That lovely German word 'schadenfreude' describes the pleasure that one gets in witnessing another person's misfortune. While we don't necessarily condone this slightly evil feeling, it can be useful in putting one's own struggles and unfortunate events into perspective.

For instance, it's Monday. You didn't get much sleep, the car won't start, and you're late for work. Seems like you're having the worst day ever! It's easy to feel grumpy and full of self-pity; you might even bring the people around you down as well, with your crappy mood.

However, one look at this list, compiled by Bored Panda, will immediately make you realize how much worse things can be. These people are having a really bad day, , and it's sure to be even more unlucky than yours!

Scroll down below for your Monday dose of schadenfreude for yourself, and sure your own funny accidents and worst fails in the comments!

#1

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

My Cat Couldn't Get To His Litter Box Because The Toilet Door Was Forgotten Closed At Night, So He Spilt The Litter Bag Himself And Pooped On It

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So, like these unfortunate souls bestowed with bad luck, you have had a terrible day. What's the best and healthiest way to deal with such a setback? Psychology today has some basic tips on how to calm down, come to terms with your fate and carry on with serene acceptance, avoiding an existential crisis.

Start by setting an intention to be gentle with yourself. "When you're feeling battered around by the winds of luck, you're going to need some self-nurturing. Set an intention that you're going to be kind to yourself while you're waiting for the universe to start dishing out some kindness again."

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    #2

    He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

    He Saw A Squirrel And Dragged Me Through The Mud On My Ass

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    Treat yourself: "A dose of positive emotion will increase your resilience during stressful days. Know yourself well enough that you have a short mental (or written) list of simple things you enjoy that reliably boost your mood."

    "As a self-test, try to come up with five things now that reliably boost your mood. They need to be simple and under your control (e.g., "sunny days" isn't going to work since you can't personally create one of those.) If you find this hard, note whatever you can and add to it when something pops into your mind."

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    Some examples could include: Getting a kind of food that you like that you don't eat that often, maybe lobster or some fried plantain! A good, tasty meal is always good for the mood... You could also book yourself in for a massage or meditation session on the way home from work, or yes, even a beer. But don't overdo it, because alcohol is never the answer to a problem!

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    #4

    Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

    Kids Playing With Fire Hose During Coast Guard Demo

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    Toujin C'Thlu
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those kids are going to have quite a story to tell when they get home.

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    #5

    This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

    This Big Guy And Three Of His Friends Got Into A Newly Built Montana House And Proceeded To Live There For A Month Before Being Found

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    Get something small done that's on your own agenda: "Positive mood comes from a combination of pleasure and a sense of mastery (feeling you're competent and can get things done). These both go out the window on bad days because having a run of bad luck usually feels frustrating, demoralizing, and out of control."

    "Find something you can get done that will ensure the day isn't totally unproductive. It's a skill to be able to identify quick mastery tasks that feel achievable no matter what else you have going on. The more you practice, the better you'll get at it."

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    #6

    Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

    Went To Open My Fridge. Definitely Thought My Hand Was Connected Properly

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    #7

    Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

    Stuck His Head In A Hole In A Tree To Take A Look, Guess What He Found

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    And finally, learn to recognize the impact of stressful events: "When I worked as a therapist, clients would frequently overlook or underestimate the impact of stressful events and frustrations on their mood."

    "It's a lot easier to cope with one isolated incident than it is to cope with a series of blows that come in quick succession. If you're feeling down or overwhelmed, it can help to recognize that many of the causes of your stress are temporary, one-off events, or random incidents of bad luck."

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    These incidents are all just that, random incidents of bad luck. Life goes on! In the meantime, let's all enjoy a little hilarious schadenfreude at these poor people's expense!

    #8

    Crashed Car And A Parking Ticket

    Crashed Car And A Parking Ticket

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    #9

    Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

    Put My Visor Down In The Side To Block The Sun

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    #10

    Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

    Threw My Swatter At A Fly. Don't Ask Questions Because I Don't Have Answers

    TheGreatBugle Report

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    #11

    My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

    My Brand New Roomba Ran Over My Puppy’s Shit And Proceeded To “Clean” The Rest Of My Home

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    #12

    Their Flight Left 2 Hours Ago

    Their Flight Left 2 Hours Ago

    czmax Report

    #13

    Oh No

    Oh No

    alfie_bond99 Report

    #14

    I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

    I Came In To Find My Tortoise Like This

    Putting the clues together, it seems he pooped, got it stuck on his foot, ran in circles trying to get it off, and flipped over. Good job, buddy.

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    #15

    Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

    Good Morning And Happy Valentine’s Day! Why Not Start Your Day Off With A Turmeric Smoothie?

