6+ Secret Spots in Ancient Mayan Cities That Are Hidden from Tourists

The Mayan civilization was well ahead of its time, a fact which is reflected in incredible structures and amazing ancient treasures. Every year, archeologists and other researchers discover more and more mysteries hidden in temple complexes and buried deep in caves and other sacred spaces.

Below are just 7 secrets living in the ruins that remain out-of-sight when you’re following a guided tour.

 

#7. The Balancanche Caves, Chichen Itza

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Most people have never seen the Balancanche caves, not even on a tour, because they’re almost 2 miles from the Mayan temple complex. Translated, it means “cave of the sacred jaguar throne,” and researchers believe the Maya performed rituals there 3,000 years ago.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

You can only see one of the most famous rooms in the complex — the Mayan Tree of Life — in a 3D model that shows the limestone column in the center. The builders of the temple believed it connected the heavens to the underworld.

#6. Temple of Kukulkan, Chichen Itza

Image Credit: Wikimedia

This pyramid has been closed to the public since a tourist fell off the stairs in 2006, but you can still see it from a distance. What you can’t see, however, is that there are two smaller pyramids hidden inside the large outer structure and a secret room inside the smallest one.

Image Credit: YouTube

Recently, researchers found a 65 foot underground lake below the pyramid using magnetospheric exploration that they believe may be one of the Maya sacred cenotes. But will it might sound cool, archeologists fear that the water could result in the total destruction of the pyramid at some point in the future.

#5. The Ancient City of Tulum

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

It’s the only (known) Mayan city located on the Caribbean Sea. The 40-foot cliffs that make up most of it were marked by impermeable walls designed to protect the city from attack. While you can see them from the pristine beaches, getting close enough to touch is another matter.

#4. Coba Pyramids

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The ancient city of Coba offers what many tourists are looking for — a chance to climb to the top of a 135-foot-high pyramid and snap that photo op they’ve been dreaming of for years.

Unless you do climb all 120 steep steps, though, you’ll never get a peek at the ritual chamber inside that was used for ancient sacrifices.

#3. Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Uxmal is a 130-foot pyramid, but it’s really just the outermost one that you can see. 5 of them were actually built on top of each other over the centuries.

#2. Cenote Ik Kil

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

A cenote is essentially a giant sinkhole, and this one — a popular tour stop — was used as a place for sacrificial rituals.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

What you can’t see, however, are the more macabre findings on the cenote’s floor. 130 feet down, archeologists have found human skeletons, animal bones, and ancient jewelry.

#1. Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The temple sits on top of the tomb of the local ruler, and there are 617 hieroglyphs on the inner walls, some of which still have not been deciphered. There is a hall with 3 chambers at the top of the pyramid, and inside one of them, a sacred passage to the tomb which was still full of treasures and artifacts when it was discovered back in 1949.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Tourists are not allowed inside the tomb, though a replica of it is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico.

 

Kind of makes you want to grab your Indiana Jones hat and go exploring, huh?

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These 8 Airports Are so Awesome, You Won’t Mind Getting Delayed

Nobody likes getting stuck at the airport. Whether your flight got delayed or you missed it and have to wait for another, you can only read so many books and listen to so many podcasts before you get bored out of your mind.

That said, if you have to experience air travel delays, where you spend those delays can make a big difference. The architects of these 8 airports kept that in mind when mapping out their incredible airport designs.

 

#8. Hamad International Airport, Doha

Image Credit: Facebook

Just look at this glass swimming pool, y’all. The trick is to stop looking at it!

#7. Munich International Airport, Germany.

Image Credit: Instagram

I have no idea what’s going on here but I like it.

Image Credit: Munich Airport

And ice skating adds the perfect seasonal touch for the holidays!

#6. Vancouver International Airport, Canada

Image Credit: Facebook

What better way to spend hours you didn’t know you’d have than chilling by all these gorgeous sea life?

#5. Incheon International Airport, South Korea

Image Credit: Instagram

This space will relax even the most stressed out traveler — how could it not?

