Contrary to the belief that every person opts to be surrounded by their loved ones during the final hours of their life, there are people who wish to die alone.
According to some hospice experts, having someone present at the time of dying is a personal preference. There are instances when a person dies in the middle of the night. There are also stories of loved ones stepping away briefly only for the patient to pass.
Glenys Caswell, a senior research fellow at the University of Nottingham, suggests that individuals have a certain level of influence over the timing of their own death, with some opting to wait until they are left all alone, with no loved ones by their side. Caswell adds that “contrary to societal norms, dying alone is not always viewed negatively by those facing the end of life.”
While this notion may appear grim, Caswell, who specializes in the study of death, highlights that many individuals prefer not to be fussed over when they don’t feel well.
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Study conducted by the New York University Langone School of Medicine, published in October of last year, explains that individuals remain conscious of their impending death even after their body stops showing any signs of life.
Lizzy Miles, a hospice social worker, believes that when they decide to die alone, individuals want to protect their family from seeing death up close and experiencing greater emotional pain. This is seen more at parents who are passing away than individuals who don’t have children.
This shows the sacrifice some individuals are prepared to undertake in order to alleviate the weight of their departure.
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Cultural factors and personal convictions significantly affect one’s preferences for the end of life. Glenys Caswell’s comprehensive research emphasizes that societal expectations frequently highlight the significance of having loved ones present during death, yet individual outlooks diverge greatly. Aspects such as healthcare policies, media portrayal of death, and personal comfort thresholds all play roles in shaping a spectrum of viewpoints regarding dying alone.
The wish to die alone challenges the popular opinion of a “good death.”
The truth is that dying alone is often related to a lonely, sad death. Many cultural references also suggest this to be true. For example, the death of Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is dark, lonely, and a way of dying to be avoided.
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When a celebrity dies surrounded by family and friends, the media portrays that form of dying as peaceful.
Engaging in open discussions can also alleviate some of the guilt imposed on family members who are unable to be present at the moment of their loved one’s passing.
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Social media sites that are widely used by millions of people on a daily basis serve as a melting pot of creativity, connectivity, and cultural exchange. For the youngsters, they might be a source of income and a place where they can have fun and entertain themselves.
Currently, the most popular online trends are the social media challenges. These viral activities or dares capture the attention of users on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, inspiring them to participate and show off.
Like waves in a summer harvest, these challenges spread with remarkable speed, and while we may not personally engage with every trend out there, it’s more than certain that these phenomena shape young people’s behavior, even for a while.
Some such trends, like the ALS ice bucket challenge, are positive drivers of charity that lead to real-life changes within societies. Others, sadly, are quite dangerous, such as the challenge that involves inhaling dangerous gases or solvents that cause a high.
And now, we present to you one of the most recent trends that involves young people and group photos.
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The trend, known as ‘nose covering,’ includes covering a large portion of the face with your hand so that your face doesn’t appear in the photo. This sounds strange, and honestly, maybe a bit foolish, but it’s a thing among the youngsters.
At first, some believed that those following this trend were sending some secret message to one another, but according to British parenting expert Amanda Jenner that’s not the case.
Speaking to Fabulous, she explained, “Using covers is the only way they can remove themselves without actually upsetting their parents by refusing to be in the photo.
“We as parents want and insist on capturing the moment but to a teenager this is a big deal. Teenagers go through a period of not embracing their appearance, i.e. could be spots, braces, or they just have a time in their lives where they have no self confidence.”
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Jenner emphasized that covering one’s nose could be particularly significant for young individuals who feel anxious about their image being shared online by their peers.
“Their peers can often share the photo and make fun of it which is very harmful to their confidence also resulting in harmful comments which can lead onto other issues,” she said.
Jenner has a message for the parents whose children follow this trend. “Remember that this phase is a normal part of growing up, where seeking independence and establishing personal boundaries are key developmental milestones.”
