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The best good news stories from January
January was filled with so much good news, it's easy to overlook some of it!
Today, we're highlighting the most-clicked stories from the past month of Goodnewsletters— to help make sure you catch all the good news you might have missed.
Photo: via Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
A Los Angeles teen created a 'one-stop shop' website to help wildfire victims more easily find the support they need
In the chaos of the fires, Ruben Varghese, a 16-year-old Angeleno, launched save-la.org to help give victims an easier way to find everything from food to free housing.
A new 'angel shot' app helps bartenders hail Ubers and call the police with the tap of a button to help customers in need
The discreet code phrase has taken on a new life with an app that immediately alerts bar staff to instances of dangerous behavior, unwanted advances, and sexual harassment.
Norway is on track to be the first country to eliminate diesel and petrol car sales — and did it without banning them
In 2024, nine out of 10 new cars sold in Norway were fully battery-powered — putting the country on track to only add new electric cars to its roadways by 2025.
A 12-year-old girl in Scotland designed a solar-powered sleeping bag for her homeless neighbors
Seeing "so many people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow," 12-year-old Rebecca Young wanted to help members of her community facing homelessness.
AI spotted an unreported California wildfire, proving its 'emerging' role in fire safety
AI-powered ALERTCalifornia camera flagged the fire and sent an emergency ping to the Orange County Fire Authority so fire crews were able to contain the blaze to less than a quarter of an acre and keep homes and people safe.
An 8-year-old invented a "self-regulating bracelet" to help neurodivergent kids communicate in school
Zoeya Khan's design looks like a simplified smartwatch, with a round white face that contains a button-activated system that provides visual responses through colored lights, which can enable communication solutions between students, peers, and teachers.
The Great Salt Lake could disappear in 5 years — a teenage innovator is using "Jello-like" substances to save it
One of the lake's biggest threats: water diversion. For decades, a significant portion of water that would naturally flow into the Great Salt Lake has been diverted for agricultural purposes — particularly for growing crops to feed the state's beef and dairy production.
20,000 people signed up to donate clothes and essentials to LA fire victims through an online secondhand marketplace
Seconds Market will connect donors with someone who requested support based on clothing size, age, and gender. They also are looking to set up a free "store" so locals can shop for what they need, too.
Photo: via Shukran888 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
After confiscating a shipment of trafficked animals, biologists identified a new critically endangered pangolin species
Across Asia and Africa, pangolins are critical for environmental health — called the "guardians of the forest" because they primarily feed on termites and protect trees from destruction, creating a balanced ecosystem.
To help prevent house fires, a teen invented a 'smart fire extinguisher' that automatically puts out flames
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, while most Americans have a fire extinguisher in their home, only a small percentage of adults know how to actually use one.
After 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas agreed to a six-week ceasefire deal in Gaza
In addition to releasing Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the deal involved allowing people in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes and allowing in much-needed humanitarian aid.
The first 3D-printed affordable housing project in Europe was just completed — and it only took 12 days
Conventional construction methods usually require more than 200 days, according to COBOD, meaning this method could be transformative in quickly scaling affordable housing options.
Japan rolled out the world's first toilet paper made from used disposable diapers
Around 712 million trees are felled yearly to produce virgin pulp toilet paper. Meanwhile, disposable diapers are the third-largest single consumer item in landfills, taking an estimated 500 years to decompose.
(Exclusive) Hope Walz shared how she spent Inauguration Day, her favorite nonprofits — and the three things giving her hope right now
Hope also talked to Good Good Good about ways people can get involved in the causes they care about, and what book she and her dad plan to read next in their father-daughter book club.
A Chicago man invented 'backpack beds' — and is on a mission to give one to every unhoused person in his city
Each Backpack Bed costs about $124, but a 2018 impact study for the invention found that each one provides $3,319 in community savings in health, justice, and employment.
A Toronto man invented 'tiny tiny' homes that fit on the back of bicycles to combat rising homelessness
Each Tiny Tiny Home model is insulated, weatherproof, and watertight, with thoughtful essentials: a sofa that converts into a bed, solar-powered electricity, storage, safety features, and much more.
Offering Cameos in 'any language,' Tony Hawk raised thousands to support World Central Kitchen's wildfire relief efforts
Each video costs $99 and has a 24-hour turnaround time. Given his donation numbers, it can be assumed that at least 150 people supported this initiative.
After enduring years of endometriosis pain, an engineer developed an app to people manage pain and find support
Endometriosis causes debilitating periods, increased risk of infertility, a wide range of symptoms that impact quality of life, and has a reputation for being misdiagnosed or not taken seriously in the medical community.