Image Credit: Facebook

Yeah, I’d call that the epitome of tranquil.

#4. Changi Airport, Singapore

Image Credit: Changi Airport

They have a butterfly garden. Talk about a better way to fly!

They also have a slide…

Image Credit: Changi Airport

And an orchid garden!

Image Credit: Changi Airport

Okay, seriously stop it now, Changi Airport.

#3. Tokyo Honeda Airport, Japan

Image Credit: Facebook

I need this flower garden in my life, stat.

#2. Wellington International Airport, New Zealand

Image Credit: Flickr

Never mind getting stuck here — Lord of the Rings fans will surely put it on their itinerary!

#1. Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong

Image Credit: Facebook

Kill time in their world class aviation museum, and, if you’ve got a ton of time on your hands, organize a flash mob in this dedicated space.

Happy travels, my friends!

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This Twitter Thread Unpacks Mental Health Stigmas Related to Work and Success

Although people don’t hesitate to get treatment for physical health issues, many people still feel a sense of shame or embarrassment if they need to take medications to manage their mental health. The conversation around mental health issues is improving but there’s still a stigma surrounding it.

Blair Imani, author of Modern HERstory and founder of Equality for Her, tweeted this thread on the stigma associated with mental health. She takes on the misconception that people who are “successful” don’t struggle with mental health.

Photo Credit: Twitter

She discloses some of her own challenges to make her point.

Photo Credit: Twitter

This doesn’t mean that you need to be “productive” to be worthwhile, though. She goes on to address the ideas of mental “strength” and mental “weakness.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

The thread hit home for a lot of people. Many responded to the Twitter thread with their own experiences with mental health in solidarity.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Our worth isn’t based on our productivity. What’s more, just because you appear productive and successful on the outside doesn’t mean you’re not also grappling with mental illness. Regardless of our ability to be “productive,” though, we all deserve to receive the treatment we need without judgement.

If you need help, just remember – there are people who love you, and places you can go where you will not be judged.

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People Reveal The Things They’re Most Nostalgic about from High School

High school was a different time…and that’s not just the nostalgia talking. You had less responsibilities, more free time, and your friends were guaranteed to be in the same place every day.

So, when people on Reddit were asked what they miss most about high school, they couldn’t wait to chime in. Keep reading to hear their answers and take a trip down memory lane.

1. Freedom

I miss the freedom I felt hanging out with my friends and how excited I could be over nothing— meaning we may just be riding around or stopping at Wendy’s for a Frosty, everything brought me happiness. I miss the specific type of freedom and joy I got from those moments.

2. Everyone knew everyone

In a way, I felt like I mattered more. Sort of a “big fish in a small pond” kind of deal. I was so much more involved in extracurriculars than I am now. I played a varsity sport, was in two musical groups, and was in two other academic teams (think speech team, mock trial, mathletes kind of thing). I had more of an identity. In college and beyond, you’re kind of dumped into the “real world” where there are thousands of people like you out there, and it’s easier to lose a sense of purpose and belonging in the anonymity of the masses.

Also, everyone knew everyone. Yeah, there are a few people you might not like so much, but you get to see your friends every day. You knew where to find people. That might be a bad thing if you’re deliberately trying to avoid someone, but I personally was on pretty good terms with everyone at my school.

3. Not-so-instant

Social media consisted mostly of AIM. No Facebook, and MySpace wasn’t very popular yet.

Also, cell phones were a rarity. I really miss not being expected to be instantly reachable at any time. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the hell out of my pocket computer, but that aspect I do miss.

4. Everything was easy

It was so easy. I had a car my parents paid for, zero bills, all the money I made was personal spending money, I had a constant group of friends to hang out with and went to school in one of the best areas of the city with tons of shops within walking distance.

I was a privileged upper-middle-class kid and everything was ridiculously easy. High school was great.

5. No worries

How straightforward and safe it was. Your biggest worry was having bad grades or getting rejected by your crush.

