It can be heartbreaking to realize that someone you love can't live up to your expectations. It can be even harder to look back at choices you’ve made in life and know you could have been kinder or put more effort into things that really mattered.However, when we bravely face the hard truths we have to learn in life, we become emotionally stronger. The struggle may be painful at the time, but as the saying goes, “We are stronger in the places where we’ve been broken.” On the other side of the emotional Rubicon is healing, wisdom, and strength.A poster in Reddit’s emotional intelligence subforum asked users a very personal question that got to the heart of how they became stronger people: “What’s a harsh truth you had to accept to become emotionally mature?” The responses showed the power of taking personal responsibility and seeing yourself and others with rigorous honesty. An upset woman sits in her car.via Canva/PhotosThe discussion is a wonderful reminder of the gold that we can find on the other side of heartache and loss. Here are 11 of the best harsh truths people had to accept to become emotionally mature.1. Bad parents aren't an excuse"Having sh*tty parents is not an excuse to be a sh*tty adult. At a certain point, it's on you to do the work and break the cycle."2. Nobody owes you anything, nobody is coming to save you"That's right, if you want change, start a revolution yourself.""Or, as my therapist put it, 'the cavalry is not coming. It's on you.'"3. You never truly know what anyone is thinking"You will never really know what people are thinking. They will say what they think people want to hear or avoid the truth. You truly have to trust yourself and work with yourself. Identify what you’re thinking and feeling, and then work with it. And there are no answers. Some things will always be a mystery and never solved."Psychologists call this phenomenon the Theory of Mind, which holds that we can understand and interpret others' beliefs, thoughts, and feelings to read social situations. However, even though we may come close to understanding other people's inner states, we can never be 100% sure. An upset man grabs his head.via Canva/Photos4. You can mean well and still hurt people"Two things can exist at once! You can mean well and absolutely hurt someone’s feelings. You arent above accidentally upsetting someone.""This one is huge to me lately. I had to break up with someone who I do love, but I can't be with anymore. He refused to believe I ever loved him if I was hurting him, I said two things can be true at the same time!"5. Beware of takers"Lots of folks are takers, and if you are a giver and don’t know this, they will drain you dry.""My mum always categorises people by 'radiators' and 'drains.'"6. Watch where you place your self-worth"If you tie your self-worth to another person, you are giving them power to take your self-worth out the door with them if they leave. That's not a power you want to give them, and I highly doubt they would want that either."7. People hear what they want to hear"Feel what they want to feel, do what they want to do, say what they want to say... all we are control of is our boundaries and what we do with how we feel." A stressed-out woman.via Canva/Photos8. Radical accountability"Radical accountability is often not fun but will completely transform your capacity, integrity, self-trust, potential for growth, etc."David Goggins, a motivational speaker and former Navy SEAL, is known for championing the power of radical accountability. Here, he shares how he created an accountability mirror. Every day, he wrote a mistake on a Post-it note and attached it to his mirror. He then methodically worked on fixing each misstep. - YouTube www.youtube.com 9. Being honest about motivations"Being able to take responsibility for my actions means considering all of the harm I’ve caused and being able to look at my motivations honestly. It’s really hard to do that because the shame can be so strong, but it’s honestly really healing to be able to face yourself like that."10. You're responsible for what you tolerate"How people treat me is not my fault, but I am responsible for what I tolerate. I really didn't want to have to be accountable for myself for a very long time. It was simply easier to blame anyone and anything outside of myself for what happened to me. But I must admit that my life transformed once I started taking responsibility. Many people don't want to admit that they play their part in what happens to them (bar if they're a child, obviously - and very serious cases of abuse and violence). And I was one of them."11. Some people will never reach emotional maturity"That the people you love deeply and dearly may never become emotionally mature themselves. They may still try to defend and protect themselves even when all you wanted to do was be seen or heard. Taking it personally when you just want a resolution. It's realizing their limits are so much smaller than yours. What it so simple for you to do, even things like taking accountability for your actions, seems like a fkn mountain for them that they aren't willing to start climbing."

