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Education

People are sharing the one 'simple rule that would fix the world if people actually followed it'

Here are 17 rules that would make life better for everyone.

rules to live by, golden rule, fix the world
via Pexels

A teacher lists his class rules.

The world would be a much better place if humans weren’t so … human. We all fall short of perfection. Common sense is, sadly, not too common. And there’s one guy out there who always manages to screw things up when things start getting good.

Call it Murphy’s law. Call it the great “reason we can’t have nice things.” Call it entropy. It feels like a whole lot of pain could be avoided if we all had just a little bit more sense.

But what if there was one rule that we all agreed to follow to make everyone’s life better? What would this magical rule be?

A Reddit user who goes by the name P4insplatter came to this realization and asked the AskReddit subforum, “What simple rule would fix the world if everyone actually followed it?”

They received dozens of simple rules that if everyone got behind would make the world drastically better.



It’s no shock that most of them felt like a variation of the Golden Rule. It’s funny that a lot of folks believe the world would seriously improve if we could just abide by a simple saying that we all learned in kindergarten.

Also known as the “ethics of reciprocity,” the Golden Rule is so innate to humans that versions of it have been found in religions and cultures throughout the world.

Here are 17 of the best responses to P4insplatter’s simple, but world-altering question.

1. Let go

“Let go or be dragged” an old zen proverb I heard at a meditation class. Really changed the way I let myself worry about things." — civagigi

2. Simple, but true

"Don't be a dick." — WuTangLAN93

3. The Golden Rule

"Treat others how you want to be treated." — AlbanyGuy1973

4. It starts with you

"I read somewhere that if you want to change the world, you have to change the community, to change the community change your relationships, and to change your relationships change yourself." — cagibaxii

5. Simple Earth math

"Don't use more resources than what the Earth is capable of renewing." — DaethSpiral321

6. Bill and Ted's rule

"Be excellent to each other." — pnotar

7. The law of Lebowski

“Fuck it, Dude. Let's go bowling." — Bonhomme7h

8. Signal

"Use your turn signal(s) properly." — futilelord

9. The principle of non-agression

"Simple, the non-aggression principle. You don't do, initiate or threat any harm unto others, unless acting in true self defense." — ufrag

10. It works for everything

"Leave it better than you found it." — Narcoid

11. Generosity and humility

"Be generous and humble. Being generous and kind encourages us to perceive others in a more positive light and fosters a sense of community. Humility teaches you to improve and make a positive impact on the world." — SuvenPan

12. STFU

"If you are not educated on the subject, sit down and stfu. Let the experts with years of education and experience talk." — Ch3m1cal420

13. Fairness first

"Everyone gets a chance at one [thing] before anyone gets seconds." — ehsteve23

14. Permanent daylight

"Obviously making daylight savings permanent." — ObviousINstruction18

15. Two ears, one mouth

"Listen more, talk less." — TryToHelpPeople

16. Turn off the lights

"All empty buildings should not have any lights/ac/heating on at night or after business hours depending on the nature of the work. their ac/heating and lights if necessary should only be turned on before the start of the day. This will not only help with energy costs but also with light pollution." — hadrainsgate

17. Don't tread on anyone

"You cannot do ANYTHING without consent." — DeepCompote


This article originally appeared on 03.17.22

NAPA is launching a free merch collection, changing how we celebrate automotive careers
Enter the Toolbelt Generation
Enter the Toolbelt Generation
True

These days, cars can do a lot more than get you from point A to point B. With features like emergency braking, electric powertrains, and self-parking systems, getting behind the wheel of a modern vehicle means being surrounded by cutting-edge technology. While innovation races ahead, one important element is being left in the dust: trained professionals who know how to fix these increasingly complex systems.

By 2027, the industry is anticipating a nationwide shortage of nearly 800,000 technicians – everything from avionics experts to diesel and collision repair specialists. And while the industry is expected to grow by 3% in the next decade, not enough young people are entering the field quickly enough, and the skills needed to do the job are changing fast.


Enter the "Toolbelt Generation"

Gen Z has increasingly been shifting away from traditional four-year colleges, exploring trade school alternatives as a smarter path forward. This cultural shift has dubbed them the "Toolbelt Generation," and they're onto something big. With a 16% increase in vocation-focused community colleges last year, young people are choosing flexible, hands-on careers without the heavy cost of traditional college education.

