Scams That Most People Just Accept as a Normal Part of Life

Have you ever noticed that something new comes out, people freak out about how unfair it is, but then a few years later it’s just part of our everyday lives and everyone seems to have forgotten we didn’t like it?

There are a surprising number of things in this world that we actually know are scams, but the companies just keep going, and we get used to them, and that’s that.

If you want examples, well – here are 13 that might surprise you.

13. If stuff doesn’t happen…shouldn’t we get our money back?

Homeowner’s insurance:

“Sorry, we’re not selling new policies in Your Area right now because Thing just happened” where Thing = earthquake, wildfire, flood, and other things you might … want to insure against?

“We don’t cover That Sort of Problem.” where That Sort of Problem = anything that actually happens to your house, due to weasel-wording loopholes

“You submitted a claim? We’re going to triple your rates FOREVER after this.”

12. Your money should work for you.

ATM fees and low interest savings accounts.

I know times are tough y’all but as someone who works in the financial industry if you don’t already have a high yield savings account for your liquid funds I strongly recommend it. Ally, Cap One, Amex all offer decent rates for what it is.

Earning a few dollars in interest is way better than the pennies your big national bank is paying you.

As far as stocks: it’s a great idea for funds you’re not going to be expecting to use for the next six months to a year. Time in the market is essential, you don’t want to attempt to become a day trader. Index funds and mutual funds are your friends.

hose portfolios typically track a certain aspect of the market and average out your returns; it’s fun to pick individual shares of companies you know but that’s something you really have to sit down and weigh the pros and cons on.

Always do your own due diligence, and this is not even considering taxes. I’m definitely not a CPA.

11. This is hilarious.

Idk if anyone remembers Power Balance bracelets from the early 2000s. A lot of celebrities and athletes advertised for them and they claimed to improve your balance and overall health.

Well being a rubber bracelet made in a factory, it was all nonsense but they still sold millions of units before shutting down. A new company owns them now and you can still buy them though

10. It’s a romantic gesture?

Those registries that people pay money to “name a star.”

9. We’re slowly figuring this one out.

Paying for cable tv. The whole idea of paying was to create a revenue stream separate from that of marketing. There are a few out there (HBO, I think) but generally we pay to access the content and still have to spend 20% of the time sitting through commercials.

Then streaming comes in and were free of advertisements again, for a bit. Now YouTube has tons of ads and other streaming services are talking about adding ads as well.

8. It’s just business.

The games at fairs/carnivals.

Theres a Mark Rober video about carnival games – surprisingly interesting for a video about statistics

7. Totally worthless.

Idk if it’s normalized but McAfee security service. In my own experience with the service, it’s done literally nothing for me except pop up every time I open my computer or nearly every 4 hours or so.

I remember my ex gf’s grandma who fell victim for the service. I tried to talk them down from it and not to pay the service but I was much too late for any semantics. So I just took it to memory that every computer already comes with security software and any outside security software, if not installed properly, checked with 100% concentrated power of will, you’re going to have a bad time.

At least, I’m convinced that the McAfee service is just a virus that makes you pay similar to some of those other viruses that get your photo via your personal webcam, lock your computer and show you a copy pasted photo of a “legal document” urging you to pay a ransom, what was it, ransomware.

So my belief is that Even though most people may use McAfee as a computer firewall security service, it’s more than likely a scam. Downvote me to hell, but at least convince me otherwise first.

6. They’re there…but not on the internet.

Hot milfs in your area.

It is my understanding that they are interesting in meeting me TONIGHT.

5. It’s all psychology.

Reducing a price by 1 cent to trick our brains into thinking a product costs less than it actually is.

4. This one, for sure.

Manufacturers refusing documentation to private repair enterprises and requiring you to get your products fixed by the dealer.

Basically, the reason for the “Right-to-repair” movement.

I used to work with John Deere and they were terrible about it. Farmers are looking for older equipment because they don’t have those software lockouts.

3. I miss the happy beginnings.

Social media. From their happy beginnings they are now mostly a funnel used to ram as many advertisements into your mind as inhumanly possible. “Sponsored Posts” every third or fourth item – I see you, IG/FB/Red/etc. And that’s not even mentioning the extensive filtering network that “curates” the information you get to see when you are looking for something. “Curated information” is just a nice expression for you being conditioned to form certain opinions / buy more stuff. Social media groom minds.

