Kids, for better or worse, are perhaps the most honest people on the planet. If a kid thinks you look like a dork or that you smell like a dead skunk covered in expired mayonnaise, don't worry because you'll soon find out. On the other side of that very unstable coin are the compliments and niceties that come from the mouths of babes. You can trust their judgement that something is going right, just like the stories below.
Reddit user, u/flowersforfrogs, wanted to hear about what brightened your day when they asked:
What's the sweetest thing a kid has said to you?
The Embodiment Of Joy To People All Over
we wish you a merry christmas singing GIFGiphy"You two are like Christmas"
A friend's little daughter to me and my wife.
Setting The Example For Future Generations
I like your hair. I recently dyed my hair a new color and was and still kinda am insecure about it but I enjoy it. One day I was in public and this little kid I have never meet before comes up to me and says I like your hair. And then told me he wants his hair to look like that when he is older. It melted my heart m
Tell Me How You All REALLY Feel
Not necessarily 1 kid. But I was a teachers aid for a time during university. At some point I was once so busy with school I missed a couple of days when I came back I had a group of kids get up from thier desks and tackle me saying how much they missed it.
Another time was when my baby siblings all say how proud they were to see me graduate from University and that I was the best older sister ever. Kids can be so sweet.
XiaJen88Don't Tell Her There Was Nothing In The Box
When my five year old daughter saw me pick up a box and yelled, "Super hero! Your a super hero!" It made my day.
Reaffirmation In Your Hobbies
A six-year-old I'm tutoring asked me why I knew so much Star Wars lore. I told him "because I'm old, and I like Star Wars way too much." He looked up from the Jango Fett he was doodling and just said, "It's okay. Not too much."
\.The Title Every Parent Should Strive For
"You're the coolest dad ever."
My daughter asked me to make up a song while I was messing around with my guitar. I did, she liked it and she said that... it made my [millennia]...
The Daddies On The Bus Say...
When my son was about two, he and my wife were singing The Wheels on the Bus. They were sitting in the other room going through all the verses (the driver on the bus, the babies on the bus, etc…) with my wife singing the lyrics and my son providing the appropriate response for what the various things and people do and/or say. They get to what is typically the last verse (the mommies on the bus say, "shh, shh, shh..") but instead of ending the song my wife adds a verse.
From the other room I hear:
My wife: "The daddies on the bus say,"
My son: "I love you."
Still makes me tear up thinking about it.
We're All Trying To Make It Through Together
"Here, this can be your tip!"
Needs context, though. I was delivering pizza to his house in late April (many years ago). His mom apologized for not having enough money to give me a tip. I told her it was no big deal. The kid ran off for about a minute as I exchanged the pizza for a check, and he returned with a little bag of Easter candy, which he gave to me.
HawaiianShirtsORA Lesson To Learn Forever
I worked with kids with Asperger's awhile back and this one kid, Peter, came running up to me SO excited. And he says "GUESS what I HAVE in my POCKETS??" So I ask what, and he goes "NOTHING!". And I'm like "I guess that's neat." And he goes "You don't understand! Think of all the things I can put in them!!". Taught me a real life lesson there. Thanks Peter.
Happy Parents Lead To A Happy Home Life
song GIFGiphyIt was an indirect comment, my teenage son had a friend over and my husband and I were having a dance party for two. The boys came upstairs and I tried to invite them in, of course my son wanted nothing to do with it but his friend whom I know well jumped right in. I later heard him tell my son that he wished his parents loved each other like his parents do. Happy but sad in this situation
Exactly What We Were Aiming For
My friend and I had gotten dressed up for a friend date. We were taking pics on a swing in a pretty lively part of town, when a little girl came up to us and said "Gosh you ladies sure are pretty"
A Lot Of Pressure In Those Well Wishes
A kid walked up to me and and my boyfriend and said, "You guys are cute together. I hope you last a long time. I hope you have pretty babies and have a good life together. You guys look great together." Then he walked away and said look mommy they are happy. She looked at us and then she walked over explaining her and his dad split up. I was sad, but my heart was filled with joy
It's The Innocence That Really Sells This One
My anxiety causes me to pick at my face, and the extent to which I pick at it fluctuates in intensity. Last year, I was going through a REALLY rough time and my face was a literal pizza. There was a little girl, 4 or 5 years old, who I'd see at the stable I rode at and she always asked about my red spots. It was so innocent and she was so sweet and funny that it never upset me.
