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Many people have that one piece of media that has gotten them through a tough time. For me, it's the 1950 movie Harvey with James Stewart. In it, his character Elwood P. Dowd says: "For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant." It's much more gratifying to risk being corny but stay kind.

The Internet craves kindness as well. That's why accounts like "Wholesome Meets The Internet" are taking the online world by storm. We've got another edition of feel-good stories from this trusted page, so, stop waiting around and treat yourself to some high-quality wholesomeness, Pandas!

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    The world is tough at the moment for some Pandas. Seasonal depression might be kicking in for those in the Northern Hemisphere, traditional media keeps bombarding us with negative news, and the stress of buying all the holiday presents isn't helping in any way.

    It's important to maintain a positive outlook and keep our mental well-being in mind. But how do we do that without stepping into delulu territory? Positivity is good, but, as folks say, too much of a good thing can bite us in our rears sometimes.

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    #6

    Wholesome image of a man advocating for affordable insulin after recovering from a health crisis.

    @jamestalarico Report

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    Doofnuts
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is pure c**p. There is no reason for this d**g to be this expenive anymore. The companies have recouped their development costs by now. Now it's just pure avarice.

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    While we probably all want to feel good all the time, that's not how being a person works. Being positive and keeping a good attitude is always better than wallowing in self-pity and depression, but we shouldn't forget that it's also okay to feel sadness, anger, disappointment, and even anxiety from time to time.

    Graham Reynolds, PhD, describes toxic positivity for the ADAA as encouraging statements that should minimize painful emotions. Toxic positivity is about being unrealistically optimistic without taking into account the circumstances of a situation.

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    Some signs of toxic positivity can be feeling guilty about being sad or angry, hiding or disguising these sorts of difficult emotions, or relying on positive quotes about hard situations. People who engage in toxic positivity might start ignoring their real-life problems like financial difficulties. They also might be inappropriately positive when it comes to comforting others and dismissing their feelings.

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    Kendra Cherry, MSEd, writes that positive thinking can be good for us but that toxic positivity "rejects all difficult emotions in favor of a cheerful and often falsely positive façade." For example, feeling sad and disappointed about not getting a job is normal. You can give yourself time to grieve this opportunity you think you had in the bag; life isn't always "good vibes only."

    #13

    Wholesome tweet about a librarian helping a patron with a laptop and space for a virtual job interview.

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Tiger
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My mum works in the library (not a librarian, I believe her title is….circulation supervisor or something?) and she’s always up to the coolest stuff. Last time we had dinner she showed me the cute dioramas she was making with Lego people and cardboard/paint. She also started a monthly “bad art night” where people go in to the library to make the ugliest, worst art they possibly can. Sounds like a fun job 😊

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    Psychologist Konstantin Lukin, PhD, claims that suppressing negative emotions only makes them bigger and worse. "Avoiding negative emotions reinforces this idea: Because you avoid feeling them, you tell yourself that you don’t need to pay attention to them. While you are trapped in this cycle, these emotions become bigger and more significant as they remain unprocessed."

    Lukin also invites us not to divide emotions into 'good' and 'bad.' Yes, some of them make us feel good and others make us feel bad, but all emotions perform a function. They help us make sense of things. If you're sad about leaving a workplace, it probably means that you're going to miss it; you might've made some friends there and have some nice memories.

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    Sometimes, when we comfort or encourage people, we might veer into the toxic positivity realm. We say things like "Everything happens for a reason" and "You have to look for the silver lining." Clinical psychologist Jamie Long told CNN that this kind of talk dismisses the person's feelings. 

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    We try to offer perspective, but what people need when they're down is validation. Long and her colleague Samara Quintero offer some things to say to truly comfort someone else, like "This is really hard, I'm thinking of you" or "I'm here for you, good or bad."

    "Sometimes we just need to say 'Yeah, me too,' or 'That makes total sense,'" Long explained further. "It's allowing someone to express something that's authentic, even if it's uncomfortable or even if it's hard to hear." Basically, it's better to offer a person a shoulder to cry on than try to solve their problems.

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    #30

    Text post of a tall person at a concert, considerate enough to move for better visibility, exemplifies wholesomeness.

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Mimi M
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm short and I still check with the people behind me when I stand at any event.

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    We don't want you to be toxically positive, Pandas, but we'd love for you to have a good minute or two while scrolling through some wholesome stories. Let us know which ones touched you the most by upvoting them! And if you'd like more posts from the "Wholesome Meets The Internet" page, head over hereherehere, and here!

