#3
The technique is called Nemawashi, which translates to “laying the groundwork.” Workers carefully dig through the soil by hand to find the tree’s root system. The roots are wrapped and bound, then the tree is lifted using cranes, inflatable platforms, wooden rollers, and tracks. It’s lowered into a new trench that’s been cleared of stones and debris. The process can take over a year.
Nemawashi is rooted in Japan’s Shinto tradition, which considers nature sacred. Trees are believed to be occupied by kami, or spirits. Trees that reach 100 years old become resting places for kodama, tree spirits that inspire veneration. Cutting down one of these trees would harm the kodama, creating an angry spirit or releasing a curse. This is why Japan invests heavily in tree relocation rather than removal.
When you encounter a video of a golden retriever gently befriending a kitten or a community coming together to build a ramp for a neighbor, your brain is not just being sentimental. It is actually engaging in a sophisticated biological response that helps keep our species connected. This warm and fuzzy sensation often described as wholesomeness is deeply rooted in the release of oxytocin, which is frequently called the love hormone or the cuddle chemical.
When we witness acts of kindness or see something adorable, our brain floods our system with this neurotransmitter to promote trust and social bonding. Unlike the sharp and fleeting spikes of dopamine we get from high stakes action or shocking headlines, oxytocin provides a more stable and enduring sense of peace that reassures our nervous system that the world is a safe place for a moment.
#4
Programs like “Pawsitive Impact” in Indiana and “Jail Cats” in Georgia pull cats from overcrowded shelters and place them directly into correctional facilities where inmates become their full-time caretakers.
The cats are often the ones nobody wanted—too scared, too aggressive, or just out of time. Inmates feed them, groom them, and socialize them. A cat that arrived hissing learns to purr. One that hid in corners starts playing. Within weeks, cats labeled “unadoptable” become adoption-ready. These programs achieve 90-100% adoption rates.
Studies show 100% of facilities running animal programs reported reduced inmate stress, and 89% said it humanizes the prison environment. Officers report fewer disciplinary problems and have seen men with violent histories softly cradling their cats, talking to them like family.
The cats find routine, safety, and a quiet place to relearn trust. The inmates find rare purpose and gentleness. When a cat gets adopted, a new one arrives. The cats leave ready for homes. The inmates leave with skills that follow them beyond the walls.
#5
He created and hosted “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” a children’s show that taught kindness, acceptance, and self-worth in ways no one had before.
Fred Rogers actually got into television because he hated it. He saw found a lot of it demeaning, so he decided to use TV to nurture children instead. He addressed topics like death, divorce, war, and racism with gentleness.
In a groundbreaking 1969 episode during the segregation era, he invited Officer Clemmons, an African American actor, to soak his feet in a kiddie pool with him. He took any chance he could to dismantle systemic barriers and stand for equality.
His signature message was “I like you just the way you are.” He believed everybody longs to be loved and longs to know they’re lovable. He worked with prisons to create child-friendly spaces for family visitation and sat on hospital boards to minimize trauma in children’s health care. His messages transcended race, gender, and income.
His reputation for genuine kindness remained intact throughout his life and after his death. No scandals or anything. Just a man who dedicated his life to creating a better world.
#6
In 2012, Wang Yan’s dog went missing. “I went looking everywhere, but all to no avail,” he said. Someone told him to check the local slaughterhouse in Changchun. His dog wasn’t there, but he saw rows of terrified dogs in cages waiting to be slaughtered. Some were being butchered for meat while others waited in unbearable conditions. Seeing a sight like this ended up changing his life.
Wang owned a steel manufacturing business. He used his fortune to purchase the slaughterhouse and an abandoned steel factory nearby. He turned both into a rescue center called the “Changchun Animal Rescue Base” and expanded it to house at least 1,000 dogs at a time.
He’s spent over $470,000 on dog food and medications. Once a millionaire, he’s spent nearly everything and even gone into debt to keep the sanctuary running. He doesn’t accept monetary donations, only food and supplies for the dogs.
Over the past decade, he’s saved more than 2,000 dogs and turned the place where dogs were being euthanized into a sanctuary where they’re saved.
Psychologists have a specific name for this profound feeling of being moved by love or kindness, and they call it kama muta. This term comes from Sanskrit and describes that physical sensation of a warm chest, a lump in the throat, or even a few happy tears. Research into this emotion shows that it is a universal human experience that serves to strengthen our devotion to others and our communities.
