Sometimes, the world seems like a pretty bleak place. When you turn on the news or go on the internet, you hear a lot of bad stories. It’s no wonder that some individuals feel depressed. It happens to all of us after reading stories about political fights, natural disasters, and people generally being horrible.
But with all the bad stuff happening in the world, there’s still a lot of good things going on. The subreddit r/happy is all about people sharing their good news with the citizens of the internet. Their stories can be big, small, or anything in between.
Everybody has something to celebrate. For some people, it’s huge news like getting married or finalizing the adoption of a child. For others, it might be having a good day after a long struggle with depression. Then there are individuals who share stories of adopting a new pet, finishing cancer treatment, losing weight, and overcoming an eating disorder.
Big or small, these are all reasons to celebrate. The news made people so happy they just couldn’t help but share it with the world. Talk about shouting from the rooftops, or in this case, from internet platforms.
1. The dog that adopted a kitten
After this mother dog lost her puppies, she fell into a deep depression and couldn’t be comforted. Then she found this kitten and adopted her as her new baby. They’re the best kind of blended family.
Couples usually do photoshoots to announce something big, like an engagement or pregnancy. But this couple just wanted to take a picture because they were having fun and being silly. To me, this seems like a perfect occasion.
It’s heartbreaking to lose a pet but after a month, these cat owners had almost given up hope. Then, to their amazement, their feline friend showed up again. He’s safe, healthy, and where he belongs…at home.
Interviews can be incredibly nerve-wracking, especially when you have more than one in a day. Luckily, this dad had the best good luck charm to help him cope. His son lent him his beloved Batman watch.
Cooking with your family can be such a wonderful experience. This little girl was over the moon after she and her dad turned out two gorgeous pumpkin pies. Then, they got to have even more fun by eating them together.
Having a serious medical condition can make every day a challenge. But this man’s extremely happy after he went five years without a serious health problem. So, he decided to celebrate by visiting a beautiful place.
7. The WWII survivor celebrating her 96th birthday
Surviving a German labor camp during World War II seems unimaginable to most of us, but this woman did it. Not only did she survive, but she went on to make a new life for herself. Now she’s celebrating her 96th birthday with her children and grandchildren.
Some relationships have bumpy starts, with miscommunication and bad timing. But after two years, these two decided to turn their friendship into a romance. It took a while, but it all worked out in the end.
They went to the shelter looking for a purebred dog, but when they saw her, they couldn’t resist. As it turned out, she was born in Puerto Rico — the place where her new owners had honeymooned.
10. The grandparents who stepped in to save Halloween
This little girl’s single dad had always made an effort to be there with her on Halloween. This year, he had to work. So, her grandparents decided to go out with her. She looked so happy.
Infertility is an incredibly painful experience. Welcoming a baby after trying for many years is a miracle. This little dog was already protecting the baby that’s on his or her way.
Some couples go all out for lavish weddings, but not this one. They decided to have a secret wedding and tick off some of their relatives. But oh well — they couldn’t stop smiling.
When his birthday rolled around, this wife knew he didn’t like cake. Even though she was pregnant and fatigued, she spent hours making him a beautiful, personalized pie on his special day.
14. The surgeons celebrating a successful C-section
When a couple went in to deliver their baby via C-section, the anesthesiologist offered to hold one of their phones to take some pictures. They never expected this to be one of the photos of the day.
This poor puppy had a case of kennel cough, but with treatment, he was recovering well. He also had his stuffed duck to help him through the rough parts, so everything was okay.
16. The woman who changed her life to become a pastry chef
When she left a stressful job and moved to Paris, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to achieve her dreams. Now, she’s a pastry chef in one of the most beautiful cities on earth.
17. The identical twins having fun with a silly sweater
When you’re an identical twin and you run across an amazing sweater like this, there’s only one thing to do: call your sister and make plans for the next holiday party, of course. That was probably the best $15.00 they ever spent.
Most people meet their soulmates when they’re still relatively young, so it can be disheartening if you’re still single at a certain age. But this couple found one another when they were 40. They’re looking forward to many years together.
19. The cat that finally cuddled after a year and a half
Depending on their temperament and past treatment, it can take some animals a long time to warm up to their owners. This kitty finally sat on his owner’s lap for a snuggle after living with them for a year and a half.
20. The man who feels happy in his smile for the first time
Having bad teeth affects not only your physical comfort but also your self-confidence. After years of dental problems, he finally felt great when he smiled.
Having a child go through cancer is one of the scariest things any parent can imagine. This beautiful little girl’s now officially cancer-free. She can finally have a normal childhood once again, with many years to come.
22. The man who found a home for the first time in 12 years
Most of us can’t even imagine how painful and frightening it would be to live on the streets. One man did it for 12 years. Now, for the first time since he was a teenager, he has a home of his own.
23. The wife who pranked her husband in the best way
Some couples love to sit together at night and scroll through websites like Facebook or Reddit. One wife wanted to give her husband the shock of his life by having Redditors share their picture, making sure he would see his own face on the feed.
Passing a big exam is a challenge at the best of times. One girl celebrated passing a test for a foreign language after moving across the world and learning through language immersion. She should be incredibly proud.
25. The man who couldn’t stop smiling over his weight loss
Losing weight can be a huge challenge. So, it’s no surprise it’s often something to celebrate. He said he just couldn’t help smiling whenever he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
Schools are finding ways to include their special needs students, and the results are amazing. This young man had an incredible time at a dance for kids with special needs.
Working early or overnight shifts are often incredibly stressful, especially over long periods. After five years of doing that, this woman celebrated the start of a new and better job with more reasonable hours.
28. The dad whose life changed radically in a decade
Everyone’s doing the “Ten Year Challenge” so it’s no surprise this man was ruminating on where he was a decade ago. Back then, he was on the verge of suicide. Today, he’s snuggled up with his baby boy.
They say if you want to be an artist, you have to be able to risk rejection. After 75 rejections over four years, he can finally say he’s a published author.
It takes faith, support, and a good sense of humor to overcome a serious medical issue. This lady was cured of a brain tumor. Naturally, she’s celebrating with a sash that says “badass.”
It doesn’t seem fair for any animal to have to go through cancer. After a long treatment and surgery, this happy pup is in remission and the world needs to know about it.
32. The girl who won a medal at the Special Olympics
When she was born, the doctors told her parents she would never grow old. Now, she’s competing at the Special Olympics — and winning medals for her events.
We don’t know the details, but it was a long and painful battle. Today, this man has custody of his little brother. The two of them look so happy together.
Becoming an American citizen is a difficult process that takes years if not decades to complete. This woman just became a citizen and received her passport in the mail to prove it.
35. The person who just paid off their student loans
Student debt follows almost everyone who went to college in the United States. It can take years to pay back all the money. This person just got to that point and it’s a huge weight off their shoulders.
Not every happiness is a life-changing event. Sometimes, a great day can be made just by finding your favorite candy — in this case, a family-size bag of all pink Starbursts.
Four women on the same block were pregnant at the same time. Each was due a month apart and each had a little boy. Now, they have the perfect playmates for years to come.
When her dog went missing, one owner took to Reddit to ask for advice on how to find him. She got some pointers and thankfully, the two of them were happily reunited. I think the expressions on their faces say it all.
Adoption is a complicated process that comes with a lot of heartbreak along the way. But at long last, this adoption was finalized, ensuring that these children have a family for the rest of their lives.
Working out requires hard work and dedication. It’s no wonder so many of us lose interest in it. But the victory is in the little steps, like finally doing a chin-up after trying for two months.
41. The parents celebrating the anniversary of moving to the U.S.
When a Chinese couple moved to the US in 1992, they weren’t sure how the transition of a lifetime would go. Twenty-six years later, they celebrated the anniversary by getting some classic American food.
42. The girl who reached the birthday she thought she wouldn’t see
At the age of 12, her doctors diagnosed her with a serious illness and said it was unlikely that she’d see her 20th birthday. So, when she proved them wrong, she couldn’t help but celebrate.
When they found out their daughter’s mother-in-law was coming to visit from Nigeria, these parents decided to make a gesture of welcome. They found some hand-made traditional garments in Nigerian fashion.
44. The dad who cooked a favorite meal with his adult child
When this dad finally got a chance to see his adult child, they were happy to cook a meal and share a good conversation together. They wish that they could see each other more often. Many people wish they had a relationship like this with their parents.
45. The soldier father who made it home just in time for his baby’s birth
With his wife’s due date coming up while he was still on deployment, this soldier was afraid he wouldn’t see his baby’s arrival into the world. But he made it just in time to welcome his son.
When your kid asks if you can start a family book club, you have to say yes. Just reading together and talking about books is a great way to make some beautiful memories.
47. The man who shared his weight loss journey one year in
Sometimes, the happiest moments are in the most personal victories. After a year of working hard, he lost 101 pounds and was feeling better than ever. Talk about dedication toward reaching a goal.
48. The divorced parents who still know how to have fun
Divorced couples are often full of resentment and anger, but not this ex-couple. Although their marriage ended, they still know how to enjoy each other’s company, especially when their child is around.
Even though dementia altered her memory, they’re still in love. She was determined to spend the day with her “boyfriend” — who was really her husband of many years. They spent the day working together on the farm.
It must be amazing for a model to see themselves in a professional ad for the first time. When she spotted a familiar face on the street, she couldn’t help but stop and point.
51. The ex-smoker who found someone else in their old ashtray
Giving up cigarettes is one of the toughest, most frightening things that some of us ever do. But one ex-smoker found a sign of hope in their unused ashtray: a bird nest complete with some soon-to-be-hatched babies.