. . EDIT: Wow, over 11k upvotes! If we may assume that 1 in 10 people bother to vote at all, this means that my post has been seen by over 100,000 people! This illustrates the amazing power of the internet. The irony is not lost on me that my most popular post ever should be about how social media have become overly commercialized to the point of being a scam =)

Things I learned from the comments & some light research:

Many of you quoted the old saying “when the product is free, YOU are the product”. The earliest attribution that I could find was to an artist named Richard Serra in 1973. To this I could add, “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.

Building and running the internet is not free. In fact, several sources state that the internet consumes over 10% of the global electricity supply. Let that sink in for a bit… Using 10% of the global electricity supply is equivalent to running about half the USA (or Germany + Canada + South Korea + France + UK + Italy). Put another way, 10% of global CO2 emissions from electricity generation are due to running the Internet.

If we estimate that 50% of internet activity consists of sending around advertising and spam, we have to ask ourselves: is that really worth spending 5% of the world’s entire electricity supply on? Or would it not be better to dial that fluff wayyy back and start charging users a fair fee? Speaking for myself, I believe that the internet is an invaluable addition to our lives and I would be willing to pay a fair & transparent fee for an ad-free, tracker-free, spam-free, bot-free internet experience, certainly if that means that we will also save 5% of the world’s global electricity. Note that I am not saying the Internet should be censored, far from it!

Of course, designing and implementing something like that will be very difficult; I think we will need to look to the EU for innovations in this space.

I also learned that my ad blocking settings were overdue a refresh. I found that on my iOS (iPhone, iPad) in particular it is hard to find effective ad blockers. This is due to the fact (TIL) that Apple does not allow browsers other than Safari on iOS; the Firefoxes and Chromes you download on those devices are simply copies of Safari with a different jacket slapped on to it (for which Mozilla and Google pay Apple a pretty penny no doubt). This means that spectacularly effective open source ad blockers that should work on Firefox and Chrome and the like, won’t work on your iPhone and iPad. With some digging in the app store I did find something that seems to work, but let me not advertise here. Suffice to say, it is useful to periodically update your ad blocking system and it seems that (free) open source blockers are the best of the bunch.

Am I contradicting myself by saying that: (1) I am willing to pay a fair price for my internet use but (2) at the same time I am installing ad blockers? Yes a bit – but I install the ad blockers mainly out of a concern for my privacy, which I believe is under heavy attack. Also, I believe the internet media have crossed a line – I mean I can put up with some (clearly identified) advertising here and there, but who would enjoy a newspaper if at least 25% of it would be overt advertising and maybe half of the rest cleverly disguised highly personalized paid content? If I can take a pair of automated scissors to such a rag, I believe I should.

2. Apple is king of the monopolies.

iPhones disabling themselves if you put in 3rd party parts. I can understand shutting off a certain aspect, but not bricking the whole phone

1. There are always more coming.

Listen up. Everything is a scam. Everything.

But if you send me $19.99 I can show you how to turn the tables on the scammer and get HIS money.

Limited time offer, send money now!

I don’t want to say humans are basically sheep, but…we definitely prefer the roads with less resistance, don’t you think?

If you can think of more examples, drop them in the comments!

The post Scams That Most People Just Accept as a Normal Part of Life appeared first on UberFacts.

January 28, 2021

Learn About How a Teacher Became a Legend After She Punted Her Final to Help a Student With Cancer

There are a lot of sayings about rules, aren’t there? Rules are rules. Rules are there for a reason. Rules are meant to be broken.

Anyone who has worked anywhere that there is an administration that mostly exists just to uphold rules, though, knows that crap can get out of hand, and fast.

This school had a policy where, if you had very good attendance through the semester, you would be allowed to skip a final in a class you had an A in before the end of the course.

Everyone loved the policy, because who wouldn’t!

Image Credit: Reddit

Well, it turns out kids with valid reasons to miss a bunch of school.

Like, say, a child with cancer who has required appointments and checkups and treatments and recoveries.

Image Credit: Reddit

The administration refused to let him skip his Spanish final, even though he had managed to keep an A through all of that horrible experience.

Because rules, obviously.

Image Credit: Reddit

The teacher had his back, though, and just told the administration fine, she would give and score his final.

Then she did what she wanted.

Image Credit: Reddit

In the end, everyone won – and let’s be honest, the administration didn’t lose, either.

Image Credit: Reddit

They have great teachers and great students, so they can’t really be disappointed, right?

Do you hate things like this, where people can’t seem to see gray areas or make necessary exceptions? It burns me up!

Let’s commiserate about it in the comments!

The post Learn About How a Teacher Became a Legend After She Punted Her Final to Help a Student With Cancer appeared first on UberFacts.

January 28, 2021

Winners Donate a Lot of Money and 4 More Secret Truths About People Who Won the Lotto

I’m not sure it’s a secret that sometimes lottery winners struggle to handle the sudden, major influx of cash.

It’s an adjustment for anyone who comes into money quickly, I think, but lottery winners are like a secret club that you get into whether you like it or not.

A few of them are below, ready to spill what it’s like after the ticket has been cashed.

5. They do get new friends.

Image Credit: Pexels

Not everyone can jet off to Singapore for the weekend, and even if the lottery winner was willing to pay, people still have to work and stuff!

Better to find someone else who has time and money to spare.

4. You might not be able to stay anonymous.

Image Credit: Pexels

Many states have laws that require you to do a news conference and take a photo holding up a big check with your name on it.

That doesn’t mean you can’t be in disguise… but that doesn’t exactly mean you can be anonymous.

3. They’re still considered “new” rich.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Even though your rich new neighbors didn’t technically earn their money either – they probably got it from their family – they’ll look down on you for the way you came into yours.

The good news? You’re still rich. For now.

Sad news? 70% of lotto winners eventually go broke.

Yikes!

2. They typically donate a good amount.

Image Credit: Pexels

Lottery winners are great about sharing the love…at least before their irresponsible money management forces them back into the ranks of us regular folk.

1. They hate when people ask them about money.

Image Credit: Pexels

If you wouldn’t ask a regular person the question about their money – where they keep it, how they invest it, how they spend or save it – don’t ask a lottery winner.

It’s just bad manners.

It might be an adjustment, but it’s one I’d be willing to make.

If you’ve won the lottery, tell us in the comments what your experience was like!

The post Winners Donate a Lot of Money and 4 More Secret Truths About People Who Won the Lotto appeared first on UberFacts.

January 28, 2021

70% of Lottery Winners End Up Totally Broke and Other Things Lotto Winners Won’t Tell You About Life After the Win

All kinds of people dream of winning the lottery. Hitting it big, striking it rich, and never having to work another day in their lives. Their kids’ college paid for, retirement handled, no more stress or worries (at least when it comes to finances).

The dream is what keeps people buying tickets, even when they know the odds are beyond long.

And some people, of course, win – but that doesn’t mean all of their dreams come true.

At least not forever.

6. They find out who their friends are.

Image Credit: Pexels

People will come out of the woodwork asking for money, even sometimes if they don’t really need it.

Harsh, maybe, but an easy way to weed out your true friends.

5. 70% of lottery winners end up broke.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Whether they won $500 million or “just” $1 mil, it takes them an average of 5 years to blow through it all.

4. It’s all relative.

Image Credit: Pexels

Even people who won more than a million bucks have reported feeling like they got the shaft when they’re in a room with people who won $100 million or more.

3. Everyone deserves a second chance.

Image Credit: Pixabay

If there’s a second-chance drawing, where you mail in your ticket or register the serial number, do it.

You don’t even have to buy another ticket, and many people don’t know about them, so the odds are better than usual.

A bit.

2. They regret their impulse purchases.

Image Credit: Pexels

Sure, you have the money for that 10,000 square-foot house, but do you need it? Do you want to pay someone to clean it? Is it haunted?

These are all questions you’ll answer…before you plant the For Sale sign in the yard.

1. They still play.

Image Credit: Pixabay

I mean, gambling is an addiction for many, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.

And since they’re broke now, they have just as much reason to buy a ticket as the rest of us.

I’m not sure whether any of these surprise me or not.

But I’ve gotta say…I’d still take my chances if the money was offered.

The post 70% of Lottery Winners End Up Totally Broke and Other Things Lotto Winners Won’t Tell You About Life After the Win appeared first on UberFacts.

January 24, 2021

Children Share Pictures of Their Parents at Their Age to Show How Life Has Changed

Plenty about the world has changed in the past few decades, but one of the starkest contrasts is how much later people are waiting to get married and have children of their own.

