Here's How Pokémon Go Is Changing Our Lives For the Better

The Summer of 2016 is, without question, the Summer of Pokémon Go. Everyone is playing the game, bragging about their winning streak at the local gym, complaining about the server going down, or walking into a stationary object while playing. But it's not all about the game. Plenty of great experiences have come out of Pokémon Go that make people feel like they can overcome insurmountable circumstances — or just get through the standard day-to-day.

In a year with lots of bad news flooding our feeds, the game has made it feel slightly easier to talk to people around you without any political or emotional agenda. And even if you haven't personally played the game, you've likely had a conversation about Pokémon Go with your friends. It has become an acceptable form of conversation — "catch any good ones around here?" — and an icebreaker on a scale that we've never seen app platforms reach before.

So in the spirit of the Summer of Pokémon, here are some of the greatest examples of Pokémon Go changing lives for the better.