A panda eats bamboo in its new enclosure at the Chengdu Giant Panda Field Research Centre near Chengdu on January 11, 2012. China released six, young captive pandas into semi-wild enclosures as part of a project aimed at helping the endangered bears adapt to the wild and eventually set them free. ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour221908
I have a bad habit. I’m trying to stop, but for some reason, I just can’t.
Whenever I read an article I almost always read the comments section. And it never fails to send me into a state of sinking despair and anxiety. Why are the most vocal people always the most stupid? How can people say such cruel things in the midst of a tragedy? How can I bring children into a world of improper punctuation and spelling?
Thus you see why, after reading the comments following an article on James Holmes, I was in a state of depression. So I needed happy things to think about. After googling “happy” and coming up short, I turned to Newscom, where I promptly found this picture. In the words of a co-worker after seeing the above picture of a panda bear, this is the reason I go to work; to spread pictures like these, that will melt your heart a bit and add something happy to your day.
Boy playing with balloons in meadow. Mischa Keijser Cultura/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: cuphotos074088
And how can this not lift your mood and restore faith in humanity? There began my hunt for raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and a few more of my favorite things. So go ahead and call me naive, but just for a minute, join me in a world seen through rose-tinted glasses and be happy. The world is a good place. These pictures can help remind you of that.
Floresville, Texas, U.S. – Fireworks explode behind an American flag during the production of ABC’s television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The home, built in conjunction with the non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland, is specially designed for a wounded warrior and his family. The final show, after 212 episodes, will air in December. Robin Jerstad/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive064619
Go back and read the caption under that flag. Not only is this a gorgeous picture, but doesn’t it just make your heart swell with patriotic pride and love for humanity?
The silhouette of a stork standing on a rooftop is visible in front of the moon in Sieversdorf, Germany, 04 August 2012. Storks begin their long journey to wintering grounds in the south at the end of August. Patrick Pleul/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos740960
Take a moment to really appreciate the beauty of this picture. It has the moon and a stork silhouetted against it. Storks bring babies, babies are (usually…ok sometimes) happy, so this picture adds to happy making things.
Pictures show the bears enjoying their birthday cake. (starts) Vienna’s twin Polar-bear cubs celebrated their second birthday with an 80-kilo cake filled with fish, meat and vegetables. Twins Arktos and Nanuq were given a deep-frozen cake by their carers at Vienna’s Schunbrunn Zoo. The cubs then avidly devoured it in front of an amused crowd. Europics/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: epphotos009595
Holding flower between toes. Odilon Dimier / Altopress/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: altopress042687
Bare feet on grass= summer. 
Beauty of Nature Scenic Attraction Iceland Islands. imago stock&people/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagostock381496
Breathtaking, isn’t it? I love the different shades of purple and blue in the sky. The bright orange from the setting sun makes this picture worthy of a desktop image, as it is absolutely awe-inspiring. The earth is a beautiful place. And that makes me happy.
Thursday July 19, 2012. Shakira and Spanish footballer boyfriend Gerard Pique meet Lolita the Killer Whale while visiting the Miami Seaquarium. Miami Seaquarium, Supplied by PacificCoastNews/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: pacificphotos767049
Whales are just so big and blubbery, it makes me smile. Wish I could have been this girl.
Close-up of rows of chocolates in a French cafe, France, Europe. Frank Fell/Robert Harding/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: rhphotos162482
A Boy Sampling Homemade Fudge; Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Design Pics / LJM Photo/LJM Photo/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: depphotos119766
No need for words. Just acknowledge the happiness you feel.
July 17, 2012 – Anaheim, California, U.S. – Characters, music and a brief fireworks burst over Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. marks the theme park’s 57th birthday Tuesday, July 17. Joshua Sudock/ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawireworldphotosfive551594
What’s happier than the happiest place on earth? Well, a few things, but still, I really like Mickey and Minnie.
Vulpes Fuchs puppy sits on a Meadow Germany Schleswig. imago stock&people/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagostock381320
Puppies! Even if it’s a fox puppy, baby animals never fail to melt the heart.
Young Couple jumps happy in a Meadow in Summer symbol Youth love. imago stock&people/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: imagostock384453
Frolicking through a field, blissfully young and in love. My heart strings are being pulled. This picture makes me happy.
A ladybug (Coccinellidae) sits in a corn field near Celle, Germany, 03 July 2012. Lady bugs are found all over the world and are considered useful because they feed on aphids.Julian Stratenschulte/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: dpaphotos721556
If there’s a bug that will make me smile instead of squeal, it’s definitely the lady bug. Appreciate this perfect leaf and the skill of the photographer practicing macro photography to bring us the picture. Aren’t you smiling?
Serbia women take part in a wedding dress race in Belgrade on July 22, 2012. More than thirty “brides” took part in an annual wedding dress race in the Serbian capital, competing for numerous prizes.ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afplivefour585273
There’s just something hilarious about brides sprinting towards a finish line in all their finest. It was totally random that I found this picture, but when I saw it, I literally “L-O-L’d.” Forgive me, I know that term is terribly out of date, but I didn’t know how else to describe the guffaw that escaped me when I saw this picture. It made me very happy.
Sunflowers, Free State, South Africa. Neil Austen Africapictures.net/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afrphotos009691
I never realized that sunflowers grew in Africa. Not that I’ve ever been there, I just thought it was mostly all desert. Beautiful picture though, and sunflowers remind me of my sister (they were her wedding flower) which in turn, makes me happy.
Kalahari Scene, Kgalagadi Transfrontier NP, South Africa. Nigel Dennis Africapictures.net/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: afrphotos006523
This reminds me of a scene from the Lion King. I love that movie, this rainbow is gorgeous, so naturally this picture made it onto my list of happy making things.
Raindrops bead up on roses, in Mountain View Park, Fullerton, after a shower on Monday. ZUMA Press/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: zumawirewestphotos453408
Raindrops on roses. Just had to be done.
Well, I hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite things. Head back to Newscom to find more happy things that I’ve compiled, like cookie dough, fireworks, ice cream, and cliff jumping. If you liked this, we know you’ll love:
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Tags: birthday cake, chocolates, good pictures, happy pictures, happy things, just for smiles, panda bear, polar bear
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