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Finding a wallet unexpectedly can put people in a state of perplexity and doubt. It’s a scenario where personal integrity is tested, and the decisions made reflect one’s ethical values. In any ways, in case we find something that isn’t ours, we should always opt for honesty, empathy, and responsibility.
A young man stumbled upon a wallet on the street. When he opened it in hopes of finding an ID, he noticed there were $700 there.
A few days later, he learned of a wealthy man who had lost his wallet and was offering $50 reward. He was glad he finally found the rightful owner and went to his home to return what belonged to him. Of course, he expected his reward for returning the wallet and doing the right thing.
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However, the wealthy man said, “I see you have already taken your reward,” claiming there were $750 in his wallet.
The young man got angry and decided to get what’s his through court.
When the young man made his case, the wealthy man took his turn and told the judge, “Your Honor, I trust you, you trust me.”
The judge responded with, “Obviously.” Hearing these words, the young man lost all hope of ever getting his reward of $50 not knowing that the judge had something else on his mind.
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The judge reached a verdict to give the young man the wallet with all the money in it. The wealthy man got angry, claiming the wallet was his, but the judge responded, “You are, of course, an honest guy, and if you claim that your lost wallet had $750 in it, I’m sure it did — but this wallet must belong to someone else because if the man who found it is a liar and a thief, he wouldn’t have returned it at all. The money belongs to the person who found it, unless someone comes forward to claim it.”
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“How about my money?” the wealthy man asked.
“We’ll simply have to wait till your wallet with the $750 is found,” the judge answered.
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Denise wasn’t at ease during the last couple of months because she suspected her husband, Mitch, was unfaithful. In the pursuit of the truth, she realized that the reality was much more worse than she could ever assume.
During a night out with their friends, Denise could witness her husband bragging to their friends about the cars he had been working on, mentioning Mustangs and a vintage Chevy. She was skeptical of his claims having in mind their financial difficulties with their auto repair shop, which was on her name due to his bad credit history, but she didn’t say a single word, letting him have his moment while his friends were in awe.
After some time, Mitch went to the bar to refresh their drinks and Denise noticed that a good-looking blonde woman handed him a piece of paper. Denise snitched the note from her husband’s hand and read it out loud. It said, “Thanks for last night?”
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At that moment, Mitch said it was just a prank his friends pulled on him, and his friend Tom agreed, but it was obvious it wasn’t a prank and Tom was unwillingly forced to lie. However, as she didn’t want to made a big deal out of it in front of their friends, she decided to let it go.
A few minutes passed by, and Denise received a video on her phone from Mitch and the lady who handed him the paper. Eager to learn what was going on, Denise approached the woman but she left the place and entered her car before Denise could reach her.
Once home, she waited Mitch to fall asleep so she could go through his lap top.
Luckily, the lap top contained all of his passwords. At that moment, Denise discovered something far more alarming than an affair. Photographs, car parts invoices, and car registration papers with matching VINs were visible in his files. Her husband was obviously involved in criminal activities and all those transactions were illegal.
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The following day, she decided to pay Mitch a visit at the shop. It was Carlos, the worker, who greeted her and told her Mitch was at the back of the shop.
She headed there and that’s when she saw her husband arguing with a man she had never seen before.
Denise decided to record the row, and what she heard chilled her blood.
“I can’t use parts that are already broken. Come on, at least give me something I can work with,” Mitch argued with desperation in his voice.
“You’re lucky we’re even giving you this,” the man replied angrily.
“Look at that cylinder head cover…it looks like it was pried off with a crowbar,” Mitch said, and the man replied, “Take it or leave it, Mitch. You owe us.”
As the man walked out, Mitch noticed Denise and started yelling at her, wanting to know how much of the conversation she had heard.
“Keep your mouth shut, or there’ll be consequences you can’t even fathom,” he sneered.
Denise got inside her car and just as she started driving, she noticed something cold on the back of her head. It was a gun, and the person pointing it at her was the blonde woman who handed Mitch the note the previous night.