There are lots of smart people who have great theories on why that is, but I personally think that some of it is because of our parents – they were secure enough to raise us to not have to think about responsible stuff until we absolutely had to, so we kind of got a late start.

If you’re wondering what exactly I’m on about, these 10 pictures are great at illustrating the point.

10. They look like they knew how to have a good time.

And she sure does, too.

My parents at 28 vs me at 28 pic.twitter.com/XcIw0x58Ug

— M (@901omo) December 11, 2020

9. Handsome and happy.

Can’t imagine any complaints there.

My parents at 22 & 29 vs me at 22 & 29 pic.twitter.com/6HYrNkvPfB

— ѕ α ℓ ν △⃒⃘ ∂ σ я (@SalvaCambranes) December 8, 2020

8. I bet they’re so proud.

But not as proud as the parents of the boy in the picture on the right.

My parents at 18 vs me at 18 pic.twitter.com/nR9FLPnkJb

— Josiah Converse (@JosiahJC01) December 8, 2020

7. Bless.

Their parents look so incredibly wholesome.

My parents at 24 vs me at 24 pic.twitter.com/VfszqEt73P

— princess (@sandrakaldas) December 8, 2020

6. People had kids so young.

And we can’t criticize, because here we are.

My parents at 24 vs me at 24 pic.twitter.com/0xCe9imTYK

— Justin Vallee (@jevallee37) December 8, 2020

5. Her parents just didn’t have digital photos.

Our grandchildren are going to have questions.

My parents at 22: Me at 22: pic.twitter.com/EeIuuLtGnQ

— Wicked Pie (@_Kennethhhhh) December 10, 2020

4. That’s a big drink.

Those cute little baby cheeks, though!

My parents in their early 20s VS Me in my early 20s pic.twitter.com/ej5n9T442I

— lexiii (@lexi_frmdablock) December 11, 2020

3. How cute are those parents??

Also, what is going on in that second image??

My parents at 22 vs me at 22 pic.twitter.com/iwgiJpNkDL

— Megan (@meganelliott11) December 8, 2020

2. She has her mama’s smile.

And maybe her taste for tequila, idk.

My parents in Me in my early
their early 20s Vs. ~20s~ pic.twitter.com/aJuXZC046d

— lil’ hot girl (@keekalicous) December 8, 2020

1. They look like they knew how to have fun.

I guess they passed it on.

My parents at 24 vs me at 24 https://t.co/uFSxka6VOY pic.twitter.com/E5ZfXc73Q3

— Jessica Mendieta (@JMendieta42) December 8, 2020

Things aren’t better or worse, I don’t think, they’re just different!

What’s the biggest difference between your life and your parents’ lives when they were your age? Tell us in the comments!

The post Children Share Pictures of Their Parents at Their Age to Show How Life Has Changed appeared first on UberFacts.

January 24, 2021

Kids Who Believed Something Was Totally Normal…Until They Grew Up and Realized It Wasn’t

When we’re young, we live in a bubble that’s largely made up of our family. Our parents, our grandparents, our siblings and cousins answer our questions and show us the way the world works.

We have no reason to question them, and really no avenue to ask questions, even if we wanted to.

Which makes me believe these 16 people, who found out later in live that their families weren’t exactly “normal,” aren’t alone.

16. She’d gone feral.

My family had dinner together at the dining room table six nights a week (we went out once a week together) for the first 15-ish years of my life. Kids set the table and did the dishes. We discussed current events, books, philosophy, etc. We used cloth napkins.

My ex-wife grew up eating huddled around the TV at best. More often than not they’d just find food on their own and take it to their rooms if the family members bothered to come home at all. They also argued constantly. Every family meal I had with her family contained at least two people angrily screaming at one another about something.

She absolutely couldn’t handle my family meals. She tried to pick fights with people constantly and got even more frustrated when nobody would take the bait.

15. That poor kid.

My parents were racist. According to them all money could have been up a N-words butthole. When I was in 4th grade I actually asked a black kid if they did that…

He just stared at me with a blank look on his face and shook his head no

14. The sound I just made.

I remember in year 8 in school we watched a video about mental health. One of the kids said that at a low point he considered suicide. I didn’t think that was a big deal, because I thought about killing myself almost every day. I thought it was normal and everybody did it.

13. Not just in the movies.

Sitting together at the table for meals (especially dinner).

