We’re all in need of a little pick-me-up from time to time. Some of us are exhausted, demotivated, burned out, and we’re finding precious few things to be happy about (well… besides junk food…). The world’s so full of darkness after all. But life’s got plenty of wonderful things to bring us joy and make us smile, too! Sometimes, it just takes a gentle reminder. This one’s from us.

Dumbledore said that happiness can be found in the darkest of times “if one only remembers to turn on the light,” and we’re huge believers in that. So here’s us flicking on the lights for you! Our team at Bored Panda has put together this list of some of the most wholesome, heartwarming, and uplifting pictures and stories to bring that spark of happiness back into your lives, dear Readers.

As you’re scrolling down, remember to upvote the pics that made you smile the widest and be sure to share ‘em with those of your friends who you think might need a virtual hug. In the mood for some chicken soup for the soul? Check out Bored Panda’s other recent super-wholesome posts here, here, and here.

Sarah Vero from 'Action for Happiness' went into detail with Bored Panda about finding real happiness and how to move forward after the exhausting year that we've had. You'll find her insights below.

#1

I Don't Have Anyone To Celebrate With But I'm 7 Years Clean Of Heroin Today. Yey Me

I Don't Have Anyone To Celebrate With But I'm 7 Years Clean Of Heroin Today. Yey Me

FingerMyJapsEye Report

RELATED:
    #2

    A Single Gay Man Is Only Allowed To Adopt A Child With Disability, So He Adopts A Girl With A Down Syndrome, That Was Rejected By More Than 20 Families

    A Single Gay Man Is Only Allowed To Adopt A Child With Disability, So He Adopts A Girl With A Down Syndrome, That Was Rejected By More Than 20 Families

    trapaluca Report

    #3

    After Stage 4 Cancer & 20 Months Of Chemo, My Kid Rang The Bell

    After Stage 4 Cancer & 20 Months Of Chemo, My Kid Rang The Bell

    20vmki Report

    #4

    My Son Always Texts To Say He's On His Way Home. So I Open The Door, Letting His 17-Year-Old Cat, And 16-Year-Old Doggo Know That He's On His Way. This Is Them Waiting For Him

    My Son Always Texts To Say He's On His Way Home. So I Open The Door, Letting His 17-Year-Old Cat, And 16-Year-Old Doggo Know That He's On His Way. This Is Them Waiting For Him

    Thought it was adorable and wanted to share.

    JonesMommy Report

    #5

    The Client Was Supposed To Wear This Dress For Their Session That Was Canceled, So I Asked My Husband's 87-Year-Old Grandma If She Wanted To Model The Dress For Me

    The Client Was Supposed To Wear This Dress For Their Session That Was Canceled, So I Asked My Husband's 87-Year-Old Grandma If She Wanted To Model The Dress For Me

    After a little hesitation, I convinced her to do it. I did her make-up, brushed her hair and put the dress on her, she was the happiest little old lady I’ve ever seen. She said she felt like she was a bride again and how she wished her husband was still on this earth with us so she could remarry him again. Btw, it was also her birthday, so it was the perfect little gift to up her spirits

    inthebliss Report

    #6

    The First Selfie My Grandpa Took With His New Phone

    The First Selfie My Grandpa Took With His New Phone

    bosvert234 Report

    #7

    Today I Have 2 Years Sober From Fentanyl, Meth, Crack And Alcohol! This Is A Day I Felt Like I Would Never See, Definitely Smiling Today

    Today I Have 2 Years Sober From Fentanyl, Meth, Crack And Alcohol! This Is A Day I Felt Like I Would Never See, Definitely Smiling Today

    Psychological-Draw74 Report

    #8

    Spent The Second Half Of 2020 Homeless, NYE In A Mental Hospital, Then Caught Covid The Week I Was Released. Tonight Is My First Night In A Proper Bed, And I Built It Myself

    Spent The Second Half Of 2020 Homeless, NYE In A Mental Hospital, Then Caught Covid The Week I Was Released. Tonight Is My First Night In A Proper Bed, And I Built It Myself

    dingosaurus Report

    #9

    The French Welcome

    The French Welcome

    mtlgrems Report

    #10

    8 Years Sober From Heroin Today And A Week Without Cigarettes (Though I'm Having Trouble). I Don't Have Anyone Really To Share With So Here I Am. Here's To The Future

    8 Years Sober From Heroin Today And A Week Without Cigarettes (Though I'm Having Trouble). I Don't Have Anyone Really To Share With So Here I Am. Here's To The Future