Adulthood is like having your blinders removed and realizing you are walking on a narrow edge with chasms at the sides.

6. No problem

I had so much hope for the future. I could enjoy the “here and now” without letting the bad things get to me too much because I knew that high school was only a small part of my life. Didn’t have money? No problem, I’ll have more when I get older. No girlfriend? No problem, I’ve still got plenty of time to find “the one”!

Looking back, I can see that teenage thought that life would just “happen” to me. Ignorance was bliss, but now I’m paying for it.

7. Friends

Seeing friends every single day.

You try to stay in touch as much as possible but I certainly underestimated how hard that is.

8. What is everyone up to?

I miss knowing what everybody is up to! I know it sounds weird and I don’t mean it in a creepy way at all. It was just much easier to know what everybody was doing and how they were when you saw them every day. No weird “let’s get coffee sometime” texts to friends to catch up. No complicated friend groups. No having to go out of your way to meet people. No having to introduce yourself with your occupation tagged on the end.

9. Crushes

I think the thing I miss most is that feeling that goes through your entire body and soul when you see that pretty girl for the first time and she smiles at you and you just know that you two are going to have some great times together. I miss that feeling of having such a crush on her that even just knowing you might run into her tonight is enough to get you feeling like electricity in the air just before a big thunderstorm.

10. The sweet spot

Freedom in Grade 9 and 10.

Those two years you are in that sweet spot. Not old enough to really have to worry about your future but not so young that parents are constantly stressing about where you are and what you are doing.

I could go to school, hang with friends after school, not do homework, not study and still keep people happy. I got average grades which for 16-year-old me was more than good enough.

11. Simple

How simple everything was. All you had to do was go to school every day and do homework when you get home. That was the only thing I had to worry about: some homework and maybe a test or two, maybe a crush I had on some guy… but that was it.

12. Missing everything

I miss the people. I was unpopular (or so I thought, turns out they liked me when I wasn’t pushing everyone away.) I was in a small school, 300 people total. I miss the lack of responsibility. I miss the lazy afternoons in the spring when it was warm enough to take your coat off and lounge at the park nearby. I miss going to lunch at the burger joint on the corner and walking back to school with a pop in one hand and a cheeseburger in the other joking with my friends. I miss the feeling of endless possibility. I miss the sound of the crowd screaming when I got my first and only win on the wrestling team. I miss cheering the football team. I miss my teachers, even the ones I hated.

13. Bills? What are those?

Having a job but no real bills.

14. Brenda

I miss Brenda. She wasn’t into me or anything; she had a boyfriend, but she would talk to me sometimes when we were finished with track practice and I was waiting for the bus and she was waiting for her ride. She talked a mile a minute and said whatever was on her mind, and I found her delightful. We talked to each other at track and cross country meets too. I remember one time we were talking at a cross country meet while it was pouring down rain, and for some reason, she hugged me. I don’t know why she did it, but it felt wonderful. Sometime during junior year, her boyfriend knocked her up. She finished junior year, took summer school to get enough credits to graduate, and the two of them went off to get married. I never saw her again. (Sigh)

15. Theatre

I did theatre for most of high school. I miss hanging out with my closest friends in the auditorium every day. I miss making memes with each other before a show. I also miss the collective sense of accomplishment when we had a good show. It was just blissful.

16. Laughter

Man, I used to laugh so much! It was just a different kind of laugh where your stomach hurts and you sometimes even fall to the ground. I can remember a couple of times it happened so vividly and it kinda makes me feel sad that it doesn’t happen anymore.

17. Time and energy

No responsibilities, tons of free time, loads of energy. I’d go to school at 7, get off at 3, work 4 till 8 or so, hit the gym for an hour, go home and shower, and go to bed. Doing that 5 days a week now would absolutely kill me.

