Hi there. How about first I do a little introduction?

I graduated with a major in journalism way back when (1995 but I don’t feel nearly that old). I entered the field as an aspiring investigative journalist ready to write exposés to make the world a better place. I came out feeling more cynical and disillusioned. But I started writing for a small newspaper anyway. The stint didn’t last long as I felt it was so depressing to write about all the bad, ugly news happening in the world because really that’s what sells papers. So through the years I’ve done various things and eventually found a home in my home as a mom and freelance graphic designer. The mom part is the best even if it is the most difficult. When Erin approached me to write a monthly good news article, I was skeptical. First of all, it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything intelligent for an audience. And secondly, there are good news Web sites that offer news more frequently. But in the spirit of trying to change the world, I’ll see what I can do to add a little good news and happiness.

As the first month of 2010 rolls on to the end, if you watch the news (which I don’t as I have no access to TV news) you’ve most definitely watched some devastating footage.

But have you heard the good news, the happy stories?

•  How about the $128.6 million lottery winner who was buying tickets as gifts and the store clerk accidentally printed them on one ticket instead of 3 tickets so the buyer just kept it and bought 3 more for the gifts.www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34726747/

•  Or about Alcoa, the giant aluminum manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, donating an engaged Spokane, Wash., couple 150,000 cans to help pay for their their weeding (the couple were asking people to recycle their cans, cash them in and donate the money). www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34844977/ns/us_news-wonderful_world/

•  Or the Miracle at  Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colo., where doctors revived mom and baby after they both died during labor. www.kktv.com/home/headlines/80244642

•  Or  how iron-plated shell of a deep water snail may inspire life-saving armor for the soldiers.www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34975331/

•  Did you know for instance that Singapore will open its doors to 3,600 of the world’s best young athletes for the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and the International Olympic Committee has launched the visual identity of the Youth Olympic Games – “YOG-DNA”. http://www.happynews.com/news/1282010/ioc-preps-first-youth-olympic-games.htm

•  Or that two two 8-year-old boys in a young lifeguards training program rescued a man who was struggling in the ocean off Australia’s east coast. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34820923/

•  Or about the Ohio dairy engineer who is on a crusade to put cows back on pastures and bring the flavor back to milk, to get consumers excited about milk once again. NPR Dairy series

And of course, so much good toward and from Haiti. Have the networks I wonder — and really I don’t know — put much emphasis on all the wonderful things people are doing to help out? From monetary support to organizations going to pull people out of the rubble, Americans are putting out a helping hand to fellow humans we probably have never met. I have a Miami-Dade firefighter friend who went to Haiti almost immediately as part of a search and rescue team. I think it’s wonderful how many people are stepping up to adopt Haitian children. But the stories I find most compelling are the children who are finding ways to help, from collecting money as a class to going door-to-door to collect donations.

My son, a 3-year-old, is in preschool and came home to tell me about how his school is broken and they have a collection jar to help fix it. Being 3 he didn’t quite understand it wasn’t his school that needed help. I asked if he wanted to help and he said yes. His sister, as his 2-year-old sister usually does, jumped right on board. So we got out the globe and I explained to him where we are in Colorado and where Haiti is “way over there and then down from where Uncle Dan lives in Florida.” Then I proceeded to explain to him why the schools were broken. The three of us each took out a handful of change from our respective piggy banks and put it in a bag for him to put in the collection jar. He went to school and told his teacher aide how the ground went “wiggle, wiggle” and broke the school in “Hayden.” Apparently my geography lesson needed repeating after his teacher heard him repeat that his “school in Hayden was broken” several times, still not separating himself from the need. But isn’t that the way it should be? Aren’t we all connected in one human community? Three-year-olds can offer so much insight to the world, to humanity and to being kind to everyone.

Stories courtesy of a visit to HappyNews.com