This year has been a year of great tragedy. From Charlie Hebdo to the November Paris attacks to the Syrian refugee crisis to the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting to San Bernadino, this year has been trying, even for those not directly affected. Sometimes it's hard to think about the good things this year has brought, especially when you have to wade through all the bad in the news. To round out this year, here is a list of some of the good news we have received in 2015.

1. The Blind Trust Project – January 31

Just weeks after the attack on the Parisian magazine Charlie Hebdo, YouTuber AsoOmii Jay and Time Vision Productions organized the social experiment, "The Blind Trust Project." The experiment had a man stand blindfolded in downtown Toronto with a sign that read, “I am a Muslim. I am labeled as a terrorist,” and, “I trust you. Do you trust me? Give me a hug.” Several people participated in the experiment, giving the man a hug. In the video’s description, AsoOmii Jay writes, “We wish to break down barriers and spread awareness about Islamophobia…” You can find the video here.

2. First Model at New York Fashion Week with Down’s Syndrome – February 12

Fans of the hit television series "American Horror Story" know Jamie Brewer for her reoccurring role in three of the five seasons, but in February, she was in the news for a different reason: making fashion history. Brewer became the first model at New York Fashion Week with Down’s syndrome, a genetic disorder which causes developmental and intellectual delays. Brewer was part of designer Carrie Hammer’s “Role Models Not Runway Models” campaign, which featured real, inspiring women who “are at the top of their game,” Hammer said. Brewer told Entertainment Tonight, “It's amazing that the fashion industry are including individuals with disabilities. It's an amazing opportunity for women, women that are disabled.”

3. Dancing Man – February 13

A photo from the website 4chan went viral in February of a larger person dancing accompanied by the caption “Spotted this specimen trying to dance the other week," the poster wrote. "He stopped when he saw us laughing.” Soon, a campaign began to #FindDancingMan, spearheaded by writer Cassandra Fairbanks. Fairbanks and 1,726 other young women began the hunt for “Dancing Man” and offered to throw him a dance party. The women succeed and soon Dancing Man, a.k.a. Sean O’Brien, was on his was to Los Angeles for a dance party! The party even raised money for anti-bullying organizations.

4. Teen Takes His Mother to Prom – May 6

In Pontiac, Michigan, high school student Danotiss Smith decided exactly who he was going to take to prom – his mom. Belinda Smith, Danotiss’ mother, lost her own mother in 1984 and due to the financial strain put on the family by the tragedy was unable to attend her own prom. Danotiss told ABC News, “I just felt like it was right to ask her cause she couldn’t go to her prom…”

5. Professor Calms Student’s Baby and Continues Teaching – May 14

College students are way more than just college students. They’re sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, employees, boyfriends, girlfriends, and some are parents. Those know that sometimes finding a place to take your kids while you’re in class is difficult. A student at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University couldn’t afford a babysitter, so she opted to take her young child to class. When the baby started to cry, the young woman got up to leave, but her professor took the child, calmed it, and kept right on teaching. This professor has been praised online as an educator “who truly cares about the education of his students.”

6. Beachgoers Rescue a Great White Shark – July 13

In July at a beach near Chatham, Massachusetts a 7-foot Great White Shark washed up, very much alive. Rather than fleeing, beachgoers banded together to save the shark. Several proceeded to pour water on him keep him breathing. Officials then used a boat to tow the Great White back into the sea.

7. Pluto Flyby – July 14

Science buffs and stargazers alike got a big excitement this year with NASA’s New Horizons Pluto flyby. The pictures that the probe sent back amazed us all, nearly crystal clear shots of our farthest neighbor in our solar system. The photos were taken from within 7,800 miles of the planet’s surface.

8. Lower Gas Prices

Gas prices began to fall in 2014 after rising up to, and in some places over, $4 a gallon. Prices have fallen fairly steadily throughout the year, currently resting at a national average of $2 a gallon, according to the Daily Fuel Gage Report. In Louisville, Kentucky, the average is $1.85, a far cry from its highest at $4.26 in June of 2008.

9. 4-Year Old Cancer Patient Marries Nurse – July 16

Several things went viral over the summer, none were more touching, however, than the story of 4-year-old Abby. Abby, a cancer patient at the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer in Albany, New York, proposed to her favorite nurse Matt Hickling. The staff of the Melodies Center went all out for little Abby, throwing her a “wedding” complete with a dress, bridesmaids, and a cake. A video posted by Abby’s nurse, Lori Ciafardoni, shows the adorable ceremony. Abby’s comments on the whole thing? “This is the best day ever!”

10. The Thwarting of Thalys Train Attack – August 21

On Aug. 21, 25 year old Moroccan man, Ayoub El Khazzani, boarded a train in Brussels and opened fire, he also stabbed a passenger who attempted to stop him. Seven passengers, including two American service members, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone, and their best friend, Anthony Sadler, subdued El Khazzani. The three were given many honors for their bravery and have even been considered American heroes.

11. Barber Gives Free Haircuts to Kids Who Read to Him – September 2

Courtney Holmes is a barber in Dubuque, Iowa, and as school began in his town, Holmes launched his “Tales 4 Trims” campaign. The campaign offered haircuts to his young clients at a price of a story. The children read to Holmes as he cuts their hair, which improves their reading skills, but at the end of the book, he asks them what it was about, which improves their memory and recall skills as well. Holmes tells NBS News, “The joy on their face -- it makes me feel like a million bucks just to see that.”

12. People Pay Parking Fines with Canned Goods – November 16

In Lexington, Kentucky, city officials launched a month long “Food for Fines” program aimed to help feed the hungry of Fayette County. Ten canned food items gave offenders a $15 credit on citations, they were even allowed to bring in items for credits on multiple citation. At last update, the program more than two tons of food.

13. The Flowers Will Protect Us – November 16

In the wake of the horrible tragedy in Paris on November 13, emerged this beautiful ray of hope. A reporter asks a small boy i he understands why the terrorists attacked Paris, the boy replies "Yes, because they’re really really mean.” He goes on to tell the reporter that he and his family will have to be careful and that they will have to move before his father jumps in and tells him that, in fact, they will not. “It’s ok, they might have guns, but we have flowers.” He tells his son. The young boy summarizes his father’s statements in a childlike, but amazingly sweet fashion. “The flowers and the candles are here to protect us.” He tells the reporter. You can find the video, along with subtitles, here.

14. Humans of New York’s The Scientist – December 8

Humans of New York, or HONY, a popular Facebook page showing photos of people in New York City and across the world while telling their story, brought us the story of The Scientist in early December. Referred to by NBC News as Abu Ammar, The Scientist is a Syrian civil engineer. On the HONY Facebook page, Ammar tells how he worked construction to put himself through university and eventually received a scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. Actor Edward Norton assisted in raising $450,000 to bring Ammar, who suffers from stomach cancer, and his five children to the United States, which they were successful in doing. Ammar tells HONY, “My ultimate goal was to become a great scientist and make a lasting contribution to humanity.”

15. All the Little Things

Many of us have experienced some pretty great “little” things in the year of 2015, and those are truly big enough to be noted, as well. Some of us, or our friends or family members, graduated high school, some graduated college. Some of us spent time with our family, some gladly spent time away from family. A few of us got engaged, some of us finally had the courage to end that bad relationship. Star Wars came out, some great new music was released. I bet most of us celebrated a birthday. And, if nothing else, we made it to a new year.

That is some pretty good news, itself.

Happy New Year.