Bits of Good

Feeling a little grey these days? Us too. That's why we've rounded up some positive stories sure to put a smile on your face, and maybe even give you some ideas for what to do with your spare time, too.

Learn to be happy

Free online classes abound right now. One that's gotten a lot of attention and strong participation –more than 1.5 million learners have enrolled in the last couple of months – is “The Science of Well-Being" course at Yale University. Taught by psychology professor Laurie Santos, the class is designed to increase students' happiness. Sign me up!

Bansky's ode to nurses

In iconic anonymous street artist Banksy's latest piece of art, a young boy makes his selection from the toy bin: not Batman or Spiderman, but a health care worker donning a cape. Titled “Game Changer," the piece was recently unveiled in Southampton General Hospital in Britain, offering thanks to those most deserving (and kicking some gender-stereotype butt at the same time).

The birth of the mega prom

The prom must go on. Imaginative alternatives to this traditional (and crowded) rite of passage are cropping up. In New York, for instance, a city-wide mega prom is in the works, including performances by the likes of Chance the Rapper, The Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish. (I can't speak for all, but this sounds like a significant upgrade from my own lacklustre suburban event centre experience.)

Virtual I dos

Weddings too are getting the socially distanced treatment. For example, one Burnaby, B.C., party supply and rental shop converted its showroom into an ersatz knot-tying venue. Using video conferencing software, they allow the happy couple to share their experience in real time with about 100 of their loved ones. Mimicking the “vibe" of a traditional wedding as much as possible, the experience can include a DJ and even catered identical meals for local guests, allowing the newlyweds to break bread.

The world at our fingertips

We're all feeling grounded in more ways than one, but the world is ours to (virtually) explore. You can peruse the Louvre one minute, watch the sun set over the Taj Mahal the next and get a peek at the interior of a bat cave in New Mexico the next – not bad for a Tuesday night. Our associate producer did all of this and more. Read about it in How I Travelled Around the World without Leaving My Home.

Personalized poetry

Toronto's Everyday People Typewriter Poems is spreading joy in the form of free personalized online poetry until they can get back to in-person poetry sessions at weddings and other special events. Book a 15 minute video chat with a poet, answer a few questions and voila – they will tap out an original poem for you on a vintage typewriter and send you a snap.

Seniors get social

Ontario-based non-profit Chatting to Wellness, which connects young people with seniors, has moved its operations online. Elder people who sign up receive a call from a “chatter" for an important dose of human connection during this period of distance, which, of course, goes for the volunteer as well.

Animal antics

Dogs are having the time of their lives, with their owners at home much more, as are other pets (although, it seems, not my cat). Outdoors, meanwhile, some wildlife is enjoying a bit of extra freedom. A notable example comes from the town of Llandudno in Wales, where a herd of Kashmiri goats has taken to the streets. And in case the thought of wild mountain goats strolling past your window doesn't offer enough cheer, a local hospice has taken the opportunity to fundraise via goat-themed merch.