Let’s face it, the world has been going everywhere but according to plan recently. At this point, we are running short on good news and positive vibes. And there’s an entire cold season looking right at us that we have no option but to survive through.
So this time, we are here with pure liquid gold for our souls to tuck us in like a soft blanket and fill us with good emotions only. And it's all thanks to one Reddit user who posed the much-needed question “What is the most wholesome thing you have seen?” on this thread.
41.5k upvotes and 6.5k comments later, the most heartwarming answers are in and they bring us hope that everything will be fine, because the world… it’s simply beautiful.
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#1
I had a teacher in high school who had a reputation as being the super tough, mean, older African American lady. She taught health class. There was a mandatory CPR class that we had to pay for, and there was no way I could pay for anything in those days. CPR day came, and she told me to go with the other students. I gave her a confused look to which she replied "You’re good baby." And she had paid for me.
Later in the year, I fell asleep in her class. It was a home game day (basketball), and she told me to lay back down after the bell had rung. It was the last period of the day, she told me she'd wake me up before I had to report to the gym. She dimmed the lights, and played some light jazz while she did her work at the computer. I hadn't been sleeping well at home and I'm guessing she knew. I woke up when she brought the lights back up and she handed me one of her "cup of soups" she had warmed up. We never really spoke much, but she had my back and I made sure she knew I had hers.
On senior night, they introduce the players and say some stuff about them as they walk to center court, typically with parents arm in arm. When it was almost my time to walk, she saw that I was alone. Bless her heart, she about fell down from her seat running towards me. She put her arm through mine and just looked forward, chin up proud as hell as they read my stats/grades/etc. I remember that walk and how I wish I had a picture or recording from that day showing how big I must have been smiling. My friends' mothers had tears in their eyes. They made sure to invite me to dinner with them after the game and I made sure it was ok that I brought my teacher. She politely declined and just told me she was proud of me.
After I graduated, and was a bit better on my feet, I returned to visit her. It was honestly the only thing that could get me back in that place. Each time I'd bring flowers and/or food and made sure to do it in front of students and made sure they knew to respect her.
265points
Bored Panda reached out to the Reddit user u/Iyrebird, who is the author of the viral question “What is the most wholesome thing you have seen?” on the r/AskReddit subreddit. The redditor said that he was reflecting back on things that made him happy, and wanted to share the feeling with others.
“I think it resonates with so many people because it's a happy question with (mostly) happy answers! And many people may need that to cheer themselves up or even share a story that adds to my question.”
u/Iyrebird also said that some of his favorites replies included the one about the mother helping out her son by u/krncrds, about a blind man and his friend at a concert by u/fabutzio, and "the lunch lady one" by u/stankyolwitch.
#2
My brother is autistic and while he has excellent language skills, it's very visibly obvious that he is mentally disabled. We were in the Costco food court eating a hot dog when he started loudly singing a Madonna song. Bless his heart but he is a terrible singer. There were a group of teens who, if you were to stereotype/judge by looking at them, looked like 'hooligans' sitting behind us. I was worried at first that we were going to get the usual BS comments but they started singing along with him! One came over, high fived him and started dancing. I will never, ever forget that as long as I live.
228points
#3
I was headed to Oakland from San Francisco through the tube. The train's packed as always. People on BART [San Francisco's public train] are good about public transit etiquette in general during commute hours so nobody's talking or listening to music or anything.
When we leave the tube onto the viaduct over the Port, one guy answers his phone.
"Hello?... Yeah?... Oh my God... What hospital?... Okay I'll be there as soon as I can."
He hangs up and just looks super distraught.
Someone taps him on the shoulder and says "My car is parked at West Oakland. Do you need a ride?"
He agrees and they get off together.
[It was] a little gesture but it was uplifting to see someone volunteer for a stranger like that.
196points
We tend to think of positivity as something that comes if things are going well. In other words, it feels like it sometimes doesn’t entirely depend on us. In order to enter a joyful state, some good has to happen to us. But the year 2020 has shown that we may just pass our entire lives waiting for it, like Godot.
What if we take our positive energy and put it into our own hands—by reading some good news, wholesome stories, saying "I love you," or calling a friend you haven’t talked to for eternity? According to Vex King, the author of “Good Vibes, Good Life,” there are some things everyone can do to make some room for positivity in our lives.
First, remember that positivity and happiness are contagious. Surround yourself with people who shine from within and laugh out loud. In no time, you’ll notice yourself becoming one of them.
#4
When my youngest brother was about 8 or 9-years-old (he's 12 now), he came home with a "Student of the Month" paper in his folder. He heard that the school custodian had recently come back from having back surgery, so after lunch he gathered a few of his buddies and they swept the cafeteria to give the custodian a break. He was so humble about it too, he didn't care that he got noticed.
