The Optimist: The most inspiring stories of 2021

The best movies, books and art of the year ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sign up for this newsletter Read online Stories that inspire.     A reminder that this great deal is ending soon: Subscribe to The Washington Post for just $0.99 every four weeks. Happy New Year! —Steven Johnson, newsletter editor (Joanne Lee/The Washington Post; Alejandro Lopez Pineda/Sony Pictures Classics; Rob Youngson/Focus Features; iStock) The best movies of 2021 It's been another weird year. We needed as much unalloyed pleasure and beauty as we could find. Perspective ●  By Ann Hornaday ●  Read more »   The big (and small) personal victories our readers are celebrating from 2021 We asked for your non-career-related wins of the year. The Lily ●  By Janay Kingsberry ●  Read more »   2021 was a huge year for space exploration. 2022 could be even bigger. Next year could be marked by major milestones — including the first steps toward a return to the moon. By Christian Davenport ●  Read more »   I don't need to become a new person in the New Year The pressure to change gives me anxiety. I'm embracing who I am now instead. The Lily ●  By Pepita Sándwich ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   The best feel-good books of 2021 These 13 books helped us through a difficult, uncertain time. Review ●  By Angela Haupt ●  Read more »   Get breaking news alerts, offline reading lists and more. Download the app   The best of dance this year shows an art form with the power to revive Despite the covid confinement, dance artists found many ways to unleash their creativity. Perspective ●  By Sarah L. Kaufman ●  Read more »   Our top 10 baking recipes of the year include cakes, muffins, cookies, tarts and more Some are perfect for setting out on the counter to be enjoyed by your family throughout the week, and others are ideal for busting out for a celebratory meal. By Becky Krystal ●  Read more »   The best, most moving and most dazzling theater of 2021 Even in a year of recovery, theater hit some high notes, onstage and on-screen. Perspective ●  By Peter Marks ●  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT     The best of The Optimist 2021 (Rene Compean) A hiker was lost and desperate. A stranger with an unusual hobby saved him. "SOS. My phone is going to die. I'm lost," the hiker texted a friend, along with two photos. By Sydney Page ●  Read more »   A diver found a message in a bottle dated 1926. The hunt began for the family of the man who wrote it. "I hollered, 'Grab my phone and snap a picture — I just found a message in a bottle!' " said Jennifer Dowker. By Cathy Free ●  Read more »   She just graduated from college — and said her Uber passenger made it possible When Latonya Young's Uber passenger learned she had an outstanding balance that prevented her from re-enrolling in college, he paid it off without her knowledge. By Sydney Page ●  Read more »   He found a 2.2-carat diamond in an Arkansas park. Then he proposed to his girlfriend. Christian Liden said he suddenly spotted something reflecting light in the gravel: a shiny pebble that was a bit larger than a pea. It was a diamond. By Cathy Free ●  Read more »     We think you'll like this newsletter Check out By The Way for tips and guides that will help you travel better and make you feel like a local wherever you go. Delivered every Thursday. Sign up »

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