Times are tough but believe me, all of us have reasons to be cheerful. Here’s why

Think of Trump and Johnson, gone. Think of Putin flailing, and action to save the planet. Think of us, our ingenuity, our kindness. That's a lot

There is light in the midwinter gloom. It can take great effort to see it, when so many gathering this weekend will struggle to maintain more than a forced, say-cheese smile. We all know the reasons: rocketing energy bills, rising rents and mortgage payments, real pay going down, food bank use going up, an NHS buckling under the strain, strikes debilitating some of our most essential services, a brutal war in Europe, and a climate crisis already wreaking havoc in the here-and-now.

And yet while 2022 brought plenty to weigh down the heart, it also offered some unexpected lifts to the spirit. These past 12 months showed that, despite everything, there are reasons to be hopeful.

Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist