By Lee Johndrow
A few days ago, I was sitting at my desk before sunrise with a cup of coffee in my hand. It has become a familiar routine over the years. The house is quiet. The world hasn’t fully woken up yet. It’s just me, my coffee, and the search for something good to share.
As I sat there, I started thinking about how long I’ve been doing this.
- Nearly every day for over eight years.
- Thousands of stories.
- Thousands of photos.
- Thousands of reminders that, despite what the headlines tell us, people are still helping people.
I smiled as I thought back to where it all began.
When I started Positive News For You, I wasn’t trying to build a business. I wasn’t creating a brand. I definitely wasn’t thinking about algorithms, social media strategies, SEO, or website analytics.
I was simply tired.
Tired of turning on the television and hearing nothing but conflict, division, and bad news.
Tired of talking with people who genuinely believed the world was falling apart because negativity seemed to be the only thing anyone talked about.
I knew better.
Because everywhere I went, I met good people.
- The waitress who quietly paid for someone’s meal.
- The firefighter who spent his day off helping a family rebuild after a fire.
- The teacher buying supplies out of her own pocket.
- The business owner sponsoring a little league team without wanting any recognition.
- The volunteer who showed up week after week simply because they cared.
I would hear these stories and think, “Why isn’t anyone talking about this?”
So I decided I would.
Back then, I never imagined what lay ahead.
There were mornings when I wondered whether anyone was even reading what I posted.
There were times I’d spend hours looking for just the right story. I’d finally publish it and receive one message from a reader.
Just one.
But that one message often made it worth it.
I remember an email from someone going through a difficult season. They told me they started reading Positive News For You every morning because it helped them begin the day with hope instead of anxiety.
I saved that email.
There have been many messages like that over the years.
- A widow who found comfort reading stories about kindness.
- A young entrepreneur who felt encouraged by stories of people overcoming obstacles.
- A parent who shared positive articles with their children before school.
Those moments reminded me that what we were doing mattered.
I have often joked that I accidentally became the curator of good news.
People assume that because I run a positive news website I spend my days smiling and reading uplifting stories. The truth is that I spend a lot of time digging through the same negativity everyone else sees in order to find the gems hidden underneath.
Some days it feels like panning for gold.
But every once in a while, you discover a story so inspiring it restores your faith in people all over again.
Those are the days that keep me going.
Over the years, Positive News For You has grown into something I never expected. What started as a simple idea became thousands of pages of content, a large business directory, newsletters, social media communities, partnerships, and friendships I treasure deeply.
Yet if I’m being honest, it has always been more mission than business.
- I’ve never measured success by dollars.
- I’ve measured it by impact.
- By the messages from readers.
- By the smiles.
- By the conversations.
- By the stories that remind us there is still goodness in this world.
But turning 71 has a way of making you think differently.
You begin asking questions.
What happens next?
How does something you’ve invested years of your life into continue moving forward?
How can it grow beyond you?
Those questions have been on my heart recently.
And the answer I’ve come to is simple.
Positive News For You needs to become more than a website.
It needs to become a community.
I envision a place where people discover not only positive stories but positive businesses, positive events, and positive people.
- A place where local businesses can tell their stories.
- A place where community organizations can find support.
- A place where families can discover things to do.
- A place where people can connect around what is right instead of what is wrong.
I’ve always believed positivity is contagious.
So is kindness.
So is generosity.
The more we shine a light on these things, the more people are inspired to do them.
One of my favorite memories happened during the pandemic when people were frightened and uncertain. Through connections and partnerships, we helped support healthcare workers by connecting donors, restaurants, and caregivers. Watching communities come together during such a difficult time reminded me that goodness often shines brightest when circumstances are darkest.
That’s what Positive News For You has always been about.
- Not pretending life is perfect.
- Not ignoring problems.
But choosing to recognize the people who are making things better.
As I look toward the future, I’m excited.
Not because everything is figured out.
Believe me, it isn’t.
But because I still believe in the mission.
- I still believe people need encouragement.
- I still believe communities need connection.
- I still believe local businesses deserve recognition.
And I still believe that one positive story can change someone’s day.
Perhaps that’s why, after all these years, I still find myself sitting at my desk before sunrise, coffee in hand, searching for something good to share.
Because, despite everything happening in the world, I remain convinced of one simple truth:
There is more good around us than most people realize.
Sometimes it just needs someone willing to tell the story.