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    #16

    Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

    Your Day May Have Been Bad, But It's Probably Not As Bad As 'I Tipped Over A Satellite And It'll Cost $135 Million To Fix' Bad

    NASA Report

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    Mangoes'nRum
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That impact test went well! It got hit by a planet and is still in one piece! That's a Job Well Done!

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    #17

    The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

    The F Fell Off My Ford Fiesta Flame. Now I Drive A Ford Fiesta Lame

    Thechuz1337 Report

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    #19

    My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

    My Dad Bought A Soap From A Charity In 2016 And Only Today Opened The Box. Look What Was Inside! P.S. My Dad Is A Huge Football Fan

    JPM33 Report

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    Martha Meyer
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That was just stupid of the soap company! Lots of people don't open a soap box right away but wait until they've finished the soap they already have.

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    #20

    So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

    So Excited To Use My Pizza Cutter For The First Time

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    #21

    Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

    Bet She's Glad She Bought That Tire Cover

    Driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

    BakerFam Report

    #22

    When The Snowplow ‘Nicks’ Your Car

    When The Snowplow ‘Nicks’ Your Car

    starsofalgonquin Report

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    #24

    Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

    Anyone Curious What Happened After That Guy Ripped His Pants At The Wedding. I'm His Wife

    Draseph Report

    #26

    I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

    I Asked To Have It Edged Up So My Bangs Would Be Straight. Proceeded To Cut All My Bangs Off And My Entire Widows Peak. White Guy At A Black Barbershop Problems

    jburna_dnm Report

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    #27

    I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

    I've Been Using The Complimentary Towel At My Apartment's Swimming Pool. Someone Just Told Me It's A Towel For Wet Dogs

    I just moved in to a new apartment complex and I've been using the new swimming pool and hot tub. I usually come straight from gym, so as a courtesy to others, I shower in this locker room before I use the pool. I keep forgetting to bring a towel so I quickly use one of these towels on the wall. Yesterday, a stranger saw me bathing and here and told me that this is actually a room meant for residents to give baths to their dogs, and that the shower I'm looking for is in a different locker room. As he tried to hold back laughter, he asked me what I thought this blue thing was for. I told him I thought it was for bathing babies. FML.

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    #28

    In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

    In Colorado, Due To Rock Fall, A 20 Mile Stretch Of Highway Now Has A 238 Mile, 4,5 Hour Detour

    kdpiette Report

    #29

    A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

    A Storm Came Through. The Plastic Furniture Barely Moved But The Grill Blew 30 Ft Into The Pool

    sleepybuddha44 Report

    #30

    Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

    Finally Gave In And Let My Daughter Get A Cat. Turns Out She’s Allergic

    vampyrechic Report

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    #31

    A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

    A Small Crash Revealed Just How Much Make Up She Had On

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    #32

    So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

    So This Guy Paused A Video Of A Model He Wanted To Look Like And His Barber Mistook The Play Button Icon With His Desired Hairstyle And Shaved Triangles On Both Sides Of His Head

    Tian Xiu Bot Report

    #33

    A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

    A Woman Put 1.5 Gallons Of Windshield Washer Liquid Instead Of Oil

    kumahair Report

    #34

    Life Must Be Hard For Him

    Life Must Be Hard For Him

    hunterfisher21 Report

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    sakora
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can you give them to the court for giving false information? ;)

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    #35

    Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

    Whoever Threw A Sink Into My Car Last Night

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    #36

    The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

    The Door I Had To Get Through Last Night To Get To My Room

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    #37

    My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

    My Favorite Wedding Photo. I Got A Bubble In My Eye While We Were Leaving

    companionmadie Report

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    Ale_Vidal23
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    don't be ashamed by getting emotional, no need to hide behind a bubble-accident

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    #38

    I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

    I Proposed To My GF This Weekend And Proceeded To Drop The Ring Down A Gopher Hole

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    #39

    My Roof Caved In Last Night

    My Roof Caved In Last Night

    BROWNS_CHAMPIONSHIP Report

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    Foxxy
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Step away slowly, close the door and pretend it didn’t happen.

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    #40

    Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

    Trying To Even Out My Tan On My Lunch Break

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    #41

    ATM Shut Down With My Card In It

    ATM Shut Down With My Card In It

    ImagineHydras Report

    #42

    Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

    Cut My Finger While Opening A Package Of Band Aids

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    #43

    Damn

    Damn

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    BC
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Usually a memo is issued if there are road repairs happening to the neighborhood. He must have not read it or ignored it.

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    #44

    Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

    Waited Almost 14 Years For This Moment, And Of Course I Missed It

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    ravina nimje
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    its perfectly balanced number, better than what you have hoped for.

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    #45

    Instagram vs. Reality

    Instagram vs. Reality

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    Note: this post originally had 112 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.