50 Times People Found Unexpectedly Wholesome Posts On The Internet Where Strangers Had Each Other’s Backs (New Pics)
You know, Pandas, it’s really way too easy to focus just on the negatives. In fact, we’re hard-wired for that. It’s called negativity bias and it means that we dwell on the awful things that have happened to us more than the awesome ones. So with all the news about just how bad things are looking recently, you’d be perfectly right to be anxious and upset. However, we shouldn’t forget that, at the same time, life’s full of beauty, wonder, and wholesomeness. Albus Dumbledore told us that happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, but we have to remember to turn on the light. Well, let’s turn that light on, shall we?
Today, we’re featuring the best posts from the r/gatesopencomeonin subreddit, a 356k-member-strong community that celebrates people acting excellent and being wholesome to each other. It’s the kind of stuff that really restores part of your hope in humanity. And it’s a reminder that we have to strive to be altruistic and kind, especially when things are looking tough.
Upvote your fave pics as you’re scrolling down, Pandas. And tell us all about the nicest thing you’ve done for someone recently, in the comments. Meanwhile, check out Bored Panda’s interview about how to live a happy and healthy life, as well as how to be nice to others when we don’t feel like it, with writer Ariane Sherine, the author of ‘How to Live to 100’ and ‘Talk Yourself Better.’
Oh, and if you’d like some more proof that people totally have the potential to be awesome, take a peek at our earlier articles about the ‘Gates Open, Come On In’ community here: Part 1 and Part 2.
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I Needed To Hear This. I'm So Tired
I don't understand the need to compete about everything like whose more tired, whose back hurts more etc. Everyone is different and so us how we deal with things.
I had a family member do that to me. No matter what medical issue I deal with they've had it so much worse than me. I just shake my head and say really with a look of surprise. Then I tell them I'll pray they get better...
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All these parents trying to own tired gets me bad. You chose to raise children and now the world owes you enough sympathy to put you on a special pedestal above everyone else. Only disclaimer is yes I do feel sympathy for parents, especially single parents who actually had no choice in their circumstance. It's just that I'm an equal opportunity empath, I feel just as much sympathy for everyone else struggling out there.
While I do agree that parents don't "own" tiredness, it's an equally unsympathetic view to say "you chose to raise children" like everyone who has children knew what they were getting into - or, for that matter, chose that way. My husband and I, for example, chose to have a child - then came our twins, and then came his sleep apnoea that basically turned me into a single mother even while my husband was around. He couldn't stay awake during anything, he once almost dropped one of our girls at 4mo because he fell asleep. Did I know motherhood would be hard? Yes. Did I think I wouldn't get more than 3 hours sleep in one go for almost a year? No. It's better now, but I still get mad at people seemingly thinking parents sign a contract with all footnotes attached. Maybe that's not what you meant, but the sentiment is widespread.
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Meanwhile, certain rich people are complaining about the "underpopulation problem" because the working class doesn't have the time nor resources to re-populate. Maybe turn up that trickle in the trickle down theory and allow everyone some more of that luxurious free time like most civilized countries? (Although, fewer humans = less consumption of earth's rescources and less polution...)
At nearly 8 billion, there is no way we are underpopulated. The only reason the rich say we are is because they want large generations of future workers to exploit so they may be able to continue hoarding wealth.
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Well everyone can be tired but I’d really like people to recognise that exhaustion is totally different, and for people with actual exhaustion (as a medical condition, often tied to another chronic illness) it’s not anything like a normal person being tired. The body is broken and cannot function, whereas tiredness is normal and manageable. So please don’t equate the general idea of being tired with someone who has exhaustion. It’s an entirely different kettle of fish, and anyone with exhaustion would *love* to be tired instead.
So very true. I really would love to just be tired instead of exhausted all day, every day.
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Yes! I'm actually extremely tired of people being called lazy or they haven't done enough to be exhausted. Or thinking because someone doesn't have a paying job they are lazy or don't do anything. It's total b******t how we've been convinced that our worth as humans is based on productivity or how much they work. As if those of us who don't have a paying job are not doing anything productive. Yes we are, we all are! Just existing takes maintenance and effort on a daily basis. From getting up to brush your hair, using bathroom, the upkeep of your house, yard, car, kids, pets, and selfcare is enough to begin with. No one gets away with doing nothing if they are living and breathing. Sometimes just breathing and the mental load is hard. That's not even including a job that takes the majority of our precious time. So please stop with the b******t about anyone being lazy or not wanting to do anything productive. We all already do and I'm f*****g exhausted dealing with people who think just wanting to exist and just be, is somehow wrong. No it's not! Our negative conditioned mind on our worth as humans is what's wrong. We deserve to exist and live our lives how comfortably we see fit. It's not supposed to be uncomfortable and hard no matter who tries to convince you otherwise.
I have MS, so I'm fatigued A LOT, and I think people, even those who are supportive, secretly think I'm kinda lazy. I probably am.
They probably do. I have CFS amongst others and I am really weak. For me anything i do is like 2-10 times harder than it used to be when i was healthy. But even my loved ones avt as if them working 8h is comparable to our fatigue. Not it is not. I used to have a very physical job, be 8h there and have energy to go out or cycle to the store. Now driving to the vet with my well behaved dog takes me 2 days to recover. Its like if 8h working for us would be 24h working non stop. Then we can start comparing.
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As someone who suffers from chronic depression, fatigue, and general anxiety, I've gotten to the point where I tell people it's none of their business why I'm tired all the time.
I have been saying this for years. My job is essentially part time, but I am still tired after work. I also have anemia and that is another reason I'm always tired.
When you get old even simple chores like doing the weekly grocery shopping can be exhausting.
"Just wait till you have kids / a real job / ..." sure, we are gatekeeping being exhausted now.
I feel bad because I know my spouse puts in more hours and harder physical labor than I do but I am going home after work and sleeping hard for a while...I don't plan on telling him. I call it "shame napping."
Americans are tired! I'd like to hear from some other countries. Do you find that in general the people of your country are tired?
Everyone is tired. Our society sucks, living is really expensive and young generations are hopeless and ill. USA is not the exception.
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And it's also not a competition of who is the most tired or who has the right to be tired
I sort of agree, I also think if you stop at the first sign of fatigue you won't build up stamina. But if you're burned out that's different.
Or you can destroy your body. Doctors kept ignoring my illneses and fatigue and told.me to suck it up and exercise more. I kept pushing myself and broke my body. Now i need my scooter to do anything that involves more than 2m walking. I can cross the street to buy bread on foot but it exausts me.
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A Guide To Gift Giving
A Surprise Happy Ending?
The ‘Gates Open, Come On In’ subreddit has been delighting redditors (and more!) around the globe since early 2018. In the 4+ years since being founded, it’s carved out a niche of wholesomeness, hope, and good vibes by being the polar opposite of r/gatekeeping.
They only have two rules: there’s no gatekeeping allowed and you have to be nice. That’s it. Really. It’s a pretty straightforward recommendation for living a good life, isn’t it? Besides, it’s refreshing when you focus on the positives for a change, isn’t it?
Better Late Than Never
The last sentence explains it perfectly. Although there is an expiration date and that is death.
Remember, Everyone Has A Purpose
An Email From My Computer Science Teacher, Who I’m Not Even Taking A Class With This Semester. Genuinely Want To Cry Rn
(Probably) everyone wants to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life. But it’s a hard thing to do in practice, especially when you’re bound by doubt, anxiety, and fear. Bored Panda reached out to author Ariane, who has written about health and happiness, to understand what contributes to our satisfaction with life the most. Really, it’s mostly about altruism and having a tight-knit social circle (among a few other things).
“Close, fulfilling relationships with others are one of the most important things when it comes to happiness, whether romantic or platonic. Studies show that the more close friendships and relationships you have, the longer you live,” Ariane shared with Bored Panda. “Volunteering and helping others are also likely to make you happy.”
Be Free To Like Things
Me: yeah, I'm really into real ales and metal music. Rando: oh really? What year was the first IPA sold internationally and what blood type is James Hatfield?
One Letter Makes All The Difference!
This Made Me Really Happy
Other things that play an important role in our overall happiness include being fit, having a fulfilling career, and not focusing on the material side of things too much.
“There are other things that contribute to happiness and well-being including taking regular exercise, eating healthily, having enough money to feel comfortable, having job security, and enjoying experiences rather than possessions,” the writer explained.
True Spirit
Making A Kid’s Day!
Just Let Them Be They
“Self-care and taking time for yourself are also very important. But I'd say close relationships are probably the most essential things to happiness,” she stressed what we should all be focusing on the most.
It’s easy to be kind to someone when we’re feeling great, the sun’s shining, and it’s like we’re on top of the world. It’s far harder when we’re miserable, exhausted, and feeling down. Bored Panda wanted to get Ariane’s advice on how to be nice to someone when we’re down in the dumps and overwhelmed with problems.
Unexpected Coming Out Story
Never Walk Without A Bro
Grandmas Are Always A Bastion Of Wholesomeness
“It's worth remembering that being kind to others can also lift you up too. In fact, the easiest way to take your mind off your own problems is to help someone else with theirs,” she said.
“But if you're feeling really lethargic and low, the best thing is probably to sleep, or at least rest,” the author pointed out that there’s nothing wrong with getting some well-deserved rest. Getting some proper sleep is a piece of advice that really deserves more attention than it gets.
Wear Whatever Makes You Happy!
