The Internet can be a noisy place. Every once in a while, however, you stumble across something that reminds you just how much good there is in the world. And when we find something uplifting, we have to share it. (It’s kind of our thing.)
We all need a break from the doomscrolling, so this week we’ve put together five of the most uplifting, tear-jerking, joyful things we’ve found on the internet (with some help from our friends at Shriners Children’s™). From the sweetest surprise pregnancy announcement to the greatest airport welcome that’s maybe ever existed, here are some gems we’ve found sprinkled across the internet that will make you truly feel joy.
1. The perfect proposal.
Every marriage proposal is special in its own way, but there are some that are just truly enchanting. On TikTok, user @abby_gustafsonn posted a video of her now-fiance asking for her hand in marriage, and everything about this short clip is nothing short of magical. Timed exactly during sunset? The silhouette of the two standing on the dock? The way she gets down on both knees right alongside him? The vibes here are immaculate. The best part, though, has to be the excited shrieks of her family in the background, filming as her guy pops the question. Adjust your volume, because they get loud (and it’s honestly so perfect).
2. Shelby learning to live without limits
[UPWORTHY SOCIAL POST OR ARTICLE EMBEDDED HERE]
There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing a kid succeed. And when they’re able to succeed because of their own resilience, along with the hard work and dedication of their care team, it’s truly a joyful thing to witness.
Thanks to the team at Shriners Children’s, Shelby, who was born with a limb difference, has been able to try (and succeed!) at pretty much anything she puts her mind to. Some days she’s racing across a soccer field, some days she’s learning how to drive, and other days she’s perfecting her paintbrush technique with the help of a prosthetic arm built by the Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) team at Shriners Children’s, fitted especially for her.
Since being fitted with the body-powered prosthesis in 2024, Shelby practiced daily to build strength and control, practicing fine-motor tasks like grasping small objects and opening water bottles. Eventually, after a lot of hard work, Shelby was able to hold a paintbrush and started dabbling in landscape paintings.
Today, Shelby paints, drives, plays soccer, and serves as a Patient Ambassador for Shriners Children’s, where she shares her story to encourage other kids like her. What a beautiful thing.
3. This surprise pregnancy announcement
Telling your lifelong best friends that you’re expecting a baby is exciting. Now imagine your two best friends are also pregnant. Cue the waterworks! TikTok user @marsbarr (who is the newly-pregnant friend in the video and also captured the announcement from a different POV, courtesy of her Meta glasses) added, “Our babies already have built-in besties!” Talk about taking a village to raise a child: These lucky ladies have one already. Amazing.
4. The best birthday surprise ever
Sibling love is a weird phenomenon. Kids can grow up fighting and barely tolerating each other, and then turn into best friends as soon as they reach adulthood. In this clip, you get to see up close what happens when adult siblings become besties: They travel across the country to surprise each other for their 40th birthday—bringing Starbucks, no less. The on-screen caption reads: “Every time my kids fight I just show them this video of my brother surprising me on my 40th birthday to remind them that they’re gonna be best friends one day.” Clearly, her kids have the best example to live up to.
5. Strangers at the airport
And finally, in what is perhaps the best use of free will we have ever seen, TikTok user @meganmillion100 picked up her friend Morgan from the airport and, while she was there, enlisted a ton of strangers to help welcome her home. In the video, Megan (who is filming) gathers a horde of total strangers—including stewardesses, pilots, and weary travelers—at the base of the airport escalator outside of the security terminal, to greet Morgan as she makes her descent down the stairs. The crowd is fist-bumping, cheering, and hyping her up before she even steps foot on the escalator, and when she finally does? It’s just something you have to see for yourself. Pure magic.
For Shelby, there’s no limit to what she can accomplish. Help kids like her follow their dreams by donating to Shriners Children’s today.
