5 Wholesome Short Stories to Make You Smile Today

Sometimes the world feels heavy. That’s why we bring you short stories that remind you of the good, the kindness of strangers, the small acts that change lives, and the moments that restore faith in people.

Don’t just read these short stories, get the next one delivered with love to your inbox.
Advertisement


1. This couple has been wearing matching outfits every day for 68 years.

YouTube 

YouTube 

It's all because the wife, Rosemary, has picked out outfits for her husband every day for the last 67 years of their marriage. It began one day when they were teenagers, when Rosemary's mother bought them matching T-shirts, and since then they have been wearing outfits in sync together.

"She just lays it out for me, and I don't have to worry about a thing!" says Rosemary's husband, Francis. Their marriage is a perfect example of not just a happy but also a healthy marriage like this America’s longest married couple in the modern timeline. After all, the entire point of life is to find someone and live so fully that your future self never has to wonder, "what if."

Advertisement


2. Brave cat saves owner's life while the family's guard dog sleeps through it all.


A hero cat saved its owner, Scott White, in the middle of the night when a fire broke out. Surprisingly, the owner's dog was fast asleep, leaving the cat to take on the life-saving duty.

When Scott woke up in the middle of the night, he thought his cat just wanted a midnight stroke. But when the cat jumped on his chest, Scott knew something was wrong. So he followed the cat downstairs, realizing the house was on fire. Scott had left a pot on the stove before going to bed, and it was just a few minutes away from turning into a full-blown fire.

"I guess we found out the real hero is the cat," said Scott, as he watched his dog sleep right through the night. 

Cats can surprise us in unexpected ways. No wonder we all admire this 83 year old Turkish owner who, despite losing everything, saved his cat in burning house.
Advertisement



3. Bus driver asks his passengers to get off the bus after they refuse to make space for a passenger with a wheelchair.


In October 2018, a bus driver noticed a passenger with a wheelchair entering the bus. But no other passengers were willing to make room for him. So the driver took an extraordinary step and asked everyone else to get off the bus. After making sure that the man in the wheelchair could board safely, the driver continued driving the empty bus with him as the sole passenger, leaving the others behind to wait for the next bus.

The driver's bold act just like this uber driver who donated his kidney to a passenger, was admired by everyone and was driven by his commitment to accessibility and fairness. "Everyone might need a wheelchair one day."

Advertisement


4. Clerk helps grandfather in a diaper to buy milk and then safely escorts him home.

Credits: Nina Yang

An elderly man in a Taiwanese convenience store was seen in a diaper, asking for milk, when the clerk responded, "You can only have four bottles of milk." The photographer thought maybe the clerk was looking down on the elderly man and refusing to sell him more. 

But after carefully listening to the conversation, he realized that the clerk was familiar with the elderly man and his daily life. He refused to sell him more milk because he was worried that the grandpa wouldn't be able to finish all of it.

After paying for the elderly man, the clerk put down his work and went out to walk him across the street and take him home safely.
What started as a strange judgment against the clerk turned into great appreciation for his humanity and kindness. This reminds us of the time a police officer helps a disabled elderly get onto the bus. Or when this cop helps an elderly with dementia find her way back home, by pretending to go on a walk with her
Advertisement



5. 61-year-old married man wears heels and skirts to challenge gender stereotypes at work. His wife supports his efforts and even helps him pick his outfits.

IG/Mark Bryan

IG/Mark Bryan

IG/Mark Bryan

Mark Bryan, a 61-year-old father and engineer, spends most of his time at work. But he has recently started to be known for his bold outfits on social media, which consist of boots, skirts, and pumps.

He believes that clothes should not define sexuality or gender. To challenge masculine clothing stereotypes, Mark leans towards skirts over the typical pants most men wear at work.

His wife and kids are his biggest fans, as he clearly communicates with his family about how clothes shouldn't define gender.

Of course, challenging stereotypes, especially at that age, isn't easy. You get exposed to some level of hate. But Mark has become a a living reminder that our assumptions about gender and clothing are worth questioning. Just as this Spanish statue of an overwhelmed mother did. Every outfit he wears pushes us to look beyond tradition and rethink the boxes we place people in.

Mark is not the only husband and dad on internet we’re fans of. This single dad started a ‘dads and daughters’ class for other single dads out there; This one builds an igloo for his disabled kids. Aren’t they super heroes?
Advertisement



Our stories are for those days when you’ve lost a little faith in peopleThese feel-goodwholesome stories are here to remind you that kindness still exists, and that small moments can make the biggest difference. If you’d like more of these reminders, you can subscribe and never miss a story.


Send story ideas, facts, correction, or kind thoughts to hello@nostalgicgrandma.com.



Previous Post Next Post