We frequently got McDonald’s, had TV dinners, or had ramen/mac and cheese. I didn’t know until I was an older teen that families actually sat down to talk to each other EVERY DAY because I thought that only happened in shows and movies.

Sitting down at the table makes me uncomfortable, even to this day. Like, I don’t even know how to prep the table.

12. My heart hurts.

I grew up on a farm outside a small town, didn’t realize until I started going to school that running around naked outside often, playing with hatchets and pockets knives,or breaking off pieces of salt lick to suck on, were not normal things.

My parents fostered 2 young girls very close to my age. The things they expected from my parents/thought were normal were so sad. The eldest tried to undress for my dad, he was mortified. They thought they would get in trouble for using soap in the bath. They asked permission to get drinks of water, and to go to the bathroom. They were amazed we weren’t locked in our rooms at night, amazed I had my own room and they had theirs. They didn’t know what bed frames were.

11. An innocent one.

Jesus. I was going to say cutting pickle spears into little triangles to eat alongside your sandwich…

This thread went in a way different direction.

10. I am full of awe, not in a good way.

Dying.

Over the period of about a year when I was 9-10 years old four different people on the street I lived on died unnatural deaths. The old lady next door electrocuted herself trimming the hedges. One of the neighbor kids I played with accidentally shot himself playing with his father’s gun (in front of his sister), another playmate’s father was a cop and was shot and killed in the line of duty and a 16-year-old girl was raped and murdered in her own house (never solved, even though everybody knew who did it). I also had a cousin I was close to die in a car accident, but he didn’t live on the same street.

So with all that I just assumed that was a normal rate of death. So naturally, I assumed that I was going to die at some point in the near future. Took a few years to get over that.

9. So wholesome.

Building homes for snails and slugs when it rained.

My older brother and I would love to go outside when it rained and collect slugs and snails to put in these little pebble shelters wed make for them in the backyard.

8. All good reasons.

My parents sleeping in separate rooms.

My mom snores like crazy and I understood why my dad would hate that.

Turns out, dad was gay

7. You never think about that.

My parents have what we now know was developmental disorders but was previously known as “being slow”. Think it was second grade when I started doing math for my parents. We went out for shopping or dinner, then I’d check the grocery receipt or tally the tip. In more ways than one I became very independent from my parents at a young age.

I didn’t realize until late high school, interacting with my boyfriend’s family, that normal children don’t speak to their parents like equals. It was, awkward to say the least. It took many years to learn how to be respectful to your elders and not throw my “weight” around. I had thought every kid needed to keep their parents in line.

Aaawkwwwaaard.

6. Whatever works.

My parents slept in different beds my whole life. I guess it started when my dad got injured in the army and my mom was afraid of hurting him in her sleep, then he snored, she liked to stay up and read in bed. It just worked. They had a super happy marriage. I remember bringing new friends over and giving them the tour “this is my dad’s room, this is the bathroom, here’s the office and this is my mom’s room”. They would be so confused lol.

My mom still is upset that whenever we went to my grandma’s she made them sleep in the same bed even knowing they never did. They were so used to sleeping alone they stayed up all night worried about keeping each other awake.

I have to add that getting up late at night and looking for one of them only to find them both in the same bed was always awkward.

5. Everyone should use them, though.

Using corn bags.

They’re cotton squares or rounds filled with dried corn. You put them in the microwave for a heating pad and the freezer for an ice pack.

I still use and make them, I just didn’t realize nobody else used them until like… High school lmao

4. Parents are so weird.

Being forced to eat way more than what I could, until my stomach would hurt for hours. Not traumatizing like other stuff in this post, just something I don’t miss.

On a lighter note, walking in stealth mode throughout the whole house all the time because I wanted to be like Pocahontas when she spies on John Smith.

3. It was a different time.

Cracking open cans of beer and pouring them into styrofoam cups.

So my parents could drink while they drove the car.

2. Lots of people!

Talking to you parents and them being affectionate.

What do you mean you play “board games together” and no one yells? You willingly sit down and spend time together????

Dated a girl and the first time I met them, her mom hugged me. Weirded me out plenty. She just sits around the living room doing her own thing while her parents may also be there.

Who even does that????

Turns out, a lot of people.

1. A great lesson.

Shoveling food into your face as quickly as possible while huddled around the TV.

It wasn’t until a sleepover at a friends house that I encountered a family sitting around a dinner table talking about their day.

