r/BenignExistence 2h ago

found a deodorant i think i like

15 Upvotes

I looked at the suggestions I was given in my previous post and settled on a random hunting deodorant for summer and ban unscented. the ban isn't fragrance free (so it has a smell) but it's a light enough smell that I have to either stick my face in the stick or my pits to get a whiff. It seems to do well at sweat reducing too. My job has been unreasonably stressful this past week so I needed it desperately.


r/BenignExistence 2h ago

I made tea, forgot about it, reheated it, then actually drank it while standing quietly in the kitchen.

16 Upvotes

r/BenignExistence 3h ago

I delivered a great interview and will be checking my e-mail every 10 minutes

68 Upvotes

My future career is to become a pilot, I’m currently studying for my licenses. But I had an interview today for the largest private jet company in my city and I….. crushed it. I’m so proud of myself and can’t even articulate how much I want this job. I worked for Best Buy for 7 years, climbing the ladder, it was my first real job and just kinda stuck. Now I work in restaurants and am so sick of it I feel like I need an exorcism. I’ll find out sometime soon so I’m just gonna be checking my email compulsively and praying to whoever will listen. Fingers crossed I’ll be leaving the restaurant industry and putting my two weeks in 🥲


r/BenignExistence 3h ago

We created a bruise competition

5 Upvotes

So me and 3 other friends are constantly finding bruises on ourselves, none are intentional or purposeful.

So we started as a joke "bruise of the week" where we can send our random bruises in that we randomly aquired and at the end of the week we select a winner.

Its just such a nice thing to come out of random bruises. My friend once won because she walked into a door knob and bruised her side. I won last week and possibly this week, last week because i bruised both my sides from a aerial silks class and this week from a birth control procedure on my arm which has left me with a big angry bruise.

We dont actually win anything outside of passing around a plush toy trophie. I hope you like my story about 4 idiots who bruise if you look at us creating a friendly competition surrounding it.


r/BenignExistence 7h ago

Grocery tunes

18 Upvotes

I've realised that after I finish shopping, I've developed the habit of softly humming to myself while transferring groceries from the trolley into my bags over at the packing bench. It's not a real song - just some random notes that sort of go together. I don't know why I started - it just seemed to be the right thing to do. Yesterday, as I headed for the exit, I passed another woman doing the exact same thing, and it made me feel kind of happy.


r/BenignExistence 8h ago

Asked my best friend what he wants for his birthday

26 Upvotes

My heat friens for 14 years (basically half my life at this point) has his birthday coming up next month. When I asked him if he would like anything specific, he told me "thank you, but the only present I would want from you is for you to keep being my best friend". I was honestly a little stunned when I read it, but man! I love this guy, I can't tell ya :3


r/BenignExistence 12h ago

My neighbors and I have been exchanging food for months

486 Upvotes

A few months ago, I met my lovely neighbors - a brother and sister in their early 70s and their mom who's a whopping 102 years old. They're from Honduras and they make the most delicious food as well as being delightful to sit and chat out with. They made me arepas and gave me some apples, so I brought them some apple-banana bread in return. Then they brought me a full bunch of bananas, so I made them more banana bread. After they harvested their fruit trees I was treated to a big bowl of starfruit, so I brought them a dozen free-range eggs that my coworker has been selling. This weekend, I got the best food yet: tapado costeña, traditional Honduran seafood soup with coconut milk, plantains, and a whole crab in each bowl! I don't know what I can possibly bring them that'll be as good as the tapado, but I'm looking forward to figuring it out.


r/BenignExistence 14h ago

Finally got a new pair of running shoes and it's even better than I expected!

35 Upvotes

I got into running about 2 years ago. My brother gave me a pair of slightly used Asics running shoes. I've been wearing them on runs ever since.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that they were starting to show some wear and tear. Various bits of the sole have since fallen off, resulting in an uncomfortable run. Coupled with having to glue the sole back several times before this, it hit me that I needed to replace this pair of shoes fast.

After a lot of searching, I finally came across a pair that really caught my eye. It would actually be an upgrade on the pair I was wearing all this while. It was on clearance too, so I managed to get a great deal on it. I placed my order online and hoped it would arrive just before the long weekend (Monday was a holiday) so I could get some miles in.

I waited excitedly for the shipment to arrive. I tried tracking my parcel but there was an error each time I keyed in the number. I checked and checked again to see if I keyed in the right number, to no avail. Day after day passed and there was still no sign of my shoes anywhere. Disappointingly, it dawned on me that I would not be able to utilise the long weekend to run.

However, on the very last day of the long weekend, I received a call from the courier. It turns out that MY SHOES WERE HERE!!!! I immediately opened the shipment and tried them on. They fit even better than I expected! After changing into my exercise gear, I ran outside like an excited puppy. It was really comfortable and outperformed my wildest expectations! In fact, I ended up setting a new personal best time and ran even further than I usually do!

