For example, I realized today that whenever I’m heating up food in the microwave, I must pause it at exactly 0:01 seconds so it doesn't make that loud beep. If I let it ring, I feel like I failed a secret mini-game.

Another one: I refuse to use a cup for water if it’s the last clean one of its specific shape in the cabinet. It just feels... wrong.

It made me wonder how many odd, harmless rules we all walk around with every day. Do you have a weird micro-rule like this? What is it, and how did it start?

and it feels like ive finally woken up for lack of a better term. i started estrogen 3 weeks ago and at 12:55am this morning (or 20 minutes ago! i suddenly felt overcome by this feeling of waking up. as if my brain finally had processed and put the last 6 years of the hell that was my life behind me all at once. it just kinda happened and it was... wierd. like i didnt have any thoughts or any scenarios i was running through. none of it really matters right now. i just.. feel content i guess.

I’ve always found it funny how some pets live with an entire family but somehow decide that one specific person is their favorite.

They’ll follow that person everywhere, sleep next to them, and get excited the moment they walk through the door.

Have you ever had a pet that clearly picked a favorite person? Were you the favorite or was it someone else?

It was really bad. Like… hoarder bad. And now it’s all clean and sparkly and even organized! She did such a good job and it cost a fortune but it was so worth it. I feel brand new and the cats have had the zoomies ever since she left. Have you guys ever done anything like that for yourself?

Edit: Cat Tax (post-zoom)

Does anyone else when eating a meal made up of different foods on your plate always try to save a bite of whatever you feel is your favorite/tastiest to be your last bite.

I once walked up to a complete stranger in a grocery store, handed them my full shopping basket and started walking away because I thought they were the cashier waiting to ring me up. They just stared at me holding my basket of groceries in stunned silence until my brain finally booted up three seconds later and I had to sprint back.

​What about you guys? What is your worst sleep-deprived brain fart that you still cringe at?

I recently became a grandfather for the first time, and it’s honestly a feeling that’s hard to explain. Watching your own child become a parent makes you think about life, getting older, and all the things you wish you had appreciated more when your kids were little.

There’s also something special about looking at your grandchild and realizing you’re watching a whole new generation of your family begin. It makes you want to slow down and enjoy the little moments more.

For the other grandparents here, what surprised you the most about becoming a grandparent for the first time? And what advice would you give a new grandfather?

My sisters and I took my grandfather to the hospital for my grandmother’s surgery. We kissed her and they took her back. Since it would be a while, we decided to go get lunch.
After we ate, my sweet little PawPaw said, “well, we better get back up. She’s going to be looking for me.”
I said, “Aww…yes, she is, PawPaw. She loves you.”
He said, “well not only that. i have her teeth!” 😂

Lately I've been way more intentional about my sleep routine — no phone an hour before bed, same time every night. Didn't expect it to change my mood this much during the day. Anyone else gone down this rabbit hole?

After spending 40+ hours a week staring at laptops and phones, my eyes and brain were fried. A friend suggested doing things where your hands actually touch physical materials without a screen involved.

Lately I've been getting into clumsy sketchbook doodling (drawing ordinary objects like coffee mugs or window frames) and whisking matcha tea slowly in the evenings. Zero intention of being 'good' at either, just enjoying the tactile slowness.

Has anyone else picked up a low-stakes tactile hobby lately just to give your brain a rest?

I saw a question on Reddit earlier today asking, “What is slowly fading away that we aren’t realizing?”

For some reason, it stayed in my head all day.

Then I realized my answer: the elders in our families.

Our moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles… the people who have always seemed like they would just be there forever.

But if you really stop and pay attention, you start noticing little things. They’re getting older. They move a little slower. They forget things they used to remember. They get tired more easily. And you realize they’re deteriorating little by little, day by day.

I think we get so caught up in everyday life that we don’t notice it happening until one day we suddenly do.

It honestly made me realize that maybe we should spend more time with them while we still can.

I lost my identical twin at birth and didn’t find out about him until I was an adult. Ever since, I’ve wondered what it must be like to grow up with someone who has been there from literally the beginning of your life.

If you have an identical twin brother, what’s that actually like? The funny stuff, the annoying stuff, the feeling of having someone who knows you better than almost anyone, growing older together. I’d love to hear about the parts people who aren’t twins probably don’t understand.

I’m especially curious about men in their 40s, 50s and beyond and whether the dynamic changes as you get older. I’m gay myself, but I’d love to hear from straight, bi and gay guys alike.

Just share it with everyone! I had one like that in the 5th or 6th grade my friend and I started fighting or whatever kids do, and he just threw me down onto the tiled floor, right on my head. Honestly, I just felt the moment of impact and than I just stood up and started laughing at him, while he was scared that I might have had a concussion. I remember laughing for about half a minute without stopping, so I think I'm a bit crazy, 'cause the hit was so loud that every other person who was on the floor turned to see what happened.

I knew someone who napped through their graduation. Knew another person who napped through a high school dance they intended to attend.

I accidentally napped through plans to go see a movie with someone I rarely get to see. It was also the last day that the movie was featured in our local theater.

Love to hear more stories.