    CakeDaySenderella Report

    #11

    Anxiously Awaiting Toy Retrieval

    Anxiously Awaiting Toy Retrieval

    my_stupid_name Report

    #12

    I Lost My Baby And Stranger From The Internet Made Me A Bear With The Same Size And Weight

    I Lost My Baby And Stranger From The Internet Made Me A Bear With The Same Size And Weight

    It is so beautiful to have a physical representation of my baby that I can hold and I am so thankful.

    smkels Report

    #13

    Our Cat Had Kittens Two Days After We Had Our Baby Girl. This Kitten Climbs Into Her Lounger Whenever He Has The Chance. I Think These Two Were Destined To Be Best Buds

    Our Cat Had Kittens Two Days After We Had Our Baby Girl. This Kitten Climbs Into Her Lounger Whenever He Has The Chance. I Think These Two Were Destined To Be Best Buds

    Hoot2687 Report

    #14

    My Husband Passed Away 2 Weeks Ago And In The Garage Behind A Piece Of Paper Hanging On The Wall I Found This

    My Husband Passed Away 2 Weeks Ago And In The Garage Behind A Piece Of Paper Hanging On The Wall I Found This

    In the months before his passing he was unable to talk due to his brain cancer, so finding this note from him meant the world to me and is something I will cherish forever. We were married for 24 years. I hope this post inspires people to take time to leave little notes for their loved ones. The comfort they can give is priceless.

    Lacy Summers Report

    #15

    Happy I Got The Happiest Photo With My Best Friend

    Happy I Got The Happiest Photo With My Best Friend

    inherentlydad Report

    #16

    I And Two Coworkers Realized We Were Wearing The Same Coat. The Only Option Was To Zip Them Into One Three Person Coat

    I And Two Coworkers Realized We Were Wearing The Same Coat. The Only Option Was To Zip Them Into One Three Person Coat

    Geekquinox Report

    #17

    Retired Chemistry Teacher Bro. Martin Sellner Shared His Triumph Of Completing A Cross-Stitch Periodic Table After Two Decades Of Stitching

    Retired Chemistry Teacher Bro. Martin Sellner Shared His Triumph Of Completing A Cross-Stitch Periodic Table After Two Decades Of Stitching

    The 82-year-old Lasallian brother meticulously hand-stitched every inch of the 58" x 54" embroidery. ⁠ ⁠ "The table and border took six years. Then finally the last nine elements were named by the IUPAC and I was able to complete it."

    Inspirations Magazine Report

    #18

    I’ve Made A Commitment To Stay Sober And Take My Life Back. I’ve Made It 2.5 Days, Which Is The Longest Streak I Can Remember

    I’ve Made A Commitment To Stay Sober And Take My Life Back. I’ve Made It 2.5 Days, Which Is The Longest Streak I Can Remember

    hickryjustaswell Report

    #19

    My Father Meeting His First Grandson

    My Father Meeting His First Grandson

    bubblegumprincesss Report

    #20

    We Fed Our Backyard Squirrel ONCE... Meet Frankie At Our Backyard Door Waiting For More Nuts

    We Fed Our Backyard Squirrel ONCE... Meet Frankie At Our Backyard Door Waiting For More Nuts

    chebstr Report

    #21

    My Great Grandma, Who Turned 103 On Valentine’s Day, Laughing With My 2-Month-Old Daughter

    My Great Grandma, Who Turned 103 On Valentine’s Day, Laughing With My 2-Month-Old Daughter

    mrsroyalmountain Report

    #22

    Our Daughter Wasn’t Eating For Weeks Due To The Effects Of Chemo And Being Very Sick. Finally Home From The Hospital, I Made Spaghetti And She Finally Would Eat

    Our Daughter Wasn’t Eating For Weeks Due To The Effects Of Chemo And Being Very Sick. Finally Home From The Hospital, I Made Spaghetti And She Finally Would Eat

    Celebrating small victories here

    Jenngotcakespdx Report

    #23

    This Little Guy Came To Say Hello While Walking My Pup This Morning. Am I Officially A Disney Princess?

    This Little Guy Came To Say Hello While Walking My Pup This Morning. Am I Officially A Disney Princess?

    switchup Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #24

    My Dad Was Worried My Deafblind Dog Wouldn’t Recognize Him After A Year Of Quarantine But I Think She Did

    My Dad Was Worried My Deafblind Dog Wouldn’t Recognize Him After A Year Of Quarantine But I Think She Did

    haydenkristal Report

    Annabelle
    Community Member
    11 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Smell is their primary sense.