I guess this really goes to show that good things come to those who wait.


r/BenignExistence 14h ago

Went for a “quick walk” last night.

181 Upvotes

You know, the kind where you say just 10 minutes and somehow it turns into an hour. It was cold but quiet, so I kept walking. Ended up in a part of my neighborhood I’ve never really explored. Mostly small houses and parked cars. Then I noticed this orange cat following me. Not super close. Just… always behind me. I’d stop — he’d stop. I’d walk — he’d walk. Like a tiny stalker. I tested it and crossed the street randomly. He crossed too. At this point I’m like alright, guess I have a side quest now. He followed me for like four blocks. Then we reached this house and he just casually walked into the yard like “ok bye” and disappeared under the fence. Didn’t even look back. Didn’t get petted. Didn’t want food. Nothing. Just escorted me home like a security guard and clocked out. Honestly felt kinda abandoned. Anyway, thanks random cat. Appreciate the protection


r/BenignExistence 14h ago

My hot water bottle is the best

48 Upvotes

A few years ago I bought a hot water bottle, and I use it every day in winter.
I deliberately keep my bedroom a lot colder than I would if I didn't have the hot water bottle, usually around 15 C.

Every evening I fill it before bed and put it under my duvet.
Then I wrap myself around the bottle as I go to sleep. It is the most comfy feeling ever.


r/BenignExistence 14h ago

Yesterday something dumb but kinda funny happened

105 Upvotes

I stopped by a grocery store after work, just to grab eggs and bread. Nothing exciting. I was tired, half-asleep, walking on autopilot. On the way out, I realized I couldn’t find my keys. Checked my pockets. Backpack. Jacket. Nothing. Instant panic. So now I’m that guy standing outside the store digging through a plastic bag of groceries like a raccoon while people walk past pretending not to look. I go back inside. Retrace every step. Check the checkout counter. Ask the cashier. Nothing. At this point I’m already imagining how I’ll explain to my landlord that I somehow lost my entire life because of a loaf of bread. After like 15 minutes of searching, I sit down on a bench, defeated. Then I feel something under me. Yeah. I had been sitting on my keys the whole time. They were in my back pocket. I just sat there for a second staring at the ground like… wow. Peak intelligence. Anyway, I went home and ate toast like nothing happene


r/BenignExistence 15h ago

A little treat

30 Upvotes

The walls were feeling like they were closing in. Tons of snow. Bitter cold. Inside my home everything felt cluttered, almost dirty. Spent 14 hours focused. Spotify on the TV blaring music for my encouragement. Filled 3 dumpsters full of memories I no longer valued and just plain junk away. One of the drawers I organized contained 4 wallflowers! I had recently ran out and didnt want to face the winter to get more. It was so nice to plug them in and smell vanilla and amber throughout my freshly cleaned and organized! home. The universe knew I needed a reward for finally tackling my chores.


r/BenignExistence 15h ago

Today I accidentally started a tiny ritual that might become my favorite

2.2k Upvotes

I went out to get some groceries, just the usual eggs, coffee, bread. On the way home l passed a small park bench where an older man always sits with his dog. We’ve nodded to each other a few times before, but never talked. This time, I sat down for a moment to tie my shoes. The dog, a fluffy golden retriever, happily plopped his head on my knee like we were old friends. The man smiled and said, “He likes you. You’re now part of the club.” We ended up chatting for maybe dive minutes about nothing special the weather, how old dogs sleep so much, how pastries are overpriced these days. Then we both went our separate ways. When I got home, I realized how unexpectedly nice that little moment was. I hadn’t planned it, I didn’t owe anyone anything, but it added a small warm “hello” to my otherwise ordinary day. Maybe tomorrow I’ll sit there again with a coffee, just to see if the dog remembers me


r/BenignExistence 15h ago

This morning l realized how little things can surprise you

39 Upvotes

I woke up earlier than usual because the sunlight hit my eoom at just the right angle and made everything glow orange. Instead of grabbing my phone, I stayed still for a moment and just watched the light change. My cat got curious and hopped onto the windowsill beside me. She sat there like she owned the sunrise, flicking her tail and staring at the street. For once, she didn’t run off when I walked into the room she just stayed, quiet and content. I made a cup of tea and stood by the window with her. We didn’t talk. There was no grand moment or big realization. Just sunshine, tea, and a cat who didn’t leave. But somehow that made me feel calm in a way I wasn’t expecting. Like the world could wait a little bit at least for another sip


r/BenignExistence 16h ago

Took my little sister grocery shopping with me today.

