We’re all living through a very unusual time, and it hasn’t been easy. Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is here, hopefully we’re almost through this nightmare, but it isn’t over yet. With all the changes and endless bad news we’ve had to face over the past year, some days, we really just need some good news. We’re here for you. We understand.

We’ve put together some pictures and stories that truly capture the good in the world. It may have been a rough year, but we are strong and we are going to be ok. If you’re feeling down, our hope is that these pictures will cheer you up.

1. My daughter finished chemotherapy today! from r/pics

2. Hadn’t seen each other since daycare closed, parents arranged a playdate. When it was time to leave: from r/pics

3. I was a homeless heroin addict for 3 years. Monday, I begin my career as coordinator of a homeless shelter. from r/nextfuckinglevel

4. A UPS driver went above-and-beyond this year, delivering nearly 200 packages a day through lockdowns and the flurry of the Holiday season. This week, hundreds of neighbors came out to give him a hero’s salute from r/aww

5. Nike surprises Justin Gallegos with a contract. Justin is their first professional athlete with Cerebral Palsy. from r/pics

6. Best way to end decade. My lil dude is officially my son. from r/pics

7. My grandmother turned 100 last Oct., this is her doing the plank for 30 seconds. from r/pics

8. My fam got Louie (right) from a breeder years ago. Tell me why, Louie is at the park & stops dead in his tracks when seeing this dog (left). Turns out they are from the same breeder, have the same parents, meaning THEY ARE BROTHERS & RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER 😭 this shit made me cry pic.twitter.com/yfHxb74TEr

   — Walela (they/them) (@itswalela) May 17, 2018

9. Just my best friend making history pic.twitter.com/k0qG8kaZTr

   — unfriendly black hottie (@paigealissa) July 7, 2020

10. 12 years ago I was homeless. Today I’m a homeowner. from r/MadeMeSmile

11. 2 years ago today I received a bone marrow transplant to cure my second relapse of leukemia. Today I’m officially “cured”! from r/MadeMeSmile

12. Heard my dad playing guitar and walked in to find this pic.twitter.com/4Hb3JPAR2D

    — im free feb 14th (@venmo4feet) December 24, 2020

13. The man standing on the left is the patient’s Uber driver. He went inside with him because he had no one else to keep him company while in the hospital. So kind! from r/MadeMeSmile

14. Randomly reunited with my sister tonight after she ran away from home in 2005. from r/pics

15. I put out a request in November (on Facebook) for mail for my 19 year old son, with autism, who loves walking to the post office. He has lost over 75 lbs from keto and these walks. He has received over 3200 letters and parcels with kind words and encouragment from over 24 different countries. from r/MadeMeSmile

16. These neighbors adjusted their fence so they could enjoy a beer together with social distance from r/pics

17. What started as an accidental text turned into an annual tradition! from r/pics

18. My 8yo daughter has been growing her hair for nearly 2 years to donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer kids that cannot afford them. Today was the day she had it cut. from r/MadeMeSmile

19. 4yo in Virginia today went outside to play then came back to the front door with a new friend from r/aww

20. My 8 year old is painting pet portraits to raise money for the animal shelter. from r/MadeMeSmile

21. I decided to finally go vaccinated behind my anti-vax parent’s back! :) from r/pics

22. I came out when I was 14 (now 35) and to say my parents weren’t thrilled is a complete understatement. But last night, 21 years later, I saw this little ornament on their tree and I really can’t believe how far they’ve both come as humans. from r/MadeMeSmile

23. true love knows no fences