Stories that gave us joy (and a new workout routine) in 2024

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2250+0+0/resize/1100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2F62%2F01a16ed944dcb24db52465e5a8a1%2Fquad-joy.jpg" class="img" alt="Clockwise from upper left: Chicken-sizing will keep you fit. Mo Pandiarajan excitedly shows his students a view of the specimen in a foldscope, using his smart phone. Bolivian skateboarders show off their moves at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., in June. A couple holding hands on Pocitos Beach on January 22, 2016, in Montevideo, Uruguay, captivated the photographer." data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4000x2250+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff0%2F62%2F01a16ed944dcb24db52465e5a8a1%2Fquad-joy.jpg" data-format="jpeg"/> Clockwise from higher left: Hen-sizing will hold you match. Educator Mo Pandiarajan excitedly reveals his college students a view of the specimen in a foldscope — a microscope product of paper. Bolivian skate boarders exhibit their strikes on the Smithsonian Folklife Pageant in Washington, D.C., in June. A pair holding fingers on Pocitos Seashore in Montevideo, Uruguay, captivated the photographer. Clockwise from higher left: Andy Rementer for NPR; Viraj Nayer for NPR; Ben de la Cruz/NPR; Gustavo Minas for NPR disguise caption

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Clockwise from higher left: Andy Rementer for NPR; Viraj Nayer for NPR; Ben de la Cruz/NPR; Gustavo Minas for NPR We're a giant fan of that traditional Louis Armstrong track:

"Once you're smilin' carry on smilin', the entire world smiles with you."

Within the 12 months 2024, listed here are a number of the Goats and Soda tales that made us smile. In a 12 months when headlines had been usually grim, we might prefer to share them with you for an end-of-year second of happiness.

Can an image make you cheerful? We requested photographers and here is what they despatched us‎Fold paper. Insert lens. This $2 microscope modifications how children see the world‎'By no means lose braveness': A Paralympian who might barely stroll as a child takes 2 monitor medals‎The Bolivian ladies who skateboard in Indigenous garb‎How a bunk mattress acrobat from a favela in Brazil grew to become the #2 feminine gymnast on this planet‎Overlook in regards to the fitness center! Hen-sizing will hold you match. Bonus: Recent eggs