We’ve all been tempted at one stage or another to turn off the tv and social media notifications in fear of ‘more bad news’.
But it’s certainly not all doom and gloom. There’s plenty of wonderful, creative, and fun stories popping up all around the world, not to mention random acts of kindness during times of self-isolation.
Here are some bite-sized good news stories to have with your morning coffee, so you can start your day with a smile.
Forget the search for toilet rolls, how about a good old-fashioned Bear Hunt?
A mass teddy bear hunt is underway across the world, with households as far as America and the United Kingdom placing stuffed toys and bears in their windows for children to spot.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has even joined in, putting two bears in the window of her family house in Wellington.
Moreton Bay Region is no different, embracing the international movement that you can contribute to from the safety of your own home, you can join this 'We're going on a bear hunt - Moreton Bay' Facebook group.
Banish the boredom and see if you can spot any teddy bears in windows around your neighbourhood while going for a walk or driving to work (remembering to abide by social distancing and confinement rules, of course).
Self-isolation is certainly no walk in the (Jurassic) park, but movie stars like Sam Neill are using their celebrity connections and global social media presence for good.
From poetry reading and singing, to lessons in coffee and all-important shoe updates, the actor has even recruited help from the likes of English-Australian actor Hugo Weaving in his series of skits dubbed ‘Quarantine Cinema’.
There’s also plenty of wholesome animal and farming content, direct from Sam Neill’s estate in New Zealand.
The perfect remedy to scary stats and non-stop broadcasts, he really is the daily motivation we didn’t know we needed.
You can find Sam Neill and his ukulele-strumming antics on Twitter (@twopaddocks).
It all started with one Hervey Bay local donning a crown and blue Elsa (of Frozen fame) dress to complete the normally mundane task of taking the bin out.
But, like all online sensations, there were soon hordes of princesses, mermaids, dinosaurs and superheroes hitting the footpath and spreading much-needed cheer.
The Facebook group – Bin Isolation Outing – was originally shared by Ms Danielle Askew and her friends in her South East Queensland hometown.
It wasn’t long before the group (now boasting more than 270,000 members and growing by the day) took off, with more and more people worldwide taking up the challenge.
Keep an eye out and see if you can spot Fred Flintstone, Thor or Wonder Woman taking out the trash in style this week. Better yet, why not join in the fun and make a costume of your own?
When the going gets tough, well, we have to get creative. And that’s just what one nursing home in Western Australia has done to help beat the isolation blues and keep families connected.
With restricted visitation measures now in place in aged care and nursing homes across the country, Oryx Communities has created a ‘Window of Love’.
The allows families to view their loved ones at the aged care facility through a glass window while speaking on the phone.
We’re happy to report that the idea, like cheer, is spreading. Nursing homes as far as Texas are allowing people to stick paper cut-out hearts and messages of support on the windows of residents.
In London, they have extended window visitors to include those of the four-legged variety. A number of rehabilitation and aged care centres have welcomed therapy dogs to check in on residents in place of their regular visits. What a paw-fect idea!
There’s no shortage of good news stories out there, including these reasons to smile:
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We might be spending most of our time indoors, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay silent – stay connected!
