The world is facing troubles, always. Be it on a global scale or on a personal level, it’s very difficult to escape strife. Sometimes, to remind ourselves of our own luck, it’s worth seeing the troubles that others face. Consider it humbling.
“This woman’s last wish was to marry her boyfriend. Yesterday it happened.”
Alysia has been battling leukemia at Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas for over a month now, and said her dying wish was to marry her boyfriend, Daniel. An article about her story read, “Alysia was too sick to leave the hospital, so staff brought the marriage to her, granting her and her boyfriend a marriage license and performing the ceremony from her hospital bed.”
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“At A School Strike Protest For Climate Change.”
The serious uptick in protests for change in the past few years is a positive sign that the younger generations will make themselves heard, even if experts are being disregarded.
“A German soldier returns home only to find his family no longer there. Frankfurt, 1946.”
A great number of soldiers died in WWII, of course, but the civilian casualties were far worse . There were around 15,000,000 battle deaths and 45,000,000 civilian deaths, meaning many came home to empty houses like this man here.
“Young mother doing food delivery in Russia.”
Food delivery on public transit with kids sounds like a hassle on its own but this image captures the struggle. Could you imagine bringing your kids to work every day for a job that requires heavy travel?
“I’m trying to make my work truck the antithesis of most trucks with bumper stickers I see!”
While the post itself is sweet, the fact that it needs to be done at all is a shame. If the “antithesis” of most trucks is friendly and respectful, what does that say about the rest of that industry?
“Two autistic kids tied to the radiator of an asylum. [Lebanon], 1982.”
It’s no surprise that care for autistic people hasn’t always been the best, but seeing the severity and sheer amount of abuse that took place is always heart-wrenching.
“Alaska news paper bringing awareness […].”
Much like the truck, this is very good of the paper, but sad that it’s needed at all. Good for them for reminding those who can’t speak out that they are valued and loved.
“A liberated [Jewish prisoner] holds a Nazi guard at gunpoint.”
The user who uploaded the photo stated that the man holding the gun is his grandfather, and he had this to say: “Because my grandfather died 4 months before I was born I didn’t get the chance to ask him about the picture […] I know he survived the extermination camp Treblinka, but the whole issue was extremely taboo in our family while my grandparents were alive. So only after they all died [did we dare] to open and see the memoirs they left.”
“[…] got vaccinated despite having Anti-Vax parents. Finally got my last immunization shot!”
More and more often do I see photos of adults getting their first vaccines that were withheld from them as children. To take their health into their own hands must feel so good, but seeing just how many anti-vax parents are still out there is a little frightening.
“A person wearing a full-face prosthetic mask to evade CCTV and facial recognition.”
Surveillance is becoming much more commonplace in modern society. From the excess of CCTV cameras to the popularized camera doorbells, it’s hard to go anywhere without being seen. Though this is, admittedly, kind of creepy and uncanny, if it’s the solution to surveillance, I’m on board.
“Our boy locked himself in the bathroom.”
The door got jammed by an open drawer blocking it, said the user who uploaded this photo, and while they clearly got in before anything dire happened, not everyone is so lucky. Keep an eye on your kids at all times.
“This is what inequality looks like in my country.”
This photo was taken in Mumbai, India, but many in the comments said how easily this could be their own city. This sort of wealth inequality is only growing worse, with many turning to the streets to sleep while others live in houses with more space than they know what to do with.
“A desperate man during the Great Depression, 1930.”
The look of resignation on the man’s face was one I’m sure many people shared during that era. What with the unemployment rate believed to be higher than 20% at its peak and the decline of nearly every industry on the market, it’d be hard not to look so tired.
“‘There’s a plastic island the size of Texas in the ocean’ written on a bottled water ad.”
It’s less of an island and more of a gyre, or a vortex , which makes it even worse. Were it an island, it would be easier to collect, but seeing as it’s part of a massive water spin, it flows through the water freely to be eaten by wildlife and pollute the waters.
“Make Orwell Fiction Again (A bookshop closing down in Todmorden, UK).”
It seems that no matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on, everyone can agree it’s getting a little Orwellian, just for different reasons.
“World War soldier paying tribute to the fallen.”
Not just any fallen, this man is paying tribute to his brother who was killed on D-Day. Many noted his Master Sergeant rank, meaning this man was tough, and fought hard.
“Wild fires burning in my state right now(Colorado). View from above.”
Everyone knows that wildfires are massive and destructive forces, but seeing them from this perspective reinforces that knowledge.
“Words of reassurance left for an elderly lady with dementia by her daughter. A simple white board left in her sight line in her sitting room. Helped to reduce constant anxious phone calls.”
Dementia is a horrible illness. I’ve watched multiple people struggle with it, and it’s rough on everyone around. The thought that one would need simple reminders like this, ones as vague as “you’re okay,” makes my heart ache.
“My multi-million dollar health care company said they were getting us a present for being essential workers… we got a baggie of masks.”
I’ve seen quite the trend of essential workers not getting the essential treatment. There are so many minimum wage workers who risk their lives every day right now to help the rest of the community, and they deserve much better.
“Paint lid wasn’t closed properly by the store.”
A drenched trunk and no way to prove it wasn’t your fault; this is tragedy stacked.
“A sad tombstone from 1875.”
