A round of applause and a happy birthday: The glimpses of light from around the world.

As we wake up each day in a time of immense uncertainty, where news updates are frequent and increasingly grim, the world can seem bleak.

Whilst many of us grapple with our new normal, we push through the long, repetitive days and try to remain somewhat level headed, but for reasons we all understand, the underlying anxiety just doesn’t seem to go away.

So when we come across glimpses of light in a time of darkness, they make all the difference.

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I’m talking about those little moments of happiness. A note from a neighbour offering to buy an elderly woman her groceries. Seeing a young couple bite the bullet and get engaged. An entire street singing happy birthday to the young girl from the terrace down the road.

Moments like those remind us why we should remain hopeful.

So from cities and neighbourhoods around the world, here are just some of the glimpses of light we need right now.

London, England.

Oh my god that was properly brilliant wasn’t it. Also, most brilliantly British thing ever bashing pots and pans!

Extraordinary times can only be overcome with extraordinary acts of humanitypic.twitter.com/GGqwNa4Lvg

#clapforNHS

— Greg James (@gregjames) March 26, 2020

To thank all the incredible healthcare workers on the frontline of COVID-19, at 8pm on March 26, England clapped for the National Health Service.

Paris, France.

8PM on the dot: all around France, streets are empty. But for several days now, rounds of applause have been resonating for our caregivers, for each and every one of the people who are mobilized.

Fraternity and solidarity. ???????? #StayHomeSaveLives #OnApplaudit #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/kcznKCvRRG

— France Diplomacy???????? (@francediplo_EN) March 26, 2020

France has been doing the same for days now. At 8pm on the dot, the round of applaud begins.

Kensington Palace, England.

 

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To all the doctors, nurses, carers, GPs, pharmacists, volunteers and other NHS staff working tirelessly to help those affected by #COVID19: thank you. #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForCarers #ThankYouNHS #ClapForNHS

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Mar 26, 2020 at 1:00pm PDT

And this morning, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis clapped for NHS too.

Southampton, England.

When your street sings happy birthday to your daughter @gregjames @BBCRadioSolent @bbc5live @itvmeridian @BBCSouthNews pic.twitter.com/qNwZRdJRfE

— Rob Thomas (@robthomas_1) March 25, 2020

In a small street in Southampton, England, neighbours sang happy birthday to an eight-year-old girl.

New York City, New York.

Love In A Time Of Corona

Thanks to: https://t.co/v1vbIEcXa2 pic.twitter.com/izYECon7Eg

— BuzzFeed (@BuzzFeed) March 26, 2020

Over in America, a young couple got married.

Sharing a video to Instagram, Reilly and Amanda went to get married at the courthouse but arrived moments after the mayor announced its temporary closure. So instead, they walked over to their friend’s apartment who is a celebrant and got hitched below his fourth storey window, as their neighbours and best friends watched.

Rochester, Minnesota.

 

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A post shared by Doctor Elvis (@doctor.elvis.francois) on Mar 23, 2020 at 1:08pm PDT

In Minnesota, two doctors performed John Lennon’s Imagine. 

Shawmut Ave, Boston.

 

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LEAN ON ME ❤️Shawmut Ave. residents in Boston’s South End sing “Lean on Me” in solidarity during Coronavirus Quarantine, making us smile and remember – we’re all in this together.⁠ ⁠ [Video via Laura Spence on Facebook] ⁠ ⁠ #selfisolation #feelgood #positivity

A post shared by Mamamia (@mamamiaaus) on Mar 22, 2020 at 9:38pm PDT

And in a neighbourhood in Boston, residents sang Lean on Me. 

Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra couldn’t get together to practice and perform. So instead, they played Ode to Joy from home.

Brisbane, Australia.

And lastly, closer to home, the Pub Choir asked people on the internet to submit themselves singing The Carpenter’s Close To You. They received over 1000 submissions from 18 countries in just two days.

Have you spotted any others glimpses of light that we missed? If so, let us know in the comments.

Feature image: Twitter/@robthomas_1 and Instagram/@reillyjennings.