Jade Small
Jade Small
December 10, 2024 ·  6 min read

50 Wholesome Facts That Might Bring Some Sunshine To Your Day

Sometimes life gets overwhelming, and a little burst of wholesome energy can make everything feel better. These delightful facts will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. So grab a cozy blanket, relax, and enjoy these 50 nuggets of joy!

1. A Train Station’s Graduation Celebration

a serene rural train station with a single set of railway tracks.
bisk0ot,Telegraph

In Japan, a train station stayed open just for one student until she graduated, delaying its closure as a heartfelt gesture of support.

2. Libraries Outnumber McDonald’s

The image shows a section of a library with multiple wooden bookshelves filled with books.
FewEquall,Olivija_photos

The United States boasts more public libraries than McDonald’s locations, proving that knowledge still trumps fast food.

3. Lichtenstein’s Unexpected War Outcome

a group of people wearing camouflage military uniforms and black combat boots.
darkLordSantaClaus,Threetails05

Lichtenstein once sent 80 soldiers to war, but they came back with 81—because they befriended someone along the way.

4. Bob Ross’s Compassionate Touch

Bob Ross
anon,Josiah Sanchez

Bob Ross would call regular viewers who stopped writing to him, making sure they were okay. He even painted in grayscale for a colorblind fan to show that anyone can paint.

5. Elephants Love Humans Like Puppies

a person standing next to an elephant in a lush, green jungle setting.
Batunikitty1,Chalabala

Elephants’ brains light up with joy when they see humans, just like ours do when we see puppies.

6. Dogs Let Puppies Win

a cat and a dog interacting
zerbey,katrinasid

Dogs adjust their play with puppies to ensure they win, showing kindness even during playtime.

7. Celebrating Sobriety

a person sitting at a table with a glass of what appears to be an alcoholic beverage in front of them.
Ridiculizard,friends_stock

One person shared their joy of being over five years sober, proving that every milestone is worth celebrating.

8. Kindred Spirits in Ireland

a large outdoor sculpture composed of several tall, metallic feathers arranged in a circular pattern.
xHermanTheGermanx,Gavin Sheridan

County Cork honors the Choctaw Nation’s 1847 donation to Irish famine relief with a stunning feather-shaped sculpture called “Kindred Spirits.”

9. Universal Emergency Numbers

a person wearing an orange coat and holding a phone to their ear.
Bagpuss45,oneinchpunchphotos

In New Zealand, you can dial your home country’s emergency number to get help—a comforting feature in stressful times.

10. Cows Have Best Friends

a group of six cows standing in a field.
becceroni_loves,hokietim

Cows form deep friendships, and their heart rates decrease when they’re with their besties.

11. Tulips as a Thank You

a pair of hands handling a collection of flower bulbs in a wooden tray.
Naweezy,Nikolaydonetsk

The Netherlands sends Canada 20,000 tulip bulbs every year as a token of gratitude for support during WWII.

12. Helpers Amidst Crisis

 a group of people standing in a line with their arms linked together.
Portarossa,halfpoint

In every disaster, there are unsung heroes who selflessly step up to help, embodying humanity’s best.

13. Germany’s Frog Fences

a frog clinging to a mesh screen.
Naweezy,Carol VanHook

Special fences guide frogs safely across roads in Germany, showing that even the smallest creatures matter.

14. An Unlikely Wartime Escort

a stunning coastal landscape with green, grassy cliffs overlooking a calm sea.
The_JimJam,Aussie~mobs

A German pilot once escorted a heavily damaged American bomber to safety during WWII, leading to a post-war friendship.

15. Penguins Propose with Pebbles

a penguin walking on a rocky surface.
FrogginBullfish_,ADDICTIVE_STOCK

Penguins carefully choose pebbles to propose to their mates, and if accepted, they stay together for life.

16. Poetry for the Forgotten

a person holding a string of prayer beads in one hand and an open book in the other hand.
CommercialMain7,seventyfourimages

In Amsterdam, poets attend funerals for those with no family to ensure no one leaves the world unnoticed.