So many schoolboys protesting their school's dresscode by wearing skirts (not allowed to wear shorts in the heat). Why not just keep the skirt? They are amazingly comfortable in the summer :)
Liberal Arts
I Love Sharing My Book Collection
We were also curious about how people can control their anxiety better, especially if they’re worried about the economy, the war, and the pandemic. Ariane shared some of her thoughts about becoming more resilient during tough times. The important thing here is to control what you can and to let go of what you can’t affect.
“It's a matter of doing what you can to make your own situation better, and then accepting that you can't control everything,” she said. “You can never control everything, and trying will make you even more anxious. But you can control certain things to reduce your risk.”
On A Cathedral Door
Shared Spaces
A Grown Man Indeed
Love this! I can’t imagine that’s not the response she usually gets
Ariane gave an example of how this works: “For instance, I wear an FFP2 mask on the train to work because I can control that, but no one else wears one these days. So it's possible that I'll still get Covid as no one else is masking up, but I just have to accept that, because my train journeys are essential.”
Custom Veganism
My Music Taste
This is so me. My playlist can go from Metallica to Backstreet Boys to Beethoven's 5th
During an earlier in-depth interview, Suzanne Degges-White, Licensed Counselor, Professor, and Chair at the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, shared with Bored Panda how our family values, spiritual beliefs, and even our biology all play a crucial role in our altruistic actions.
"Many of us are raised to believe it is the 'right thing to do.' Basically, all spiritual belief systems have a version of the 'Golden Rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ "We also do good turns because we know that one day we may be in need of a little 'generosity from the universe,' so it's like putting 'money' into a karma account," she shared how people think.
Easy Come, Easy Go
This Dad Is A Legend
Rob Zombie Taking On Anyone Who Wants To Gatekeep Metal
"Lastly, humans are wired so that when we do something kind for another, we feel good about ourselves and neurotransmitters like endorphins and oxytocin have been shown to get a boost when we do something good for another. It is through cooperation that society functions, so the survival of the human race depends on being willing to help others. Family values, spiritual beliefs, and biology all play a part in this motivation," the professor explained to us.
What A Great Sign
Ok Zoomer
"Many of us take pride in being of service to others as it is culturally valued and we want to hold significance in our worlds. So when we do good deeds, we show others our willingness to help those in distress/need; we live out faith-based encouragement to treat others the way we would like to be treated, we uphold family values, and our brains get a positive jolt of happiness when we help others.”
Tiredness
Fixed A Stupid Meme
Your Trauma Is Valid
Everyone Gets To Complain About The Weather
Honestly, apparently some other countries have been mocking us in the UK for not being 'able to handle the heat'...WE'RE NOT CONDITIONED FOR IT! Most of us vary between glow-in-the-dark white and cooked lobster red! WE ARE GOOD AT RAIN!
Klingons Kinda Inclusive
its a very good analogy for trans people i suppose Klingons dont care what gender you are as long as you a warrior with honour
It's For All Of You
Do What You Like
in that case, i will leave the note stickers on my piano keys, and continue to play with one hand, until i am ready to play with both hands 😁
Reading Goals
I needed this. I only just completed my 3rd book for the year - its been difficult to find time to sit and read. I am trying to fill more time by reading rather than being online. I hope to have read at least 5 books by the end of the year
Melon Flavored Jellyfish's Mom Says The Gates Are Open
Opening The Gates To Readers Of All Ages
Ambisexual
Gotta Clean Up
I'm Sure Many Of Us Needed To Hear This
F*****g THIS! Everyone has something different that they can do . Sometimes it's petitions ,sometimes it's protests,sometimes it's writing letters ,sometimes it's survival,sometimes it's education. The only path that isn't ok is turning a blind eye to the problem.
Vegan BBQ
Slap Some Dang Rice
Nice Flex
We love a mob psycho 100 reference! A really great and wholesome manga/anime too
Metallica Welcomes Everyone
It's A Big Ask But I'm Behind It
Note: this post originally had 104 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
I learned a lot from this list. I didn't realize i do so much gatekeeping, and i want to decrease it.
Hey when you know better you do better and it's cool you realized it now!
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Friendly reminder: downvotes are NOT dislike buttons. Downvoting a comment just because you don't agree = not cool. If a comment gets downvoted, its author will get banned from the site. So please downvote only in case of obvious spam ("how to make cash") or if someone is literally harrassing a fellow panda
Damn. One downvote that could be a mistake or petty revenge gets the author banned? That sucks.
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I learned a lot from this list. I didn't realize i do so much gatekeeping, and i want to decrease it.
Hey when you know better you do better and it's cool you realized it now!
Load More Replies... Friendly reminder: downvotes are NOT dislike buttons. Downvoting a comment just because you don't agree = not cool. If a comment gets downvoted, its author will get banned from the site. So please downvote only in case of obvious spam ("how to make cash") or if someone is literally harrassing a fellow panda
Damn. One downvote that could be a mistake or petty revenge gets the author banned? That sucks.
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