#7
When a family member returns after being away, they have greeting ceremonies with trumpeting, ear flapping, and spinning in circles. They remember other elephants and humans for decades, and can even distinguish between human languages.
They have distinct personalities that stay consistent throughout their lives, and they seek out specific individuals they prefer spending time with. They’ve been filmed playing in rain, sliding down muddy hills, splashing in water just for fun, and even appear to play pranks on each other. They also seek out fermented fruit and have been observed acting drunk.
Elephants mourn their deceased too. They return to bones of deceased family members and stand silently for long periods, cover bodies with leaves and branches, and adopt orphaned calves from other families. Orphaned elephants who witnessed their family [illegally hunted] show symptoms similar to human trauma survivors like nightmares, depression, and aggression.
Elephants are one of the only animals that can’t jump, but they can recognize themselves in mirrors. They can live into their 70s, they’re afraid of bees, and they’ve been documented helping other species like rescuing trapped dogs and guiding lost humans.
Easily one of the best animals on this planet.
#8
Photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia returned to his family’s land in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was completely deserted with only 0.5% of the land having trees. The soil was damaged and nothing was growing. Salgado described the land as “sick.”
Lélia had the idea to replant the forest from scratch. They started with seedlings, bringing in employees and volunteers to help. Over 18 years, they planted more than 2 million trees across 1,502 acres.
The results were immediate. As the forest grew back, wildlife returned. 172 bird species came back. 33 species of mammals. 293 species of plants. 15 species of reptiles and 15 species of amphibians. An entire ecosystem rebuilt itself once the foundation was there.
“When we began to do that, all the insects and birds and fish returned,” Salgado told The Guardian in 2015. “Thanks to this increase of the trees, I too was reborn. This was the most important moment.”
The forest now houses over 500 endangered plant and animal species. What was once barren land is now a functioning, thriving ecosystem.
#9
Ciro Ortiz sat at a folding table in Williamsburg every Sunday for two hours. He charged subway riders $2 for five-minute sessions where he listened to their problems and offered advice. On a good day, he made about $50.
Ortiz started the booth in 2016 after being bullied at school. Adults stopped by to talk about relationships, jobs, and life changes. The most common problem he heard was people struggling with change. His advice was to accept it. “It’s going to happen—it’s always going to happen. Life is always changing.”
He also didn’t keep the money but instead used it to buy lunch for schoolmates who couldn’t afford it. The first time he set up the booth, he was nervous people would laugh at him, but eventually they saw he was serious. “The most rewarding part is actually making an impact on how people feel about themselves. Just seeing the stand might give them hope for something.”
By seeking out wholesome content, we are effectively giving ourselves an emotional tune up that encourages us to be more compassionate and empathetic in our daily lives. This is especially important because our minds are naturally prone to a negativity bias, which is an evolutionary trait that makes us focus more on threats and bad news than on positive events. Wholesome media acts as a necessary counterweight to this bias and helps us maintain a more balanced and realistic perspective on the goodness of humanity.
#10
Cena began working with Make-A-Wish in 2002, early in his WWE career, and has kept saying yes ever since. Most of the requests involve meeting him in person, attending a WWE event, or getting backstage access — though he’s also made private visits to hospitals, often without cameras or publicity.
Make-A-Wish has called him both their most requested and most active celebrity. He’s repeatedly said he’ll never turn down a wish: “If I can offer them happiness, then I’ll be first in line to do it.”
#11
#12
There is also a very specific visual component to why we find certain things so irresistibly wholesome, and it is known as the baby schema. This biological concept explains that features like large eyes, round faces, and soft edges trigger an automatic nurturing response in our brains. Evolution designed us to find these traits endearing so that we would be motivated to care for vulnerable infants.
#15
The system helps track vaccinations, ownership, and even microchip data, making it easier to reunite lost animals with their families. It also reinforces the city’s strict animal welfare standards, where every registered pet is officially recognized as part of a household.
However, this hardwiring is so effective that it also applies to puppies, kittens, and even inanimate objects or animated characters with similar proportions. When we look at something that fits this schema, our brain rewards us with a surge of affection that instantly lowers our defensive walls and makes us feel more relaxed and happy.
The benefits of consuming this kind of content go far beyond just a temporary smile because it can significantly impact our physical health. Watching wholesome videos or reading uplifting stories is an excellent tool for stress management because it actively helps to lower our cortisol levels.