At the time it made me super uncomfortable but I’ve learned to slow down and appreciate it more with time.

I think we can all think about some strange things about our upbringing, right?

Share your own weird stuff in the comments – we’re here for it!

The post Kids Who Believed Something Was Totally Normal…Until They Grew Up and Realized It Wasn’t appeared first on UberFacts.

January 21, 2021

If You Love Your Life, What’s Your Story? People Shared Their Stories.

No matter how bad your day, week, month, or year has been, it’s important to look in the mirror sometimes and say, “I’m lucky to be here and I’m gonna make the most of it!”

And that’s what leads to people appreciating and loving their lives.

Are you ready to hear from some people who definitely fall into this category?

Let’s see what AskReddit users had to say about this.

1. Time to finish it.

“Had a near-death experience where I remember my last thought not being able to finish my favourite tv series.

Made me realise that my bucket list wasn’t a complex sort of thing. It could range from something as simple as taking a diffrent route to the shop or just having the guts to actively start a conversation with my nwighbour of 11 years who I’ve never said anything beyond a hello to.

Or even just plain finishing what I started, nothing pleases more than just finishing something.”

2. All good things.

“Married my best friend.

Got into a career I was sort of passionate about, not my number one choice in the world but its good.

I plan out my weekends so I have things every week to look forward to. I have goals in my hobbies to work towards thats a huge one.

Always have something to work towards in your personal life. I am trying to make a dining room set with woodworking and want to eventually have most of the furniture and stuff in my house made by me.”

3. Met a redhead…

“Met a cute redhead whose personality is almost the exact opposite of mine (outgoing, bubbly, connects very well with all types of other people).

We became really good friends. We started dating about two years later. We got married about eight months after that.

We’ve had some struggles (mostly because of my own inability to communicate effectively), but we are very happy together now, over twenty years later.”

4. Congrats!

“I was addicted to h*roin and m*th and now I am not.

I have accomplished a bunch of stuff and generally just appreciate how happy and healthy I am now!”

5. The American Dream.

“Grew up in very poor farm in Pakistan.

Now, after immigrating to the US, I work a salaried job, graduated from University of Illinois, working on my Masters at Harvard to achieve my goal of becoming a scientist and keep living the American dream.

I know things are not great here in the US considering the climate, but I’m thankful to live here.”

6. You do you.

“Some people may disagree with my life choices here but im happy so here goes.

I live in the UK, and started working in a pub at 16 as a glass collector. I was studying cookery at college and quickly learned I didn’t want to just cook, i wanted to run the whole show.

My parents took on their own pub and since they did that I fell in love with the whole lifestyle.

I have no children and no partner, and i dont plan on changing that anytime soon. I am very close to having my own pub at 24 years old and i cannot wait.

I’m close to having my dream job before im 30, my own car, an awesome family, 3 beautiful dogs, and more money than i could have imagined at this age.

Lockdown 2.0 will prove a challenge but if we come through it ill be living the dream.”

7. It’s good to wait.

“Waited rather than settled.

Dumped a lot of okay guys, left a lot of okay (and not so okay) jobs, moved a lot, was lucky to have a baby when the time was finally right.

It’s taken a lot of tough decisions and hoping for more but it’s been worth waiting for.”

8. Keep it up.

“I’m 8 years sober.

I was drinking to self-medicate for my depression, so I didn’t really think I had an active addiction.

If I take my meds and don’t drink, every day I wake up is the best day of my life.”

9. The bright side.

“I’m depressed, I have a myriad of incurable physical and mental problems.

But god d*mmit, I get to see my favourite person every day, and I have a job that isn’t hard and pays relatively well for someone who doesn’t need to be self sufficient.

I love my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

10. Been good for a long time.

“My life has been pretty awesome since I was 16 (I’m 40). It was pretty weird before that.

I’ve had a lot of good luck. At 16, some of the bad things left my life. My education improved. I married the right person. I managed to be moderately successful at something that fits my lifestyle (I’ve never not had enough money).

I’m self-employed. My kids are easy, intelligent and fun. I have lots of fun hobbies. I still have most of my friends from growing up and continually add new ones. And I’m sill close to my dad.

That’s pretty much it. I do actually pray every morning for peace for myself, my family, and others. And amazingly, I have a lot of peace in my life.”

