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I was about five years old when I remembered hearing the song What a Wonderful World for the first time.
I soaked up the lyrics with wide eyes, full of excitement for life.
"Yes," I thought, "green trees are amazing, as are red roses".
Although, there was more to this song than a poetic description of the great outdoors.
People talk of seeing the world but, while stunning views in a country you've never been before are undoubtedly memorable, and a sun that rises and sets on us all daily feels unique in a new land, it's the people I meet on travels that always inspire me the most.
I don't know every person who will read this. But one thing's for sure - we all have a story and a chance to make the world a kinder place. That's something I've always loved about being a journalist.
You meet so many people and they trust you to share their heartbreaks and successes.
In primary school my teachers often said I talked too much in class, but I've just always loved chatting with people. I didn't know it at the time but maybe I was a journalist in the making.
What a Wonderful World talks of the beauties of nature, but also of our shared experiences as humans.
"I see friends shaking hands, saying 'how do you do', they're really saying 'I love you'." Well, there's not so much of the hand-shaking these days ... but the sentiment remains.
There are many doing what they can to brighten the world around them, like this Victorian primary school producing food packs to distribute throughout their community, or this father daughter duo riding across NSW to raise funds for cancer research.
It's been a year and a half of 2020 already and we're only in August.
But, I hope this weekend you have many opportunities to smile and laugh with those close to you - even if that's over the phone or online.
Or perhaps you'll share a smile with someone you pass at the shops, whose name you may never know.
And in that moment, you'll remember, it really is a wonderful world.
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