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Every morning, I eat a satisfying breakfast, take my vitamins, drink a cup of delicious, energizing coffee, and I feel prepared to start the day. But sometimes, taking care of my physical being just isn’t enough. My mood can still feel off until I get that daily dose of wholesome content my heart has been craving. You know the kind: videos of puppies pouring out of a car, kittens cuddling like humans, or a kid explaining his undying love for corn. But you know what makes this kind of uplifting content even better? When it simultaneously makes your day and teaches you something!
Below, we’ve gathered some of the most heartwarming and smile-inducing facts that Reddit users have shared online that you might have never heard before. So prepare to start uncontrollably radiating sunshine as you learn these fun facts that will be like a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies for your soul. Be sure to upvote all of the responses that melt your heart, and then, if you’re interested in learning even more wholesome facts from Bored Panda, we’ve got another list for you full of them (specifically about adorable animals) right here!
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#1
A train station in Japan had plans to close but noticed a student was the only one using it. They decided to close when she graduates from high school
A_Cat_To_The_Past 1 year ago
That's so amazing! Good on the people who left the station open for her!
#2
The number of public libraries in the US is far greater than the number of McDonald's.
#3
The last time Lichtenstein went to war they sent out 80 men and returned with 81 because the soldiers made a friend.
#4
- Bob Ross would receive letters every week from his regular viewers. When a regular would stop writing to him, he would call them and make sure they're ok.
- Bob Ross also once got a letter from a colorblind viewer who said they can't paint due to their colorblindness. He then did an episode where he made a painting entirely out of gray colors to prove that anyone can paint.
- Mr. Rogers hand-wrote letters back to everyone who wrote to him.
#5
The brain of an elephant reacts the same way to seeing a human as a human brain does to seeing a puppy.
#6
Dogs will modify their play with puppies to let the puppy win. My dog treats our cat like a puppy and will lay on his side only using his front paws to "defend" himself. He usually lets the cat win and then she struts around. It's adorable.
#7
I'm over 5 years sober. And I never have to drink again.
JoJo Anisko 1 year ago
You're over halfway to 10 years sober, with my wishes for your success.
Emma S 1 year ago (edited)
I'm not sure if you intended this comment to he helpful but as a recovering alcoholic myself, I can tell you it isn't. It completely invalidates this person's joy at being sober for five years by saying "Yeah but you've still got another 5 years to go until you get to 10." Most recovering alcoholics can't think that far ahead in terms of sobriety. Many of us make a daily choice to stay sober that day. Also what is so special about 10 years? There's no finish line or certificate of completeness after a decade. It's a lifelong journey. Maybe you didn't mean it that way, but to be this came across as saying 5 years of sobriety isn't an achievement.
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Coffee_nut45? 1 year ago
I am so proud of you!! As a recovering alcoholic myself I can tell you those first few years are the hardest you've made it over that hump and now you can do anything. Ignore the negative comments and just look ahead. You are loved and supported.
Justin Hatch 1 year ago
I know the battle all to well my friend. Keep it up. It's been 3 years for me. But I go 1 day at a time. Congrats and best wishes.
Blobban 1 year ago
I hope everyone knows this was originally posted on Reddit, therefore the OP of this post most likely won't read any of your nice comments.
Coffee_nut45? 1 year ago
That doesn't really matter now does it? Those of us who are recovering alcoholics can read these comments and be encouraged ourselves. Vop has hit a huge milestone and we can all be encouraged by that success.
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I'm A Mystery 1 year ago
This is great. Alcoholism runs in my family and I'm determined to never end up on that road. I have seen what it does to people, I have the opportunity to see my grandpa slowly lose his mind as he drinks another beer. It's so sad, alcohol should be illegal.
Nancy Lynch 1 year ago
I have had members of my family drink too much and I swore I would never drink because I might like it.
ThatOneWriter 1 year ago
This IS wholesome! 5 years takes a lot of work and you are doing a great job!!
Whiskey Tango Delicious 1 year ago
My wife has hit 30 days sober. She's chosen a sober life over losing our precious daughter. Keep it up mom, we are rooting for you!
Margaret H 1 year ago
That last sentence is one of the best things I've read for ages. Good for you for realising that!
Yeah, okay. 1 year ago
This made me giggle. Camels got nothing on this guy!