Fast forward a year later, my face has improved drastically. I saw the same little girl for the first time in several months, and she excitedly yells, "ALL YOUR RED SPOTS ARE GONE! You used to have like 100 but now you only have like 2!"
The pure innocence and excitement honestly makes me smile every time I think about it.
From A Far Away Land...
Little kid stared at me for five minutes then asked his mommy if I was a princess.
These Stories Matter And Stay With You
Little back ground info to clarify what is the sweetest thing, just got out of jail after 145 days for a 3rd time possession charge. My best friend picked me up from jail and brought me to his house for a place to stay since I lost my apartment. His son is nine, and wanted to hear a story. So I told him the story of Arthas Menethil from World of Warcraft because I know it from the heart. I had to act dramatic while telling it, he told me "I wish you could tell me stories like that everyday." I don't know why but that little comment to me was the best and sweetest thing Ive heard in so long.
Lightning Bolts Of Power
I was wearing shorts and my niece looked at my stretch marks (I'm very insecure about them) and asked what they were so I told her. Then she said "Oh I think they look really cool! They look like lightning bolts!" Ever since then I've referred to my stretch marks as lightning bolts.
It Could Have Something To Do With The Claws?
A kid at the gym asked me if I was wolverine.
Are you?
That's not the point, sometimes it's just nice to be noticed.
cktk9Doesn't Get Any Cooler Than That
Recently a kindergartener could not pronounce my name and called me "Ms Cool" so if u excuse me I'm just gonna go legally change my name to that bye
Truth And Honesty And Love
homer simpson hug GIFGiphyMy mom fell a month or so ago and broke her leg. Had surgery shortly after and has been healing nicely. Monday night, she was rushed to the ER for chest pain. Initially they thought it was a heart attack turned out to be a pulmonary embolism. She was in pain but only had to stay the night. My dad was pretty shaken but he told me to head home as there wasn't much I could do for her.
I came home and my 4 year old runs up to me and gives me the biggest hug. He sees the I have been crying and the following conversation ensues:
Son- daddy what's wrong?
Me- Son, Nana is in the hospital. She is ok but she might have to stay there for a day or so.
At this point I start crying again.
Son- Daddy, don't cry. Be brave. Take deep breaths. I will get you a tissue.
He runs to the desk grabs a tissue for me. He then runs to the couch.
Son- come sit with me daddy. We can snuggle.
He is turning out to be the sweetest little boy on the planet. My wife and I were both shared a glance for a few moments and silently nodded to one another. Sweetest thing to ever come out of his mouth.
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Experiencing death is a fascinating and frightening idea.
Who doesn't want to know what is waiting for us on the other side?
But so many of us want to know and then come back and live a little longer.
It would be so great to be sure there is something else.
But the whole dying part is not that great, so we'll have to rely on other people's accounts.
Redditor AlaskaStiletto wanted to hear from everyone who has returned to life, so they asked:
"Redditors who have 'died' and come back to life, what did you see?"
Sensations
Happy Good Vibes GIF by Major League SoccerGiphy"My dad's heart stopped when he had a heart attack and he had to be brought back to life. He kept the paper copy of the heart monitor which shows he flatlined. He said he felt an overwhelming sensation of peace, like nothing he had felt before."
PeachesnPain
Recovery
"I had surgical complications in 2010 that caused a great deal of blood loss. As a result, I had extremely low blood pressure and could barely stay awake. I remember feeling like I was surrounded by loved ones who had passed. They were in a circle around me and I knew they were there to guide me onwards. I told them I was not ready to go because my kids needed me and I came back."
"My nurse later said she was afraid she’d find me dead every time she came into the room."
"It took months, and blood transfusions, but I recovered."
good_golly99
Take Me Back
"Overwhelming peace and happiness. A bright airy and floating feeling. I live a very stressful life. Imagine finding out the person you have had a crush on reveals they have the same feelings for you and then you win the lotto later that day - that was the feeling I had."