18. Boredom

The thing I miss the most is being bored. I don’t know if teenagers currently even have this anymore. Five to six kids sitting there trying to figure out what to do with themselves. Among our stupid ideas were:
– Trying to do skateboard/razor scooter tricks into a pool.
– Blowing up a large ants’ nest with kerosene.
– Deciding to play 7 minutes in heaven with a definitely inadequate ratio of guys to girls, which led to some hurt feelings, but eh.
Our collective imaginations got lazier once I got a car and we all just piled in there and loitered at the mall non-stop.

19. Naive

The ability to be naive about how the world really works.

20. More crushes

It’s strange, but… having crushes. I can’t remember the last time I knew a girl and just… pined for her. Just not being able to speak correctly around or to her, fantasizing about the smallest things, just wanting to be around her.

I just miss having that kind of innocent, weak-in-the-knees… just, sorta, desire. And not ‘desire’ just in the context of sex. I mean just liking somebody so much and wanting so much to tell them (and having real difficulty doing so) and wanting so badly to have them like you back.

I miss that feeling. I miss that… pull, in my heart, toward somebody.

21. Friends and teachers

A few friendships and some awesome teachers/classes as a result of awesome teachers. Now, most of those friendships have splintered into absolute nothingness and most of the cool teachers have retired, moved, or died over the last 5 years.

22. Lucky

The teachers. I didn’t realize how lucky I was to have wonderful teachers until several years later.

23. Bad to the bone

Not having a care in the world. Skipping class to break into the attic above the theater and pilfer stuff or fish at the pond behind the football field. Going to football games and making out under the bleachers only stopping to check the scoreboard now and then. Doing cringeworthy stuff to be edgy before I even knew what cringe or edgy was.

24. Best desks

Those desks where the chair was attached. I could crack my back so good with those things. I miss being able to do that regularly.

Anyone else feeling nostalgic?

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HPV Vaccine for Adults up to Age 45 Has Been Approved by FDA

HPV is an STD with little to no systems. While that may sound like a good thing at first, it’s actually quite the opposite. In fact, it has led to a large part of the population being infected – and able to transmit the virus – without being aware of what’s happening.

In the long run, those factors have contributed to a large number of people – nearly 80 million and counting – being infected in the United States alone.

And there is a giant caveat to the “few or no symptoms” bit: while most strains of HPV (there are a lot of strains) are not super harmful, some of them cause cancer.

HPV is also the virus that causes genital warts, so there’s that, too.

Photo Credit: PBS

There is no test to spot HPV in men, so most probably never find out they have it – and will continue to pass it on, the whole while. HPV can lay dormant for years, showing up only on an abnormal pap smear or when the first signs of cancers of the cervix, penis, anus, and throat start to appear.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

In 2006, the vaccine Gardasil was approved for boys and girls aged 9-26 to help curb the spread of HPV. Recently, the FDA approved the latest version of the vaccine for everyone up to the age of 45. Gardasil 9 has been proven to protect against nine strains of the virus – better than the previous version, which protected only against 5.

Prior to the approval, the FDA conducted a study that tracked 3200 women for three and a half years. CNN reported that the study “found that Gardasil 9 was 88% effective in the prevention of vulvar, vaginal, and cervical lesions, cervical cancer, and genital warts.”

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, released this statement:

“Today’s approval represents an important opportunity to help prevent HPV-related diseases and cancers in a broader age range. HPV vaccination prior to becoming infected with the HPV types covered by the vaccine has the potential to prevent more than 90 percent of these cancers, or 31,200 cases every year, from ever developing.”

The FDA approval will also encourage insurance companies to cover the vaccine, which can cost $400-$500 out of pocket.

Stay safe out there, friends. Do your research, talk to your doctor about protecting yourself, and don’t forget to get tested for STDs on the reg!

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Why Does Childcare Cost So Much?

The cost of childcare for one child tops $10,000 a year nationwide. This is despite the fact that early childcare educators – the people who staff childcare and preschools across the country – barely make more than the national average minimum wage ($11-$15/hr),

It’s easy to get angry about how much it costs to leave your child with someone responsible while you go to work, but if we break down the income and expenses, the truth is that no one is really winning in the current system.

