'What's something everyone should experience?' Here are the best answers from people everywhere.

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Everyone should see the Milky Way at least once, but how about being in a nontoxic relationship?

"What's something everyone should experience in their lifetime?" is not an uncommon question. But when someone asked it on Reddit, the answers were surprising.

There were the standard responses, of course, such as:

"Traveling outside their country of birth." (Yes, definitely something everyone should do, preferably more than once and for an extended period of time.)

"Go see some stars. Go camping in a national park. Watch the stars. Go see a freakin meteor shower in the desert." (Can confirm. Get as far away from lights as possible and be amazed by the depth of the night sky.)

"The northern lights. They really are beautiful." (Cannot confirm personally, but I've heard this from many other people and it was one of the most popular responses on the Reddit post.)

Seeing the Milky Way, watching the sunset over the ocean, going to a live concert—those are the kinds of answers one might expect. But what was striking were the answers that seemed so basic, yet profound.

Here's a handful of them:

"Financial security."

Oh gracious, yes.

"I’ve never had it," wrote u/AsPerMatt, "and that simple fact has caused me more stress and anxiety than I care to admit. I do believe that though money can’t bring happiness, when you don’t have it, it can absolutely hinder it greatly."

Others chimed in:

"Having been with it and having been without it, I not only enjoy the former more but it actually makes me a better person. The stress and low level fear is truly debilitating."

"Money doesn't bring happiness. It sure as hell gets rid of a bunch of things that bring unhappiness, though."

Everyone should be able to experience financial security, not just as a one-time experience, but as an ongoing reality. People who have experienced genuine financial insecurity (as opposed to "I could lose my investments if the market crashes") know what an all-consuming burden it is.

"A healthy non-toxic relationship."

Oh. I've been fortunate to have lots of healthy relationships of various kinds, but there are some people who are immersed in dysfunctional families and social circles and genuinely haven't.

"Experiencing my first currently. I had no idea it could be like this," wrote one commenter.

Another added, "and not just romantically- platonic and family healthy non-toxic relationships too. People need good people." Isn't that the truth.

"It would be so damn beautiful if everyone could experience this." Amen. Everyone deserves to be in a healthy relationship.

"Getting a hug from someone who has been waiting all day to see you."

Aw. That really is the best, whether it's a parent, a spouse, a child or another loved one who is genuinely thrilled when you come home. People shared their personal best hugs:

"The last hug my dad gave me when I was leaving after my visit for his last birthday. He knew it would be the last. It was the best hug I ever got. I miss you dad."

"Getting a hug from a stranger as well. Once crying in public - and a stranger asked me if I was okay and gave me a hug. Faith in humanity restored! It was not strange - just so welcome."

"Happened recently, I haven’t seen my aunt who I used to live by for 2 years because of covid. The embrace felt like 2 years of hugs."

Hugs are good for our health, so definitely something everyone should experience.

"Living by yourself."

This one was interesting, as people were quite torn. Some absolutely agreed:

"Living alone makes me extremely happy, peaceful and calm. If I were financially able to swing it 100% of the time, I definitely would!"

"And taking yourself out to eat, or to the movies!"

Others couldn't disagree more:

"Did that for one month. It was a total shit show and I absolutely hated every second of it. I need to have roommates if I want to stay sane and alive."

"I don't recommend. I did it for a couple years after my divorce. I was just sad. I did sleep better but I like having a partner to come home to. I like my space and would never want to live with roommates that I am not in a relationship with but yeah I would avoid living alone if I could avoid it. A night or two by myself is alright but that's about it."

But this answer seemed to make sense:

"As a relative alternative to this, I would say: Being able to be comfortable with yourself, alone with your thoughts.

"I guess us introverts have a head start in that department, but it's always been wild to me how many people I see who can't just sit alone with their own thoughts, or have to be doing other things to distract themselves from themselves, whether it be going out partying and drinking every weekend, or whatever else.

You're gonna be with yourself for your whole life lol, so you might as well learn to like yourself!"

"Getting to know people that aren't like you."