If you can’t see it clearly, the tombstone reads:
Seduced and pregnant by her father’s friend. Unwed, she died from abortion, her only choice. Abandoned in life and death by family with but a single rose from her mother. Buried only through the kindness of an unknown benefactor. Died February, 1875, age 21. Victim of an unforgiving society. Have mercy on us.
Whenever I hear or see someone who seemed to suffer so much in life, I can only hope they found peace after the fact. It’s the least they deserve.
“Really sad letter a homeless veteran left at the park.”
The stats regarding homeless veterans are always shocking. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans , “Although flawless counts are impossible to come by […] the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 40,056 veterans are homeless on any given night. […] About 1.4 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.”
“Kangaroo Island in Australia.”
Many in the comments were hoping for regrowth, seeing as the image on the right was caused by fires, but knowing that will take years, decades, still makes it a somber sight.
“Wholesome but sad Bench Inscription.”
I’d wager this is more wholesome than sad, if only because we can tell they had a sense of humor and lived long, surely happy lives.
Desperate times, desperate measures.
The hope here is that two of the tags have been taken, so with any luck, this person got some assistance.
Bittersweet.
“Tom and his wife lived here for 50 years and loved every second of it. They sold the home to my wife and I because we reminded them of when they were young. Tom was sad to leave, but knew it was time,” wrote the user who uploaded the photo, showing just how hard it is to leave any place you consider home.
“[Spotted] at the local high school.”
I can’t even imagine why they were cut down. Posing a danger to the cars, maybe? Either way, sad to see over 20 years of growth gone.
“This football field has chains locked across so you can’t use it outside school hours.”
Restrictions like this feel so pointless. All you’re doing is taking away one more place kids could play during off-hours.
“My daughter was on her way home from spending all her savings to put brand new rims and tires on her car when a tractor pulled out in front of her and put her in the hospital and totalled her car.”
As many pointed out in the comments, while the car situation is sad, it can be replaced. What matters most is that the daughter walked away alright (which she did, suffering a concussion and some bruising).
“The face of a hockey goalie before masks became standard game equipment, 1966.”
It’s hard to remember that people put themselves at great risk to play sports in the past. Today, sports are still dangerous, even with all the modern rules and regulations! Talk about the love of the game.
“A doctor […] stopped to let a [87-year-old patient see] the sunset during a transfer.”
It becomes very clear which doctors and other medical staff really care about patients when you see photos like this.
“A diabetic patient (who has health insurance!) shared this photo, showing the price of a 1-month supply of insulin in the US.”
This becomes all the more tragic when you learn that in 1992, when Frederick Banting and Charlie Best discovered insulin as a treatment for diabetes, they sold the patent for $1; they believed it should be accessible to everyone, just for it to end up like this for some folks.
“A mother and her primary school children flee the from the fires surrounding their town by going out to sea on their boat in Australia […].”
Not only does this look absolutely apocalyptic, but the uncertainty this family must have been feeling is awful. Imagine leaving your home and not knowing what will be left of it when you return.
“The message my track coach’s husband left her on September 11th, 2001.”
Of course 9/11 was a tragic situation for all, but being directly affected by it or knowing someone who was makes it all the more sickening. At least we make an effort to never forget those who lost their lives.
“A funeral procession drove past and this solider left his car to stand at attention in the rain.”
The comments were filled with other people telling stories of things their town or family would do when a funeral procession drove by, all paying respects. It’s a small action, to either stand or remove a hat or something, but it’s a show of respect that I’m sure means the world to the loved ones of whoever passed.
“The amount of left over bread management won’t let us donate.”
People who worked/volunteered at foodbanks tried to comfort this user by saying they usually have an overabundance of bread anyway, but the fact that there isn’t even an option to try and donate is what’s cruel.
“Took my dad to see if his first car was still where he left it when its engine seized — 40 years ago. It was.”
This feels bittersweet in a way. Seeing an old memory still intact, but knowing the poor car was left to rust, no one really considering it worth saving or even scrapping. At least it didn’t seem to have too rough of an impact on the environment, which is happily using it to grow further.
“Police officer pepper-spraying a little child.”
This photo was taken in 2011 in Brazil, but similar images and videos surface too frequently of children being attacked by police. We know there’s no threat that little girl could have had on that man. It’s nothing but unnecessary, excessive, and cruel use of force.
“Students left their classrooms & held a sit-in protesting the forced resignation of 2 LGBT teachers.”
Seeing these Catholic students take a stand for their teachers is amazing, but they shouldn’t have to in this day and age. No one should be forced to quit solely due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
“A mailman always gives treats to every dog on his route. One of the dogs recently passed away and the owners left the mailman this note.”
It’s a real show of character and strength when someone can take a personal tragedy and turn it into joy for others. I’m sure all the other dogs are going to love those treats and Gretchen would have been happy to share.
“A soldier’s face after 4 years of war, 1941- 1945.”
According to one Redditor , this is a Russian soldier who was in the war from 1941-1945. he was captured and sent to a German POW camp but escaped and rejoined his comrades. He was lauded as a hero of the Soviet Union for his service in Operation Bagration.
Heavy lifting.
“Firefighter had originally planned to run in full gear along with his friend to raise money for charity. However his friend was tragically killed in an arson fire, so he ran the Glass City Marathon in his friend’s honor,” wrote the user who uploaded this photo. Imagine the strength of this man.
“The desk of SC State Senator Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the tragic Charleston mass shooting. A single rose and a black drape.”
Much like the soldier standing for the funeral procession, this is a small act meant to honor someone, but it means a lot.