We’ve shared a video below that was put together by the national advocacy group Child Care Aware of America that reveals how the numbers may seem crazy, but really aren’t. In their hypothetical child care center there are 40 full-time children enrolled for 10 hours a day, with each family paying $10k/year per child, meaning the center starts the year with a budget of $400,000…which seems like a lot more than it really is.

First, they’ve got to pay the basics of rent, utilities, and maintenance, which adds up to around 12% of their budget, or $48,000.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Church basements and people’s homes offer the lowest overhead, which leaves more cash for the other necessities on this list, but often parents prefer centers that are located centrally to high-traffic areas on their way to work.

Next up, classroom materials, food, and administrative costs – 23% of the budget, or $92,000.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Parents want to leave their child in a nice, clean classroom that provides age and developmentally-appropriate toys, snacks and/or lunches. This category also includes insurance, licensing, and accreditation fees, plus staff training and continuing education, all of which are necessary evils.

You’ve got to pay your staff, and it eats up 65% of the budget, or around $260,000 a year.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Regulations require a certain number of workers per child, and taking care of babies and toddlers all day requires a lot of eyes and hands. The base ratio is one teacher for every three infants, and one teacher for every four children 1-4 years old.

In the example in the video, the salaries are divvied up between a director ($22/hr), three lead teachers for each of the three classrooms ($13/hr) and six assistant teachers scraping the bottom of the barrel at $10.50/hr. And that’s a minimum.

This doesn’t include medical benefits or paid vacations, incidentally.

A kindergarten teacher – responsible for the education of children just one or two years older – makes an average of $36,000 more a year, and receives retirement, medical, and vacation benefits.

Right now, there doesn’t seem to be a good answer to the problem, though some states are working to provide at least one or two years of publicly-funded preschool. Offering that across the country is a far off prospect, however, and maybe a pipe dream.

After watching the video below and checking out the numbers, you’ll see that the people caring for your child are doing their best with very little.

So maybe cut them some slack, no matter how much your wallet is hurting at the end of the month.

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15 People Share the Worst Day of Their Entire Life

No one likes to remember the worst day of their life – but these 13+ people are baring their souls for us. The least we can do is read their stories with empathy and compassion.

Listen up.

#15. A few feet short.

“Finding my father face down on the kitchen floor dead. As best we can tell he’d been in the middle of a very serious heart attack and was trying to get to the phone but was a few feet short of making it.”

#14. I’d probably lose it mentally.

“Really more like a month but it was earlier this year when I was passing a 10 millimeter kidney stone. After a couple days of writhing in pain I went to the ER only to find out it was too big to pass naturally. So I had to wait a couple of days in sheer pain before having a surgery that involved a tube with a small saw on the end going up into me (through the urethra) and breaking up the stone. Luckily I was passed out for the surgery, but after I woke I was in even more pain than before. Peed blood for two weeks straight, and it hurt like you couldn’t believe to go to the bathroom as well. Had to pass around 20 kidney stone fragments over the next few weeks that each hurt on their own. I then had to go back to get the stent they put in me removed, and that involved the doctor sticking another tube in me (also through the urethra) and grabbing a foot-long tube and pulling it out, however I was not put under for that procedure. That was easily the most uncomfortable and painful experience I’ve ever had. To summarize, if someone told me I’d have to go through that again I’d probably lose it mentally. I wouldn’t wish that experience on my worst enemy.”

#13. Just up and left.

“My partner left me after 9 years of living together and 17 years of friendship. Just upped and left in the night, and I later discovered that plans had been in the works for several months. I awoke to the house and car keys and a letter saying “I hated you the entire time.” I try very hard never to think of it.”

#12. She was there and we needed it.

“The night of september 14th and morning of the 15th, 2012.

I remember it quite vividly. I was making tomato soup. One of my favorite things to do is dip toast into soup. Try it.

