When Feeling Down, These 45 Wholesome Pics Are Sure to Lift You Up

This article appeared in Cleverclassic and has been published here with permission.

When Feeling Down, These Wholesome Pics Are Sure to Lift You Up

Sometimes, the world isn’t as bad and scary as the news makes it seem. Sometimes, the internet brings you stories that fill you with hope and joy, which the world can never get enough of. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of user-generated images, social media posts, and screenshots that are so wholesome, you won’t be able to stop smiling!

Like a Proud Mother Hen

Most of us can’t even imagine what it’s like to grow up in an orphanage. It can be hard to push on without your parents there to support you. This woman provided that push for one lucky kid in Tanzania.

Like a Proud Mother Hen

His gorgeous smile says it all. This woman helped this boy fulfill his dream, and now the world has a new compassionate, kind-hearted doctor to make doctor’s visits a bit more wholesome. We need more stories like this.

At Rest at Last

None of us want to imagine the pain of losing a partner, but unfortunately, it’s something most of us will experience sooner or later. So when your partner has a dream about where they will be laid to rest, you do everything you can to fulfill that dream.

At Rest at Last

This must have been such a cathartic experience for him. He got to go on one last trip with his wife, and it was an especially meaningful one.

No Idea What They’re Going Through

When you’re on the daily grind of being a teacher, it can be easy to forget that each of your students has a life, and sometimes that life isn’t so pretty. This teacher got a harsh awakening one day. We hope she never forgets this.

No Idea What They’re Going Through

Students are humans, too, even when they’re a pain. There’s often a good reason they’re late or in a bad mood. The world needs more wholesome teachers who take these things into consideration.

A Fresh Start

There are many reasons that people become homeless, and most of the time it’s entirely out of their control. It can be really difficult to pick oneself back up after experiencing hardships like that, but this man managed to pull it off.

A Fresh Start

Not only did he pull it off, but he decided to give back to the community he was a part of for so long. If that isn’t the definition of wholesome and kind-hearted, then just throw that dictionary out the window!

Color of His Fur

Pets are a part of the family. They greet us, snuggle us, and brighten our days for years and years — and losing them is devastating. You wouldn’t expect a big corporation to care about things like that, but that isn’t the case with Chewy.

Color of His Fur

Not only did the company gain a customer for life, but they showed empathy and gave this grieving person such a wholesome gift. A little bit of kindness goes such a long way in this world.

A Hero’s Salute

No one had an easy ride during the pandemic lockdown, but that was especially true for those considered “essential workers,” like doctors, nurses, grocery clerks, and delivery drivers. Those people risked their lives every day to take care of their patients and customers.

A Hero’s Salute

Delivery drivers face a lot of negativity, so seeing such a wholesome display of appreciation would make anyone’s eyes tear up. Or maybe there’s just someone nearby cutting some onions.

Nana’s Goodnight Selfies

When you stop and think about it, older generations nowadays have seen so much change. Technology has absolutely exploded, and they’ve had to do their best to keep up with everything. It seems like this grandma isn’t having too much trouble, though.

Nana’s Goodnight Selfies

This is just two senior citizens being absolutely adorable. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive cute photos like this from their grandma night after night? These are the real selfies that Instagram should be filled with!

Don’t Keep Secrets From Dogs

When we have no one to turn to with our secrets, we do the only thing that we can do — we tell them to our pets. We know our four-legged pals will love us unconditionally. But, what if the secret is about the pet itself?

Don’t Keep Secrets From Dogs

Wise words, little boy, wise words. You shouldn’t hide from a human that they’re adopted, and you definitely shouldn’t hide it from a dog. This little boy’s wholesome comment has got us all wanting to spill our secrets to our pets.

Justin Gallegos Breaking Barriers

Cerebral palsy can be a really tough disability to cope with. It’s a group of motor disorders that affect muscle movement, making it tough to control the body. So, athletes with cerebral palsy are doing some really incredible things.

Justin Gallegos Breaking Barriers

It’s hard not to want to cry after looking at the pure, raw emotion on Gallego’s face. These are the kinds of athletes who deserve the attention of companies like Nike. What a momentous, wholesome moment to have caught on camera!

Grandma’s Got Planking Skills

As we age, our bodies have a bad habit of not cooperating with us very well. We get achier, our eyes get worse, and illnesses we didn’t have before start cropping up. But, this grandma didn’t let age stop her.

Grandma’s Got Planking Skills

Most young people couldn’t even pull off a plank for 30 seconds, yet this 100-year-old woman is doing it like it’s nothing! She’s not leaving this world anytime soon, and we’re happy that it means we’ll get more wholesome content like this.