Like traveling abroad, getting to know diverse people expands your ideas of what "normal" can be and opens your mind to different ways of thinking and being in the world. Most people agreed, though some disagreed with the role social media plays in this experience:

"That's been one of my favorite parts about AA (aside from the obvious sobriety factor). I have been able to meet and become close with such a wide variety of people that I wouldn't have met otherwise. I'm a damn hermit and I would have missed out on some seriously incredible people from literally all walks of life."

"Too true! Especially because we get so siloed in social media and various online bubbles."

"You'd think having access to all of the developed world would make us curious about the thoughts of others but... nope."

"Actually, I'd say social media is a good thing for this, because it exposes everyone to so many viewpoints. For someone who grows up using social media, they're exposed to so many viewpoints about any topic they take an interest in that they learn to sympathise with those views before they can form their own opinions and biases, causing them to be more open-minded."

Obviously, what we think everyone should experience is going to be colored by our own experiences, but when "security" and "love" are listed multiple times as things everyone should have at least once, that's a sign that a lot of people are missing some fundamental things in life. Let's all work a bit harder to create a world where no one is wanting for the basics so everyone has a chance to fully enjoy things like traveling and chasing the stars.

From Your Site Articles

4 simple hacks to help you meet your healthy eating goals

Trying to eat healthier? Try these 4 totally doable tricks.

Photo by Anna Pelzer on Unsplash

Most of us want to eat healthier but need some help to make it happen.

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When it comes to choosing what to eat, we live in a uniquely challenging era. Never before have humans known more about nutrition and how to eat for optimal health, and yet we’ve never been more surrounded by distractions and temptations that derail us from making healthy choices.

Some people might be able to decide “I’m going to eat healthier!” and do so without any problem, but those folks are unicorns. Most of us know what we should do, but need a little help making it happen—like some simple hacks, tips and tricks for avoiding pitfalls on the road to healthier eating.

While recognizing that what works for one person may not work for another, here are some helpful habits and approaches that might help you move closer to your healthy eating goals.

man pulling chip out of a chip bag Our mouths loves chips. Our bodies not so much.Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

Goal: Snack on less junk food

Tip: Focus your willpower on the grocery store, not your home

Willpower is a limited commodity for most of us, and it is no match for a bag of potato chips sitting on top of the fridge. It’s just a fact. Channeling your willpower at the grocery store can save you from having to fight that battle at home. If you don’t bring chips into your house in the first place, you’ll find it a lot easier to reach for something healthier.

The key to successful shopping trips is to always go to the store with a specific list and a full stomach—you’ll feel much less tempted to buy the junky snack foods if you’re already satiated. Also, finding healthier alternatives that will still satisfy your cravings for salty or crunchy, or fatty foods helps. Sugar snap peas have a surprisingly satisfying crunch, apples and nut butter hit that sweet-and-salty craving, etc.

slice of cake You can eat well without giving up sweets completely.Photo by Caitlyn de Wild on Unsplash

Goal: Eat less sugar

Tip: Instead of “deprive,” think “delay” or “decrease and delight”

Sugar is a tricky one. Some people find it easier to cut out added sugars altogether, but that can create an all-or-nothing mindset that all too often results in “all.” Eating more whole foods and less processed foods can help us cut out a lot of ancillary sugar, but we still live in a world with birthday cakes and dessert courses.

One approach to dessert temptation is to delay instead of deprive. Tell yourself you can have any sweet you want…tomorrow. This mental trick flips the “I’ll just indulge today and start eating healthier tomorrow” idea on its head. It’s a lot easier to resist something you know you can have tomorrow than to say no to something you think you’ll never get to have again.

Another approach when you really want to enjoy a dessert at that moment is to decrease the amount and really truly savor it. Eat each bite slowly, delighting in the full taste and satisfaction of it. As soon as that delight starts to diminish, even a little, stop eating. You’ve gotten what you wanted out of it. You don’t have to finish it. (After all, you can always have more tomorrow!)

