Why Do We Like Wholesome Things? Where to Find Wholesome Things Online
Why do we like wholesome things? Maybe because life is hard, and those little sweet moments remind us that kindness still exists. When we see a baby giggling, a dog getting adopted, or someone helping a stranger without asking for anything back — something inside us relaxes. We smile. We feel okay again.
At Grumpy Sharks, we think those moments matter. They may be small, but they have big power.
In this post, we’ll answer the question “Why do we like wholesome things?”. We’ll also show you where to find the most wholesome corners of the internet, including the best Reddit communities full of quiet joy, gentle humor, and people simply being kind.
Wholesome Moments Speak to the Nervous System
You don’t need to understand neuroscience to feel it. That flutter in your chest when a stranger holds the door, or when your mom texts a photo of her blooming roses—it’s your body saying, “Thank you. I needed this.”
Wholesome moments calm the nervous system. They shift us out of fight-or-flight and bring us back to presence. The sound of birds, the smell of homemade bread, the soft fur of a puppy dozing in sunlight—all these things speak directly to the part of us that aches to be okay.
They ask nothing from us. They just invite us to be here.
Why Do We Like Wholesome Things So Much Lately?
Because we’re tired. Emotionally, socially, spiritually. The last few years have left cracks in our sense of safety, and wholesome things feel like sunlight through those cracks. They don’t just distract us—they nourish us.
Like Emily McGowan beautifully puts it, wholesome moments aren’t decorative. They’re functional. Just like our bodies need vitamins, our hearts need softness. A kind comment online. A sleepy cat loafing on a bookshelf. A handwritten note inside an old novel.
These are the things that quietly refill us when the world drains us dry.
Wholesomeness Isn’t a Trend—It’s a Return
Liking wholesome things isn’t about pretending everything’s okay. It’s about remembering that some things are okay. That small kindness is real. That joy still shows up in quiet corners.
It’s not performative. It’s not about curating a perfect life. Wholesomeness, at its heart, is about presence. Slowing down enough to taste your morning tea. Noticing the snail crossing the sidewalk. Laughing when your toddler tells you a joke that makes no sense—but says it with such pride you laugh anyway.
Where to Find Wholesome Things Online
If you’re looking for digital pockets of calm, Reddit has some of the best:
r/aww
- Created: May 24, 2008
- Members: 38 million+
- What It’s About: r/aww is Reddit’s go-to gallery of cuteness. It features heart-melting photos and short clips of animals, babies, and occasionally wholesome people just being their purest selves. Think puppies in pajamas, kittens holding paws, and toddlers sharing snacks with their pets.
- Link: r/aww
r/MadeMeSmile
- Created: October 19, 2017
- Members: 9.2 million+
- What It’s About: r/MadeMeSmile is exactly what it sounds like—a place for posts that bring a smile to your face. From acts of kindness and funny surprises to sweet family moments and feel-good stories from around the world, this subreddit focuses on the kind of content that restores faith in humanity.
- Link: r/MadeMeSmile
r/wholesome
- Created: January 22, 2017
- Members: 2.9 million+
- What It’s About: r/wholesome is a broad celebration of goodness—pure and simple. It includes personal wins, emotional reunions, sweet interactions, encouraging words from strangers, and everything in between. It’s less about the aesthetic and more about the intention behind the moment.
- Link: r/wholesome
r/AnimalCrossing
- Created: Sep 4, 2010
- Members: 2.6 million+
- What It’s About: Originally built around the Nintendo game series Animal Crossing, this subreddit has grown into a cozy online village. Members share screenshots, custom island designs, and stories of their in-game experiences. But beyond the game, it’s become a peaceful escape for many.
r/adorableoldpeople
- Created: January 20, 2019
- Members: ~1.3 million
- What It’s About: r/adorableoldpeople is a tribute to the warmth, wisdom, and quiet hilarity of older generations. Here you’ll find grandmas in stylish sunglasses, grandpas learning to dance for the first time, and heartfelt moments shared between generations.
- Link: r/adorableoldpeople
r/blessedimages
- Created: February 3, 2017
- Members: ~1.6 million
- What It’s About: r/blessedimages is a collection of photos that feel… safe. Sacred, almost. The subreddit started as a meme-friendly place for strangely comforting images—like a cat sleeping inside a slipper or a kid in a dinosaur onesie hugging a tree.
- Link: r/blessedimages
r/HumansBeingBros
- Created: November 12, 2012
- Members: ~3.4 million
- What It’s About: r/HumansBeingBros is all about people helping people—without expectation, without recognition, just because they can. From strangers paying for each other’s groceries to construction workers saving baby ducks, this is human kindness caught in action.
- Link: r/HumansBeingBros
Conclusion: Why Do We Like Wholesome Things?
We like wholesome things because they remind us we’re still alive in the softest, most human way. They help us remember what matters: care, presence, gentleness, connection.
You might not always find it outside—but you can create it. In a loaf of homemade bread. In the way you pat your dog goodnight. In waving at your neighbor even if they don’t wave back.
So go find what makes you feel whole. And when you do, hold onto it. Let it hold you back.