17. Squirrels Adopt Babies

a close-up view of a small animal, specifically a baby chipmunk or squirrel, lying on a moss-covered surface.
bettyD95,nsamenvato

Squirrels often care for abandoned baby squirrels, proving that even wildlife shows compassion.

18. Blind People Naturally Smile

a serene moment in a park, featuring a person sitting on the grass with a black Labrador Retriever.
-eDgAR-,halfpoint

Blind individuals smile just like everyone else—it’s an innate human expression.

19. Wildlife Bridges Save Lives

an aerial view of a highway with two separate roadways running parallel to each other.
00evilhag,Hagai Agmon-Snir

Grassy bridges over highways allow animals to cross safely, reducing accidents and protecting nature.

20. Sharks Are Just Curious

close-up view of a shark swimming in dark water.
anon,belladonnasola

Sharks often bite out of curiosity since they can’t use hands. It’s not aggression—it’s just exploration.

21. Dogs’ Loving Gesture

a touching moment of connection between a human and a dog.
Nogard_Ruler_Brynn,Alan Levine

When a dog places their paw on you, it’s their way of “petting” you back—a sweet reciprocation of affection.

22. Otters Hold Hands

two sea otters floating on their backs in the water.
WatchTheBoom,Joe Robertson

Otters hold hands while floating to prevent drifting apart, especially during sleep.

23. Cats’ Eye-Narrowing Message

a close-up of a cat with long fur and pointed ears.
SnarkyLeprechaun84,sergeyskleznev

When cats narrow their eyes at you, it’s their way of expressing love and trust.

24. Red Pandas’ Cozy Tails

a red panda in a peaceful slumber atop a tree branch.
throwawayaccount062,SteveAllenPhoto999

Red pandas wrap their fluffy tails around themselves to stay warm in chilly weather.

25. Cardinals Practice Parenting

a red bird, likely a cardinal, perched on a bird feeder.
Wide_Ocelot,marisap7

Male cardinals feed their mates as practice for when they’ll feed their future chicks.

26. Billy Joel’s Gift to Fans

Billy Joel smiling
Back2Bach,David Shankbone

Billy Joel skips selling front-row tickets, giving them to fans who couldn’t otherwise afford such seats.

27. Babies’ Happiness Overload

a baby lying on a soft, white surface, possibly a carpet or blanket.
qeqilia,OlgaKhorkova

When babies suddenly turn away while laughing, it’s because they’re experiencing a joy overload.

28. Mr. Rogers’s Dinner Invitation

Mr. Rogers
MynameisMatlock,PopSugar

Mr. Rogers once had dinner with his chauffeur’s family after the driver casually mentioned they were passing his house.

29. Volvo’s Life-Saving Decision

the interior of a car
Tiberius-the-Cuddler,Alex Kehr

Volvo chose not to patent the seatbelt so it could save lives worldwide without restrictions.

30. Saran Wrap’s Eco-Friendly Change

 a head of Napa cabbage wrapped in plastic.
sharrrper,mikey winsor

Saran Wrap altered its formula to be more environmentally friendly, even at the cost of reduced effectiveness.

31. Guinea Pigs Need Friends

In Switzerland, owning just one guinea pig is illegal since they get lonely without companionship.

32. Immune System Loyalty

a person sitting on a gray couch in a living room.
vapera,Pressmaster

Your immune system fights tirelessly for you, no matter how much you might neglect it.

33. Ducks Halted Gunfire

During Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising, opposing forces paused daily to let ducks at St. Stephen’s Green be fed.

34. Most Humans Are Kind

More often than not, strangers are willing to help, even if it’s easy to focus on the negative experiences.

35. Gay Penguin Families

Penguin couples, including same-sex pairs, sometimes adopt orphaned chicks, forming beautiful families.

36. Ringo’s Special Welcome

Ringo playing drums
tragicalmysterytour,Eva Rinaldi

When Ringo Starr left the Beatles briefly, the band sent him heartfelt letters and decorated his drum kit with flowers to welcome him back.