I just remember being so proud and crying a bit, because although I knew he is a good nugget, I just didn't expect him to go out of his way at such a young age - and to get his buddies to follow. Makes my heart happy.
176points
#5
When I first had foster children placed with me after bedtime my pitbull would go into each room and check on the kids and then sleep in the hallway. If any woke crying in the night she would crawl into bed with them.
171points
#6
A few years ago, I was on my way to catch the bus when a middle-aged woman called me from behind a newspaper stand. She pointed to the bus stop, one block down, where a guy was standing holding something. She said he was her son, who just got out of jail after serving time for dealing, and today was his first day trying to make an honest life. He had baked some traditional pastries himself and was trying to sell it on the bus stop, and she wanted to make sure things went right for him on his first day so he would not feel tempted to go back on selling [illicit substances].
Then she put some money on my hand, asked me if I could buy some pastry and obviously not tell him she was there. At the stop, I saw the guy, probably in his mid-'30s, with this little table of pastries. I bought three, we chatted a little bit and one minute later my bus arrived and I left.
It always makes me emotional and warm inside to think how pure a mother's love can be.
158points
Secondly, you should look for a source of inspiration because it drives us forward and keeps us stimulated. When the days feel grim and worthless, a new hobby or a burst of motivation may be key to feeling more fulfilled.
And lastly, cultivating positive lifestyle habits should be something you do every day. Only when you realize that good energy is born from within can you start including mindfulness and meditation in your daily routine.
But this is the whole magic of it. Things may look bleak, until it’s you who changes them.
#7
A friend and I were talking and she said "s**t" in front of the kid of another friend. I dismissed it by saying "Eh, she probably knows worse" We asked what was the worse word she knows. She very carefully looked around just in case her parents were around and whispered "selfish"
153points
#8
One Christmas season I saw a young woman (late teens or early '20s) walking through an IKEA picking up things in the huge marketplace area, taking a picture of them, putting them back, and moving on. She was obviously thinking intently about gifts but I was confused - was she making a wish list or something? An employee saw this and asked if they could help her find something. She says: Oh, no thank you. I'm helping my Dad Christmas shop. He works really hard and has very little time, plus when he gets off work his brain is just fried. So every year when I'm on break, I go around to a bunch of stores and take pictures of things I think my Mom would really like. Then I'll show them to him at home, we talk about them and he picks some out. Then I go back and get them. It's the least I can do for him, plus it's kinda become our little secret Christmas tradition. Mom has no idea.
151points
#9
My neighbor’s dog hadn’t seen me in half a year. I was walking out to my car when she spotted me and began angrily barking because she didn’t recognize me.
I whistled to her (I trained her since she was a pup to respond to a specific whistle I do) and she stopped barking..
It took her about a second before the tail began wagging like CRAZY, her ears perked straight up and she SPRINTED over to me and rolled onto her belly while crying for me to pet her
150points
#10
When I was a preschool teacher, we had one kid who was our certified cheer-upper. If someone was crying, she'd get a tissue, walk over, carefully blot their eyes and make them blow their nose. All while saying, "It's okay, You're okay." Eventually, they'd stop crying, she'd take their hand and they'd go play. She was a little angel.
145points
#11
My 7-year-old son was in a Taekwondo tournament, and he was getting ready to perform forms against a girl his age. She was clearly nervous as she was shaking and had tears running down her face. Right before the contest between them began, my son noticed her, walked up to her, and patted her on the shoulder and told her not to worry and that it would be ok. The entire audience awed at once.
When the contest finished, the girl clearly performed her form better than my son. When it came time for the judges to give out places, they gave them both 1st place. It was the only match in the whole tournament where they did this. I was so proud of my son that day. I'm tearing up as I write this.
132points
#12
I was at a movie theater with my family. We were in line at the concessions stand. I was about 15 at the time. Across the lobby, I see an elderly couple sitting on a bench together waiting for whatever they're waiting for. The man is a stout fellow with a large white beard. Imagine Santa Claus. His wife, also has white hair and is wearing nice clothes. Imagine Mrs. Claus.
In walks a family. A mother, a father, and 2 children. A son and a daughter. Both of these children are clearly special needs. The boy appears to be about 10 while the girl is about 17 or so.
The girl and her family are waiting just a few feet behind us when the girl notices the elderly couple sitting on the bench. More specifically, the elderly man. She blurts out in excitement "Are you Santa Claus?" The man smiles at his wife, then back at the girl, and informs her that he is indeed Santa Claus. The girl rushes over eager to give the man she believes to be Santa a hug, followed by her brother. The father takes a picture of Santa, Mrs. Claus, and his 2 children. After this, Santa takes out his wallet and pulls out an autographed picture of Santa from it. Hands it to the girl who shrieks with excitement and goes on her merry way back to the concessions line.
