Words: Nyah Schiessl, Illustration: Aimée Cast
Rumour has it that the number of Monarch butterflies has risen for the first time in a long time. A small but powerful sign of hope for the world in 2025. These endangered pollinators may be recovering thanks to human awareness and efforts to create healthier environments for insects, and in turn, the rest of our ecosystem.
That might not make front page news, though… In our modern world, fear and urgency tends to dominate the media. We’ve grown accustomed to stories that pull us out of the present moment and into a state of fear or disappointment. Modern media thrives on attention, and the way algorithms work is that the stories that get the most attention get shared more, engaged with more and seen more. So, as a collective we are led to believe there’s more bad happening in the world than good. Shocking stories rise to the top. So it’s no wonder so many of us believe our world is on a steady downhill trajectory.
But when we look closer, small tokens of good news are happening all around us. Sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to find them – by taking part in your community and hearing first-hand stories, by creating space for positive conversation at your family dinner table, or even seeking them out in quiet corners of the internet.
Things happen. Good and bad. When we pause and reflect, we can notice that positive change is constantly growing too. In nature, within our island community, and in the wider world.
I’m not one to completely ignore negative changes happening in the world – there’s certainly a time and a place for allowing your anger to fuel positive change. Even so, it’s important to remember you control the scales. You can balance your awareness of global issues with optimism.
We live in an age of constant exposure – modern day media may feel like an endless stream of disasters, coming with feelings of helplessness that may sometimes feel overwhelming. While awareness is vital, it is worth remembering it isn’t natural for humans to absorb every painful story in the world in real time. We can stay informed while protecting our peace, by curating what we consume.
Modern day technologies are developed enough to expose us to global news in an instant. They are also capable of being a tool to celebrate progress, share solutions and engage with your community. Every time you choose to search for positive news, and bring brightness into your personal relationships, you make a small step that helps to tip the balance.
Let’s remember good news still exists, and every one of us has the power to amplify it.
Nature is healing. Monarch butterflies have increased in numbers. Beavers are returning to rivers in Portugal. Urban greening projects, pollinator patches, and community allotments are springing up in so many cities. A century ago, few people spoke of protecting ecosystems. Today, we have marine reserves, national parks, and entire movements dedicated to re-wilding and protecting our planet. Conservation awareness is thriving. Renewable energy is advancing. From floating wind farms across the pond, just off the coast of France, to solar projects in small towns… humans are learning to work with nature, not against it.
Closer to home, there is plenty worth celebrating too. Not long ago at the Regen Gathering, locals came together for two days of talks, food, and live music to learn about community, connection to our land, and regenerative farming. It was a popular way of bringing people together to discuss the future of food and farming, to work together towards the best outcomes possible. With great news of a £20k ‘Food System Prize’ to be awarded to an individual or business who was seen to be leading the shift towards healthier local food systems – a huge support that will help to fuel meaningful change.
More inspiring movements locally include the launch of ‘Value Jersey’, where over 150 people gathered to support a community effort to make life, business and government more affordable and connected on the island. Groups like Safety in New Friends are creating safe spaces for people with anxiety to meet others, and singer Nicki Kennedy’s group is bringing joy and togetherness to islanders with Parkinson’s or dementia.
Moments like these remind us that community change starts small – with compassion, conversation, and courage. Whilst there is value in consciously stepping back from loud noise in the media, it is just as important to stay mindful and active on matters that mean a lot to you. Staying curious about how you can help, and being dedicated to noticing (and sharing) the good stuff, is how you can make a difference.
It’s how hope will quietly keep growing.
@nnyyah
