The world is in a bad state - people are constantly seeing the ugly side of humanity and losing faith in any goodness left in the world.
With violence-filled videos and mean social media posts and comments floating around on the internet, it's hard to think of humans as 'humane.'
However, one young man has planted seeds of hope in the souls of many after he was spotted on a train.
The man was sitting with a tiny kitten on his lap, and it melted hearts everywhere. Read on to find out just how this man was able to make us all say 'aww!'.
Hope On The New York Subway
A tender moment played out on the train and Gillian Rogers was able to capture it on camera. Now, we can all appreciate the kindness of a stranger showing love for a baby animal.
The kitten was on the man's lap, wrapped in a towel as he gently fed it from a bottle.
Perhaps the most beautiful part of this is that the man was completely oblivious to the rest of the world.
It was just him and the kitten that mattered in that moment on the New York City subway.
It's just a small act and many might forget it in a day or two, but the care that was shown will be remembered by those who saw it.
Gillian said that it was possible for everyone to see the caring the man felt while bottle-feeding the kitten.
"My heart felt like it was going to explode to see someone with that much caring. He was so in the moment."
Gillian was emotionally swept away by what happened and felt she had to introduce herself to the man. She started a conversation about the kitten as well.
"We had a chat. He told me he'd found the kitten alone between two buildings. The kitten was looking up at him as he fed her. It was so heartwarming. I told him, 'Thank you.'"
Feel-Good Feelings and Going Viral
If you are touched by the lovely moment, you are not the only one - humans are eager to see such expressions of empathy.
Seeing someone take care of a vulnerable animal or person makes us all feel happy and warm inside.
It is a psychological thing and this is often what helps us connect as a species.
This is just the kind of thing we needed to set us up for the Christmas Holidays.
As for Gillian - well, she was left feeling all kinds of good.
"It was truly a special moment. When I got off the train, I felt like I was walking on air. I felt joyful - like it renewed my faith in humanity. There are still decent people out there."
She is the founder of Pet Rescue Squad Inc. and knows all about vulnerable and abandoned animals.
For her, it was a beautiful and wonderful moment when she saw the man take care of an animal he had randomly found.
She probably didn't expect it, but when she shared the photos on social media, they went viral.
"I had no idea the photo was going to resonate as it has. It makes me happy. I think we all need something to cheer us up."