"I never feared death afterward and am relieved when I hear of people dying after suffering from an illness."
rayrayrayray
Free
The Light Minnie GIF by (G)I-DLEGiphy"I had a heart surgery with near-death experience, for me at least (well the possibility that those effects are caused by morphine is also there) I just saw black and nothing else but it was warm and I had such inner peace, its weird as I sometimes still think about it and wish this feeling of being so light and free again."
TooReDTooHigh
This is why I hate surgery.
You just never know.
Shocked
Giphy"More of a near-death experience. I was electrocuted. I felt like I was in a deep hole looking straight up in the sky. My life flashed before me. Felt sad for my family, but I had a deep sense of peace."
Admirable_Buyer6528
The SOB
"Nursing in the ICU, we’ve had people try to die on us many times during the years, some successfully. One guy stood out to me. His heart stopped. We called a code, are working on him, and suddenly he comes to. We hadn’t vented him yet, so he was able to talk, and he started screaming, 'Don’t let them take me, don’t let them take me, they are coming,' he was scared and yelling."
"Then he yelled a little more, as we tried to calm him down, he screamed, 'No, No,' and gestured towards the end of the bed, and died again. We didn’t get him back. It was seriously creepy. We called his son to tell him the news, and the son said basically, 'Good, he was an SOB.'”
1-cupcake-at-a-time
Colors
"My sister died and said it was extremely peaceful. She said it was very loud like a train station and lots of talking and she was stuck in this area that was like a curtain with lots of beautiful colors (colors that you don’t see in real life according to her) a man told her 'He was sorry, but she had to go back as it wasn’t her time.'"
Hannah_LL7
"I had a really similar experience except I was in an endless garden with flowers that were colors I had never seen before. It was quiet and peaceful and a woman in a dress looked at me, shook her head, and just said 'Not yet.' As I was coming back, it was extremely loud, like everyone in the world was trying to talk all at once. It was all very disorienting but it changed my perspective on life!"
huntokarrr
The Fog
"I was in a gray fog with a girl who looked a lot like a young version of my grandmother (who was still alive) but dressed like a pioneer in the 1800s she didn't say anything but kept pulling me towards an opening in the wall. I kept refusing to go because I was so tired."
"I finally got tired of her nagging and went and that's when I came to. I had bled out during a c-section and my heart could not beat without blood. They had to deliver the baby and sew up the bleeders. refill me with blood before they could restart my heart so, like, at least 12 minutes gone."
Fluffy-Hotel-5184
Through the Walls
"My spouse was dead for a couple of minutes one miserable night. She maintains that she saw nothing, but only heard people talking about her like through a wall. The only thing she remembers for absolute certain was begging an ER nurse that she didn't want to die."
"She's quite alive and well today."
Hot-Refrigerator6583
Well let's all be happy to be alive.
It seems to be all we have.
Trying to lose weight is a struggle understood by many people regardless of size.
The goal of reaching a healthy weight may seem unattainable, but with diet and exercise, it can pay off through persistence and discipline.
Seeing the pounds gradually drop off can also be a great motivator and incentivize people to stay the course.
Those who've achieved their respective weight goals shared their experiences when Redditor apprenti8455 asked:
"People who lost a lot of weight, what surprises you the most now?"
Redditors didn't see these coming.
Shiver Me Timbers
"I’m always cold now!"
– Telrom_1
"I had a coworker lose over 130 pounds five or six years ago. I’ve never seen him without a jacket on since."
– r7ndom
"140 lbs lost here starting just before COVID, I feel like that little old lady that's always cold, damn this top comment was on point lmao."
– mr_remy
Drawing Concern
"I lost 100 pounds over a year and a half but since I’m old(70’s) it seems few people comment on it because (I think) they think I’m wasting away from some terminal illness."
– dee-fondy
"Congrats on the weight loss! It’s honestly a real accomplishment 🙂"
"Working in oncology, I can never comment on someone’s weight loss unless I specifically know it was on purpose, regardless of their age. I think it kind of ruffles feathers at times, but like I don’t want to congratulate someone for having cancer or something. It’s a weird place to be in."
