10 Things That Will Make You Smile
Having a rough week? Full moon got you feeling funky? Doomscrolling got you down? We’ve got your back! Friday is around the corner, but in the meantime here are ten things online guaranteed to make you smile. Spoiler Alert: Adorable Content Ahead!
1. See a fish? Ring the bell!
Do you yearn to break bread with our underwater brethren? Now’s your chance! City officials in The Netherlands’ Municipality of Utrecht have created an online fish doorbell to aid the migration of fish past the city’s boat lock, which remains closed during the spring. If you’re watching the livestream and you see a fish, ring the doorbell to let the city know to let the little guys through!
2. Bookstore Cats
Bookstores + Cats = Cuteness Overload! This Instagram page is dedicated to cats who call indie bookstores home. The account also brings attention to cats and kittens in need of adoption or foster homes. Bonus thing to make you smile: in lieu of late fees, this Massachusetts library is accepting photos of cats!
3. Tiny Love Stories
For fans of rom coms and meet cutes, the New York Times Modern Love column has released a new batch of their Tiny Love Stories, aka a collection of short reader-submitted stories (less than 100 words) about love, romance, family, and friendship. You can read even more here.
4. Tom Hanks… Asks For Your Hand in Marriage?
Speaking of love stories, this one is an oldie but a goodie! Watch America’s Dad Tom Hanks take a break from answering questions at the Texas Book Festival to help a man propose to his girlfriend. (I wonder if he’s available to officiate weddings, too.)
5. Watch These Rad Elders Hit the Slopes
Check out these skiers in their 80s and 90s absolutely shredding the slopes of Utah’s Alta Ski Area. The Wild old Bunch has been meeting up since 1973. It is, quite literally, not your grandmother’s ski trip. Let us all aspire to age as awesomely.
6. A Reddit Thread of Cute Animals
If the cute animal content we send out EVERY WEEK in our newsletter isn’t enough, perhaps this Reddit thread can help. Welcome to r/aww, a thread entirely devoted to photos of cute animals. What’s not to love?
7. Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson
Meet Alexis Nikole Nelson, a super cool (and internet famous) foraging teacher whose videos will teach you how to identify, harvest, and cook with the flora of the world around you! Learn to make acorn pancakes, dandelion wine, lilac jelly, and other delicious and sustainable treats.
8. Who Runs The World? Girls!
A under-12 girls’ football (read: soccer) team in the UK played an undefeated season against a league of all boys’ teams! They proved their opponents and the naysayers wrong. Better luck next year boys!
9. Joe Pera Talks With You
If you haven't seen this relic of Adult Swim programming, now is the time! Joe Pera Talks With You is an internet series in which comedian Joe Pera plays a fictionalized version of himself, specifically a mild mannered Michigander choir teacher who talks calmly to the audience about topics like beans, hiking, and friendship. It might sound strange but I promise it is calming and endearing and well worth the watch. (Online or streaming!)
10. Recess Therapy
Kids run the show in Recess Therapy, an adorable web series hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum, who interviews children about some pretty serious stuff: “climate change, the economy, and ‘peeing your pants.’” A must-read for hard-hitting journalism, straight from the frontlines of your neighborhood playground.
Note: We are not affiliated with any of these websites, nor do we receive any sort of commission if you follow the links; they just made us smile! :)