Reading is one of the best ways to increase knowledge and engage the imagination, but it takes time. Evelyn Wood introduced her Reading Dynamics speed reading program in 1959, but most people just read at whatever speed they naturally read and don’t give it much thought.However, in the digital age, speed reading looks a bit different. Shortcuts have eliminated some of the obstacles speed reading methods are designed to overcome, making it easier than ever to read at speeds you never imagined possible. What if you could read 900 words per minute (wpm)? An average novel is 80,000 words, so you could read a whole novel in less than nine hours. If that sounds impossible, try this test, which starts at 300 wpm and increases up to 900 wpm: — (@) How did you do? Some people say they struggled to go past 600 wpm, while others found that reading at 900 wpm required extra concentration but was totally doable. Considering that the average reading speed is around 250 wpm, even getting to 600 wpm within a minute is a major improvement.Can you speed read with full comprehension?But what about comprehending what you're reading when you read that fast? Naturally, a lot depends on the complexity and difficulty level of the reading. Some people see an improvement in reading comprehension when they learn to read faster as it requires greater concentration, which means less of a chance for their mind to wander away from what they're reading. Reading for pleasure, information, or deep comprehension of challenging text may make a difference in how well speed reading works for you. Photo credit: CanvaHowever, the research indicates that, on the whole, reading fast does mean sacrificing some understanding. As a 2015 study on speed reading states, "The research shows that there is a trade-off between speed and accuracy. It is unlikely that readers will be able to double or triple their reading speeds (e.g., from around 250 to 500-750 words per minute) while still being able to understand the text as well as if they read at normal speed. If a thorough understanding of the text is not the reader's goal, then speed reading or skimming the text will allow the reader to get through it faster with moderate comprehension."If you're thinking, "But I understood everything in that speed reading test even at 900 wpm!" that may be because it wasn't a very difficult read. A lot also depends on what we're reading and why we're reading. If it's just to get the gist of something, speed reading might work out splendidly. If it's to read for pleasure, speed reading might be preferable for some but not others. If it's a challenging read and you're reading for deep understanding, speed reading may not be the best choice. Interestingly, some people found the speed reading experience actually quite enjoyable, saying they "enjoyed the flow state" and that it made them "feel like a genius." Some even found it "satisfying" and "soothing." — (@) Why reading books is so good for usWhether we speed read text using modern digital tools or read a good old-fashioned paper book at a leisurely speed, experts agree that reading is good for us. Paul Wright, MD, Senior Vice President and System Chair of the Neuroscience Institute at Nuvance Health writes:"Reading a book is like eating a superfood for your brain. Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown that reading is a complex task involving different parts of the brain. By observing changes to blood flow in the brain, researchers can see that reading stimulates the brain’s neural pathways. This stimulation enhances brain activity, memory and cognitive function — ultimately boosting your creativity and expanding your capacity to learn." Everyone has their preferred style of reading.Photo credit: CanvaWright points out that reading has physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced stress, and improved sleep quality, as well as mental health benefits such as increased empathy and boosts of stress-reducing endorphins.So is there any real benefit to being able to read faster? That depends on who you ask. Our brains all function a bit differently from each other and we all read for different reasons, so some people may find speed reading to be an invaluable tool while others may not ever feel the need to even try it. Nevertheless, it's pretty amazing to see what the human brain is capable of, isn't it?

Hate the "6 7" meme, but love history? You're in for a treat. Real estate agent and all-around funny guy Bryan Clapper may have just saved all of us old-timers from the dreaded tyranny of brain-rot Gen Z slang by, somehow, making it clever.In a funny Instagram clip styled like an old-school "The More You Know" PSA, Clapper offers to "translate" Gen Z slang for Gen X or Millennial parents who may feel "confused" when their kids use it.Clapper playfully argues that, rather than brain-rot gobbledygook, it's a reference to the date of June 7th, 1654, which, "as we all remember from our 400-level French history courses in college," marked the coronation of King Louis XIV. Yeah, that's pretty much common knowledge. Right? We really wish this were true. via @bryaninmsp/Instagram, used with permission.So when your teenager says "6 7," what they're really saying is:"I disagree with the colonial expansion of the French empire and the perceived divine right of kings, but acknowledge its role in creating the conditions that led to the French Revolution and the model for modern democracy that the United States is built on," Clapper says. Therefore, the best response parents can use to sound cool is "Vive la France!" Truly, any excuse to shout this is welcome.On the other hand, "Group 7," another bit of youth lingo, has nothing to do with the French Revolution, and everything to do with the 1920s, apparently. As Clapper jokingly explains, the term refers to the famed Canadian landscape painters known as the Group of Seven, founded by Lawren Harris, J. E. H. MacDonald, A. Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Franklin Carmichael, and Frank Johnston. - YouTube www.youtube.com "Anyway, the hip kids love Group 7 because of their efforts to create a truly Canadian style of painting, rooted in deep respect for and connection with nature," Clapper says. Sure, yeah, that's it. Neither slang phrase has anything to do with Clapper's explanations. "6 7" is intentionally nonsensical. "Group 7" carries a little more meaning, often signaling superiority or eliteness, but it also emerged out of nowhere and spread because of the internet. @sophiajamesmusic Group 7 who are you ♬ So Unfair - Sophia James But it's much more fun to step into Clapper's reality, isn't it? It certainly stoked the creative fires of other history buffs in the comments: "Sorry you have misunderstood...6,7 refers to the historic Argentinian colony vote to adopt the crop rotation program for olive farmers in 1906. It was the first breakthrough for environmentally-minded produce pioneers. A historic victory for planet lovers and virtue signalers. And now that you know this, you should respond 'Ohhh-I-live that'. Sounds a little like 'olive that'!!...get it?""As a Latin teacher I feel like they're talking about Servius Tullius and Tarquinius Superbus, the sixth and seventh kings of Rome, after whom the Monarchy was replaced by the Republic. It's a commentary on the problems with one person having too much power. Such clever children!" See on Instagram "I thought they were quoting Chaucer 'to set the world on six and seven' or Shakespeare 'But time will not permit: all is uneven, And everything is left at six and seven.'"And many parents were thrilled to finally have the perfect comeback for the next time they hear the dreaded "6 7" term:"I will now scream 'Viva la France' at my teenage kids incessantly. Thank you!""Irritating my teenager with 6-7 just got levelled up! Viva la France!"It seems that in the war of words, the old fogies finally have the upper hand once again.

With MTV winding down to an end, old interviews are resurfacing online. Recently, an interview featuring the iconic singer, David Bowie, resurfaced showing the late musician essentially taking over the interview in the most respectful way. Bowie exuded kindness and compassion while simultaneously and vigorously advocating for others.In the clip from a1983 episode of MTV News, the singer is being interviewed by Mark Goodman. It starts seemingly after the interview has been going on for a while. Bowie directly asks Goodman if he might be able to ask him a question. The reporter quickly agrees, not knowing the weight of the question that would soon follow, but Bowie wasted no time getting to the point. As a longtime advocate, he saw a disparity and took the opportunity to ask the source directly."I'd like to ask you something," Bowie says while fiddling with his sock, perhaps out of nervous anticipation. "It occurred to me, having watched MTV over the last few months, it's a solid enterprise, and it's going a lot going for it. I'm just floored by the fact that there are so many bl...so few Black artists featured on it. Why is that?" David Bowie on swing in red suitElmar J. Lordemann/Wikimedia CommonsHe finishes stumbling through his initial question, still picking at his sock, and makes direct eye contact with Goodman. The reporter attempts to explain that the network is trying to move in the direction of playing more Black artists, but is currently focused on "narrow casting." This answer wasn't enough for Bowie to move on. The late singer had several follow-up questions, which turned the interviewer into the interviewee. "It's evident in the fact that the only few Black artists that one does see are on about two-thirty in the morning until about six," Bowie says matter-of-factly. "Very few are featured predominantly, predominantly during the day." Goodman attempted to interject before the recording artist interrupted to say that, over the last couple of weeks, he had noticed a change but called it a slow process. The reporter attempted to explain away the noticeable lack of diversity in the music videos shown during daytime hours by saying people like Bowie were not watching the channel long enough. But Bowie challenged the deflective answer as he dug for the truth. David Bowie album coverPiano, Piano!