In A Girl of the Limberlost, Gene Stratton-Porter writes, “The world is full of happy people, but no one ever hears of them. You have to fight and make a scandal to get into the papers.” Here is your opportunity to hear the good news: Every day people like you build a grateful world through acts of creativity and compassion.

(We add new items monthly so if you read a piece of grateful news on a reliable website, please send us a link).

Some of us worry or mourn over the growing losses of species in our world; others take the long view that these extinctions may open the way to a burst of evolutionary invention eons from now.  Either way, it behooves us to pause and marvel not only at the past inhabitants of the earth, but also at the remarkable ones all around us now.
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Schools in the recent past have spread Islamic radicalism through the poorest parts of society.  A group of Turkish educators have come to this battleground with an entirely different vision of Islam. Theirs is moderate and flexible, comfortably coexisting with the West while remaining distinct from it. » Full story

When older people can no longer remember names at a cocktail party, they tend to think that their brainpower is declining. Instead, research finds the aging brain is simply taking in more data and trying to sift through a clutter of information, often to its long-term benefit.
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Nigeria has been the source of more bad news than good recently. But correspondent Mark Doyle says meeting two very impressive Nigerians in the last week has put him in a much better mood. » Full story

BEIJING — China appeared to bend to international pressure on Friday as the government announced it would meet with envoys of the Dalai Lama. The breakthrough comes as Chinese officials have pivoted this week and moved to tamp down the domestic nationalist anger unleashed by the Tibetan crisis and by the protests at the international Olympic torch relay.    » Full story

A Victim Treats His Mugger Right

Can you imagine -- upon being threatened with a knife to hand over your money -- offering your coat to the thief and inviting him to have dinner with you?  Julio Diaz, a would-be-victim, recounts what happened as a result of doing just that.
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Harlem to Antarctica for Science, and Pupils

Dr. Stephen F. Pekar found just the person for his Antarctica team: a talented, intrepid African-American teacher to be a role model for minority science students. Shakira Brown, a Harlem middle school teacher - who makes science both understandable and cool - plans to teach her students with lessons live from Antarctica, via video conferencing and blogging.   » Full story

UN effort to end malaria deaths

Mr. Ban wants all of Africa to have access to basic measures to control the disease, such as bed nets and sprays. » Full story

Baby Girl Doe, finder reunite

After receiving a letter from the now-grown and very grateful Bethany Laroche, Bill Kotch travels to Texas to celebrate  Bethany's birthday, reuniting them for the first time since Bill found her in a parking lot at Denny's when she was an abandoned baby 18 years ago.  » Full story

Vietnamese Buddhist festival of Chua Huong at the Perfume Pagoda

Award winning travel photographer Karoki Lewis documents pilgrims from all over Vietnam who take part in this festival that takes place in the spectacular landscape of the Huong Son, the Mountain of Perfumes.  » Full story

The Vision Thing

Even though there are 10 million blind or visually impaired Americans, many people have never seen one of them in a job of great responsibility — or in any professional role at all. The public still doesn’t fully understand how talented visually impaired professionals are.
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Gratitude that's truly noteworthy

If the ease of e-mail has caused you to stop writing and sending thank-you notes on fine stationery, Kelly Browne's new book will inspire you to return to this increasingly rare but treasured form of communication.  » Full Story