This is it, the big week. Tomorrow is the annual Sarasota Orchid Tour. Four homes will be open to the public, and mine is one of them. I’ve been working feverishly to get everything "just right." It’s important to properly display all the blooming flowers to maximize the "wow" factor.
I imagine I have the largest collection of the four homes. I'm up to 500 orchids now. Orchid addiction is a very real and very dangerous thing.
On another note, Senay landed an internship at the new pickleball club. She’ll be helping with social media and marketing, using her fancy camera to capture some great action shots. I’m so proud of her. She just walked in the front door and asked for the job. Resumes are overrated.
After the heavy rains, our new acres of grass are finally showing off their green glory. We really needed that rain. Now there’s color everywhere.
And yes, Desmond and Penny just got their summer haircuts. They're looking sharp.
I understand how overwhelming the news can be—it often feels like a relentless stream of negativity. But let's take a moment to focus on the positive strides humanity has made. Here are ten encouraging facts about our world as of 2025:
1. Extreme Poverty Has Declined
In 1990, 37% of the global population lived in extreme poverty. Today, that number has decreased to approximately 8.5%. World Bank
2. Life Expectancy Has Increased
Global life expectancy has risen from 30 years in 1800 to approximately 73.5 years in 2025. This improvement reflects advancements in healthcare, nutrition, and living conditions.
3. Child Mortality Rates Have Dropped
In 1900, about 18% of American children died before age five. The infant mortality rate was a staggering 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, which was ten times higher than today.
Today, those numbers have dropped dramatically. The U.S. infant mortality rate is down to 5.6 per 1,000, and fewer than 1% of children die before age five.
4. Progress in Combating Hunger
In 1970, 28% of the world's population was undernourished. Today, that figure has decreased to 11%, equating to nearly one billion fewer people going to bed hungry.
5. Expansion of Democracy
In 1816, only 1% of the world's population lived in democratic societies. As of 2024, approximately 45% of the global population resides in some form of democracy.
6. Increase in Literacy Rates
Global literacy rates have significantly risen, from 10% in 1800 to 86.3% in 2024 for individuals aged 15 and above. Macrotrends
7. Improved Access to Clean Water
Access to clean drinking water has improved markedly. In 1980, only 58% of the world's population had access to clean water. By 2024, this figure had increased to nearly 88%.
8. Renewable Energy
In 2024, the world added a record 585 gigawatts of renewable energy, with solar alone contributing 452 gigawatts. Renewables now power over 40% of global electricity.
9. Global Internet Growth
As of 2025, 5.64 billion people—nearly 69% of the world—are online, up by 97 million from 2023. This surge boosts education, opportunity, and global connection. (datareportal.com)
10. Cheese Has Never Been More Plentiful
Global cheese production has nearly doubled since 2000, reaching over 30 million metric tons a year.
So here’s what I’m really saying: Turn off the news.
Seriously. What you're watching is the worst 1% of humanity, rerun 24 hours a day. It’s a highlight reel of disasters, dysfunction, and despair, and it’s not doing you any favors.
You’re not changing the world by watching it. But it is changing you, making you anxious, discouraged, maybe even a little cynical. And if you keep it up, it’ll start messing with your sleep, your peace of mind, and maybe even your blood pressure.
Instead, here's a little challenge for you:
Go one month without watching the news. Just one.
The world will not end. Just focus on what you can do to help the people in the immediate vicinity. Why stress about things we have absolutely no control over?
Be Blessed,
Dave