2020 Wasn’t All Bad!
You could be forgiven for believing that there were zero heartwarming moments of 2020. It’s been a rough year.
Here in Australia, we started 2020 with one of the most devastating bushfire seasons in living memory. Whether you suffered significant personal loss, knew someone affected, or watched in horror as the news unfolded, the trauma of this moment was felt deeply throughout Australia and across the world.
Early in the year, the coronavirus reared its ugly head, bringing with it a full year of uncertainty, upheaval and suffering.
Along with the pandemic came the economic suffering. We are still in the midst of this uncertainty.
Over in the USA, the political landscape has been anxiety-inducing, there has been a dramatic reckoning with racial inequality and civil rights, and the impact of Covid in the northern hemisphere, particularly America, has rocked the world.
See Ya, 2020 – It’s Not Me, It’s You!
So, I think you will agree, that a blog post celebrating the heartwarming moments of 2020 is a great way to say goodbye and good riddance to this distressing and challenging year!
10 of the Loveliest Heartwarming Moments of 2020
We put out some feelers to bring you a list of comforting, joyful, triumphant “good news” stories that lifted our hearts.
We hope these 10 heartwarming moments from 2020 warm your heart too.
Here they are, in no order whatsoever, because heartwarming has no hierarchy!
1. 99-Year-Old Veteran Raises Over $35 Million for UK Health Care
Remember Captain Tom Moore? He’s the near-centenarian who raised more than $35 million AUD (over 26 million pounds) for the British National Health Service to help fight against Covid-19.
He did this by asking for donations to walk the length of his garden (25 metres) 100 times, using his walker.
He even brought down the internet! So many people wanted to contribute to his fundraising page that it kept crashing.
What a legend.
2. Recovered Koalas Released into the Wild After Bushfires
We felt devastated and helpless as we heard story after story of the dire impact of bushfires on our treasured wildlife.
Thanks to animal carers, vets and volunteers, many koalas were treated for their injuries and nursed back to health. How good is it to see our koala friends nurtured back to health and released back into the bush?
3. Staying Home Cleared the Air
Being in lockdown might have been difficult for many. But staying home meant far fewer cars on the road, planes in the air and C02 emissions from industry.
We discovered dramatic reductions in air pollution across the globe.
We took a pause, and a breath of fresh air – a literal feel-good moment.
4. Staying Home Cleared the Way for our Animal Friends
Not only did the reduction in human activity lead to less air pollution, the peace and quiet drew out some wild animals that would ordinarily steer well clear of our busy world.
Goats, coyotes, monkeys, deer, boar, geese, and even a puma have been seen roaming the streets in populated areas across the world. Other critters joined the party.
In Venice, the canal water cleared so that fish and dolphins could be seen swimming.
And in Victoria, a koala went shoe shopping.
5. Couch Choir Kept Us Singing
You may have heard of Pub Choir – informal singalong nights at pubs around Australia.
Lockdowns made these events unviable, so Pub Choir took their initiative to the web and created Couch Choir, its virtual sibling.
Couch Choir brought living room singers together in a rather amazing way, and proved exceptionally popular, bringing people together for connection and fun at a time when it was sorely needed.
6. Orangutan Learned to Wash Hands
All the emphasis on hand hygiene taught one clever Orangutan a brand new skill.
7. We Dressed Up for Bin Night
During Covid lockdowns, we couldn’t go out, but we got dressed up anyway… to take the bins out.
A gorilla, a dinosaur, and several near-naked people are among the chosen costumes for Aussie bin night.
How good are Aussies!
8. We Applauded Health Care Workers
Across the world, citizens came out of their front doors, stood on their balconies or leaned out of windows to hoot, holler, whistle and clap for health care workers on the front line of the coronavirus battle.
We saw some truly heartwarming moments in the UK, USA and cities around the world.
9. We Practised Kindness
Throughout the pandemic, there have been, and continue to be, touching acts of kindness. Disasters have a tendency to bring out the best in people.
Like Benny, a NSW local who provided free toilet paper to the elderly and vulnerable people of his town, when toilet paper was scarce and absent from store shelves for long periods.
10. Italians Under Lockdown Made Music with their Neighbours
Quarantine was no obstacle for Italians making music together.
Despite being housebound, all over Italy, neighbourhoods arranged for musical citizens to bring their instruments and voices out onto their balconies for communal celebrations of sound.
This was truly heartwarming – an uplifting moment very particular to this time. It took a pandemic to bring this to fruition. Necessity is the mother of invention!
Sayonara, 2020
As the year draws to a close, and we all reflect on what a year it was, we wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year and our best wishes for 2021.
Though life is full of ups and downs, this year felt more like a rollercoaster ride than the gentle undulations of a country road. While the issues we have faced are not all done and dusted, we will go into the new year with a new awareness of how quickly our lives can change, how resilient we are, and with a greater sense of gratitude for what we have.
This year has been A LOT, and here’s to a less bumpy ride ahead.
We wish you and your families all the best for a fantastic year of growth and learning, happiness and contentment.
Your 2020 Heartwarming Moments
What are your favourite uplifting moments of the year? What stood out to you as a thing to remember and appreciate in a year rife with challenges and trauma!
Let us know in the comments below!