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Wayne Reynolds 1 year ago
That may come off as a little trite to some. And maybe a little shallow. Please tell me, us, how you arrived at this conclusion?
Load More Replies... #8
There is a tribute sculpture of silver feathers in County Cork, Ireland called "Kindred Spirits".
It commemorates the 1847 donation of $170 (about $4,700 in 2019 dollars) by the Native American Choctaw People to Irish famine relief during the Great Hunger, despite the Choctaw themselves living in hardship and poverty and having recently endured the Trail of Tears.
I love this fact because I'm from Cork in Ireland ☘
Lord Mysticlaw 1 year ago
In South Africa we have a monument dedicated to the Irish soldiers who fought with the Boere republics (against the British empire) during the 2nd Anglo Boer War.
#9
In New Zealand, if you need to call the Emergency Services you can just ring the number you would use in your own country and you will get through... 911/111/999... it is so that in a situation when you are panicking, you dont need to remember a new number to get help.
#10
Cows have best friends and when paired together, their heart rates are significantly lower and they experience less stress overall <3
#11
The Netherlands sends Canada 20,000 tulip bulbs every year to thank them for their help during WWII.
#12
Whenever you see something go wrong in the world -- either a natural disaster, an accident, or a man-made crisis -- it's very easy to focus on the negatives. The tremendous loss of life. The monsters who thought an act of terrorism would help their cause. The mismanagement that made things worse. The people looting and profiteering from other people's misery. It's easy to get disparaged and see only the worst of humanity.
But there are always, *always* people going out of their way to help their fellow man. The people who ran into the towers on 9/11 to ensure that as many people as possible got out. The people who hid Jews from the Nazis during the Holocaust. The Choctaw Nation Americans who sent a donation to Ireland in the wake of the potato famine in order to help in any way they could. People queuing up to donate blood in the wake of a mass shooting or other natural disaster. People who try their absolute level best to change the systems that led to these problems in the first place, throwing everything they can into protests and political action to try and make the world a better place. These actions are almost always done not for glory or rfor personal profit, but because it's the right thing to do. And it happens everywhere, every time, in every country around the globe.
#13
In Germany, they have these "frog fences". These fences keep the frogs from crossing the roads and getting run over. At the end of the day somebody comes by and gathers the frogs and helps them cross the road
#14
First one that comes to mind is something along the lines of this
During the Second World War an American B-17 (I think it was the Flying Fortress) was trying to make her way back home heavily damaged.
A German 109 (fighter) saw it and decided to investigate. The pilot noticed the guns weren’t manned and the insane amount of damage the plane had (a good chuck of fuselage was missing along the side). Flew up beside the bomber and caught eye-contact with the American pilot. He waved.
The German pilot then escorted the bomber back to American territory where the German pilot waved off.
These two pilots met each other after the war and became friends
Shark Lady 1 year ago
This was used as a storyline in NCIS. Gibbs' father was the American pilot and a guy called Walter saved him.
#15
Penguins spend a lot of time looking for a pebble to give to another penguin to propose. If the other penguin accepts it, they mate for life.
Yali-girl with weird name 1 year ago
“And then you would not imagine what he gave me….A flat pebble!” “Omg did you dump him” “Ofcource, at least try to find s round one 🙄
#16
In Amsterdam, if someone has no next of kin or close family and dies, then a poet will be asked to read at their funeral.
#17
Squirrels will adopt abandoned babies
#18
Blind people smile like everyone else, even though they've never seen anyone else smile. It's just a natural human expression.
#19
In some countries, they have "wildlife crossings" which are just grassy green bridges running over highways for animals to cross, so they don't have to cross the highway.
I think it's the purest thing in the world
#20
Most sharks only bite people because they don’t have hands and are just curious.
Good day mate how are you doing. Just going to give you a nibble to say hi. Oh my god your bloody arm came off my bad. Ooo that looks bad are you ok? You know what I’m just going to leave. Ok so I circled around a bit seams you haven’t made it far. That’s a lot of blood mate here I’ll try to give you a boost. Let me just grab that thrashing leg. Oh come on it’s bleeding now to. S**t you know what I’m done with you bleeding all over my house I’m just going to eat you to clean this mess up. Nothing against you.
#21
That when you pet a dog and then they put a paw on you, it's them reciprocating the act. Dogs can't actually preform the "petting" motion so the just put a paw on you.