Anyways my soup was almost ready. I was house sitting my parents house while my dad was in the hospital for surgery. He had ALS and was getting a feeding tube installed because he couldn’t eat anymore.

I’d talked to my mom earlier that day and dad had been doing well. They were talking about discharge.

It was 9:34 according to the stove. I answered the phone and my mother was in tears. She wanted us to say goodbye to dad. The surgery had gone fine, but the ALS had reached his lungs. This was it.

After the phone call we frantically called all of our childhood friends. My dad had always been a mentor for many of them as well and they needed a chance to say goodbye as well. One of them was even there the next morning despite living on the opposite end of the country.

One of them had the brilliant idea of asking someone from the church to aee if we could get a ride to Kingston to see dad. They “happily” obliged.

We got to kingston just before midnight. 11:57. I brought my guitar along to sing to dad as he went. I figured if he sang to us bringing us in to the world, I would do him the same honour.

And so we got to the hospital and they took him off life support. He had requested a do not recessitate order. The hospital ignored that for long enough for us to get there. Thank you Kingston General.

And for the next seven hours I watched my father die. Slowly suffocating as his lungs failed to function. I remember feeling so guilty because I wanted him to just die quickly. But we were afforded no such luxury. His skin got more and more pale, and his breaths weaker.

Worst day of my life. I was 20. He was 52.

In some kind of divine sendoff he died at 6:54. Just as the sun was coming over the horizon. The flag of the hospital was also at half-mast.

Afterwards we dropped by a gas station to pick up a pack of cigarettes. I walked into the store and the clerk made a friendly offhanded comment. “You look like you had a rough night” assuming I had been out drinking or something. Me, my mother, and my brother all broke down and told her what had just happened. That cashier just hugged us as we cried into her shoulder for like 30 minutes.

It’s not normal to cry on the shoulder of a cashier you’ve never met. But she was there and we needed it.”

#11. We knew he was gone.

“August 2nd 2018

The day my dad passed away suddenly and completely unexpectedly. My dad was just about the healthiest he’s ever been, except when he was in his 20’s. He was 69 years old.

My mother called me and said something was wrong around 11pm, I was out of bed and at their house in less than 5min.

He was laying in bed, he wasn’t breathing, his heart wasn’t beating. My mom was on the phone with 911, crying. I was doing CPR, the woman from 911 was counting out the beats. I switched over places and my mom took over, I ran to make sure the front door was open and look for the ambulance or anyone. I ran back inside and continued CPR. Then a police officer was there. She took over the compressions, I ran back outside to flag down the ambulance. They arrived and started working on him. I had to keep my mom out of the way, keep her sane, I had to stay strong, not break.

He was gone when I got there. They worked on him at their house, in the ambulance, and at the hospital. We knew he was gone. Telling them to stop was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. My mom was… no words can describe her. I had to be strong, make the calls, talk to people.”

#10. The worst 24 hour day.

“The worst 24 hour day was when I was in New York while my husband was in Florida – he was misdiagnosed and died of internal bleeding. I was getting updates from the hospital all day while I was trying to get a flight and he died that evening. When I got to the house in Florida, I found out it had been robbed.”

#9. A year later…

“Sept 11 2017. I got fired, someone hit my car, and I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. A year later I got the all clear tho and a better job with a 30% raise.”

#8. She never came back.

“I’ve had some extremely bad times in my life but the first of them was 31/12 1969. My mum was sewing and said she was going to her friend’s house to borrow her sewing machine. She never came back. She just abandoned 3 young children to be with another man with 5 children.”

#7. The day my son was born.

“20th August 2014, the day after my first son was born (which incidentally was the very best day of my life)

Out of nowhere we were told he has a critical heart condition, would be transferred by ambulance to a children’s hospital and require surgery to save his life.

The bottom fell out of my world with no warning or expectation. Fucking sucked. The difference between the extreme high of the day before (plus hormones, first time mum nerves and post labour exhaustion) made the drop that much harder to bare.

