The big-league philanthropist helps us all enter the new year with an optimistic perspective on the direction the world is headed in 2014.

Like every year, 2013 was filled with both disaster (Typhoon Haiyan) and heartwarming events (Batkid). Just in case you're feeling like the bad outweighed the good, Bill Gates has popped in to remind us that humanity made great strides in 2013.

Image: annualletter.gatesfoundation.org  

To read the original article: Bill Gates Says These Are The Best Things That Happened In 2013 | Co.Exist | ideas + impact