11. Grateful.

“I grew up very poor.

I was homeless as a teen and struggled all through my 20s with mental health issues and creating stability. My kids have a middle-class upbringing and I’m so grateful to be able to give them that. I’m grateful for everything.

When it’s raining, I thank God for the roof over my head, heat in the winter, my bed at night. I’m not rich by any means but am so happy to be where I am.”

12. Worked hard to get here.

“I am a nurse and worked so many terrible jobs.

It was either long hours on my feet, not so many hours but lots of lifting and cleaning up people who sh*t themselves from their neck to their knees, to a Monday through Friday job with no lifting but a toxic work environment, to a great job with a two-hour commute one way.

I took a huge pay cut to work in a mental health facility for incarcerated patients. It is so chill and so rewarding. The patients are independent. I don’t have to lift them or bath them. I don’t have to deal with families. Or doctors. I spend a lot of time just hanging out and talking to them.

And some days when the techs are busy or we are short staffed, I’m the one who takes them outside for recreation time. I get to sit outside and watch them play basketball and make small talk. I work three days a week with five days off in a row. It’s like not having a job at all. Since my job isn’t physically demanding I have energy to do the things I enjoy on my days off.

I feel like I put up with a lot of bullsh*t to get to this place. Thankfully I handled my money well when I made more money, so being able to take a pay cut to work in a better work environment is just amazing.”

13. Mostly love it.

“I went from living with my mother who lives with addiction during my childhood (hating life), to marrying a guy after knowing him for 3 months at the age of 20 and we had a horrible, toxic relationship (SUPER hating life) and moving all around the country with…

To now: a 28 y/o divorcee with a super rewarding job (I work with people who are in recovery and who are homeless) and I am engaged to the best guy I have ever met. I am also back to the same state I grew up in, and I have all my amazing friends close by, and now we talk everyday.

I am still in awe I am just like “wow, you mean I don’t have to dread every moment of my life?!?” I used to pray that I could just turn back time and redo all the mistakes that I had made to end up so unhappy, but now, I am glad I f*cked the hell up.

I still have depression. But therapy and that lexapro life plus a great support system is honestly just gives me a happy f*cking life. I still struggle with my mom (she hasn’t been sober since I was 10) but that is mostly out of my control. So, yeah, mostly I love my life.”

Okay, now it’s your turn.

In the comments, please tell us how your life is going right now.

We’d love to hear from you!

The post If You Love Your Life, What’s Your Story? People Shared Their Stories. appeared first on UberFacts.

January 21, 2021

Snuggling Your Pet and Other Coping Mechanisms People Turn to When They’re Overwhelmed

Life is stressful, always.

If you’re struggling to manage anxiety and stress, or if you’re just feeling overwhelmed, there’s no better time than the present to learn some healthy coping strategies.

Implementing these 16 coping mechanisms, like snuggling your pet, can be helpful to anyone who just needs a few more tools in their tool belt for handling the stresses life throws their way.

1. Try Square Breathing

Square breathing is a type of breath work that can help decrease stress in your body.

Start by inhaling for four counts, holding for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and resting for four counts. Then repeat!

Image Credit: Zencare

2. Do something simple to focus your mind:

Sometimes simple tasks like folding laundry, doing the dishes, or mowing the lawn can be an opportunity to focus your mind on something other than the stressors in your life.

A mini yet productive break from everything else on your to-do list.

Image Credit: iStock

3. Take a walk

If you can, get outside and take a walk. Sometimes a change of scenery can really help us reset, especially if you live near a park or in the midst of natural beauty.

Plus, the fresh air and exercise will be good for you!

Image Credit: iStock

4. Play a video game, like Stardew Valley:

If you can’t get outside, try the next best thing.

Playing a game like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing can transport you into a beautifully animated world where you can grow and harvest fruits and vegetables and decorate your own fantasy home.

Image Credit: StardewValley.net

5. Watch a familiar movie or TV series:

When getting outside or doing dishes does NOT sound appealing, try tuning into a favorite TV series or rewatching a favorite movie.

It can feel like spending quality time with close friends, without the pressure of exerting energy in actual conversation.

Image Credit: iStock

6. Try journaling:

Journaling is a tried and true way of processing our thoughts.

Sometimes the simple act of writing down our fears and anxieties can help us gain perspective. At the very least, it allows us to release these stressors from our mind for the time being.

