I suffer from tinnitus, which is a persistent ringing in the ears. Because of this, I have trouble falling asleep. To combat the problem, I wear wireless headphones to bed that are connected to my computer, where I play “white noise” videos on YouTube. “White noise” sounds like a softer version of television or radio static; people who suffer from my condition listen to it to “drown out” the auditory ringing noise until the brain eventually is trained to tune the noise out.

One day, my wireless headphone set died. I was quite upset, as I knew I was going to have trouble falling asleep. I did manage to fall asleep eventually, but suddenly, at random, I heard music box chimes playing all throughout my dreams, which drove me almost crazy as I had no idea where it was coming from.

I woke up to find that my little seven-year-old sister had taken the little chiming music box that my dad would wind up and play next to her on nights when she would have night terrors, and she had put it next to my head — apparently concerned about me not being able to fall asleep.

I mentioned it to her the following morning and laughed about how I was hearing the chimes in my dreams, and I was looking all over the place in my dreams trying to find where it was coming from.

Days later, I got a new pair of wireless headphones, and this time I had checked in early after a long, exhausting day. I turned on my favorite white noise video on YouTube, put my wireless headphones on, and crashed for the night.

Suddenly, I began dreaming that I was robbing a bank and was in an intense shootout with the police and SWAT! 

Then, the dream changed and I found myself in an anime.

Then, suddenly, my all-time favorite song began playing. I began bobbing my head and started singing along as I woke up… to find my sister at my computer, her body trembling uncontrollably with stifled laughter, redhanded with her fingers on the keyboard. She had several YouTube windows open, and the next one she was aiming for was the classic final boxing match from the movie “Rocky IV”.

Me: “YOU LITTLE MONSTER!”

I leaped out of bed. My sister shrieked and ran off to her room, burying herself under a mountain of blankets while giggling hysterically.

Annoyed, I went back to my room to switch the video back. This kid had quite an interesting night planned for me: the other windows she had open were YouTube search results with phrases like, “You shall not pass,” “car chase,” “Jaws theme,” “[Video Game] final boss,” “Say hello to my little friend,” etc.

But on a positive note, since I had discovered that external sounds could influence my dreams, I went on to create a playlist that would include guided meditations that I would hear in my sleep. It proved to be an EXCELLENT anxiety reliever.

Thanks to that little monster.

My mom was flying back from a relative’s wedding and was stressing out over stuff. She accidentally left her phone in a bathroom… realizing only after reaching the baggage claim, past security, which of course she couldn’t get past without a ticket. The information services desk told her to try to find a cleaner who would be allowed back through security.

She and my dad looked but didn’t see one. They went to the exit where people were coming out of the secure area and stopped some women, asking if they were in a rush and explaining the situation.

Meanwhile, Dad called the phone, and someone picked up and told them what gate they were at. The helpful women rushed over there, retrieving the phone and saving the day.

A bit of genuine kindness from people makes a stressful day better.

After I broke up with my fiancé, I visited our Human Resources office to change my life insurance beneficiary from him to my mom. (I know, I know. He should have never been my beneficiary in the first place.) I also increased the amount of my life insurance because he had left me in major debt, and I wanted my family to be able to pay for all that.

When the HR employee saw the life insurance amount:

Employee: “Wow! Your mom will be one lucky lady if you die!” 

Me: *Shocked and confused* “I think my mom would actually rather I be alive.”

At our bicycle shop, we sell many bike locks, with one of the brands being “Kryptonite.” A customer is looking at the locks with a confused expression. Then, she looks at me genuinely and asks:

Customer: “Are these locks made out of kryptonite?

Me: “…No, ma’am.”

Customer: “Hmm… Are you sure? Why would they call it that if it wasn’t made out of kryptonite?”

Me: “That’s the name of the brand, ma’am, not what it is made of.”

Customer: “Seems like false advertising to me. Are you suuuuuure it’s not made of kryptonite?”

Me: “Ma’am, if it was real kryptonite, it would be glowing green.”

Customer: “Yes, I suppose you’re right. It’s still false advertising, though!”

Me: “We’ll let corporate know, in case we get any Kryptonian shoppers.”

Customer: “You do that!”

I’ve sadly been struggling to conceive for a while now — my fault for waiting too long for Mr. Right before accepting that wasn’t happening and deciding to be a single mother by choice. It’s at the point where I’m going to have to do IVF to have any chance of becoming a mother.

I’ve decided I want my child to know something about his biological father, so I’ve asked a close personal friend to be my sperm donor for the IVF. He says he’s honored to help and can’t wait to babysit if I ever need it.

Since the clinic is a few hours away and I’m paranoid about getting stuck in traffic or something and missing my chance, I’ve insisted that my friend let me pay for a hotel room close to the clinic so we can drive up the night before.

I am talking with my friend/donor about the logistics when he says this.

Friend: “So, do you know what night I go to a sleazy hotel with you to get you pregnant yet?”

Me: *Laughing* “Could you say that any creepier?”

Friend: “Sure, if you insist. Are you ready to pay a bunch of money so you can sleep with a strange man you don’t love just to get pregnant yet?”