    #31

    Wholesome post about a mom's surprise trip to NASA, front row rocket launch, and meeting an astronaut, bringing her to tears.

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Doofnuts
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Teared up a bit. I love people going the extra mile to make their other half happy. Do it whenever I can.

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    #33

    Tweet about overcoming tough days with encouraging words; uplifting and wholesome message.

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    Nikole
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yesterday and tomorrow for me… usually not today. Your comment just made me realize this and now I don’t know how to feel.

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    Chewie
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I screenshot this so I can read it when I need it. Thank you.

    Riley Quinn
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Essentially the mantra of 12-step programs. Take one day at a time, but when it gets too overwhelming, take one hour or minute at a time. Got me through some really tough times.

    Nikole
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My rehab has this MLK quote painted on the wall: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase; just take the first step.”

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    Data1001
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really needed to hear this after the day that I had. 👍

    Nikole
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’m very pessimistic but also quite a contrarian, so I say: you keep going regardless because you never know.

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    #34

    Graduate in cap and gown receives diploma from USPS driver, adding a dose of internet wholesomeness.

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Ash
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's adorable. I bet that made that postal worker's day!

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    #39

    Grandfather receives high school diploma surrounded by happy family, a wholesome moment.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My grandad was too young to enlist (and the army said they couldn't take more than five sons from a family, so he would have missed out anyway) but it meant he had to leave school to help run the farm while his older brothers were away. Then he couldn't get any building/carpentry jobs like he dreamed after the war because these went to returned soldiers. So he thought he would be a minister, but he would have had to study French, by correspondence, in order to get his matriculation (high school certificate). His mentor suggest he go to teacher's college instead, which he did, and he loved teaching, but his greatest joy was when he was able to teach woodworking for the last 17 years of his career. He managed to come almost full circle.

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    #43

    Grandfather smiles holding a childhood photo of his granddaughter in his wallet, alongside a joyful reunion picture.

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    Annabel Again
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am happy for both of you. I miss my grandparents. Enjoy your time together. Looks like you both are very happy to be back in one place sending love.

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    #44

    Heartwarming story of a boy sharing a new Xbox controller with his sister for Christmas.

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    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My brother bought his own N64 (second hand) when he was about 11/12 because my parents couldn't afford one and he had gotten the money by selling a painting to a former footballer. Even now I am touched when he lets me or my sister use the clear blue one, because it's his favourite too. We in our mid 20s- early 30s now.

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    #45

    A blind Bengal cat sitting curled up on a carpet, looking adorable and wholesome.

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    April Pickett
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was a post on BP about a blind cat. His Dad made him a harness with a thin band of metal that was about 12" in front of him so he wouldn't run into things and hurt himself. One of the coolest things I've seen.

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    #47

    Wholesome tweet about a father discussing atom physics with his 3-year-old before bedtime.

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    Manic Mama
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just wait until some poor unsuspecting teacher casually mentions the word 'atom' in school .... the poor soul isn't going to know what avalanche of information has hit them.

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    #48

    A woman in a Japan jersey holds a baseball happily at a stadium. Fans gather around, sharing the wholesome moment.

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    TruthoftheHeart
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And yet there's a video going around here in the US of a woman literally having a tugging war over a ball against a kid

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    #50

    A wholesome interaction between a grandmother and a barista at Starbucks about naming her drink.

    @JJ_Denhollander Report

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    Doofnuts
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This tickled me! Told my wife, we do this all the time, calling things with no name Bob. She fell out.

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    #53

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Mimi M
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    These kinds of days really don't account for kids who don't have a dad or mom in the home. Like those assignments to 'make a family tree' - which can be quite invasive and upsetting for some kids.

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    #60

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Child of the Stars
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a security guard at our grocery store that buys a whole bunch of the $2 Hot Wheels cars when he gets paid, then stands at the entrance as a greeter and hands them out to the kids as they walk in. My son has significantly grown his collection just because of this man!

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    #62

    @metacryptomemes Report

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    LaserBrain
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Tbose waterslides scare the poop out of me. On some of them, I really feel like I could fly right off the thing. Oops- that actually happens irl quite often, apparently. I googled a stat of about 1 medically treated injury per 1000 rides.

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    #69

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    #70

    wholesomemeettheinternet Report

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    Ash
    Community Member
    2 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have a friend who used to do this in the high school cafeteria

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