Image Credit: iStock

7. Snuggle your pet:

If you have a pet, whether they’re furry, scaly, or feathered, section off time in your schedule every day to spend quality time with them.

They need this attention of course, but you can also benefit by disconnecting from everything else to snuggle and play with your special friend.

Image Credit: iStock

8. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Technique:

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, this five-step exercise can be very helpful for grounding you in the present if you’re experiencing anxiety or panic.

Image Credit: Monday Campaigns.org

9. Find an anchor:

A comfort object like a stuffed animal can help in moments of stress. But it doesn’t have to be a stuffed animal.

A grounding object can be any object that holds a strong, positive memory for you or soothes you in stressful times. Consider a photograph, a piece of jewelry, or even a smooth rock.

Image Credit: iStock

10. Escape into a world of fantasy:

Escapism is a valid outlet for coping with difficult times. Try getting lost in a good book series, or create your own world and imagine the stories of the characters who live there.

Playing role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons can also be a great way to escape into a fantasy with friends.

Image Credit: iStock

11. Allow yourself to take a nap:

If you have the ability, allow yourself to lay down and take a nap.

If your stress is a result of exhaustion or pushing yourself too hard at work or at home, this might be exactly what you need to feel less overwhelmed.

Image Credit: iStock

12. Try EFT Tapping

Emotional freedom technique (EFT) has been used to treat people with anxiety and people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It utilizes the meridian points to restore balance to your body’s energy.

There are plenty of online videos that will teach you how to practice this on yourself.

Image Credit: iStock

13. Create a playlist for when you’re stressed:

Find a song, or create a whole playlist, that will help you recenter yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

It could contain classical music and Tibetan singing bowls, or it could be nothing but death metal. Whatever works for YOU.

Image Credit: iStock

14. Color!

Coloring books are for adults too. Coloring can be a simple, meditative task that allows you to be creative while you de-stress.

Check out Amazon for a variety of comical or beautiful options.

Image Credit: iStock

15. Count:

Counting to ten or counting down from one hundred forces you to stop and focus on something else other than whatever is making you upset.

It might seem rudimentary, but it can really help.

Image Credit: iStock

16. Watch cute or funny videos:

When all else fails, one easy way to distract yourself from everything that’s making you anxious is watching funny or inspiring videos on TikTok, Youtube, Facebook, and all the rest.

It may feel like a waste of time, but isn’t stress spiraling an even bigger waste of time?

Image Credit: iStock

If you feel that your life is being significantly impacted by stress, finding a licensed therapist is highlight recommended. Try Betterhelp.com for an affordable, socially distant option.

These coping strategies are just a handful of tools you can easily implement into your everyday life to better handle feelings of stress and anxiety. They won’t solve your problems, but they can help you build up the strength to handle your problems.

Do you have any additional tools for coping with stress? Let us know in the comments!

The post Snuggling Your Pet and Other Coping Mechanisms People Turn to When They’re Overwhelmed appeared first on UberFacts.

January 21, 2021

A Quieter World Makes the Sparrow’s Song More Alluring to Mates

You’ve probably seen a headline or read an article about how the natural world seems to have righted itself in a few ways lately.

There’s less pollution, there are fewer people driving, and in general, nature really seems to be enjoying their time free from human machines.

It’s not really surprising, if you think about it!

Image Credit: iStock

Scientists have dubbed the relative silence “anthropause,” which has led to an increase in wildlife sightings and a short-term reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

And listen to this – even sparrows, the world’s most underwhelming birds, are getting sexier. The reason is that they’ve basically had to scream to be heard over all of the other ambient city noise, but without the competing background sounds, they can really focus on their singing.

Their song has turned almost soulful, and I can only imagine the lady sparrows are loving it.

Image Credit: Pexels

Research shows that they do prefer the softer, lower notes that can be heard not that the noise pollution in some major cities has fallen as much as 50%.

The effect, said lead researcher Elizabeth Derryberry, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Tennessee, has been great.

“These birds use their songs to defend breeding territories and attract mates, therefore any change in their mating songs will likely affect reproductive success.”

Translation?

A whole bunch more sparrow females are going to swoon, more guy sparrows are going to get lucky, and we’re all going to get more little babies come spring.

Scientists believe that, as lockdowns continue to ease and the pandemic hopefully becomes a thing of the past, their songs will return to “normal” within a year or two.