First-Time Celebrations

Like it or not, the world is set up to make things easier for some kinds of people over others, but that doesn’t mean that those who have it more difficult will let the barriers get in their way.

First-Time Celebrations

This is absolutely a military milestone worth celebrating, and the pure joy on her face says it all. The United States should be so lucky to have dedicated people like her working so hard!

Keeping the Dog Company

Just like elderly humans, elderly pets start to have a lot of aches and pains that make mobility much more difficult. That means things like climbing the stairs can become an impossible task.

Keeping the Dog Company

Thankfully, this elderly dog doesn’t have to worry about that, because dad is right there with him to make sure he feels loved and protected every night for the rest of his life. Dang it, who started cutting onions again?!

Washing Away Five Years

No one deserves to fight a serious illness, but when it’s a child, it’s even harder to understand. They’re so young and innocent and shouldn’t have to deal with such hardships at such a young age.

Washing Away Five Years

She looks so incredibly proud and determined, which she should be. She’s going to have a great, long life ahead of her, and this picture is only the beginning. Anyone who sees this can feel the pride radiating off of her.

Wrong Number, Right Family

Usually, when you send a message to the wrong number, the person either ignores you or tells you they aren’t who you’re looking for, and that’s the end of that. That wasn’t the case for this man.

Wrong Number, Right Family

These kind strangers brought him into their home, making sure he felt appreciated and cared for on a holiday that’s all about giving thanks. We give thanks that the interaction brought him a new family and us this wholesome content.

Parents Make the Decision

Some people don’t necessarily have children for the “right” reasons, although the right reasons are pretty subjective. Sometimes, parents feel like their kids owe them something for the money and work they put in to raise them.

Parents Make the Decision

This is a refreshing perspective, and that mom has got a point! Parents are the main cause of a happy childhood or a sad one, and they should all remember that when they get frustrated or upset.

She’s Watching Your Back

One of the most wholesome types of kindness is kindness shown by complete strangers. They don’t know you or have any investment in your life, yet they do something to try and make it better or easier.

She’s Watching Your Back

His wife knew how scary it must be to be alone with two young children like that, and she decided to make sure the woman never had to stand there scared again. It’s these little actions that truly make the world a better place for all of us.

Depression-Busting Hikes

Depression is a horrible illness. It twists memories and situations and can make it hard for people to do even the most basic of tasks, like having a shower or going outside to get the mail. So, any little action when feeling depressed is a huge win.

Depression-Busting Hikes

This isn’t a small thing — this is huge! Who wouldn’t be happy to see someone finally able to overcome that feeling and get outside, let alone go for a hike? He deserves to be proud.

Never Let Go

Children are so pure. They aren’t riddled with all of the hardships and insecurities that adults are, and they form the purest of bonds with each other that are stronger than adults think. This is one example.

Never Let Go

Best friends make life so much better, and it’s clear that these two best friends really missed each other. We all know that feeling of cherishing time with someone you haven’t seen in a while, which is why this photo is so wholesome.

A True Work of Art

The cool thing about art is that you can take it in literally any direction you want. Some people prefer creating more abstract pieces, but others become experts at making paintings that look so real that they might as well be photographs — like this woman.

A True Work of Art

This is absolutely incredible work, so we totally understand why the artist was so excited and are honestly surprised that it didn’t win first place! This painting makes you wonder who this beautiful woman is and what she’s thinking.

Painting Pet Portraits

Animal shelters do such important work, but due to the nature of their business, they’re chronically underfunded. One little girl realized that and decided to take matters into her own hands… literally; she picked up a paintbrush and formed an idea.

Painting Pet Portraits

This is impressive for two reasons — the first being that she’s starting to be active in her community at such a young age, and the second is that she can paint like that at such a young age!

Sweaters for Elephants

Elephants are such elegant, intelligent creatures, but they’re often used for tourism and treated in unkind ways. That’s where rescues come in, and the kind volunteers who help the rescues, like these villagers.

Sweaters for Elephants

We didn’t even know that elephants could get cold, but the pure joy on the face of the elephant in the bottom photo says it all. All creatures deserve love, and these wholesome photos show that those rescue elephants are definitely well-loved.

School Picture Day

One of the best parts of being in elementary school is all of the different activities you get to do, like meeting firemen and seeing a fire truck demonstration, or meeting gorgeous guide dogs like this one and learning about their function.

School Picture Day

How beautiful is this dog? It would win all the awards — best dressed, most beautiful eyes, and best-behaved doggo — to name a few. Now we need to know if these incredible photos made it into the school yearbook!