#22
Otters hold hands to keep from drifting apart while they float.
#23
When your cat narrows their eyes at you it’s their way of letting you know they care about you and are happy to see you.
Cthulhu is Alive 1 year ago
One of my cats used to stick her tail up in the air and wiggle it quickly whenever she saw me. She also, when she saw us come home, ran out the backyard, jumped up onto the patio roof, jumped through the bathroom window, ran downstairs to greet us at the door just inside when we opened it every single time we got home. I miss her.
#24
Red pandas use their tails as blankets to keep themselves warm!
#25
I've got a pair of cardinals that come to the feeder every day. I noticed that sometimes the male feeds the female. The female quickly shakes her tail feathers and the male responds by picking up a seed in his beak and feeding it to the female. I learned that this is part of their mating behavior. It allows the male to "practice" feeding because he'll have to fill in for the female when she occasionally leaves the nest with the hatchlings in it. Plus it's just adorable.
Delta Dawn 1 year ago
One time my kid thought two crows were kissing, so I had to explain it was actually a parent feeding a fledgling, not two birds kissing. She was of course equally grossed out by a baby bird eating their parent’s barf. I mean, fair enough.
#26
Billy Joel never sells front-row seats. Instead, he gives them away for free to fans who can't afford them.
Green Tree 1 year ago
This happened to me but not as described. We had gotten to the venue early and our seats were up in the nosebleeds. Somebody from Billy Joel’s team came up to us and asked if we would like to sit up front (second row), of course we happily agreed. From what I remember though (20+ years ago) it was about us being young and bringing ‘energy’ rather than a helping the poor thing
#27
You know when babies are smiling and laughing, but then they suddenly turn away? They’re having a happiness overload! Basically their brains can’t handle all the excitement they’re experiencing by what they see, so the only remedy is to just not look anymore.
#28
Mr. Rogers was riding with a chauffeur and the chauffeur mentioned that they were driving by his house. Mr. Rogers asked to come meet his family and spent the evening having dinner and played the piano while everyone sang songs.
#29
Volvo was going to patent the modern seatbelt, but they revoked the patent in the interest of saving lives
#30
This probably isn't the MOST wholesome but it's the first I thought of. In this era of evil corporate overlords let's remember Saran Wrap. Have you noticed that Saran Wrap kinda sucks these days? It seems like it barely sticks like it used to and doesn't preserve food as long. You might think this was due to cost cutting measures to line investor and executive pockets, that's the usual reason products go to c**p.
The actual reason is that the key chemical used in its manufacture was determined to be bad environmentally. They were unable to find a replacement that provided the same performance. There were no regulations requiring them to change the formula and changing it would surely hurt their market share. They did it anyway without any fanfare and it was a big hit to their bottom line, but they stuck to it because it was the right thing to do.
Ace 1 year ago (edited)
Wrong/ The main reason that cling film, as It was known outside the US, was modified was that it's not safe for use in Microwave ovens (releases carcinogens when heated) and despite warning labels people were still doing so. In some areas of the world specific non-microwavable cling film still exists along side the safer, but less clingy, version.
#31
its illegal to own just one guinea pig in switzerland. you have to own two because they get lonely by themselves
ginny weasley 1 year ago
When I got my last cats i got two from the same litter and that has worked out well. they keep each other company while I am at work and play together. many animals are happier in pairs
#32
Your body's immune system will fight to the death for you no matter what you do.You can smoke,drink and do drugs but your immune system will keep up with all of that without complaint.I like to think that whenever i feel no one likes me.
#33
Gunfire around Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green during the [1916 Rising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Rising) was stopped every day to allow for the ducks to be fed.
Park keeper James Kearney would enter the Green daily to feed the waterfowl. Every time he did this, the opposing sides of the Irish Citizen Army and the British forces would cease firing to allow him to do so.
#34
Most humans are inherently good and willing to help you in any way. You've been helped by a stranger more often than you've been hurt. (Online too)
We just remember the bad ones.
troufaki13 1 year ago
Why can't we be kind? And if you don't want to help, at least don't do anything. I think it takes much more effort to be hurtful :/
#35
Penguins can form homosexual relationships, and will even adopt orphaned penguin chicks. Happened at the Central Park Zoo, where some zookeepers gave them an abandoned egg and they ended up raising the baby to maturity. That new penguin ended up being lesbian, and paired up with another female penguin.
