Sharing the Thanksgiving Spirit

Let’s face it, 2016 hasn’t been the greatest. We lost some of the greatest musicians in the form of David Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen, and amazing athletes such as Jose Fernandez, Muhammad Ali and Arnold Palmer. And don’t even get me started on the deaths of Gene Wilder and Alan Rickman (RIP Snape. Always). We’ve experienced enough loss in this one year to last us a decade.

But it hasn’t just been untimely celebrity deaths that has made 2016 rough. Between one of the most controversial presidential elections and the Syrian refugee crisis, people on both side of the political spectrum can agree that this year is just the pits.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to look on the bright side of things and dive into what has made this year worthy of gratitude. Social media has made it easier than ever to find some good in the world. Whether it’s a viral tweet or a shared Facebook sentiment, here’s a round-up of five feel good stories to be thankful for this week when you’re celebrating Thanksgiving.

Grandma Thanksgiving Text

This should make your heart happy. A grandma sent a text to who she assumed was her grandson about Thanksgiving plans, only to find out it was definitely not the right number. The best part? She said the invite still counted because that’s what Grandmas do.

Celebrity Paying It Forward

Fan of his music or not, Ed Sheeran won bonus points for serenading a 9-year-old girl who spends 80% of her time in a hospital. This duo had my heart melting within five seconds, and made me appreciate the celebrities who take time to go out of their way for fans—even the tiniest of them.

Fashion Show for a Cause

The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation holds an annual fashion show that is anything but typical. The models? Children with cancer. The clothes? Whatever the child wants, because they’re dressed as what they want to be when they grow up. Let the feels run over you.

Chicago Cubs Fan

Being a huge Cubs fan myself, I had to include one of the many heartwarming stories that came out of their big World Series win. This one really pulls at the heartstrings. A man who had a pact with his father to watch the Cubs in the World Series held up his end of the bargain by driving to Indiana to sit and listen to the game on the radio—at his dad’s grave.  Ugh! The feels!

Kid with a Big Heart

We should start taking notes from the youth of the world. A mother was confused when her son kept asking for two lunches—until she found out why. He was giving his second lunch to someone in his class who needed it. I’ll take this kid as a friend any day!