“Drive now. Get moving,” she muttered coldly. “I’m Special Agent Garcia. I need your help to bring down the criminals at your husband’s auto repair shop,” showing her badge.
“How do I even know you’re the real deal?” Denise asked, looking at the badge as if she knew how to detect if it was fake.
“I’ve been watching Mitch’s shop, and you stumbled upon something big today,” Garcia replied. “I need you to cooperate.”
Denise trembled, and with a shaking voice she said, “Fine. I’ll help you.”
The two drove to Denise’s house. “What did you find?” Agent Garcia asked Denise.
“He’s been dealing with these people, paying off debts with stolen car parts,” Denise answered showing Garcia Mitch’s lap top. “This is crucial. It links him to these guys,” Agent Garcia said.
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Denise explained that she thought he was cheating on her and that she never assumed he could be part of something dangerous.
“There’s enough here for a case, but we need more. Mitch might be key to bringing down the whole ring. Can you do one last thing to help me?” Garcia asked.
That evening, Mitch came home drunk and demanded his dinner, but Denise insisted they needed to talk.
“Mitch, we need to talk. What’s going on with the money you owe these people?”
He said it was just “business trouble,” but Denise confessed to him that she had heard his conversation with the man behind the store.
Mitch snapped. “I cheated them, okay? Sold a stolen classic car and pocketed the difference!” Denise wanted to know what he spent the money on. He admitted to squandering the money on part ownership of a racing dog, believing it to be a lucrative investment.
“How could you drag us into such a mess?” Denise screamed.
“I didn’t expect you to find out, so you better keep your mouth shut. You’ll end up wearing concrete shoes at the bottom of the river if you tell. They won’t do anything to me,” he smirked and laughed drunkenly. “They need me.”
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Denise became aware that her husband didn’t care if she was going to be hurt. He only cared about himself. She then opened the front door and Garcia was there. She caught Mitch off guard and arrested him.
As other officers searched their home, Denise asked Garcia why she had sent her the video of her and Mitch the night at the bar.
“I thought you should know what Mitch was doing,” Agent Garcia answered, sighing. “I wanted to ensure you wouldn’t be blamed for his crimes since the shop is in your name.”
Denise gasped, “I could have been in trouble for Mitch’s actions?”
“It’s complicated, but now that we know all the details, you shouldn’t worry. You’re clear of any suspicion,” the agent comforted her.
Denise was relieved she wasn’t in trouble. With her husband being charged for doing illegal activities, she decided to run the shop herself. Of course, with the help of Carlos, who worked there long years.
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Every parent wants only the best for their children, and no matter how tough things get, it is moms and dads who are always there to provide comfort and assurance that everything was going to be just fine.
When Rose, 19, told her mom Ella that she was dating a guy, Ella was doubtful about the young man’s intentions, but over time, she learned to love and accept Nathan who treated Rose with respect.
The only concern Ella had was her daughter’s college. She feared that getting involved in a serious relationship at that age would prevent her from achieving her dream of graduating from college, but Rose assured her it won’t be the case.
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One day, Rose approached her mom and told her she needed to talk to her about something. Ella’s heart shrank, she didn’t know what to expect but was eager to learn what Rose had to say.
Hearing the sentence “Please don’t get upset,” made this mother feel even more pressured and uncertain of the news she was about to receive.
“I am pregnant with Nathan’s baby. You’re going to be a grandmother,” Rose uttered in a shy manner.
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Rose was so young, she was a baby herself, and now she was going to be a mother. Disappointment passed through Ella as she imagined how much her daughter’s life would change.
“I know you wanted me to secure my future first, but this baby and Nathan are a big part of it,” Rose tried to assure her mom.
Promising that everything was going to be okay and that she won’t drop out of college when the baby was born, Rose told her mom that she had yet another news to share.
“Um, I have another surprise for you,” Rose said as she showed her mom her hand. “He proposed Mommy and I said ‘Yes!'”