/Flickr"Because one sees a lot on the...on the...there's one Black station on television that I keep picking up, and I'm not sure which station it's on. But there seems to be a lot of Black artists making very good videos that I'm surprised aren't used on MTV," Bowie counters. Goodman then shifts gears a bit, explaining that they're trying to make sure MTV reaches a broad audience, including suburban families. " Oh, of course, also we have to do what we think, not only New York or Los Angeles will appreciate, but also Poughkeepsie or Midwest, pick some town in the Midwest, it will be scared to death by Prince, which we're playing, or a string of other Black faces," the reporter says. PrinceWorld's Direction/FlickrInterestingly, Prince is from Minnesota, which is about as gosh-darned Midwest as a person could get. Yet the late chart-topping artist was the first name listed as being scary to Midwestern suburban moms. David Bowie, still not impressed, simply replies, "Very interesting." With Bowie delicately placed in the middle of what was likely a highly anticipated interview at the time, Goodman was clearly scrambling and proceeded to only make things worse: the MTV News host shares that once white artists pick up the musical styles and trends of Black music, taking it on as their own, then it will be more acceptable to be seen on the music network. This response came after Bowie asked the host if he felt the stations, including radio stations, had a responsibility to make the process fairer and more integrated."Absolutely," Goodman says. "I think it's happening because white music and white musicians are now starting to play more than ever what...more than they have lately. Let's say in the past 10 years, what Black artists have been into, and now, hopefully, the lines are going to start to blur, and when we play a band like ABC, well, there's white and Black kids there enjoying it, and all of a sudden it's a little bit easier for a white kid to understand it." Goodman goes on to share about a letter he read in a magazine called The Record, where the writer was ranting about the things he didn't want to see on MTV (i.e., Black artists, we can assume). The former Labyrinth star replies to this revelation by stating plainly, "Well, that's his problem."Even by today's standards, a recording artist openly addressing any lack of diversity in the media is rare. Bowie addressing the inequity during an interview in 1983 was truly groundbreaking.

Popular streamer Kai Cenat is making waves by doing something that shouldn't even be noteworthy, but is apparently seen as mock-worthy to some people. While reading a book out loud on his YouTube channel, the 24-year-old looked up words he wasn't familiar with in the dictionary.Some people thought having to look up words was embarrassing, while others made fun of him for not already knowing the words he had to look up. Thankfully, that derision was met with a tsunami of support from people pointing out that this is a beautiful example of how people continue learning and educating themselves throughout adulthood. — (@) In the online streaming world, Cenat is a giant. With over 20 million subscribers on Twitch, a platform popular with gamers, he is the top Twitch streamer in the world as of January 2026. Cenat is a gamer, rapper, YouTuber, and internet personality with a huge following among young people.While his channels have largely focused on entertainment, Cenat has announced a shift toward learning new things and improving his mind. He's begun learning to sew to support his interest in fashion design and has set a daily reading goal to improve his mind and speaking skills. - YouTube www.youtube.com Cenat has shared his "secret" YouTube channel, which focuses on what he's thinking about and learning. That's where he's shared videos of his new reading habit, which he says he began to become a better speaker. It's clear that he's learning to love reading, and it's quite delightful to see him get excited about the books he's working through. And while some people have scoffed, it's also delightful to see him increase his vocabulary by looking up words as he goes. People on X have countered the critics with effusive praise: "I can't praise this young man enough. This is the kind of display of curiosity, humility, and vulnerability that is in far too short supply among social media influencers." – @iowahawkblog"Never hate on a man who's trying to better himself." – @Tectone"This is exactly what kids need to see. This is great influence actually." – @BeLiKeDime"This is literally how you teach yourself things lol nothing to mock here. The world would generally be a better place if more people humbled themselves like this." – @dissidentwest - YouTube www.youtube.com Being humble enough to know that you don't know everything and being vulnerable enough to learn in front of others is admirable, and many people acknowledged that:"I know this is easy to mock but this is actually admirable of Kai Cenat to take a step back and learn how to read better. Everyone acts like they know everything these days, and while he used to flaunt his ignorance, Kai is humbling himself and growing. This is an objective W." – @kangminjlee"Looking up words while reading isn't embarrassing; it's how or vocabulary grows. Curiosity, self-awareness, and a desire to communicate better are skills worth celebrating. Reading to learn is always a win." – @HachetteUS"Every single person making fun of @KaiCenat for knowing his weaknesses and actively going out of his way, in a public manner, to overcome these and become a stronger, well read man, is a clown. Imagine making fun of someone for actively trying to become better." – @JulienHoezMerriam-Webster, the dictionary company, praised Cenat, and award-winning actor Jamie Foxx called Cenat personally to share his admiration: — (@) No one should ever be mocked or feel embarrassed about trying to improve themselves and showing others what that process looks like. Too often, people hide the slow, laborious details of learning and only display the result. Good for Cenat for demonstrating both the joy and the humility of learning in real time. You can follow Cenat's "Kai's Mind" YouTube channel here.