10 years later, I've never forgotten it. Never will.
128points
#13
In Austin, Texas, my family and I went to a breakfast place. The food was good, the waiters and waitresses were amazing. But they messed up our order. They were short on staff, apparently. Someone had either quit or got fired, and another person had called out that day, so it was only a few people.
And it also happened to be one of the busiest times of the week. So, my mother went to go to the bathroom, and when she came out, she noticed our waitress standing at the corner. She was about to cry, or was already crying. I had been waiting and looking out for her the whole time, so I was able to see this.
My mother noticed her high stress levels, and asked if she had wanted a hug. The waitress nodded, and said "Yea..." My mom opened her arms, and brought the waitress into a hug to comfort her. And once the waitress had calmed down enough, my mother came back to the table after making sure she was alright, and told us what happened.
I feel lucky to have my mother in my life, I love her so much.
120points
#14
My son has moderate cerebral palsy and autism. When he was about to start preschool at age 3, I lost sleep over whether he would be bullied or accepted by his peers. 3 years later, I’m getting choked up thinking about every time I’ve had to drop him off late. Each time in each year, his classmates stop whatever they’re doing, yell his name, smile at him, and usually a few will run over to give him a hug. It’s the most wholesome, beautiful thing a mom could ever see. It’s also wonderful when a peer sees him outside of school and talks to him just like any other kid. There’s no way they could begin to understand how much their wholesome, pure love means to my son and his mommy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go find some tissues.
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119points
#15
Didn't see this myself, but is one of the most wholesome things I've ever heard about:
My friend is a wedding officiant. A few weeks ago she performed a wedding for two gay men aged 95 and 90. They felt the world was finally ready to accept them, so rented a 30-minute time slot at a chapel, brought two friends as witnesses, and had a short and sweet ceremony.
Afterwards, they had their first meal as a married couple at a wing place across the street.
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119points
#16
I’m a record producer. On a particular song the client wanted a child’s voice to open it, so the bassist’s 10 year-old son came and recorded a vocal part.
Once we wrapped, the singer said to the kid: “Musicians get paid.” And he handed the kid a £20 note. The bassist then did the same.
A small gesture maybe, but in our world making a living is hard and it was amazing to see professionals showing how it ought to be.
106points
#17
Working as a Palliative care doctor. Little old lady with terminal lung cancer is brought in, suffering from chemotherapy side effects. Says she wants to stop it but can’t bear to because her husband wants her to go on so badly. Got her comfortable, went outside and ran into the husband. Before he goes in to see her he says she wishes she’d stop the chemo but he knows she wants to keep going too badly to give up. Brought them in together and had a little chat about it, and they both realised they were making assumptions, had a really sweet little cry together and just spent the rest of the day holding each other and talking. She died later that afternoon, but they were both so happy and content.
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106points
#18
I was at the supermarket, waiting in line at the checkout. The lady at the front was trying to pay and it was pretty clear her English wasn't great and that she wasn't familiar with the money either. She had another person with her who appeared to be a support worker of some kind, and her gorgeous little baby. Myself and the lady in front of me were making faces and entertaining the baby while the mum tried to pay. she didn't have enough money and went to put things back but the lady in front of me immediately offered to pay for the lot and added a banana for the baby. Turned out the mum and baby were refugees, newly arrived in Australia. We all got a bit teary and hugged but I hope she had a nice welcome to our country.
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106points
#19
Nobody's gonna see this at this point, but whatever. I think it's a pretty good story. I work at a cemetery watering flowers and earlier this week a older couple walked by. The man was pulling one of those little wagon things and there was a little girl (probably their granddaughter and maybe four years old) sitting in it. The grandfather just made some small talk with me as they passed and after they had passed me by a little bit I heard the little girl say "Those flowers look so beautiful." Instantly made me smile. I think, as long as someone's human, they'd have the same reaction. It was great.
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101points
#20
A while back I had a major operation on my spine and was in a wheelchair for awhile afterwards.
I was out one day, my partner was pushing my chair and our 2 year old daughter was on my knee. The weather had been fine up to that point but then the Scottish weather decided to remind us of her presence and the heavens opened. It started chucking it down. We were waiting at traffic lights whilst I did my best to shield my daughter from the downpour. A women approached from behind and handed me her umbrella. I was shocked but said thank you. She said 'not a problem' with a smile and went on her way, getting soaked in the rain.
I don't know who she was or what her name was but I'll always remember her.
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101points