A naturally colorful meal is a healthy meal.Photo by Anna Pelzer on Unsplash

Goal: Eat healthier meals

Tip: Focus on fresh foods and plan meals ahead of time

Meal planning is easier than ever before. The internet is filled with countless tools—everything from recipes to shopping lists to meal planning apps—and it’s as awesome as it is overwhelming.

Planning ahead takes the guesswork and decision fatigue out of cooking, preventing the inevitable “Let’s just order a pizza.” You can have a repeating 3-week or 4-week menu of your favorite meals so you never have to think about what you’re going to eat, or you can meal plan once a week to try new recipes and keep things fresh.

It might help to designate one day a week to “shop and chop”—getting and prepping the ingredients for the week’s meals so they’re ready to go in your fridge or freezer.

Organic foods are better for the Earth and for us.Photo by andrew welch on Unsplash

Goal: Eat more organic/humanely raised food

Tip: Utilize the “dirty dozen” and “clean 15” lists to prioritize

Many people choose organic because they want to avoid pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals. Organic food is also better for the planet, and according to the Mayo Clinic, studies have shown that organic produce is higher in certain nutrients.

Most people don’t buy everything organic, but there are some foods that should take priority over others. Each year, researchers from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyze thousands of samples of dozens of fruits and vegetables. From this data, they create a list of the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15” fruits and vegetables, indicating what produce has the most and least pesticide residue. These lists give people a good place to start focusing their transition to more organic foods.

To make organic eating even simpler, you can shop O Organics® at your local Albertsons or Safeway stores. The O Organics brand offers a wide range of affordable USDA-certified organic products in every aisle. If you’re focusing on fresh foods, O Organics produce is always grown without synthetic pesticides, is farmed to conserve biodiversity, and is always non-GMO. All animal-based O Organics products are certified humane as well. Even switching part of your grocery list to organic can make a positive impact on the planet and the people you feed.

Healthy eating habits don’t have to be all or nothing, and they don’t have to be complicated. A few simple mindset changes at home and habit changes at the grocery store can make a big difference.

health

Education

Teacher brilliantly turns getting her period in front of her class into a teaching moment

"That boy who emailed...his parents must be incredible."

Emily Elizabeth|TikTok and Cliff Booth|Canva

Teacher starts period in front of class, turns into a lesson

Teachers are almost always teaching even when it's not in their lesson plan.

Those that were born to be teachers find teachable moments everywhere and one woman found herself in one of those moments. Though this one was likely just a bit more personal than she probably would've liked.

Emily Elizabeth posted a TikTok video about how she found herself in a predicament in front of her classroom full of 10 and 11-year-old kids. The teacher explained that she was noticing a lot of commotion and whispering among the little girls in her class while she was wearing white pants. After reminding the girls to stay on task, the whispering continued, prompting Emily to be more direct.

That's when one of the girls asked to speak with her privately dropping the bomb that no one that gets periods wants to hear in public.

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teacher starts period

'What's something everyone should experience?' Here are the best answers from people everywhere.

"Financial security."

"A healthy non-toxic relationship."

"Getting a hug from someone who has been waiting all day to see you."

"Living by yourself."

"Getting to know people that aren't like you."

Trying to eat healthier? Try these 4 totally doable tricks.

Goal: Snack on less junk food

Tip: Focus your willpower on the grocery store, not your home

Goal: Eat less sugar

Tip: Instead of “deprive,” think “delay” or “decrease and delight”

Goal: Eat healthier meals

Tip: Focus on fresh foods and plan meals ahead of time

Goal: Eat more organic/humanely raised food

Tip: Utilize the “dirty dozen” and “clean 15” lists to prioritize

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Misconception #1: Depression is triggered by a single event or series of traumatic events.

Misconception #2: People with depression are only sad.

Misconception #3: You can snap out of it.

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A childhood game can go very wrong in the blink of an eye.

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This was a pretty awesome thing to do.

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The photographer got a clue something unusual was about to happen.

Todd Bachmann explains his last-minute decision like this:

And Brittany herself was pleased with the outcome.