Fortunately the surgery went very well, his doctors are fantastic and 4 years later he is doing great. Although he will require further open heart surgery one day.”

#6. Weird out of body experience.

“4th January, 2018.

The timing could not have been worse. Within literally 60 seconds of one another, I discovered that:

– The only person I have ever loved, my long-term partner, had cheated on me with one of his friends who I had met before, including other inappropriate things that they were sending/receiving – particularly pictures of me.

– My 29 year old sister had stage 3 breast cancer.

I was on his phone and saw the evidence to which my heart just sank and I was trying my best not to show any feelings. I didn’t want to over-react and wanted to think clearly in the moment, so I waited around 30 seconds trying to process what I had just seen and how I am about to go about this. As I am about to call him over to come and sit with me whilst I tell him what I’ve just found, I receive a phone call from my mother telling me that my sister has cancer. I was staying at my partner’s home at the time after spending a few days away at New Year. I’ve never felt such a clusterf**k of emotions. I needed someone to lean on and talk to about the news I just got about my sister, but the only person I could do that with, and the only person I have ever done that with, is now sat next to me, not knowing what I’ve just found on his phone and realising that my trust and love has been betrayed. I felt like I had no control over my life for that moment and when I recall on it, all I can see is me having this weird out-of-body experience, looking at myself from the other side of the room whilst I try and cope with the news.”

#5. Lying next to me in bed.

“Sept 6 2013, I woke to find my 47 year old wife, dead of a heart attack, lying next to me in bed.”

#4. I missed reading the message.

“I woke up to the news of the terrible tsunami in Japan on March 14 2011. An hour later I was told that my best friend committed suicide in another country.

I found out that she actually messaged me on MSN(back in the day when WhatsApp was still new), asking when am I going to visit her. I missed reading the message until the day I found out she committed suicide.

I have a hole in my heart ever since and still have days when I’ll break down. We were like sisters.”

#3. Trifecta.

“My car got stolen and my grandpa died on the same day. When I got back from the funeral my apartment had been robbed.”

#2. He didn’t give any sign at all.

“Today. I just found my room mate who had hung himself in the garage. The house is full of cops & EMTs. He didn’t give any sign at all.”

#1. The same thing.

“When I was 17 my sister died of cardiac failure on her 20th birthday. When I was 28 my best friend died on father’s day of the same thing, he had a 1 month old.”

I don’t even want to think too hard about the question because the answer would be too tough!

The post 15 People Share the Worst Day of Their Entire Life appeared first on UberFacts.

Writer Posts Ignorant Tweet About Depression, Gets Hit With a Dose of Reality

Mental health is still not treated with the same level of importance as other ailments in this country. Of course, those of us who suffer from mental health disorders understand how serious they can be and show empathy towards others with similar conditions. After all, over 40 million adults suffer from depression in the U.S. each year. But to an outsider looking in, depression might be easy to mislabel as plain old sadness.

Just look at best-selling author Reno Omokri. He has practiced law, hosted his own television show, and travels the world preaching the gospel. Still, he doesn’t quite understand what it means to be depressed, which he demonstrated in a recent tweet.

Photo Credit: Twitter: @renoomokri

This led to a deluge of replies from Twitter users who struggle with depression and want to make sure they set the record straight.

Photo Credit: Twitter: @jj_chidozie

Photo Credit: Twitter: @spookperson

Photo Credit: Twitter: @imteddybless

Photo Credit: Twitter: @CaraidArt

Photo Credit: Twitter: @Music_Man_Mike

Photo Credit: Twitter: @hanactive

Photo Credit: Twitter: @KylePlantEmoji

Photo Credit: Twitter: @Chibusomaa

We’re sure Omokri had good intentions when he posted the tweet. Perhaps he was attempting to address people who complain about things without realizing that they have it better than most of the world. If that’s who he was talking about, fine…but that is not depression.