Love Is Love

While the world is slowly becoming more accepting of different lifestyles, it still has a long way to go. Many people face criticism and even abandonment when they tell their loved ones who they truly are and who they truly love.

Love Is Love

Everyone can grow and change, and this is perfect evidence of that. While many people will never have the experience this person did, this little ornament may have changed this person’s life. That’s huge.

From Lil’ Dude to Son

Every single person on this planet deserves a family who loves them and cares about them and their wellbeing, and that especially includes children in orphanages and the foster care system. So, every child who’s adopted is one step closer.

From Lil’ Dude to Son

The look of pure happiness on that little boy’s face and pride on the dad’s is enough to make even the most stubborn person shed a wholesome tear. We could not be happier for him.

No More Chemo

Babies may be fragile, but they’re also super resilient. It may seem like those things don’t go together, but babies have a unique capability to remain optimistic and push through difficult times because there’s nothing else they can do.

No More Chemo

This little lady is so precious, and it’s heartbreaking that she and her family should ever have to go through something so difficult and exhausting. But, knowing she had such a big accomplishment in such a little body is incredibly wholesome.

Lending a Helping Paw

They call dogs man’s best friend for a reason. They give so much unconditional love, even to strangers, and dogs are just the definition of wholesome creatures. This stray dog is a great example, as it worried about this street performer.

Lending a Helping Paw

Dogs are so empathetic and kind. Humans don’t deserve them. The dog just wanted to make sure that the human was okay, and it doesn’t get much more wholesome than that.

Lifting More Than Weights

This woman was lifting a lot more than weights at the gym – she was lifting her fellow gymgoer’s spirit! Rather than try to compete or gloat over her physical abilities, this woman chose to encourage the OP on her fitness journey.

Lifting More Than Weights

Perhaps this fit person was once heavyset herself, which is what made her empathize with the OP. Hopefully, when the OP becomes more comfortable at the gym, she’ll pay it forward to someone else who may need a high-five.

Meeting With a Giraffe

No one wants to think about a loved one suffering from a terminal illness, but it happens. When it does, there are tons of amazing charities that will do everything they can to grant that person their “last wish.”

Meeting With a Giraffe

For this girl, it was meeting a giraffe. This is such a beautiful, albeit heartbreaking moment to have been captured on camera. It’s an incredible, wholesome experience for her to remember.

Long Lost Brothers

Have you ever really thought about what happens to dog or cat siblings who are separated at adoption? Do you ever wonder if they remember or miss their siblings or parents? This photo seems to demonstrate that they do.

Long Lost Brothers

We’re not sure if this is wholesome or just sad — it depends on how you look at it. Hopefully, this clandestine meeting caused the owners to exchange numbers and have more doggy brother dates in the future!

Making the Bed

As we mentioned before, depression can zap your ability to do even the most basic of tasks and make you want to spend all day in bed. So, when this friend saw a change in her depressed friend’s behavior, she was so thrilled.

Making the Bed

Who would have thought that a simple picture of a made bed could be so moving? The combination of that and knowing she has a friend that cares for her enough to help her through the dark times is the most wholesome thing in the world.

My Baby Is Healthy

Gender reveals are such a big deal with women who are pregnant. People have parties and constantly ask about what parents want the baby to be, but this mom had the most perfect response.

My Baby Is Healthy

This post is so meaningful, because it shows that this mom will love her child no matter how they identify, and that’s a big deal in today’s world. This parent is definitely doing something right and their happy, healthy child knows it.

A Doggy Concert

Music is one of the most beautiful things that mankind created, and even though it may not seem obvious, humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate it. This photo is perfect evidence of that.

A Doggy Concert

This would be the cutest, most wholesome thing to walk into a room and find. She probably thought he was playing for her mom or a sibling, but no — he was just making his dogs happy. It’s the paw-fect audience.

World’s Best Uber Driver

Riding in an Uber is a weird experience. You’re invited into a stranger’s personal vehicle, yet you usually barely speak to them, and then you get out again and move on with your life. Some Uber drivers go the extra mile, though, like this guy.

World’s Best Uber Driver

This is so sweet. Waiting for a procedure in the hospital can be a scary, stressful experience. Having company there with you, even that of a stranger, could be a great comfort. That Uber driver definitely deserves five stars!

Siblings Randomly Reunited

This man and his sister had a really negative childhood experience; his sister ran away from home when she was 17. He had basically given up hope of ever talking to her again, but then a different family member got in touch and said she was around.

Siblings Randomly Reunited

They met up and took this incredibly wholesome picture. They look so much alike, and they both have a sense of peace in their facial expressions that they may not have had before.