– LizardofDeath
Unleashing Insults
"I remember when I lost the first big chunk of weight (around 50 lbs) it was like it gave some people license to talk sh*t about the 'old' me. Old coworkers, friends, made a lot of not just negative, but harsh comments about what I used to look like. One person I met after the big loss saw a picture of me prior and said, 'Wow, we wouldn’t even be friends!'”
"It wasn’t extremely common, but I was a little alarmed by some of the attention. My weight has been up and down since then, but every time I gain a little it gets me a little down thinking about those things people said."
– alanamablamaspama
Not Everything Goes After Losing Weight
"The loose skin is a bit unexpected."
– KeltarCentauri
"I haven’t experienced it myself, but surgery to remove skin takes a long time to recover. Longer than bariatric surgery and usually isn’t covered by insurance unless you have both."
– KatMagic1977
"It definitely does take a long time to recover. My Dad dropped a little over 200 pounds a few years back and decided to go through with skin removal surgery to deal with the excess. His procedure was extensive, as in he had skin taken from just about every part of his body excluding his head, and he went through hell for weeks in recovery, and he was bedridden for a lot of it."
– Jaew96
These Redditors shared their pleasantly surprising experiences.
Shopping
"I can buy clothes in any store I want."
– WaySavvyD
"When I lost weight I was dying to go find cute, smaller clothes and I really struggled. As someone who had always been restricted to one or two stores that catered to plus-sized clothing, a full mall of shops with items in my size was daunting. Too many options and not enough knowledge of brands that were good vs cheap. I usually went home pretty frustrated."
– ganache98012
No More Symptoms
"Lost about 80 pounds in the past year and a half, biggest thing that I’ve noticed that I haven’t seen mentioned on here yet is my acid reflux and heartburn are basically gone. I used to be popping tums every couple hours and now they just sit in the medicine cabinet collecting dust."
– colleennicole93
Expanding Capabilities
"I'm all for not judging people by their appearance and I recognise that there are unhealthy, unachievable beauty standards, but one thing that is undeniable is that I can just do stuff now. Just stamina and flexibility alone are worth it, appearance is tertiary at best."
– Ramblonius
People Change Their Tune
"How much nicer people are to you."
"My feet weren't 'wide' they were 'fat.'"
– LiZZygsu
"Have to agree. Lost 220 lbs, people make eye contact and hold open doors and stuff"
"And on the foot thing, I also lost a full shoe size numerically and also wear regular width now 😅"
– awholedamngarden
It's gonna take some getting used to.
Bones Everywhere
"Having bones. Collarbones, wrist bones, knee bones, hip bones, ribs. I have so many bones sticking out everywhere and it’s weird as hell."
– Princess-Pancake-97
"I noticed the shadow of my ribs the other day and it threw me, there’s a whole skeleton in here."
– bekastrange
Knee Pillow
"Right?! And they’re so … pointy! Now I get why people sleep with pillows between their legs - the knee bones laying on top of each other (side sleeper here) is weird and jarring."
– snic2030
"I lost only 40 pounds within the last year or so. I’m struggling to relate to most of these comments as I feel like I just 'slimmed down' rather than dropped a ton. But wow, the pillow between the knees at night. YES! I can relate to this. I think a lot of my weight was in my thighs. I never needed to do this up until recently."
– Strongbad23
More Mobility
"I’ve lost 100 lbs since 2020. It’s a collection of little things that surprise me. For at least 10 years I couldn’t put on socks, or tie my shoes. I couldn’t bend over and pick something up. I couldn’t climb a ladder to fix something. Simple things like that I can do now that fascinate me."
"Edit: Some additional little things are sitting in a chair with arms, sitting in a booth in a restaurant, being able to shop in a normal store AND not needing to buy the biggest size there, being able to easily wipe my butt, and looking down and being able to see my penis."
– dma1965
People making significant changes, whether for mental or physical health, can surely find a newfound perspective on life.
But they can also discover different issues they never saw coming.
That being said, overcoming any challenge in life is laudable, especially if it leads to gaining confidence and ditching insecurities.