But here's the thing: while university students get all the fanfare – the branded hoodies, the campus pride, the cultural celebration – trade school students have been missing out on that same sense of belonging and recognition. Despite outdated stereotypes that paint trade work as "lesser than," these students are actually mastering some of the most sophisticated technology on the planet. Until now, society just hasn't caught up to celebrating what they do.

A creative solution rooted in culture

The NAPA TradeWear Collection is the latest initiative they have using a brilliant solution to change this narrative entirely. In partnership with Dickies and prolific video game artist Stephen Bliss, NAPA launched TradeWear – their first-ever, free merch collection celebrating young trade school students and the automotive technician career path.

The inspiration came from a fascinating cultural insight: automotive and racing games were cited as one of the biggest influences of the current generation of trade school students. That's where Stephen Bliss comes in – he's been behind some of this generation's most iconic video game artwork, making him the perfect partner to bridge the digital-to-physical journey that's inspiring real careers.

"Being an automotive technician is such a badass career," said Stephen Bliss, designer of the new NAPA TradeWear line. "It's both an art and a science, and I designed this line with that artful side in mind – celebrating what drives people to create something tangible with their own hands."

The collection does more than just look cool – it's making a statement that these career paths deserve the same pride and recognition as any traditional college experience.

"NAPA is working to break down barriers for the next generation of technicians by eliminating financial barriers, debunk outdated stereotypes, and create cutting edge training methods to fill this automotive technician gap,” said Danny Huffaker, SVP, Product & Marketing at NAPA, “TradeWear is the latest initiative in champion young technicians, celebrating technical careers with the same pride we give to traditional college paths."

An innovative approach

TradeWear represents just one way NAPA is rising to meet this moment of industry transformation. As America's largest network of automotive parts and care, they're taking a comprehensive approach to supporting the next generation of technicians.

NAPA is set to debut the Autotech XcceleratoR in early 2026—a breakthrough that fuses XR (extended reality) and AI to transform how technicians learn. Think of it as a flight simulator for cars: immersive, hands-on practice with smart guidance that adapts to each learner, building real-world skills faster and safer. As a first-of-its-kind program at national scale, XcceleratoR is designed to train more students in less time, elevate quality across the industry, and set the standard for the next 100 years of automotive training.

NAPA is also championing educational investment through expanded scholarship programs. This year, NAPA launched the Carlyle Tools MAX Impact Scholarship, providing monthly $2,500 awards plus professional-grade Carlyle toolboxes to empower emerging skilled technicians. This initiative joins a comprehensive scholarship portfolio that delivered educational support this year through partnerships with WD40, the University of the Aftermarket, TechForce and SkillsUSA.

Looking toward the future

In a world full of desk jobs and digital burnout, technician jobs in the automotive industry allow people to create an entirely different way of living – a flexible, hands-on career without the heavy cost of a traditional college education.

By investing in innovative training, providing financial support, and most importantly, instilling pride in a new generation of workers through initiatives like TradeWear, NAPA is helping ensure these exciting career paths continue to thrive for generations to come.

Check out the new NAPA TradeWear collection and snag a free item from the collection.

Joy

Mom shows off mother-in-law's comically generous 'sick care package' and it's causing MIL envy

75% of parents say grandparents give too many gifts. But sometimes it's awesome.

mother in law, parenting, grandparents, boomer grandparents, millennials, kids, family, love
Canva Photos
Putting the "care" in care package.

In my experience, and in the experience of most other parents I know, grandpdarents like to give a lot of...stuff. It can be overwhelming and frustrating, bringing all these things into your home that you have to find a place for, all of it adding to the clutter and mental load. And I know I'm not the only one. Some informal surveys say 75% of parents are frustrated that grandparents give the kids too many gifts. Based on the parents I know, that number easily checks out. And it's not just gifts, but food, baked goods, and groceries that we don't ask for—it's all too much!

It's a double-edged sword, though, because sometimes the stuff is great and really helpful. It's important to remember that there is a lot of generosity and love behind grandparents' (sometimes outlandish) gifting. It's a way for them to stay connected to the family when they can't always be there during the day-to-day. A little gift here and there is a way to show the grandkids they love them, and sending a batch of brownies you definitely don't want to be eating is just their little way of helping out.


To that end, a mom on TikTok recently showed off her outrageous haul from her mother-in-law, who sent a laughably generous care package when the family was sick with the flu.

care package, mother in law, mil, toxic mother in law, sick package, in laws, family, motherhood The only good thing about being sick is getting the extra TLC. media1.giphy.com

Makenzie Hubbell can barely contain her laughter as she begins telling the story on camera.