Best Buds and Burgers

Most of us would do just about anything to make our friends happy and make their lives better or easier. In this case, that meant literally creating prosthetic hands for a friend.

Best Buds and Burgers

We bet that was the most satisfying burger the kid had ever eaten, and it’s incredible that he has a friend who cares about him that much. If there were a “wholesome friendship” award, these two would win it in a heartbeat.

Unexpected Umbrella Surprise

Most people in the world have probably experienced a stray cat population in their neighborhood. Cats just reproduce so quickly that once they start, there are too many for shelters to catch and find homes. But, that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve love.

Unexpected Umbrella Surprise

Not only is her dad leaving food for them, but he even left them a little umbrella! How cute is that? Those cats are happy and we got this extremely wholesome photo out of it. It’s the best of both worlds.

Post Office Walks

Caring for an adult loved one with a disability can be a challenge, and you do everything you can to motivate them to live healthy, happy lives. For this woman, that meant putting out a call on Facebook for help from strangers.

Post Office Walks

Not only did it work to help him get healthier, but this man now has tons of love and support from total strangers, which would make any person happy. On top of that, he gets to go on a walk he loves every day.

Dishes Are for Everyone

In most companies, employees are very far removed from upper management and have probably never even met their CEO. That doesn’t seem to be the case in this particular company, though.

Dishes Are for Everyone

What this teaches us is that whether you’re Oprah or a grumpy teenager, dishes still have to get done. No one is above them, not even the CEO of a company, and it’s very wholesome that he didn’t try to pawn them off on one of his employees.

Breaking Down Fences

The pandemic was hard on all of us, and the main thing that we missed was social interaction. Social distancing made getting together more challenging, but a lot of people didn’t let that stop them!

Breaking Down Fences

This is wholesome both because of the strength of their friendship, but also because the project to change that part of the fence gave them something productive to do to take their minds off of the situation. It’s a win/win.

Things Have Changed

There’s been a trend recently of people visiting historical places and overlaying an old photograph over what the area looks like now. That’s what this person did, but this example is particularly powerful.

Things Have Changed

Hate didn’t win in the end for Germany, and we are all so thankful that it didn’t. This image shows us not to forget the past, but also not to live in it. We should always keep moving forward and growing.

True Doggo Love

It’s so much fun to watch dogs bond. The way that they play together and the excitement they feel rubs off on even the grumpiest person. They won’t let anything stop them from greeting a friend — not even a fence.

True Doggo Love

Why are dog hugs so much cuter than human hugs? They both look so happy. You can tell that the lab’s tail is wagging a million miles a minute. Dog friendships might be even more wholesome than human ones.

The Best Birthday Gift

All any of us want from our parents is love and acceptance. Sometimes, different love events and changes become a barrier to us receiving that acceptance, and it’s always heartbreaking. But, the good thing is that parents can change.

The Best Birthday Gift

By giving them this t-shirt, dad was telling them that they are perfect as they are — something it sounds like he didn’t communicate in the past. That’s huge. Darn it, who’s cutting onions again?!

A Wholesome Donation

Different illnesses can cause people to lose all of their hair, and since our hair is such a big part of our identity, it can be really hard to cope with. Some embrace it, while others prefer to try wigs. Both are acceptable and personal choices.

A Wholesome Donation

There are a lot of charities that provide wigs for those who can’t pay for them, and a lot of amazing people — like this little girl — who donate hair to the cause.

Feeding the Baby

Sometimes, dogs do strange things. There are stories of dogs pretending to limp because their owners are limping. In this case, a dog was worried that the family’s new baby wasn’t eating, so they tried to help.

Feeding the Baby

This has to be one of the top most wholesome things on this list. Dogs are such empathetic creatures, and this good boy just wanted to make sure the baby was healthy and full, too. That’s true love.

An Imminent Proposal

When you live in big apartment complexes and take a second to look out the window, sometimes you see some strange or funny things going on in other apartments. This person saw the start of a really big moment.

An Imminent Proposal

If it were us, we definitely would have waited, hoping to witness the moment the blinds were opened and the partner being proposed to (hopefully) said yes. This is a very cute thing to find when glancing out the window.

Bambi Wants to Play

Children around the world grow up in very different environments, and there are some lucky ones who have the fortune to grow up with nature at their doorstep. They get to climb trees and explore their environment, even making some new critter friends, like this boy!

Bambi Wants to Play

Imagine being a parent and opening your front door to find this adorable baby deer standing there with your kid. You’d both think it’s the most wholesome thing ever and also wonder where mama doe is and if she’s about to be angry!