    #25

    I’ve Been Biking To Work In The Cold Every Morning, My Coworker Noticed And She Made Me This Scarf And Beanie

    I’ve Been Biking To Work In The Cold Every Morning, My Coworker Noticed And She Made Me This Scarf And Beanie

    Then_Ad7687 Report

    #26

    Elementary School Kids Raised Over $7000 To Buy Their Janitor A Car, Whose Commute Was 4 Hours Long On 3 Different Buses

    Elementary School Kids Raised Over $7000 To Buy Their Janitor A Car, Whose Commute Was 4 Hours Long On 3 Different Buses

    wmcactionnews5.com Report

    #27

    Twitter Can Be The Cutest App Ever

    Twitter Can Be The Cutest App Ever

    Paiiiin_ Report

    #28

    A Factory In Turkey Started To Produce Roof Tiles That Serve As Bird Shelters

    A Factory In Turkey Started To Produce Roof Tiles That Serve As Bird Shelters

    UgurErogul99 Report

    #29

    My 10-Year Cancer-Versary: Full Circle From Cancer Patient To Oncology PA Working In The Same Clinic That Cured Me

    My 10-Year Cancer-Versary: Full Circle From Cancer Patient To Oncology PA Working In The Same Clinic That Cured Me

    blondie0o Report

    #30

    My Son's Gymnastics Teammate Didn't Get Any Medals, So He Offered One Of His. "But I Didn't Earn It", His Friend Said. My Son Replied "You Earned It By Being My Best Friend"

    My Son's Gymnastics Teammate Didn't Get Any Medals, So He Offered One Of His. "But I Didn't Earn It", His Friend Said. My Son Replied "You Earned It By Being My Best Friend"

    Made me tear up, what a good little man.

    TheTopHatSideShow Report

    #31

    Some Kids Made A Stick Pile For Dogs Walking By

    Some Kids Made A Stick Pile For Dogs Walking By

    amyjbrittain Report

    #32

    My Dad Poured A Trail Of Salt From My Vehicle To The Front Door Of My Work Building So That I, His 38-Year-Old Daughter, Wouldn’t Slip And Fall On The Ice

    My Dad Poured A Trail Of Salt From My Vehicle To The Front Door Of My Work Building So That I, His 38-Year-Old Daughter, Wouldn’t Slip And Fall On The Ice

    Elizabeth Bautista Boyd Report

    #33

    A Very Awesome Mom

    A Very Awesome Mom

    JustinRyanBerni Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #34

    Sweet Rat

    Sweet Rat

    Carli_Elaine Report

    #35

    Remember Me? The White Blood Cell Immunotherapy Girl? Well, Update: It Worked. Stage 4 To No Cancer In 3 Months! Science Is Magic

    Remember Me? The White Blood Cell Immunotherapy Girl? Well, Update: It Worked. Stage 4 To No Cancer In 3 Months! Science Is Magic

    Zero evidence of disease at 3mo scan, and staying that way. 

    sarahjewel Report

    #36

    Little Victories

    Little Victories

    sarahbellumPA Report

    #37

    Little Boy Receives His "Salary" From Wholesome Electricians

    Little Boy Receives His "Salary" From Wholesome Electricians

    "Possibly the sweetest act of kindness I’ve seen. Family had electricians in every week for the past 6 weeks and their little boy was obsessed with them. He hounded them with questions, kindness and constant offers to help!"

    SportySuz20 Report

    #38

    She's Just So Happy

    She's Just So Happy

    clairelizzie Report

    #39

    Every Morning, Our Cat Patiently Waits At My Sons' Bedroom Door For Them To Wake Up. And It's Not To Be Fed - He Just Can't Wait To See Them

    Every Morning, Our Cat Patiently Waits At My Sons' Bedroom Door For Them To Wake Up. And It's Not To Be Fed - He Just Can't Wait To See Them

    NuevoJerz Report

    #40

    So This Happened To Me Today

    So This Happened To Me Today

    acnh_nanaland Report

    #41

    An Act Of Kindness

    An Act Of Kindness

    IanAgate Report

    #42

    Adorable Meetings

    Adorable Meetings

    throatgoatlisa Report

    #43

    The Late Great Black Panther Chadwick Boseman Visiting And Making The Absolute Day Of Cancer-Stricken Kids In The Hospital, All The While Quietly Battling The Same Disease

    The Late Great Black Panther Chadwick Boseman Visiting And Making The Absolute Day Of Cancer-Stricken Kids In The Hospital, All The While Quietly Battling The Same Disease

    chadwickboseman Report

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #44

    The Whole Family Lost Weight By Working Out Together

    The Whole Family Lost Weight By Working Out Together

    xyjesse Report