This was an assurance that Nathan’s attentions were serious, and no matter the fact that she once feared for her daughter’s future, Rose now felt relieved and offered Rose and Nathan to stay at her house until they were able to get their own home some time in the future.
The young couple was overjoyed. They even turned one of the rooms into a nursery. Life felt good, but then, at one moment, everything changed.
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One day, excited to show Rose what she had purchased for the baby they were all waiting to come into the world, Ella returned home earlier than expected. Once home, she saw Rose wearing her delicate lingerie.
Rose’s stunned face mirrored the rhythm of Ella’s plummeting heart, suggesting it sensed trouble well before she did. “Mom! What—what are you doing home so early?” Rose stammered, her voice quivering.
Before Ella could reply, a deep, unfamiliar voice called out from the hallway, “Babe, who are you talking to?” It felt like a knife twisting in Ella’s gut when she realized the voice wasn’t Nathan’s.
At that moment, she dropped the bags full of groceries, and some of the things inside broke and made a complete mess in the hallway.
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“I thought I’d surprise you with these,” Ella said, gesturing to the mess at her feet, “But it seems I’m the one surprised.” Her heart started pounding as she moved towards the voice while Rose pleaded, “Mom, please, let me explain!”
When she opened the bedroom door, Ella saw a man she had never seen before. He was wrapped in the blanket that Nathan’s mom bought for Rose.
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“What is going on here, Rose?” Ella demanded answers. The man stood up, trying to appear respectable, which only fueled Ella’s growing fury.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am. I didn’t realize—” he started.
“Out!” Ella cut him off sharply. He then took his clothes and rushed out of the house.
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“Mom, it was a mistake. I was just… it was nothing. Please, don’t tell Nathan. Please!” Rose pleaded.
“How can you say ‘it was nothing’? You betray everything we’ve built for you, for this family!” Ella yelled, struggling to hide her tears.
“You’ve not only lied to Nathan but to everyone. This house, this room—we prepared this for your future, for your child’s future!”
The image of Rose in the arms of another man was too much for her mom to handle. She also felt sorry for Nathan who loved Rose with all his heart. “You made your choice, Rose. Now, you must leave. I need time to think, to breathe… to decide if I can even look at you the same way again.”
Rose collapsed on the floor.
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“I have nowhere to go and no money, Mom! Please, I’m scared!” Rose kept repeating.
As Ella stood there, witnessing her daughter gather her sparse belongings through eyes blurred with tears, she felt a fragment of herself break apart. Nevertheless, the betrayal ran too deep, the pain too raw.
Ella wondered if it was her right to tell Nathan about Rose’s infidelity. She couldn’t kept but wonder whether the child Rose carried was indeed Nathan’s.
Taking to Reddit, Ella asked fellow redditors if expelling Rose was too harsh a decision. “Should I unveil this painful truth to Nathan? Was my decision to protect what remains of our family’s integrity correct? Or am I a mother scorned, acting out of hurt rather than wisdom?”
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Over the Rainbow remains a classic adored by millions of people. First written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg, the song took on a significance greater than the moment it was intended to soundtrack.
One of the most widely embraced interpretations of this iconic song came from Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, the Hawaiian vocalist who delivered a tender rendition on his beloved ukulele during a late-night session in 1988.
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Recording engineer Milan Bertosa said how he got a call one night at 3 a.m by a man who wanted to record a song. “And in walks the largest human being I had seen in my life,” Bertosa was reported to have said. “Then I put up some microphones, do a quick sound check, roll tape, and the first thing he does is ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’ He played and sang, one take, and it was over.”
Over the years, the song has been used by many film companies and producers.
But when it comes to life performances of this piece of music, many are afraid to sing it because it requires incredible technique and special vocal abilities to deliver it the way it should sound.
When then 11-year-old Anna took the stage of The Voice Kids, she took the attention of the judges, who had never pressed the buttons that quick, and stole the hearts of everyone who has witnessed her powerful performance.
Anna was considered a star in the making because her confidence was very high and her voice was angelic.