Zoos in Germany, the UK, and even China have copied this with other gay penguin couples and abandoned eggs.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
If anyone tries to use this an an example of homosexual "grooming" I will end them.
#36
This will probably be buried, I don't think you guys would think it's super wholesome but to me it is. When Ringo left the Beatles during the White Album sessions, the Beatles wrote him a letter, telling him to come back and even calling him the best drummer in the world. And, when he came back, George Harrison decorated his drum set in flowers. I think its sweet because even though tensions were high in the studio, you can see that they cared about each other.
#37
Children who are deaf, and raised by deaf parents will sign repetitive sounds and words at about the same rate hearing babies acquire language. Deaf babies basically sign goo-goo ga-ga the same way hearing children babble when developing language.
Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago
Even cats do this. A deaf man communicates with his cat in sign language. His cat replies in sign language too. https://youtu.be/PU7hPOY8n_Y
#38
You know how rain smells good? Rain doesn’t actually smell like anything, but water will amplify scents. The earth smells really good all the time, but we just don’t notice until it gets boosted by the rain.
Kat Hoth 1 year ago
That smell has a name. Petrichor (/ ˈ p ɛ t r ɪ ˌ k ɔːr /) is the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Ancient Greek πέτρα ( pétra ) 'rock', or πέτρος ( pétros ) 'stone', and ἰχώρ ( ikhṓr ), the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods in Greek mythology.
#39
While dogs see us as equals cats see us a clumsy deaf babies and thats why they get annoyed at us
Shyla Bouche 1 year ago
We do our best to raise the soft can-openers properly, but they're a mess!
#41
Somewhere in the world someone is recovering from depression
#42
If you have a routine work schedule and dogs, they can tell when you're about to get home by how much your smell has faded in the house.
JoJo Anisko 1 year ago
That, or they are psychic. I had an irregular work schedule, but according to my mother, my dog started acting expectant about 5 minutes before I got home each night.
#43
You look cute today :)
#44
Mr. Rogers began announcing that he was feeding the fish in every show because a father and his blind daughter would always tune into the show, and they wrote to him to explain that she would get very concerned that the fish were not fed on the days that he didn't announce it.
#45
Looking into your dog’s eyes produces the same brain chemicals for you and the dog that mother’s feel when they stare at their babies.
Edit: And I’m pretty sure they’re the only (or one of few) animals we have this connection with.
Lama 1 year ago
Cats appear to have the same emotional connection to humans as dogs. And almost all animals seem to enjoy being pet. A lot of research has been done on dogs, not so much on other animals, we just don't know yet. Why would you say you're 'pretty sure' about something if you actually don't know?
#46
My favorite is the Christmas Truce of 1914. Basically during the Christmas Eve and Day German and British soldiers had multiple soccer games against each other in no mans land during the cease fire. Just shows that soldiers are people and not extensions of their countries ideology
#47
When your body does that weird-falling-thingy when going to sleep it's because your body is not sure if you are dying or falling asleep and gives you an adrenaline boost just in case. Something about it makes me feel great.
Yali-girl with weird name 1 year ago
I feel so scared when that happens and then just grab my sheets and wrinkle them
#48
People in long-term relationships (whether romantic, friendly or professional) subcobsciously form a macroorganism together. Your brains work together to determine each other's strengths and assign tasks accordingly to become a more efficient and tightly bonded functioning unit, where your skills are maximized and you can save effort on the stuff your partner kicks a*s at. You share a joint superbrain
#49
Lab Rats love playing hide and seek with their scientists and “squeal with happiness when found”.
#50
in a movie when dogs have to act mean but they're so happy that they have to CGI the tales to make them look mean
What do you think ?
Ivana Bašić 1 year ago
My deaf dog can partially read my lips. She lost her hearing recently, at 12yo, but when I say "best girl" or "I love you", she smiles and gets all happy. Other words don't get the same reaction even with the same facial expression and gestures, but these do even if I just mouth it without sound. In general, she is happier when she sees me talking to her than if I don't. She can't hear, but it still means something to her. Never stop talking to your dogs.
