Oh, How Far We've Come
Celebrating all of the good in our world
“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with that there is.” — Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
Hi friends,
I was talking with several people recently who said the world has become too complicated. In short, they said we have too much war, too much crime, too much bad news, too much hate, too much division. They said they wished we could return to simpler times, like the 1950s, when things seemed less messy. They also said they didn’t want to have children in a world that feels so terrible amid the endless uncertainty.
It’s easy to feel that way, especially when we’re bombarded with headlines about global challenges. But when you take a step back, it’s clear that we’ve made incredible progress in many areas. From healthcare to technology, the world has improved in ways that can go unnoticed. As Bill Gates once said:
“Headlines, in a way, are what mislead you because bad news is a headline, and gradual improvement is not.”
It’s also worth savoring the little beauties, the everyday miracles, that can be easy to take for granted. Maybe it’s the way the light hits your bedroom in the morning, or how that first sip of coffee tastes in the morning, or the feeling of going to bed in clean sheets after a long day of work.
What everyday miracles do you try to savor?
Below are just a few examples of “all the good” that help me zoom out and remember that we are living in what will likely be “the good old days.”
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Global Progress Over Time
Poverty – The global poverty rate has dropped from 36% in 1990 to 9% in 2021, lifting over a billion people out of extreme poverty.
Life Expectancy – Increased from 46 years (1950) to 73 years today.
Child Labor – Has fallen by over 30% since 2000, from 246 million to 160 million.
HIV/AIDS Deaths – Decreased by 50% since the 2000s, thanks to treatment advances.
Clean Water Access – Increased from 76% (1990) to over 90% (2020).
Literacy – Jumped from 56% (1950) to 86% (2020), with youth literacy nearing 100% in many countries.
Hunger – The number of undernourished people has dropped by 30% since 1990.
Electricity Access – Increased from 71% (1990) to 90% today.
Carbon Efficiency – Global carbon emissions per unit of GDP have decreased by 40% since 1990.
Girls’ Education – Enrollment in primary school has risen from 50% (1970) to 90% today.
Solar Energy – Costs have fallen by over 90% since 2010.
Crime Reduction – Violent crime in the U.S. has fallen by 50% since the 1990s.
Renewable Energy – Global capacity has increased by over 1000% since 2000.
Endangered Species – The number of species considered endangered has decreased by 25% over 30 years.
Internet Access – Has surged from 16% (2005) to over 60% (2023).
Cervical Cancer – Mortality rates have dropped by 50% due to vaccines and early detection.
Mental Health Awareness – Over 70 countries now have mental health policies, compared to just a handful in the 1980s. The younger generations, in particular, are talking about their feelings openly.
Everyday Advancements We Take for Granted
We can access almost all human knowledge instantly. This one is a biggie.
We can eat virtually any food from around the world.
We can fly almost anywhere.
We can video call anyone, anywhere.
We can cure diseases that were once death sentences.
Scientists collaborate across borders in real time.
We can harness solar and wind energy.
We’ve sent rovers to Mars and built telescopes that peer into the universe’s origins.
We can pay for anything with a tap of a phone.
We can translate languages in real time.
Medical treatments can be tailored to an individual’s DNA.
Free online courses (like Khan Academy) allow anyone to learn almost anything.
Electric cars are becoming mainstream, and autonomous driving is on the horizon.
We have more tools than ever to combat climate change.
Robots can perform surgeries and assist in manufacturing.
We can stream any movie, show, or song on demand.
Remote work allows more people—including those with disabilities—to participate in the workforce.
We can watch live events from anywhere in the world.
Platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe help people fund dreams and emergencies.
We can use technology to regrow forests, restore coral reefs, and clean up the oceans.
This isn’t to dismiss all the suffering and problems today. But acknowledging progress is important in a world where it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
It’s easy to focus on what’s wrong. It’s equally important to recognize what’s going right—both globally and in our own lives.
So, I ask you:
What’s working in your life? What’s worth appreciating or celebrating, even if it’s just a sliver of hope?
Celebrate your gifts,
Matthew
Thanks for the reminder of how much progress the world has made since "the good old days"!