A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

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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13 Powerful Things Surviving a Terrorist Attack Taught Me About Life

Here's how I learned to see the good in a world that can seem, at times, to be horrifically evil.


I Survived 9/11—These Are the 13 Questions Young People Ask Me the Most

Twelve-years-old at the time of the attack, the author survived, and so did her family—but she soon realized 9/11 was...



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12 Real Ghost Stories That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Calling on only the bravest and boldest of ghost hunters. These scary stories are not for the faint of heart.


13 Spooky Ouija Board Stories That Will Give You Chills

Get ready to get freaked out by these true tales.


A Deep Sea Diver Went Out on a Routine Job—Then His Air-Supply Cord Snapped 300 Feet Down

It was supposed to be an easy job for a team of men who repair underwater pipelines.


This Veterinarian Helps Pets of Homeless People Out of His Own Pocket

A California veterinarian makes house calls to pet owners who have no place to call home.


Mitch Albom on What It Means to Be a Real Father to a Special Orphan

What is a real father? An orphan in Haiti teaches ­­bestselling author Mitch Albom a wonderful new definition.

The Boot Texan Kitchen in Houston, Texas

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut Houston down, Angeline Latchley and her fiancé found themselves unemployed and bored, like so many...


Manton, Michigan

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the town to shut down, Scott Chittle decided that the community needed a safe place...


The Quality Inn in Kodak, Tennessee

When icy temperatures this past winter froze Kodak, Tennessee, shutting power down and freezing pipes, Sean Patel, owner of the...


Renton, Washington

For most people, a free Christmas cheesecake would be a welcome surprise. But for Diane Dobson of Renton, Washington, it...


Nina and Doug’s House in Austin Hills, Texas

Chelsea Timmons was going through a year of transition: She quit her teaching career to deal with mental health issues...


The Sun and Moon Ranch in Lexington, North Carolina

In 1971, at just two years old, Shannan Hearne mounted a horse for the first time. She felt a deep...


Brooks, Georgia

When COVID-19 hit Brooks, Georgia, the first thing Angel Girard noticed in her neighborhood Facebook group, “Life in the Brooks...


Littleton, New Hampshire

The people of Littleton, New Hampshire can always find something to be glad about: their rich history, their beautiful countryside,...


Lake City, South Carolina

The quiet beauty of Lake City is typical for a South Carolina town: tidy small homes lining peaceful, leafy streets....

Sugar Land, Texas

When David Sebek and his business partner Tracie Whitacre opened Escape Again Rooms 20 years ago, they were glad to...


I Came Out After 20 Years of Marriage and Met the Love of My Life

Larry Best thought he had the perfect love and the perfect marriage, but until he found his husband and soul...


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This Dog Belonging to a Boarding School Teacher Taught a Few Lessons of His Own

Forty years ago, when I taught eighth grade at a boarding school in California, the headmaster somehow ended up with...


1,000 Miles Couldn’t Keep this Dog and Her Pup Apart

A chance TV news spot reunited this bonded pair after a tragic separation.


How Blue, the Big Yella Fella, Helped Turned This Veteran’s Life Around

Military service and decades of humanitarian work left Robert MacPherson with PTSD. Blue helped him accept and overcome it.


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How One Pig Became a Town Mascot, and the Best Friend She Made Along the Way

Porkchop and Harley may have been two different species, but they had one big thing in common: snackin’.

How the Dog Nobody Wanted for 17 Months Became a School’s Unofficial Mascot

When Higgins was found, he had been dumped on the side of the road and appeared aggressive—but with some TLC...


Meet the Pitbull Who Became Her Family’s Caretaker

"At that moment, Emmy Lou came up to me and put my whole wrist in her mouth. She was hugging...


After This Man Rescued a Cow from a Dairy Farm, the Two Developed the Most Unbelievable Friendship

Meet Ryan and his 1,000-pound bestie: Jenna the cow. She's brought joy to his life—and also brought him together...


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This Rescue Dog Helps His Owner Nurse Baby Hummingbirds Back to Health

You don't have to be from the same species to be kindred spirits.


These Are the 50 Nicest Places in America, According to Our Readers

This list of our 50 Nicest Places in 2020 came from over 1,000 stories sent to us by readers. Check...


I Got Shot in a Place That Loves Guns, and I Still Can’t Bring Myself to Hate Guns

One Alabama woman’s experience—as both an observer and a shooting victim—underscores how hungry Americans are to reach consensus.