"My entire family is sick and we asked our mother-in-law to shop for us, so this is everything she got."

Hubbell then holds up two eight-packs of Gatorade, or enough to hydrate a professional sports team.

care package, mother in law, mil, toxic mother in law, sick package, in laws, family, motherhood But is it ENOUGH Gatorade? media3.giphy.com

"We asked for some goldfish for my son, for when he starts eating." Cue enormous, bulk-sized tub of Goldfish crackers. Then two giant bags of Tyson's chicken nuggets. "We asked for ground turkey. She got us two," Hubbell says, showing off the packs.

"Did not ask for these, but very thankful," she says, holding up a container of strawberries. "Strawberries are very expensive."

It went on and on. A huge package of chicken breast that could feed their family for a week. But the package wasn't just food and rations. There was a book for the little one, cupcakes for mom's birthday, and a gift in an adorable bag (spoiler: It was a candle and a t-shirt).

The care package was a veritable clown car of supplies and gifts. It's safe to say that mom-in-law went way overboard, in the way that grandparents do. Watch Hubbell show it all off here:

@chunkymak

i fear the gatorade wont last more than 3 days😂😭 #plussize #plussizeedition #groceries #groceryhaul

Commenters related heavily to the video, and it's got us wondering if mother-in-laws have been getting a bad rap all this time.

Turns out that mothers-in-law, despite their reputation, are coming in clutch all over the place! We might not always see eye to eye, but they're some of the most reliable and generous family members out there.

"You won the mother-in-law lottery."

"This is my MIL but she gives so much and won’t allow us to pay any portion back."

"My ex's mother, my oldest son’s grandma, drops off a care package of groceries every time she goes to Costco. Always a rotisserie chicken. Muffins, fruit, snacks for school and fresh veggies."

care package, mother in law, mil, toxic mother in law, sick package, in laws, family, motherhood Sometimes going overboard isn't such a bad thing media4.giphy.com

"Welcome to the best mother in law club. My husband had a lot of health issues before he passed and my MIL would schedule her cleaning lady to come over the day before he came home from the hospital."

"My MIL is the same way…but times 4. If I asked her to pick some things up, it would be a haul. Those of us that are blessed, APPRECIATE!"

"So happy when I hear positive MIL stories on this app. While I am not one nor do I have one it always seems like they’re getting such a bad rap."

To add to the comedy of it all, Hubbell's mother-in-law was back with more rations and an entire pharmacy's-worth of medical supplies the very next day:

@chunkymak

Replying to @weetchofthewoods she also got us the sams club big pack of pampers cruisers in the wrong size so she's going to exchange them but she's got such a huge heart🩷 #plussize #plussizeedition #groceries #groceryhaul

Conflict between women and their mothers-in-law might be a little exaggerated by sitcoms and stand-up comics, but it is a tricky relationship to manage.

Mothers-in-law are naturally protective of their own children and have strong feelings and opinions about how their grandchildren are being raised. Communication and boundaries are key, but can be a challenge for any family to navigate with grandparents.

Case in point: Just as many commenters on Hubbell's video expressed regret that they didn't have nearly as good of a relationship with their own MIL.

care package, mother in law, mil, toxic mother in law, sick package, in laws, family, motherhood May the love of a toxic mother-in-law never find me. media0.giphy.com

It's a good exercise for any married person to look past the conflicts and disagreements and recognize how generous grandparents, and especially those pesky mothers-in-law, can be with their time and money. They just love to go overboard like in Hubbell's viral video, and seem to take pride in being more helpful than you could possibly ever ask them to be. Sure, that generosity also comes with a lot of junk and a little more spoiling of the kids than you'd like, but Hubbell's video is a good reminder to stop and be appreciative for just a moment if you're lucky enough to have an overly generous mother-in-law in your life.

This article originally appeared in March. It has been updated.

angela duckworth, grit, ted talk, success, psychologist, therapist
via TED / YouTube

Angela Duckworth speaking at a TED event.

Why is it that some people are high achievers who have a track record of success and some people never come close to accomplishing their dreams? Is it talent, luck, or how you were raised? Is it that some people are just gifted and have exceptional talents that others don't?

The good news is, according to psychologist Angela Duckworth, the most critical factor in being a high achiever has nothing to do with talent or intelligence. It’s how long you can keep getting back up after getting hit. She calls it “grit” and, according to Duckworth’s research, it’s the common denominator in high achievers across the board, whether it’s cadets at West Point or kids in a spelling bee. Duckworth goes into depth on the topic in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.