37. Deaf Babies’ Language Development

a young person sitting on a couch, engaged in a hand gesture that appears to be part of sign language.
eternalrefuge86,YuriArcursPeopleimages

Deaf babies raised by deaf parents babble in sign language just like hearing babies babble vocally.

38. The Scent of Rain

LOW ANGLE, CLOSE UP, DOF: Cinematic shot of hail falling on the asphalt during a heavy tropical rainstorm. Small pellets of ice fall on the wet concrete ground during hailstorm on a gloomy summer day.
Source: Shutterstock

The lovely smell after rain comes from petrichor, an earthy aroma amplified by water.

39. Cats See Us Differently

Close up Scottish fold cat head with shocking face and wide open eyes. Frighten or surprised cat when look at something.
Source: Shutterstock

Cats see humans as clumsy, oversized babies, which might explain their occasional annoyance.

40. Baby Porcupines Are Adorably Named

Porcupine and baby porcupine in the zoo.
Source: Shutterstock

Baby porcupines are called porcupettes—an endearing name for a prickly cutie.

41. Someone Is Healing

 a person sitting on a tree stump in a forested area.
zahaaaa,olgar23

Somewhere in the world, someone is recovering from depression, proving hope exists even in the darkest times.

42. Dogs Sense Your Arrival

group of dogs portrait in autumn golden retriever spaniel border collie jack russell terrier
Source: Shutterstock

Dogs can tell when you’re coming home by how much of your scent remains in the house.

43. A Compliment for You

Hands holding green happy smile face, good feedback rating and positive customer review,experience, satisfaction survey,mental health assessment,child feeling good,world mental health day, Compliment
Source: Shutterstock

Here’s a little reminder: You look cute today!

44. Mr. Rogers and the Fish

Winter Park, Florida -2022: Fred McFeely Rogers “A Beautiful Day for a Neighbor” 360-degree outdoor sculpture at Rollins College by British sculptor Paul Day. Mr Rogers with Daniel Tiger and children.
Source: Shutterstock

Mr. Rogers announced feeding his fish on every show after a blind viewer worried they weren’t being cared for.

45. Dogs Create Maternal Bonds

close-up of a dog's face
anon,LightFieldStudios

Looking into your dog’s eyes creates the same bonding chemicals as a mother staring at her baby.

46. The Christmas Truce of 1914

Close-up of Christmas tree with red balls and bokeh in the background. Background with copy space for holiday design.
Source: Shutterstock

During WWI, British and German soldiers paused fighting to play soccer in no man’s land on Christmas Day.

47. Falling Asleep Reflex

woman lying in bed under a blanket, holding a remote control.
PinkFlamingoAlex,stokkete

The jolt you feel before falling asleep is your body’s way of checking you’re safe—not dying.

48. Relationships Build “Superbrains”

two people embracing each other in a room.
Jetztinberlin,gstockstudio

Long-term partnerships foster teamwork, turning two people into a highly efficient, collaborative “macroorganism.”

49. Lab Rats Play Hide and Seek

a white laboratory rat in the hands of a scientist in blue rubber gloves. healtcare & medicine
Source: Shutterstock

Lab rats enjoy playing hide and seek with scientists, even squealing with delight when found.

50. Dogs’ CGI Tails in Movies

Happy labrador dog in water splashes. Thirsty dog on hot sunny weather
Source: Shutterstock

In films, dogs’ tails are often CGI-ed because they’re too happy to stay still while “acting mean.”

Conclusion: Let the Sunshine In

The sea sand beach. Beautiful beach landscape. Inspire tropical beach seascape horizon.
Source: Shutterstock

These wholesome facts show that even in a chaotic world, kindness and joy abound. Keep these tidbits in your heart for a rainy day, and remember—spreading positivity can be as simple as sharing a smile or fact that warms the soul.

This content has, in part, been generated with the aid of an artificial intelligence language model. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided may not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. We recommend independently verifying the content and consulting with professionals for specific advice or information. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the use or interpretation of this content.