YouTube creators and celebrities raised over $1 million for LA wildfire relief
Funds raised will be divided among five charities and guests included in the livestream include creators and celebrities such as Ben Schwartz, Jason Segel, Jean Smart, Ke Huy Quan, Alyssa Milano, and many more.
Portland pays homeless residents to clean up trash — they just surpassed 1 million pounds collected
Ground Score has directly hired 55 members of the community, over 95% of whom were formerly or are currently houseless — and since having started working for Ground Score, over 70% of those workers have become housed.
To encourage pet adoptions, Lyft offers discounted 'pet rides' ahead of the annual Puppy Bowl
The big game between Team Ruff and Team Fluff will include 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries, showing dog lovers across the country the joy and delight that come from pet adoption.
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Try this: When a big, looming task (going through your inbox, writing too many thank-you cards, etc.) is overwhelming the heck out of you, try to break it up into smaller to-dos. This can help you build momentum with small wins and make the task less intimidating. You've got this!
Think on this: When was the last time you really showed up for yourself? How can you do more of that in the future?
Remember this: Sometimes the hard stuff is still worth it.
"I love my dogs. And (not but!) they track in a lot of dirt, grass, and unwanted mystery substances. To keep my floors and bed clean (because, yes, we're big cuddlers), I use these Earth Rated wipes every time I take the pups out. Knowing that they have dirt-free paws helps soothe my anxiety about cleanliness."
—Sam Brodsky, Staff Writer
THERAPY HACK 💡
When the news has you down, focus on what you can control.
If we could start a support group for anyone following the news lately, trust us, we would. But in lieu of that, we reached out to an expert for one of their best tips for navigating bad news overload. "Consuming negative news often leaves us feeling powerless because, in many cases, we truly aren't in control," explains psychologist Cynthia Shaw, PhD. "While this realization might seem unhelpful, it can actually shift our focus toward what is within our control."
Try it: Once you realize what's out of your control, like solving the world's animal welfare issues, it can be easier to identify meaningful ways you can contribute to improving the problem, even if they're small. In this case, you can volunteer, foster, adopt, raise awareness, and vote for people who share your values. "Recognizing these actionable steps can help counter feelings of helplessness," says Dr. Shaw.
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LET'S DISCUSS 💬
The Let Them Theory Is The Secret to Giving Less F*cks in 2025
By Sam Brodsky
Your friends hung out without you. Your dad judges your job. The traffic? Freaking horrible. These are shitty situations that make you frustrated, angry, or stressed out. (Probably all the above, if you're being honest.) But, according to author and podcast host Mel Robbins, the Let Them Theory can help you rise above it all.
The idea is that what's done is done: Your pals didn't think to (or want to) invite you, you can't magically change your dad's mind, and you cannot bibbidi-bobbidi-boo bumper-to-bumper delays. But you can talk to your friends about your FOMO (or prioritize other connections), focus on all the things you love about your career, and use your travel delays to call someone back.
Sounds simple enough, though there's a bit more to it. And that's the subject of Robbins' newest self-help book, The Let Them Theory, which she co-wrote with her daughter Sawyer Robbins. If the advice to spend less time worrying about what other people do or think sounds a little familiar, that's because it is, says Robbins. The concept of giving up control has roots in Buddhism, Stoicism, the Serenity Prayer, and radical acceptance, she notes.
Here, Robbins explains how this concept works and why it can benefit your career, your relationships, and your inner rage monster at busy checkout lines.
WM: What is the Let Them Theory and how does it work?
Mel Robbins: The Let Them Theory is a simple mindset tool that has two parts. The first part is telling yourself to, Let them, during any moment in life where you feel annoyed, frustrated, stressed out, or worried about a situation or another person. As soon as you say those two words, you are releasing control of what another person thinks, says, does, believes, and feels.
Any psychologist will tell you that whenever you try to control something that you can't, it just creates more stress and frustration and anxiety for you. For the first 54 years of my life, I didn't know this. I mean, I'm a very smart person, but I had no idea that my attempt to control other people and little things that were happening all around me—long lines or traffic or somebody being rude—drained my energy.
Once you say, Let them, you recognize you can't control what another person thinks, says, or does. Therefore, it is not worth your time and energy to try. Then you say, Let me, reminding yourself of the things that are in your control: what you think about another person or situation, what you do or don't do in response to another person or situation, and what you do in response to your emotions.
Every time you say, Let them, it's the ultimate boundary between you and the rest of the world. It is an act of self-love and self-protection. You recognize that your time and energy is worth protecting. Then you say, Let me, and you pull your time and energy back and you get to choose what you do with it.
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DISCLAIMER: THIS NEWSLETTER DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information contained in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. This newsletter is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this newsletter.