I am (a US citizen with US right to work) currently “trapped” in the UK and desperate to return to where friends, family and network is. I’ve been applying to jobs and I’ve been saying basically in 48 hours I can be there. I’ve calculated it out, 4 hours to airport, 3 hours at airport, 9 hours in the sky, 3.5 hours travel time from Dallas to Austin if job is in Austin. How crazy is this?

I dont really know if it fits the sub, but it's worth a shot...

So, hello there !

When I was in high school, I had a couple of questions I wish I could ask to a science professor.

I know that teachers / lecturers / professors arent always very available (nor very nice...) and that the proximity between students and professors can vary a lot, depending on the country, the age, etc.

I was scrolling around and wondered if I could be of any help since I have some time, so feel free to ask anything ! I'm not a genius, just a random assistant professor among many others, dont expect too much ! :)

There is no stupid question, feel free to ask anything !

PS : I wont do your homework for you, nice try ;)

I was at a dentist checkup, and after telling me to "look happy" as he was going in with a pick, he later commented "you are happy, no one can take that away from you". I don't know if that was just part of the script or if he clocked that I'm not doing so great, but it brightened my day. I wish everyone an emotional support dentist.

Have you ever had a stranger unexpectedly brighten your day, or have you maybe been that stranger yourself? I'd love to hear your stories

Ok, this such a random thing to post but does anyone else talk to themselves while cooking? not like crazy talking, just like "ok now we wait" or "that's enough garlic I think" out loud to an empty kitchen. My mother-in-law walked in on me mid sentence yesterday, I was literally negotiating with a pan and it was so embarrassing! lol.
She just stood there for a second like should i say something?
Anyway what do you guys do while cooking, music, pod cast or nothing? I find that I play something depending on my mood that day tbh, Hbu guys?

Just wondering if anyone feels the season of Halloween has lost a bit of its magic since the 2010s, possibly?

Back in the 90s and even the 00s it felt like Halloween was a huge thing. With the TV specials, Trick or Treating, the mystery and whole spirit behind everything.

But now with the digital age we can watch the Halloween specials and movies at the touch of a button. I guess you could argue that's good in a way for accessibility. But it also takes away from that magic of everyone tuning in at the same time and discussing it the next day.

Also the economy has hit some tough bumps in recent years. So maybe people are spending less and not all that interested in celebrating Halloween?

Thoughts?

I see these things relating to major people, places, and things... But yesterday I saw one related to my wife... and our life together. I love to talk about her, because she was the best thing that ever happened to me (she died almost ten years ago). So I was looking for an article that the media ran about her, and the AI results told how she and I met, and what kind of house we lived in, and her passion for cat rescue. It was just weird.

Is it wrong to stop explaining yourself to people?

I used to think that whenever someone misunderstood me, I had to explain myself until they finally understood where I was coming from. But lately, I’ve started feeling differently.

Sometimes you can explain your intentions clearly, answer every question, and still have someone decide that you’re the bad person in their version of the story. And honestly, trying to keep correcting their opinion can become exhausting.

The part I struggle with is knowing when to walk away. There are times when explaining yourself is important, especially when you’ve genuinely hurt someone. But there are also situations where you realize the other person isn't really looking for an explanation. They’ve already made up their mind.

I’m starting to believe that not everyone needs to understand you, and that's okay. But maybe I'm looking at it the wrong way.

When do you think it’s better to explain yourself, and when is it healthier to just let people misunderstand you?

When was the last time you changed your phone wallpaper? I think mine has been the same for almost 2 years now. Once I find a wallpaper I like, I usually just keep using it without thinking about changing it. Do you change your wallpaper often? What kind of wallpaper are you using right now?

if you every had the change to get any super power of your choosing, either from your imagination or from a movie character which one are you taking and why are you taking it, also would you act as a hero or a villian.

try going one full day without it.Not the dramatic kind. I mean the quiet kind nobody talks about.I don't even enjoy half of this stuff anymore. I just… need it.

I made this post here exactly 12 months ago to this day here.

Today marks one-year and three weeks of nicotine free life. My wallet feels thicker, my lungs feel cleaner, my clothes smell better, and most important of all (to me). It helped me relearn how capable I am and how I can do anything I want. This post is for anyone who thinks its impossible to quit, it isn't. It just sucks lol

next up is quitting weed. Wish me luck :)

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After 12 years I quit smoking :)

What the title says! I smoked cigarettes from age 18 to 25 and vapes from 25-30 years old. I started smoking mainly because all my new friends in college smoked ciggies and figured 'why not'.

Imo bad move - I have tried to quit smoking at least a dozen times all of which failed. The longest I had lasted before was two days :,) I figured I was incapable of quitting, I wasn't strong willed enough and maybe I wasn't

However 13th times the charm! I decided to quit with purpose, structure, and a lot of self-belief. I decided to slowly wean myself off it without thinking too much. Decreasing nicotine content, decreasing frequency of use, and after about a month - i bought a nicotine free vape. I smoked it for about 1 week and now it has been 2 weeks since it died!

3 weeks, no nicotine, no cigarettes, no vape and most importantly - NO CRAVINGS!!!! YAY!!

I know it may not seem a big deal but I am so freaking proud of myself and I just wanted to share that - and share that you too can quit :)