in pandemics), there have been quite a few happy stories to emerge from this dumpster fire of a year. After all, there is nothing like strife to unite us in the interest of the greater good (well, for the most part) and to help us refocus on what really matters in life.
The Pandemic is Bringing Fathers Closer to Children
While working from home is stressful (um, we know, we get it), there are some perks that make it so worthwhile and many of the fathers who don’t assume the less-common work-at-home-dad role are figuring it out. A Harvard study shows that in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, 68% of fathers report feeling closer to their children, which is a very happy unforeseen outcome.
People Got Fitter
Because of quarantine and with little else to do outside, those who could got outdoors. Bike sales boomed as people took advantage of the fact that bike trails were open (one of the few things that were). Outdoor activities like jogging, biking, and kayaking could safely be done while social distancing.
Crayola Became More Inclusive
In Brené Brown’s book Rising Strong, a Hispanic student in the professor / author’s class lamented that his five-year-old didn’t think her self-portrait looked very good because the only available “flesh” tones were intended for Caucasians. In 2020, Crayola rectified this long-overdue oversight by creating Colors of the World Crayons to be more representative of cultures from around the world.
Major Corporations and Distilleries Met Needs for Masks, Hand Sanitizer and Other Supplies During the Pandemic
The pandemic found hospitals and private citizens woefully unprepared and in danger (particularly in the case of first responders and healthcare workers). Companies like 3M, Amazon, Apple, and others (including distilleries and brewhouses) stepped up by manufacturing and widely distributing supplies (think masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, etc.) needed to keep people safe.
Young People are Making a Difference
In 2020, the world somehow became a smaller place, which seems to have empowered children to take on massive challenges (and accomplish phenomenal things). For example, this fifth grader is working hard to get 100,000 meals to people in need before Thanksgiving 2020. Meanwhile, a 13-year-old in Seattle is donating thousands of masks, meals, and clothing to the homeless. If you ask us, these kinds of acts are the happy stories from 2020 that we need.
One Man Said No Dog Left Behind During 2020’s Active Hurricane Season
Hurricanes often leave animals displaced, and 2020 has had the most active hurricane season since…well, ever, with storms being named after the Greek alphabet (um, that’s enough, 2020). Many storms have to pass over the Yucatan Peninsula before migrating into the Gulf of Mexico. During Hurricane Delta, one man said enough was enough and opened his Mexico home to provide refuge for roughly 300 displaced dogs.
Music and Nature Harmonized in Barcelona
When the planet shut down as COVID-19 spread like wildfire, people quickly took to the internet to lament the lack of music in their lives. When Spain’s state of emergency, the opera wasted no time in convening to play a concert for a packed house…of plants. After the performance, the green audience members were donated to care workers fighting Coronavirus.
Museums, Zoos, and Others Opened Their Virtual Doors at No Cost
Recognizing that the world needed art, local, national, and global museums, zoos, aquariums, and others opened their virtual doors at no cost to allow the curious public to tour and to explore. Some hosted live, curated talks, while others allowed exploration of the works online, which is truly amazing considering many will never have the time or the resources to see some of the world’s most profound artistic works.
The World’s First Happiness Museum Opens in Copenhagen
In 2020, people are finding more joy in the simple things in life. One happy thing to emerge in 2020 is that the world’s first happiness museum opened in Copenhagen in July 2020, and rumor has it, it’s putting a smile on everyone’s face.
Zoom Saves Lives
We are all familiar with the awkward and sometimes hilarious Zoom meeting snafu; however, one incredibly happy occurrence transpired via Zoom when a Michigan teacher noticed a student’s grandmother became incoherent. The teacher, recognizing something was wrong, called 911 and was able to save the grandmother’s life. This is one 2020 story that has a very happy ending.
Kids Honor Their Lonely Veteran Mentor
Isolation brings about depression and loneliness. One veteran, affectionately named Grandpa Ron, who’d spent thousands of hours mentoring school children lost touch with his precious young charges when the school moved to virtual instruction. Grandpa Ron only realized his impact when the children he’d mentored when once he was no longer available, they began writing letters, sending e-mails, and dropping by his home to offer to walk his dog.
Santa Has Been Declared an Essential Worker
The global pandemic has impacted all of us, but for many children—many of whom have not celebrated birthday parties nor Halloween nor graduation nor other major events—the fear that Christmas, too would be canceled is a very real fear. Recently, Santa posted on the Elf on the Shelf’s Facebook page that he’s an essential worker and that Christmas will happen. This one gives us all the feels because we all need a little extra cheer, tradition, and normalcy right about now.
Teacher Delivers 7,500 Lunches to Students on Lockdown
At the beginning of our global quarantine, many parents began telling others that they’d be happy to bring meals or groceries or other supplies to friends and families in need. After all, many children’s only real meal comes from the school cafeteria. One teacher in England dutifully prepared and delivered 85 lunches for 17 weeks to ensure his students were fed. This is one of those happy stories from 2020 that will forever remind us to be our best selves.
Zoomers to Boomers Delivers Groceries to Seniors
Senior citizens are probably among the loneliest in the pandemic; however, they are not forgotten. In Santa Barbara, a student created an organization called Zoomers to Boomers, which delivers groceries (and cheer) to senior citizens.
People are Making and Donating Face Masks
Face masks are a must-wear in 2020; however, access has often been an issue as has disposal of non-reusable face masks, which is why thousands of volunteers, private citizens, have taken to sewing face masks and giving them to those who need them in order to ensure we all stay safe in 2020.
Humor Really is the Best Medicine
Is it just us or has 2020 brought out some of the best memes of all time? Humor in trying times is cathartic, which is probably why El Arroyo in Austin, TX started putting hilarious commentary on its sign. Good food and a good laugh? Um, yes please.
Toddler Has Visits with Grandparents Through a Window
We promise, these are happy tears, but this story about a toddler who has weekly playdates with his grandparents through his window during quarantine gives us all of the sweet, happy feels.
There Could be a Cure for Coronavirus Thanks to a 14-Year-Old
A 14-year-old Texan girl took home $25,000 in the 2020 3M Young Scientists Challenge. Her research findings suggest a potential treatment for Coronavirus, which frankly makes us so happy we could cry because who wants to do this whole pandemic thing again?
People are Being Kinder
One of the happiest stories from 2020 is that the challenges of 2020 are compelling people to be kinder. We are truly loving our neighbor more. We are offering to assist. In the hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, people with power donate goods and clothes as well as their homes to those displaced or without power, for example. Loving and giving has been enhanced so greatly because 2020 has shown us that regardless of wealth, fame, success, etc., we are all in this together.
Record Voter Turnout for the 2020 Presidential Election
In spite of the Coronavirus and everything else that’s transpired in 2020, one good thing to happen in 2020 is that Americans turned out in record numbers to cast their vote in the 2020 election. This mean that while we may not be able to agree on which party is best-suited to run the country, we can agree that the fate of our country is important. What’s even happier is that the election with the highest voter turnout to date (over 100 million before the polls opened on November 3) is that 2020 marks 100 years since our great and great-great grandmothers won us the right to vote in 1920. Now that’s a happy story for 2020!
What a year 2020 has been, and we still have a little ways to go; however, the stories that have emerged that spread happiness and hope are definitely our favorite at The Storyteller Agency. Click here to learn more about our stories and how we can help you tell your story.