What personal traits make someone successful?

“The common denominator of high achievers, no matter what they’re achieving, is this special combination of passion and perseverance for really long-term goals,” Duckworth revealed on The Mel Robbins Podcast. “And in a word, it’s grit.”


“Partly, it’s hard work, right? Partly it’s practicing what you can’t yet do, and partly it’s resilience,” she continued. “So part of perseverance is, on the really bad days, do you get up again? So, if you marry passion for long-term goals with perseverance for long-term goals well then you have this quality that I find to be the common denominator of elite achievers in every field that I've studied."

When pressed to define the specific meaning of grit, Duckworth responded: “It’s these two parts, right? Passion for long-term goals, like loving something and staying in love with it. Not kind of wandering off and doing something else, and then something else again, and then something else again, but having a kind of North Star."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

For anyone who wants to achieve great things in life, grit is an attitude that one can develop for themselves that isn’t based on natural abilities or how well one was educated. Those things matter, of course, but having a gritty attitude is something someone can learn.

"I am not saying that there aren't genes at play because every psychologist will tell you that's also part of the story for everything and grit included,” Duckworth said. “But absolutely, how gritty we are is a function of what we know, who were around, and the places we go."

Why grit is so important

Grit is critical for people to become highly successful because it means that you stick with the task even when confronted with barriers. In every journey of taking an idea that you love and turning it into reality there is going to be what’s known as the dark swamp of despair—a place that you must wade through to get to the other side. It takes grit and determination to make it through the times when you fear that you might fail. If it were easy, then everyone could be high achievers.


Grit is what keeps people practicing in their room every night as teenagers and makes them an accomplished guitar player. Grit is what makes a basketball player the first one in the gym and the last to leave so that they make the starting lineup. Grit is knocking on the next door after 12 people have just slammed their doors in your face.

The wonderful thing about Duckworth’s work is that it presents an opportunity for everyone willing to do the work. You can no longer use the fact that you may not have specialized intelligence or a God-given talent as an excuse. All you need is perseverance and passion and you have as good a shot as anyone at achieving your dreams.

cartoons, 90s, arthur, clifford, reading rainbow, wishbone, blues clues, kids shows

It's not just nostalgia. Our childhood cartoons were better.

Nobody, least of all kids who grew up in the 80s and 90s needs convincing that the cartoons of yesteryear just hit different. They are miles away from the noisy, ultra colorful, fast-paced (read: overstimulating) shows that a kid might watch today. And, it turns out, those classic cartoons might just be superior for getting kids to actually relax.

This was a discovery made by one mom (Lauren, aka @mamasandmesses) when she introduced her toddler to old school shows like Bear and the Big Blue House, Arthur, Dragon Tales, and more. Her grand experiment led to some pretty fascinating results.


For one thing, she noted that while her child enjoyed watching these programs, there was no adverse reaction when she turned them off. “He didn’t fight me or get upset, he just went back to playing!”

But perhaps even more importantly, she noticed that his sleep improved. That’s right, parents with tough-to-put-to-bed kiddos, listen up.

Lauren attributed this to the fact that, generally speaking, 90s shows had much lower stimulation, but also more heavily focused helpful lessons and creative exploration. Sure, there are still shows that do that, like Bluey, but nowadays having a slower pace, softer color palette, and more subdued soundtrack is certainly no longer the standard.

In fact, experts have long warned against the drug-like “dopamine rush” of contemporary cartoons, which might offer endless amounts of quick entertainment, but don’t allow for kids to actually process what they’re watching and continuously leave them wanting more. Almost like the creators of these shows are more interested in getting views and earning money than by actually serving a need? Nah, that’s crazy.

@drjoe_md

Did you know that shows like Cocomelon are engineered to keep your baby hooked by triggering their brain’s reward system? #Cocomelon #parentingtips #childdevelopment #screentime #kidslearning

Adding to the problem is that, now, anything with a screen can suddenly turn into a TV. This heightened accessibility means that a once seemingly innocent, totally mundane pastime can turn into a problem. But luckily, parents can control what their children are seeing their TVs, tablets, phones, and whatever else. Since many 90s classics are available to stream, these less-stimulating yet more-engaging shows are always on hand, and Lauren was kind enough to share a master list:

📺 Bear in the Big Blue House – Disney+

📺 Out of the Box – Disney+

📺 Little Bear – Paramount+

📺 Franklin – Prime or YouTube

📺 Arthur – PBS Kids or Hulu

📺 Rolie Polie Olie – Prime

📺 Clifford – Prime

📺 Magic School Bus – Netflix

📺 Berenstain Bears – Prime

📺 Dragon Tales – Prime

📺 Wishbone – YouTube

📺 Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood – PBS Kids, Hulu, or Prime

As a bonus, the following show was only a book when we were kids, but it's 90s roots make it count:

📺 If You Give A Mouse a Cookie – Prime

- YouTube youtu.be

Besides the fact that these shows might overall be better for our kids, there’s also something special about rewatching these beloved shows from our childhood and seeing the positive effects that they continue to bestow. It’s one of those times where we can say, “They don’t make them like they used to!” and it truly carries some weight. So, you know, bragging rights.

High-octane kid’s shows probably aren’t going anywhere, but it’s nice to know that we have options when it’s time to really wind down and soothe little nervous systems.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are a few seasons of Arthur calling my name…

This article originally appeared in March. It has been updated.

Health

People are still loving Drew Barrymore's live reaction to her first perimenopause hot flash

“I don’t know that I have ever heard a celebrity talk about a hot flash in the moment. Thank you for being so real."

Drew Barrymore, perimenopause, menopause, hot flash, Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, The Drew Barrymore Show, authenticity, CBS Mornings, Gayle King
The Drew Barrymore Show/Youtube

Drew Barrymore getting a quick assist from Jennifer Aniston

It feels safe to say that many, if not most people hail Drew Barrymore as the “Queen of Candid.” She can seemingly talk to absolutely anyone about anything in a way that’s consistently warm and authentic.

That even goes for when she experiences her first hot flash in front of a live television audience, apparently.

While speaking with guests Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler on her talk show, Barrymore abruptly appears flustered, fanning herself and removing her jacket.



@drewbarrymore I either had my first perimenopause hot flash or got really exciting! Maybe both? @thedrewbarrymoreshow ♬ original sound - Drew Barrymore


Without missing a beat, she says, “I am so hot, I think I'm having my first perimenopause hot flashes.”

“Oh, I feel so honored!” Jennifer Aniston quips as she fixes Barrymore’s mic, which is a sweet moment in and of itself.

“I’m so sorry!” Barrymore continues, laughing through it all. “Do you feel this?!” she says, placing Aniston’s hand just below her neck. “Or maybe I’m just excited!”

Sandler, then reaching for Barrymore’s palm, assures her, “Yeah you got a hot hand.”

“Well, I’m so glad I have this moment documented!” Barrymore exclaims.

One viewer on TikTok gushed, “I don’t know that I have ever heard a celebrity talk about a hot flash in the moment. Thank you for being so real.”

Another echoed, “Drew, we have a whole generation (X) entering the change. Let’s normalize it. Just wait until you’re soaked with sweat, then cold lol.”

One person commented on the exchange between Aniston and Barrymore, noting how refreshing it was to see two “beautiful, authentic, powerful women my own age to look up to.”

Only a week prior, Barrymore had again been an unofficial spokeswoman for perimenopause when she sat down with Gayle King of “CBS Mornings” to share more of her personal experiences, including having a period “every two weeks.”


@cbsmornings How did Drew Barrymore know she was in perimenopause? She tells Gayle King and Nikki Battiste one of the main symptoms she experienced. Watch their full conversation tomorrow on #CBSMornings. #drewbarrymore #gayleking #menopause #perimenopause #fertility #health ♬ original sound - CBS Mornings


"One doctor also just told me this could last, in the worst-case scenario, 10 years. And I was like, ‘I will never make it 10 years like this!’" she told King.

Considering that every woman who lives past their 40s will probably go through at least some version of this—even earlier, for some—one would think that there should be more conversations about this pivotal life chapter. Maybe then it wouldn’t be so daunting.

Or at the very least, there might be less stigma around it. As Barrymore eloquently put it in her interview, “The way menopause has been branded is, 'You're old, you're done.' That's not it." Instead, she feels that in reality, "more women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are looking so attractive, feeling so vibrant, living their best lives.”

Imagine that—life getting better as you grow older. What a radical thought.

Drew Barrymore, perimenopause, menopause, hot flash, Jennifer Aniston, Adam Sandler, The Drew Barrymore Show, authenticity, CBS Mornings, Gayle King YouTube

This article originally appeared two years ago.