As long as people think depression is something that makes people sad and complain, and not a debilitating mental health issue, then we won’t see any major changes in how people are treated and cared for. So, the next time you hear someone miscategorize depression, make an effort to talk to them and help them understand that it’s not an attitude issue, but a serious health issue.

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Eight-Year-Old Finds Viking Sword After Skipping Stones on a Lake

Playing in the lake is always fun. But it’s extra fun when you find an ancient artifact!

A Swedish-American girl named Saga Vanecek – her real name – had only moved to Sweden a year ago. She and her family had previously lived in Minnesota and are even big Vikings fans.

While vacationing at Vidöstern Lake in Tånnö, Småland, Saga’s father, Andy, asked her to go grab him a buoy. The lake level was lower than usual due to drought, and he wanted to warn area boaters. Along the way, Saga picked up some stones and skipped them across the lake’s surface.

Andy, according to The Local, was growing frustrated with his easily distracted daughter. “I was getting impatient because the World Cup game was about to start!”

Then Saga found a stick. “I picked it up and was going to drop it back in the water, but it had a handle, and I saw that it was a little bit pointy at the end and all rusty. I held it up in the air and I said ‘Daddy, I found a sword!’ When he saw that it bent and was rusty, he came running up and took it.”

Photo Credit: Andrew Vanecek

Andy decided to take it to his neighbor who had some practice in archaeology. Both concluded the sword might be of real interest and turned it over to authorities. Shortly after, Saga and Andy were told the sword was likely from the 5th or 6th century AD, which makes the relic pre-Viking.

How did the sword get in the lake?

A representative of the museum that took possession of the sword said, “When we searched a couple of weeks ago, we found another prehistoric object; a brooch from around the same period as the sword, so that means — we don’t know yet — but perhaps it’s a place of sacrifice.”

Saga and her father were tasked with keeping the find a secret until now, so that no would-be treasure seekers would come disrupt the site (except of course Saga told her best friend). But now that the museum’s work in the lake is done, the secret is out – and was celebrated at Saga’s school with an ice-cream party.

The work on the sword, however, is just starting and it may take at least a year to complete the preservation of what might be known as “Saga’s Sword.”

Photo Credit: Jönköpings Län Museum

Life to come

Clearly, after pulling a pre-Viking sword from an ancient lake, Saga is the next Queen of Sweden. However, she says her future includes a career as a doctor, veterinarian or actress in Paris. She is not interested in becoming an archaeologist, although she likes to learn about “old stuff.”

We’ll see what the sword chooses. It’s destiny, after all.

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Map Shows The Most Googled Medical Symptoms in Each State

Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time, self-diagnosis online is incorrect and you will have wasted your time for nothing.

Still, that doesn’t stop people from across the country from Googling their symptoms every time they experience a fraction of a headache.

Is Everyone Sick, or Just Me?

Curious to know what your neighbors are Googling? The Medicare plans review site Medicare Health Plans used Google Trends to find frequently searched medical symptoms by state for the past year. Check out the map below to see if you are the only one worried about passing strangely colored poop (spoiler alert: not if you live in South Carolina or Wisconsin).

Photo Credit: Medicare Health Plans

Our Health, Googled

The most searched symptoms pointed to respiratory illnesses. Makes sense as many Americans suffer from colds, allergies and flu yearly. In fact, over 155 million flu vaccines were manufactured and administered in the past year.

Stress symptoms were also widely Googled, especially in the Western United States – hello sweaty palms and stomach acid. Guys, try to fit in more yoga.

Meanwhile, Eastern folks experienced “loss of sleep,” and “the sniffles.” Except for Rhode Island and New Jersey, who not only got plenty of sleep, they had “lucid dreams.” Is that even a medical condition? Stress was also a major concern along the Atlantic Seaboard.

What to do Now

While not an ideal way to manage health, Internet research is helpful for pointing to what may be causing your discomfort. But use it to compile questions for a visit with your doctor. Meaning, go to a doctor! Having notes and questions with you will make for a more proactive appointment, especially when you feel like crap.

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