Unless you're actively seeking out wholesome content, the media will force-feed you negative headlines and fearsome stories, making it easy to forget that good things are happening all around us.
Luckily, Amii James, an illustrator and webcomic creator from Plymouth, United Kingdom, has made it her mission to highlight these often-overlooked moments.
From random acts of kindness to small personal victories and promising scientific breakthroughs, she brings to life all sorts of hopeful and inspiring examples, reminding us there are still plenty of reasons to smile.
Longtime Bored Panda readers might remember that we covered Amii’s work a few years ago, but she has continued the ‘Good News’ series, so it’s about time for an update.
More info: amiiillustrates.com | Instagram | Facebook
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Once again, we got in touch with Amii and she was kind enough to have a little chat with us. "Finding positive news stories isn't as hard as you'd imagine, they're only a few clicks away!" the artist told Bored Panda.
"When I'm actively searching for stories, Positive News and Good News Network are great places to start. If I'm lucky, I'll also catch some good news on the radio in the car. I write them all down, and then search for multiple other sources on each story, to verify and learn more before spreading it further."
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Also, working on her series, Amii has noticed something quite delightful.
"I've learned over the years that when you spend some time searching for positive news, your algorithm can start pushing it your way."
"For example, when I open the Google app on my phone, some news articles come up below the search bar. I've found that over time, these articles have started to only show me positive stories! This regularly gives me a nice unexpected dose of positivity," she explained.
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With the regular flow of positivity secured, Amii now has the luxury to choose what she features on the project.
"I aim for variety when choosing news stories, but of course there will naturally be some personal bias toward stories that stand out to me the most. I'm especially partial to social justice wins, animals recovering from extinction or endangerment, and initiatives to help those in need," she said.
"I love finding stories that remind myself and others that there are change-makers all over the planet striving to make a difference in their area of expertise."
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This doesn't mean that she avoids heavier headlines. "I think staying informed on negative news is a double-edged sword," Amii said. "Keeping up to date with every terrible thing happening around the world is more than the human body is designed to handle, and can certainly take a toll on your mental health."
"On the other hand, burying your head in the sand because something 'doesn't affect you' can be harmful and a poor use of your privilege, which is why I choose to stay well informed on global news."
The beauty of this project is that it allows her to stay level-headed, and it's precisely why she loves creating the series. "Keeping up to date with world news can give you a misconception that everything is bad and we're heading in the wrong direction. The positive news stories are crucial to restore that balance and remind myself and my viewers that there is so much good happening behind the scenes," Amii added.
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