As the days get darker, it’s easier and easier to slide into a gloom-and-doom mindset, particularly if you spend too much time online. So it can be helpful to explore some of the good things in life as a reminder that not everything is bad.
The “Heartwarming Stories” Facebook page is dedicated to wholesome, cute and just happy posts. We also got in touch with Charles de Vilmorin, CEO and Co-founder of “Old People Are Cool,” an advocacy group for the elderly to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to comment your thoughts below.
More info: Facebook | Old People Are Cool
#1
"My grandpa when he turned 100, look at his birthday cards!"
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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"My Dad is afraid to fly, so when I was 5 yrs old I made him a doll to hold on the plane. Mom just sent me this picture. He is packed to come visit me. The doll is 43 years old!"
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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"My dad was admitted to the hospital right before Christmas. We didn't know if he would make it home at all and especially not for Christmas. This is my parents slow dancing to "I'll be home for Christmas" on Christmas Day."
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
Bored Panda got in touch with Charles de Vilmorin, CEO and Co-founder of “Old People Are Cool,” an organization dedicated to changing the way people see the elderly. First and foremost, we wanted to hear if there was a story behind him creating the group.
“Yes! I was meeting with a professor in New Hampshire and saw these 4 words graffiti on a wall; driving back I thought I had seen something awesome that day. I printed stickers and handed them out at a Senior Living trade show where we were exhibiting. People were rushing to get them and we started having amazing conversations. This has then led to the start of the Old People Are Cool campaign to fight ageism.”
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#5
"This old woman uses a marionette of herself to feed squirrels in the park"
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"This person's daughter died of cancer. Before she died, she made this drawing for him, now he wears it on his skin."
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
Naturally, we were then interested to learn more about ageism and general misconceptions about the elderly. So we asked Charles to give some examples of what many people misunderstand or get wrong about older folks. For example “They aren’t happy, it’s the reverse, see the happiness curve,” he suggested.
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Private Kevin Elliot was k**led fighting in Afghanistan. His friend Barry and him made a promise that if one of them died, they'd wear a bright green dress to the other ones' funeral. Barry stayed true to that promise
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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Thanks to Internet popularity, the kid from the "Success Kid meme" made enough money to fund his Dad's kidney transplant
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Sad shelter dog whose only friend was this elephant toy learns that he and his toy are getting new home
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This refers to the idea that, for most people, their 40s tend to be their most unhappy years, while joy actually increases as the person gets older. This doesn’t necessarily mean an actually higher quality of life, just the self-perception of happiness. You can think of it as a U-shaped curve, with high happiness at the start and at the end.
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Elderly YouTuber writes his subscribers down in a notebook, then thanks them individually
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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He waited 2 years at a hospital for a heart transplant. Now he's a Cardiology Fellow at the same hospital
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Other misconceptions Charles shared: “They have great physical and cognitive decline – While some physical and cognitive changes are normal with aging, many older adults remain physically active and mentally sharp well into their later years. They are not resistant to change.”
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"This is my step-dad and I. I'm German, and my mother married him when I was 4 years old. He was only 18. He raised me better than my own mother or father did, even through a nasty divorce where he was cheated on by her. Even with all the racism and stereotypes I heard when we were out together, he didn't let it faze him and proudly proclaimed me as his daughter. Thankfully he is still there for me when I need him"
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#14
"Noah Woods, a five-year-old Georgia boy, awoke to flames in the bedroom. He jumped out of bed, grabbed his two-year-old sister, and got out of the house through an open window. He then went back in to get the family dog and pulled it to safety. He will be recognized as an Honorary Bartow County Firefighter and presented with a Life-saving award."
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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This goose used her wings to protect an abandoned puppy from the cold. The puppy was shivering so she folded her wings around this baby & moved him closer to her so he could benefit from her body warmth. Puppy stopped shivering & went to sleep
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“They are not productive – Some of the great inventors, entrepreneurs and contributors to society produced their best work in later ages. They bring valuable experience, wisdom, and skills to the workforce and volunteer activities, making significant contributions to their communities.”
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An 83-year-old retired Marine kept the promise he made to his friend while in a bunker in Vietnam, and stood guard one last time.
