It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the headlines—violence, division, and uncertainty seem to dominate our newsfeeds. But amid the noise, important stories of progress, kindness, and courage often go unnoticed. While 2018 brought its share of challenges, it also delivered moments of deep humanity, historic change, and quiet hope.
To help balance the weight of the world, here’s a roundup of positive global events from a CNN article by Andrea Diaz and Christina Maxouris titled “2018 wasn't ALL bad. Here are all the good things that happened in the world.”
The World
- North and South Korea vowed to formally end the Korean War
- Cuba ended the 59-year Castro leadership
- Canada legalized recreational marijuana
- Mexico planned to use presidential jet funds for the poor
- South Korea closed its largest dog meat slaughterhouse
- Meghan Markle became the first woman of color to join the British royal family
The U.S.
- Unemployment reached its lowest rate since 1969
- The first Muslim and Native American women were elected to Congress
- Colorado elected the first openly gay governor
- Congress passed long-awaited criminal justice reform
- New York and Virginia began requiring mental health education in schools
- Nevada became the first state with a female-majority legislature
Human Rights
- Women in Saudi Arabia gained the right to drive
- Ireland voted to legalize abortion
- India decriminalized consensual same-sex relationships
- Scotland integrated LGBTI education into school curricula
- Female genital mutilation rates declined across Africa
- Women in Iran were allowed into men’s sporting events for the first time
Health & Science
- A woman gave birth via uterus transplant from a deceased donor
- Researchers developed a 10-minute cancer test
- The UK surpassed HIV diagnosis and treatment goals
- New treatments for Ebola and peanut allergies showed promise
- Studies suggested dogs could help diagnose malaria
- New longevity tips emerged from health research
Environment
- 157 new species were discovered in Southeast Asia
- New Zealand prioritized climate action over oil production
- Major fashion brands united to fight climate change
- Scientists developed a plastic-eating enzyme
Sports
- North and South Korea marched under one flag at the Winter Olympics
- The Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl
- USA women’s gymnastics won the world team title
- The Washington Capitals claimed their first Stanley Cup
Space
- NASA’s InSight landed on Mars and recorded the sound of Martian wind
- A record 64 satellites were launched by SpaceX
- Virgin Galactic’s space plane reached the upper atmosphere
- We detected a “ghost particle” that traveled 3.7 billion light-years
Arts & Culture
- Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians led the way in film diversity
- African-American films were prominently nominated at the Golden Globes
- Princess Charlotte made history by keeping her place in the royal succession regardless of gender
At Clarity Counseling Seattle, we often talk with clients about how hard it is to hold both the good and the bad—especially when the bad seems louder. But balance doesn’t mean ignoring pain. It means making space to also notice moments of kindness, courage, and connection. Whether it's someone holding the door open, letting you merge in traffic, or making small talk in line—these small gestures add up.
If you want support cultivating more gratitude, resilience, and perspective in your life, we’d be honored to help.