“Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.” - Anne Frank

Turmoil in Turkey, Syria, the Gambia, Venezuela, and throughout the rest of the world have put a damper on people’s attitudes. While it is important to recognize the significance of world events and discuss sustainable solutions, it is also vital to not allow the negativity to take away from who you are as a person. Here, I share five times that my faith in humanity was restored while I was feeling disillusioned with society.

1. Local acts of kindness around the Pittsburgh area

From Pittsburghers “paying it forward” to taking precious time to assist a fellow human being, these simple stories will put a smile on your face. Check it out here: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/portfolio/2017/01....

2. Children helping children

Why is fifth grader Erik Gustafson helping coach students with special needs? “Because I care about these kids,” he proudly proclaimed. Read more about how a woman in charge of an after-school program known as Red Shirt Rookies has made an impact on the lives of all students involved here: http://www.9news.com/news/education/able-bodied-st....

3. A book-lover helps keep a public library open

In Freeport, Illinois, the public library risked closing its doors two days a week due to budgetary constraints. The incredible generosity of an anonymous donor has now enabled the library to keep its doors open by providing the necessary funding for the library to continue to fulfill its mission of “to be the Community's Center for Information, Recreation, and Lifelong Learning.” Find the story here: http://www.journalstandard.com/news/20170117/anonymous-donor-freeport-public-library-foundation-fight-declining-tax-revenues.

4. Social enterprise in action

When Don Larson, a central Pennsylvania businessman, reflected on his life, he realized he “hadn’t done enough” with regards to helping others. That’s how he ended up in Mozambique, where he founded Sunshine Nut Company. The company is a social enterprise, which seeks to create a sustainable business model that helps uplift an impoverished region of the world. Says Larson of his firm, “The idea is to build a brand that stands for providing hope.” Hungry for more? Here is the company’s website: http://sunshinenuts.com/ and the news article where I got the quotations: http://www.naturalcentralpa.com/CPA/January-2017/S....

5. The Greek hairdresser who has helped more than 20,000 refugees

There is not much to say about this, but I suggest you watch (and learn) from this nine minute video: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ref....