From lemons to sweet lemonade, a year-end review.

Tomorrow begins a new year, 2015. In the meantime, we've been hearing the top songs and news stories of 2014. A lot has happened over the past year and much of it was not so good. Anyone looking back over the news events of the past year might say that humanity is in a tailspin. We point our eyes and attention to the atrocities taking place in the world, but what about all of the good that has occurred as well? How much of that makes its way to our line of vision on the news, on Facebook, on Twitter? This post is not about focussing on the negative, but focussing on the silver lining - on people bringing humanity back to the forefront. Let's end 2014 with focussing on the good in people, our determination to move forward and our desire to create change for the betterment of all and let's bring more of it to 2015. 

*Note: to learn more about the stories below, just click on their images. 

Malala wins the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy for education and women's rights. She survived an assassination attempt in 2012 where she was shot in the head. She is a target of the Taliban, yet tirelessly brings the attention of the world to the basic right that all children are entitled to an education.

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Photograph: samfagan

Photograph: Johnny Nguyen / AP

One of the best pictures to come out of the Ferguson protests: "the hug heard round the world." This photo was taken at a rally in Portland, OR. A shared hug between Devonte Hart and Sgt. Barnum. Devonte's story is amazing. If you don't know about him, you'll want to click here. 

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Photograph: BBC News

"...and the (presumably) Muslim woman sitting next to me on the train silently removes her hijab. I ran after her at the train station. I said 'put it back on. I'll walk with u'. She started to cry and hugged me for about a minute - then walked off alone." - Rachael Jacobs

What started as a woman posting her story after the hostage situation in Sydney, Australia became a viral outpouring of support for the Muslim community fearing backlash. People posted on Twitter that they would ride with anyone fearing for their safety and listed what transit they took. There were over 150,000 of these tweets in just 4 hours.  

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Photograph: Rechts Gegen Rechts /http://www.rechts-gegen-rechts.de/

Each year, the neo-nazis march through the town of Wunsiedel in Germany, but this year it took a rather interesting turn. Unbeknownst to the neo-nazis, with every step they took they were actually funding an anti-extremism organization. Local townspeople and businesses contributed 10 Euro for every meter walked accumulating in 10,000 Euros being donated to an organization that helps rehabilitate people just like the neo-nazis. Well played, Wunsiedel, well played!  

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Not only can they help the Earth, but the people of Turkey can help feed the strays. This awesome machine, created by Engin Girgin, drops food into a bowel as people put their recycling in. The cost of the food is covered by the bottles and cans taken in for recycling. Ingenious! 

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Photograph: YouTube

7 year old Quinn wanted to help his friend Brayden cover the expenses of a surgery he needed for issues with Cerebral Palsy. They created a lemonade stand as well as a fundraising page with the goal of reaching $20,000 to help cover the cost of the out-of-pocket surgery. Thanks to his best buddy, they surpassed their goal raising over $60,000. 

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While I only chose a few, there are many more stories like the ones above - you just have to look for them or, better yet, create your own. 

I wish you a 2015 full of Love, Joy, Good Health and many opportunities to BE from your Heart. 

Happy New Year!  Love, Adrienne :)