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Real Life Stories

You’ve got to read it to believe it! These true stories seem almost too good to be true, but we promise that we couldn’t make these up. From love to loss and from survival to unbelieavable coincidences—we’ve got the wildest stories to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired.

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This Town’s Most Famous Resident Is a Pink Pig Named Ernestine

When Joanne Clayton spotted a stray animal near her home in Illinois, she had no idea how important it would become to her community.

This Cyclist Has Given More Than 450 Adaptive Bikes to Children in Need

The idea for the McLindon Family Foundation began with one thoughtful act of kindness.


This Father and Son Saved a Fisherman After He Fell Overboard

There was no one aboard the pleasure craft that almost T-boned them. So a father and son went fishing for...


These 8 Chance Encounters with Kind Strangers Will Warm Your Heart

Readers share their accounts of kind people who helped them when they needed it the most.


These Neighbors Rushed to Help a Man and His Son After They Fell Into a Well

A father's worst nightmare came true when his child fell down a well. After jumping in after his son, he...

This Man Uses His Own Money to Buy New Basketball Nets for Playgrounds

Anibal Amador knows that basketball is nothing without the net.


When This Woman’s Cat Got Stuck in a Tree, Neighbors Stepped Up to Help

“I can’t believe how many people went out of their way to help me with this cat."

This Man Found His Purpose by Sitting on a Bench and Listening to Strangers

Each morning, Al Nixon sits on a bench, watches the sunrise, and connects with strangers from all walks of life.


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20 Sweet Stories About Moms (That Will Make You Want to Call Yours)

Mother's Day 2022 is coming up on May 8. These readers' stories offer much-needed mom love and inspiration.


Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees: 13 Stories That Will Renew Your Faith in Humanity

Instead of waiting to figure out the "right" way to help, these people are leaping into action to help Ukrainian...


Nicest Places in America 2022

Nicest Places in America is a nationwide search for places where people are kind and do amazing things to improve...

These Four People Were Faced with Death and Lived to Tell Their Stories

When faced with certain death, you need bravery, determination, and plenty of luck.


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When a Cryptic Stranger Lurked Toward Their Owner, These Mild-Mannered Dogs Sprang Into Guard Mode

The normally affectionate pair weren’t going to let anyone threaten their pack.


The Stray Cat Who Brought Home a Stray Cat

People used to say that during the Great Depression, the needy would mark the doors of sympathetic households. I believe...


Meet the Women Who Catch Python Snakes in the Everglades Every Night

Invasive Burmese pythons are squeezing the life out of the Everglades. An unlikely sisterhood of the swamp is taking...


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The Story of an Adopted Pet Dog Who Adopted His Own Pet Dog

Whoobie loved his owner so much, he thought it might be fun to have a little pet of his own.

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My Favorite Neighbor Was a Golden Retriever

Jersey Girl wasn’t technically Karen Dickson’s dog, but their bond was nothing short of spectacular.


Here’s How This Student Turns Chip Bags into Sleeping Bags for the Homeless

The Chip Bag Project is slowly but surely chipping away at poverty.


This Bystander at a Reptile Center Wrestled an Alligator to Save Its Trainer

A spectator at a reptile exhibit became part of the show when the star attraction attacked its handler.


How These Readers Found a Silver Lining During the Pandemic

If you wish you’d had a fast-forward button to push in March 2020, you’re not alone. But some readers...


I Was Stalked with an Apple AirTag—Here’s What I Wish I’d Known

Tech aimed at making our lives easier is now the perfect stalking tool—and it's terrifying.


30 Stories About the Touching Kindness of Strangers That’ll Make You Tear Up

We asked readers for firsthand accounts of compassion. Here are 30 stories on kindness that touched your lives—and our hearts.


18 True Christmas Miracles That Will Restore Your Hope for the Holidays

These true stories prove that a well-timed letter, a handful of pennies, or a single gust of wind can make...


13 Sweet Vintage Letters to Santa—from Almost 100 Years Ago

Sweet, vintage letters to Santa from Texas farm kids recall a simpler, more generous time.

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Here’s How This Community Displayed Support For a Grieving Family

After these siblings lost their dad and aunt to COVID-19 during the Christmas season, neighbors joined together to give them...


This Man Fulfilled a Child’s Christmas Wish After Finding Her Balloon to Santa

A balloon breaks at just the right moment to bring two faraway families together.


This Expert Skier Survived Two Avalanches After Hitting the Slopes

Caught in a massive avalanche and buried alive under a blanket of snow, Ken Scott knew death was just a...


This Barbecue Restaurant Owner Donates Cars to Those in Need

“He handed me the keys and didn’t ask for anything.”


This Elementary School Teacher Pledges to Donate One Million Books

“I wanted to do something that’s going to stretch my faith, my work ethic, my everything.”


Here’s How a Group of Strangers With the Same Name Started a Virtual Band—And Friendships to L...

Four men with the same name who all love making music? Baltimore Paul had an idea. Wouldn’t it be funny,...