Brocken Blue 1 year ago
That’s super sweet… and proof of how darn clever dogs are in interpreting humans
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CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
Yes please! There's so much negativity in the world, happiness needs to be shared more!
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Scarlett 1 year ago
My cat Samwise has turned from a scared, territorial little animal into a giant snuggle bug. And he doesn’t flinch when people reach down to him anymore. (Sammy was an abused and neglected pet that we um… permanently borrowed.)
Ryon Cupidore 1 year ago
Adding a few... Jonas Salk, the man who invented the first polio vaccine, was once asked who owned the patent. His response? "Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Blind people also have dreams. Mostly about movement or travel and smells and sounds are more intense in those dreams than sighted people. Speaking of dreams... there's a theory that the human brain never forgets a face so random NPC #3 in your dream may have been someone who you only ever interacted with for a few minutes, so far back that your conscious brain can't remember them.
Brocken Blue 1 year ago
Huh… I’m face blind so everyone in my dreams tends to be faceless, I just “know” who they are.
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Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago
I have a few interesting facts about swallows. Some species produce edible nests which command some of the most expensive food in the world. A kg of it costs $2000 to $10 000 or even more depending on quality. These bird can fly in complete darkness using sonar (like bats do). They are very agile in the sky - skills necessary to hunt insects mid-air. They can do a very tight high-speed 90° turn which few other birds can match. Swallows cannot perch or walk. So in order to drink, they have to skimm across water with open mouths. There is one sub-species of swallows which can be catched via "air fishing" technique. You waived a fishing rod with bait mid air just like regular fishing in a pond. The birds swoop in and get caught.
Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago
Air fishing technique in-case you are interested. Go to minute 28:40 for the clip. https://youtu.be/s4EmCPa4euY&t=28:40 This is actually an interesting video on its own right. It shows the struggles of people in Malawi Africa, to earn a living. It makes you realise how fortunate you are. Our struggles are nothing compared to them.
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Ivana Bašić 1 year ago
My deaf dog can partially read my lips. She lost her hearing recently, at 12yo, but when I say "best girl" or "I love you", she smiles and gets all happy. Other words don't get the same reaction even with the same facial expression and gestures, but these do even if I just mouth it without sound. In general, she is happier when she sees me talking to her than if I don't. She can't hear, but it still means something to her. Never stop talking to your dogs.
Brocken Blue 1 year ago
That’s super sweet… and proof of how darn clever dogs are in interpreting humans
Load More Replies... CrazyKnitter 1 year ago
Yes please! There's so much negativity in the world, happiness needs to be shared more!
Load More Replies... Scarlett 1 year ago
My cat Samwise has turned from a scared, territorial little animal into a giant snuggle bug. And he doesn’t flinch when people reach down to him anymore. (Sammy was an abused and neglected pet that we um… permanently borrowed.)
Ryon Cupidore 1 year ago
Adding a few... Jonas Salk, the man who invented the first polio vaccine, was once asked who owned the patent. His response? "Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Blind people also have dreams. Mostly about movement or travel and smells and sounds are more intense in those dreams than sighted people. Speaking of dreams... there's a theory that the human brain never forgets a face so random NPC #3 in your dream may have been someone who you only ever interacted with for a few minutes, so far back that your conscious brain can't remember them.
Brocken Blue 1 year ago
Huh… I’m face blind so everyone in my dreams tends to be faceless, I just “know” who they are.
Load More Replies... Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago
I have a few interesting facts about swallows. Some species produce edible nests which command some of the most expensive food in the world. A kg of it costs $2000 to $10 000 or even more depending on quality. These bird can fly in complete darkness using sonar (like bats do). They are very agile in the sky - skills necessary to hunt insects mid-air. They can do a very tight high-speed 90° turn which few other birds can match. Swallows cannot perch or walk. So in order to drink, they have to skimm across water with open mouths. There is one sub-species of swallows which can be catched via "air fishing" technique. You waived a fishing rod with bait mid air just like regular fishing in a pond. The birds swoop in and get caught.
Ali H M Salehuddin 1 year ago
Air fishing technique in-case you are interested. Go to minute 28:40 for the clip. https://youtu.be/s4EmCPa4euY&t=28:40 This is actually an interesting video on its own right. It shows the struggles of people in Malawi Africa, to earn a living. It makes you realise how fortunate you are. Our struggles are nothing compared to them.
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