In 2015, we will take you to the four corners of the globe to tell stories about improbable individuals shouldering mammoth struggles and about big ideas crystallizing in very small places. In the process, we hope to add rigor to the conversation about what it means to be a “global citizen” in this day and age. Before we march forward, we’d like to take the occasion to re-share some of the most compelling of our reads from 2014 that you might have missed the first time around. All of us at GOOD, wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Puppy Love
How a crypto-currency spawned an improbable community of giving
Reporter Tracey Lien spends time with a Nascar driver, a would-be prankster, and a lot of Comic Sans font, to show what Dogecoin can teach us about generosity.
A Thread of Hope
Can a family business save Somalia’s economy?
Somalia has struggled to find its economic footing since the collapse of its national bank 25 years ago—and “solutions” from western governments have only made things worse. So how does a mom-and-pop money transfer service serve such a stabilizing force for the Somali economy? Contributing Writer Mark Hay peels back layers of political grandstanding and post-9/11 paranoia to find that a little trust goes a long way.
“You’re Supposed to Be Creating An Army for God”
One woman’s courageous struggle to be more than a “womb man”
Contributing Writer Sarah Stankorb tells the story of Vyckie Garrison’s harrowing escape from a Christian movement that sees women as vessels for relentless procreation, painting a picture of a controlling religious culture hidden in plain sight.
One Former Prostitute in Cape Town, Two NGOs Battling Over How to Help Her
How should society deal with prostitution?
For Asanda, a former sex worker in the “rape capital of the world,” prostitution was one of few alternatives for steady work, despite the risks involved. GOOD Cities editor Rosie Spinks shines a light on the tug-of-war between the organizations trying to help her.
Is Studying Buffy the Vampire Slayer More Important Than Studying Shakespeare?
In the years since it went off the air, Joss Whedon’s tele-feminist romp through vampire lore has inspired a cottage academic specialty. Contributing Writer Mark Hay jumps into the fray to see if academics behind “Buffyology” are grafting theory onto pop culture—or whether a girl who kicks so much undead ass has something to teach us all.
A Chance in Hell
Yaks, America, and The Apocalypse
To find out about the latest grass-fed protein making a stir among conscientious carnivores, reporter Zachary Slobig hits the road with Colorado rancher Bob Hasse—eight yaks in tow—to explore America’s unyielding and unsustainable dependence on beef.
How Powerful Is Your Passport?
In this digital era, there’s at least one printed medium that’s thriving: the passport. In this Infographic by Ricky Linn, you can see that passports are much more than an access passes to new locations, they are geopolitical barometers, reflecting relations between countries and a particluar country’s stature in various parts of the world.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.