This is truly something you don’t want to miss. Take a look at the stunning performance in the video below.
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Breastfeeding is a natural and beautiful process that helps create intimacy and bonding between the mom and her bundle of joy.
Feeding babies whenever and wherever they are hungry is something mom’s shouldn’t feel bad about, but sadly, there are people out there who give them a hard time as they believe feeding babies in public is not appropriate or acceptable if they don’t use a cover.
Back in 2018, Melanie Dudley, a mom of a 3-month-old baby, was at a restaurant with her family and some friends when the little one started crying for food. Without hesitation, Melanie, who is from Texas, started breastfeeding her son. And although everyone was fine with that, it looked like a stranger who was sitting on the next table was uncomfortable with this mom not being covered while breastfeeding.
He approached Melanie and asked her to cover up. And well, she did just that, but in a manner that stranger expected.
”I was on vacation in Cabo San Lucas with my entire family, and a man asked me to cover myself. I’m usually discreet but we were seated in the back of the restaurant,” Melanie told Yahoo.
“I did have the cover on, but it was so hot. It was like, 95 degrees, and my little baby was sweating,” the Texan told TODAY.
“I said, ‘You know what? I’m on vacation, I’m taking this off.’”
Melanie took the cover and put it on her head instead, having the entire restaurant bursting out in laughter.
”I just put it over my head. I don’t know why. It wasn’t like a salacious fight or anything. That was just my response. I had no words, so I thought, I’ll just cover my head instead,” the woman explained.
A woman who witnessed the entire thing, Carol Lockwood, took a photo of Melanie and shared it online with the caption, “I’ve never met her, but I think she’s AWESOME!!! (Please share! With permission, I’ve made this post public — I’m SO over people shaming women for nursing!!!” In no time, the photo was shared 225,000 times and counting.
A great number of people stood my Melanie’s side and supported what she did.
We truly believe that breastfeeding is the most normal thing and no mom should feel ashamed for giving food to her baby in public.
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Being pregnant with her second child, Olivia experienced what most expecting mothers do, she was exhausted and found solace in hiding away and indulging in her junk food cravings. Thankfully, her best friend Ava wouldn’t let her going through her roller-coaster of emotions all by herself by offering to do various activities that would keep Olivia engaged.
One day, Ava suggested that the two attend a pottery class where they would make creations for the baby shower. Although unwillingly, Olivia agreed because Ava was too excited about it. The two arranged Olivia’s husband Malcolm to take care of their other child.
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Once there, they took their place with the rest of the women there. As the class proceeded, the women started sharing their birth stories.
One of the woman said something that sent chills down to Olivia’s spine. It happened that she gave birth to her son on 4th of July, the same day Olivia gave birth to her first daughter Tessa, but this woman’s husband wasn’t present because his sister-in-law, Olivia, was giving birth at the same time.
This was too much of a coincidence.
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The woman then shared that her husband, whose name was also Malcolm, just as Olivia’s, missed his son’s first birthday because he attended his niece’s birthday instead.
At that moment, Olivia and Ava glanced at each other in disbelief. Olivia needed to make sure the woman wasn’t actually talking about her Malcolm so she showed her a photo of her husband and asked her if by any chance, the man she was talking about was the one on the photo. The woman was surprised. She barely gathered the courage to say, “Yes, that’s the father of my son.”
Olivia’s heart sand. Her world turned upside down upon the realization that Malcolm had a son with another woman.
The rest of the women in the pottery party exchanged sympathetic glances, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Olivia and Ava excused themselves and entered the car.
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A day passed by before Olivia gathered the courage to confront Malcolm.
“I refused to let this fester, especially with my due date looming in just five weeks. I needed to know how we could move forward before bringing our baby into this mess,” she wrote.
He reluctantly admitted to fathering a child with the other woman, and Olivia started researching for divorce lawyers.
She said she is aware that the path would be a tough one, but she’s determined to heal herself for her children.
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