Reasons to be Cheerful

David Byrne was frustrated.

The artist, author, and front man for the Talking Heads couldn’t find any good news. He was aware of the hardships of the world, but he also knew through life experience that life wasn’t all bad.

He just couldn’t find any evidence in the news of that fact.

He decided to take matters into his own hands, and in January 2018 started up a website,  Reasons to be Cheerful. He began collecting and posting news items that reminded him,  "Hey, there's actually some positive stuff going on!"

Whether we like Byrne’s politics, or his music, the project is intriguing. It begs the question, what are our reasons to be cheerful?

There are many.

This time of year we seem to hop from event to event, more so than usual, and I would argue there is a reason to be cheerful in every moment spent in an auditorium seat, at a table with family, or in the car on the way.

Byrne’s challenge is easy when you are near a child in December.

However, I recommend we not be satisfied with the low hanging fruit. Make hunting for reasons to be cheerful, everywhere, a quest over the next few weeks.

Look in all the usual, and unusual, spots.

You’ll be surprised where, and how often, cheerful items turn up.

Byrne has not gone wanting in his quest for evidence of “ positive stuff.”

We won’t either.