52. The family that bought groceries thanks to internet strangers
The internet has made a lot of unimaginable things possible. One of them is sending money in just a few minutes — even to strangers across the world. This family was able to afford groceries thanks to generous Redditors.
Becoming a professional musician in any capacity is a huge achievement. This musician is celebrating the release of their first song, which they also produced and mixed.
54. The adult man who got to experience the zoo for the first time
Most of us visited the zoo when we were kids, but this man missed out because of some unfortunate circumstances. So, to make up for it, his girlfriend treated him to a zoo outing and they had a blast.
Who said the bridesmaids had to be young and single? This bride asked her 92-year-old grandmother to be her bridesmaid. The two of them look so happy to be together on her special day.
56. The woman who finally had time for her passion
Not having time for your hobbies and passions is really disheartening. This woman is celebrating finally being able to focus on her artwork after leaving a job that zapped her time and sanity.
Every dog should be able to experience the ocean at some point. But what do you do if you live in a landlocked place? Take a 20-hour road trip together, of course.
Getting a stray animal to trust you can take a lot of time and patience. After being fed by the same people every day for three years, she finally felt comfortable enough to sit down for a snuggle.
Being a professional artist is really hard, and many people don’t make it. This woman just sold her biggest piece of art and is saying a bittersweet goodbye to it.
We all dream about getting our dream jobs, but I think this woman has us all beat. She just got her dream position, which just happens to include taking care of a bunch of puppies every day.
61. The man who went from the Air Force to art school
Daniel was once in the Air Force, but that wasn’t his true dream. More than anything, he wanted to go to art school. When the day finally came, he couldn’t help but celebrate.
Student loans are a huge financial burden, and paying them off takes a toll. One student was shocked to learn that a relative had paid off their student loans, leaving them with a balance of $0.00.
Talk about an incredible achievement — this man just became a children’s book author. That’s something many of us dream about, but few actually achieve. It’s definitely a cause for celebration.
64. The couple that went from best friends to soulmates
When you fall in love with your best friend, it ends up being the most natural thing in the world. After all, you already loved each other. Now you have a solid foundation on which to build your relationship.
Giving blood is an incredibly important act, and you never know how many people your donation could help. Well, until now. Text apps like these that let people know when their donation have been used.
66. The mother and daughter celebrating the anniversary of the adoption
Children who were adopted get to celebrate twice a year — the day they were born and the day they joined their new family. It’s something to treasure, even 25 years down the road.
67. The puppy that became an office’s cutest employee
Not every cause for celebration is a wedding or the birth of a baby — what about starting a new job? In this case, it was the addition of a puppy to the office. Every office needs a puppy.
After completing a round of chemo, this woman decided she needed a support animal. Luckily, her family snapped a picture of her meeting her new best friend for the first time.
Growing older can be frightening and lonely, especially for people with failing physical or mental health. Therapy animals can make an enormous difference, bringing a lot of comfort to the elderly.
70. The two best friends with very different heights
These two boys became best friends despite their huge height difference. Although they now live far apart, they still love the times when they can get together to have fun.
71. The group of friends that committed to getting healthy together
Trying to commit to a healthier lifestyle, including exercising and eating well, can be daunting. It’s so much easier when you decide to do it side-by-side with a group of dedicated friends.
72. The couple with an amazing pregnancy announcement
Pregnancy announcements can be quiet or over-the-top. This couple just couldn’t keep their excitement to themselves — or their sense of humor. That baby is in for some pretty funny parents.
Going through heart surgery is a scary concept. When he went under anesthesia, he wasn’t sure if he was going to wake up. He’s now celebrating making it through the procedure — with a healthier heart.
Your wedding is one of the happiest days of your life, and it’s great to remember it whenever you can. Just like this couple, who’s celebrating a vow renewal. They still look completely in love.
Rinsing bugs off your legs might not be very romantic, unless you’re doing it with the love of your life, that is. After two years of being secretly head over heels, this couple finally made it happen.
75 times people were so happy they just couldn’t keep it to themselves
Cedric Jackson
12.18.19
Sometimes, the world seems like a pretty bleak place. When you turn on the news or go on the internet, you hear a lot of bad stories. It’s no wonder that some individuals feel depressed. It happens to all of us after reading stories about political fights, natural disasters, and people generally being horrible.
But with all the bad stuff happening in the world, there’s still a lot of good things going on. The subreddit r/happy is all about people sharing their good news with the citizens of the internet. Their stories can be big, small, or anything in between.
Everybody has something to celebrate. For some people, it’s huge news like getting married or finalizing the adoption of a child. For others, it might be having a good day after a long struggle with depression. Then there are individuals who share stories of adopting a new pet, finishing cancer treatment, losing weight, and overcoming an eating disorder.
Big or small, these are all reasons to celebrate. The news made people so happy they just couldn’t help but share it with the world. Talk about shouting from the rooftops, or in this case, from internet platforms.