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It doesn't matter how strong & confident you may appear on the outside. Some days you just need your Pooh Bear
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
“They don’t have sex and relationships – this is not true,” he shared. “They are all the same – they are as diverse as any other segment of the population. They are a burden on Society: Some may use more healthcare services, many contribute economically and socially through work, volunteering, and caregiving.”
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"My son has very little experience with babies but wanted to keep trying ways to get her to stop crying. Surprised at the silence I returned to the room to see him bouncing gently on an exercise ball, totally pleased with himself"
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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#21
Thousands of people attended a barbecue in front of the home of a vegan Australian woman who took her neighbors to court over the smell of meat cooking in their own backyard
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
So we also asked him to detail some of the impacts of discriminating against the elderly. “Ageism, which involves discrimination or prejudice against individuals based on their age, poses several problems: a negative Impact on health – negative age belief is known to reduce health span by 7.5 years. It can lead to employment discrimination, healthcare inequities, social isolation and a negative self-perception.”
#22
"17 years ago my wife and I sat in a room and were told by a Dr that our 11 year old son had an incurable brain tumour that he wouldn't survive. Today we saw him get married, he's the best person I know I'm I so very proud to still have him"
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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So we wanted to know in his opinion what made people special. “TBH, I think this question is ageist – I think old people are not special, they’re just old which is a great thing. If there is ONE criticism of the Old People Are Cool message is that it implies that old people are cooler than others which is not the case. It’s a bit like saying Black Lives Matters: of course, all lives matter but the message is to enforce and support a discriminated population.
#25
There were a group of characters dressed as superheroes at a local costume shop. This young boy, who uses a walker, did his best to walk and approach Superman and simply just said "Thank you". Even Superman started to cry.
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
#26
Indiana construction worker Jason Haney hid a giant "Where's Waldo" cutout all over his work site for the children in a nearby hospital to find. Once he received word that they'd found him, he moved Waldo to a new location so they could start looking for him again.
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
#27
Parents listen to their son's transplanted heart beat in the chest of the recipient of his gift. There is only one race. The human race.
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
Lastly, we wanted to know if he had any final thoughts. “Aging is a beautiful experience because it’s part of life. Your future self is as good, or maybe better, than your today’s self!” If you are interested in learning more, you can find information at Old People Are Cool.
#28
The escalator scared the 83 yr old stranger at the mall. The 23 year old noticed & said I'll take you down…
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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A family in Mississippi lost everything in a tornado on Friday. The next day, they went back to see their cat sitting on the pile that used to be their home, waiting for them.
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"You guys… THIS IS MY DAD. He drove to my workplace and waited on me to arrive so he could pour a trail of salt from my vehicle to the front door of my building so that I, his 38 year old daughter, wouldn't slip and fall on the ice… My heart y'all… Love you daddy"
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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#35
Sean Misner, one of the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in Arizona, on his way home. Trucks were on every overpass from Arizona to the Santa Ynez Valley, with firefighters saluting as Misner's wife drove by with his ashes.
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When you absolutely REFUSE to give up
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#42
A girl in my geography class had to bring her newborr to class today. The baby started crying in the middle of our quiz. When she took him out to hold him, my professor insisted that he wouldn't mind feeding the baby and rocking his car seat until she was done. This is my so so awesome, sweet professor, on his knees.
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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#44
A man named Dale Schroeder grew up poor in lowa, never married, had no children, and worked as a carpenter at the same company for 67 years and only owned two jeans. He spent his life savings to send 33 students to college. Today, the 33 strangers have formed a group and call themselves "Dale's kids." Comprised of doctors, teachers and therapists, they honor Schroeder for changing their lives.
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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#47
"I grew my hair out for 3.5 years to turn into a wig for my gf with alopecia"
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#48
"My grandpa owns an onion farm and occasionally decides to take naps in the middle of the field"
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#51
Moved into my new apartment and my neighbor left me this note
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#52
2 surgeons after successfully removing a set of brain tumors during a 32 hour surgery.
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#54
"My stepdad passed away a few days ago and in his final days he started losing his memory. He started ordering random things online and we kept getting them in the mail. My mom recieved this blanket in the mail today adressed to him."
Image credits: Heartwarming Stories
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