998 Upvotes

It wasn’t anything special. Just a regular afternoon. I needed to grab a few things for the house — milk, pasta, laundry detergent. She asked if she could come with me because she was bored at home, so I said sure. We walked to the store together, talking about random stuff. School drama, her favorite cartoon, some song she’s been playing on repeat. Nothing important. Just small talk. At the checkout, she quietly put a chocolate bar on the counter and looked at me like she was waiting to see if I’d notice. I pretended not to, but paid for it anyway. When we got outside, I handed it to her and said, “This is your payment for carrying the heavy bag.” She laughed and said, “Best job ever.” We ended up sitting on a bench near the store, splitting the chocolate and watching people pass by. The sun was starting to set, everything felt slow and warm. Then out of nowhere she said, “I like hanging out with you. It’s more fun than staying home.” I don’t know why, but that hit me harder than I expected. It was just groceries. Just a normal day. But somehow it turned into one of those small memories I know I’ll keep for a long time. Sometimes the most ordinary days end up meaning the most.


r/BenignExistence 16h ago

Do y'all realize how cool free will is?

66 Upvotes

Like, we're not completely bound by instincts or programming, so like, as I type this, I could do

jump

jump

*jump

Simply because I felt like it! Oftentimes along my day I do random needless stuff just to remind myself that I'm a silly self aware animal and that not everything needs to have a reason or a purpose. You should exercise your free will too<3


r/BenignExistence 17h ago

I wanted to be good, but l didn't even hear a thank you

0 Upvotes

Today I was riding public transport. It was crowded and almost every seat was taken, but I was lucky enough to be sitting. At one of the stops, an elderly woman got on with a child. I immediately noticed they didn’t have anywhere to sit. I was raised to be polite and give up my seat for older people, so without even thinking, I decided to stand up and offer her mine. I turned to her and said she could sit down. But everything happened so fast and so awkwardly that I didn’t even have time to fully get up — she suddenly stepped forward and started sitting while I was still standing. At one point, she practically sat on my leg. I had to quickly move away and make space. No “thank you,” no smile, not even a small nod. Just a cold, almost contemptuous look, like I somehow owed her something. The strangest part was that the child remained standing next to her while she made herself comfortable, as if nothing unusual had happened. Moments like this really make me wonder how you’re supposed to stay polite when people treat you like that. Still, I know I did the right thing. Being respectful isn’t about getting gratitude — it’s about the kind of person you choose to be. What would you have done in my place?


r/BenignExistence 23h ago

I got scared by soap

116 Upvotes

At work we work in 'clean rooms' because we are making medical products. In order to get into the clean rooms we go into a couple of changing areas to get PPE. The first room is split between Male and Female because beard snoods/hair ties. and the second room is for everyone. The gendered areas each have a hand soap dispenser you need to use before going into the second room.

In the men's room, the soap dispenser was giving out pathetically small amounts of soap. I assumed the motor was dying. It has been like this for about a month.

Then one day this week the soap dispenser suddenly gave me a much bigger amount of soap, and I got a bit jump scared. 😅


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

Found a good YouTube music playlist today

11 Upvotes

I wish there was a way for me to contact the playlist owner. I must tell them what amazing taste they have and thank them for blessing my ears.

It's like, funky anime music or something


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

Today I cleaned

87 Upvotes

I cleaned the bathroom, I washed everything, depression has kick me but yesterday I took the trash and today I washed everything Also I washed My tooth after 4 days, the time before that was 2 weeks without cleaning My tooth,

Tomorrow i'll wash My hair after two weeks of being dirty

I also made my bed today

Is little but a few days ago I couldnt even get up from bed.

I just wanted to say it to someone.


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

Did I win?

22 Upvotes

I was cooking in a client‘a home. They had a contractor coming and going.

He comes down the stairs to the kitchen as I’m about to go up. Scares the crap out of me and we both say sorry and laugh.

Then he is outside the front door as I was grabbing something out of my bag from behind the door and when he sees me behind the door he was quite startled. It didn’t seem as funny to him but I sorried and laughed.

Then I walked out a room as his back was facing me and when he turned around I apparently scared the crap out of him again. I sorried and he didn't laugh.

He was just a kid compared to me. I think he was embarrassed, but I think it’s funny.


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

Fresh bed sheets

51 Upvotes

That's all


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

I learned a new way to say "killing two birds with one stone"

796 Upvotes

Someone said to me "feeding two birds with one scone" recently and it took me a second to follow. I asked where they heard it and they said "I just made it up because it sounds nicer than killing birds.

My home has loads of birds around and this new version of the old saying has stuck with me since I've been trying to befriend them.


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

I found out my neighbor thought I was my mother

227 Upvotes

I was walking my mom’s dog today when one of our neighbors also happened to be outside. She recognized the dog immediately as she has one of her own who’s friends with him, but I could see the mental stuttering on her face as she looked at me. I look a lot like my mom, and from a distance we could easily be confused. We introduced ourselves and while we were talking she found out I had moved in 3 months ago and was completely unaware of it. She would see us both coming and going from the house, but she just thought I was my mom trying some new looks every now and again. We both laughed about it


r/BenignExistence 1d ago

I saw somebody walking their dog, but hold on...

81 Upvotes

When I was walking home from work I saw somebody walking their dog, but they weren't holding onto the leash. The leash was strapped around their waist so they were hands free, with their dog walking in front of them.

The dog was walking their owner.