Three hundred and twenty-three Shinkansen bullet trains depart from Tokyo every day. The trains are prepared for riding by the TESSEI cleaning crew – an army of cleaners with an average age of 52. The crew has only seven minutes to prepare each train. This video, made by journalist Charli James, documents the process, which ends with each crew member lining up and bowing as a demonstration of pride and diligence, only minutes before the next train pulls in. Basically, these people are awesome.
A rapidly growing trend on TikTok encourages people to see themselves as the protagonist of their own lives. In “main character energy” videos, creators turn ordinary moments into cinema. Clips of people walking to work, grabbing coffee, or reading a book sometimes attract thousands of views after specialized music and stylized cuts are added.
The social media posts might look like just another aesthetic trend. But the reason people keep returning and liking them seems less about style and more about how they turn a regular day into something special.
“Main character energy” is Internet slang for seeing yourself as the central figure of your own story. Not in an inflated sense, but more in a way that turns ordinary routines into something a little more intentional.
TikTok creators have embraced the trend, creating an easily recognizable video that encourages self-focus and a playful, story-driven way of seeing themselves. Entire feeds are now filled with “main character walks” and similar clips of daily activities where nothing remarkable happens, but the attitude suggests it matters.
People seem to really respond to the trend. Comment sections are filled with thoughts about their own “main character” moments. The video just above, posted by @chelsbol received over 15,000 comments.
“Me every time I walk home from Trader Joe’s”
“my newest coping tool has been: *make it an imaginary situation, you are now playing pretend, cosplaying even*
“this is gonna flip my mindset so much thank you.”
“Im 100% doing this tomorrow”
“Be your starring role in your own movie everyday!”
“Making the best out of any situation”
People generally move through their lives from one obligation to another. Work, errands, commuting, cooking, cleaning, and endless scrolling can make days blend in a blur. In that repeated normalcy, a video that slows down and has a little theatrical fun can feel surprisingly refreshing.
However, these unique videos may point to deeper underlying concerns. In a Psychology Today article, psychotherapist Duygu Balan warns that what begins as self-discovery can turn into content made primarily for clicks and likes. There’s a toxic risk when personal growth becomes something curated for an audience.
The same videos that encourage people to romanticize their own lives can also invite comparison. Videos carefully crafted to elicit audience engagement rarely project reality. A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that social comparison on social media can dramatically affect a person’s mental health. Viewers don’t always stop at appreciating someone else’s perspective. Sometimes they get lost in measuring their own lives against it.
Most successful “main character energy” creators focus on more ordinary moments than extraordinary ones. The appeal isn’t necessarily about having a better life. It’s more about finding a different way to approach the one you already have.
Whether people see the trend as a helpful mindset or just another social media trend, its popularity suggests viewers crave it. By framing routine differently, they invite the audience to craft a little more joy in the mundane of their own lives.
At their best, these videos aren’t about becoming the star of a movie. They propose finding meaning from the moments people often overlook. In a culture driven by productivity, infusing everyday life with a little lighthearted whimsy is a big reason people keep watching.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup brings out a wild streak in footie fans. For one fan though, his passion for the sport led him to pursue the ultimate piece of memorabilia for months. Then, it happened: to the envy of every FIFA fan, the fan was able to purchase a giant World Cup soccer ball.
Kevin Cronin, better known as Kickball Dad online, was excited to see an Adidas Trionda Jumbo soccer ball. The massive 31.5-inch ball was part of a store’s display.
“We need one of those,” said Cronin.
Upon seeing it, Cronin immediately asked if he could buy it. The store said it was for display only. The cost of the sold-out ball typically goes for $320.00, but would likely be higher in price since Cronin was lucky enough to find it in the secondary market. That didn’t stop him.
The store management was unprepared for Cronin’s determination and fandom. For months, he would come in and visit the store, asking again and again if he could buy the incredibly large soccer ball. He was told again and again that it wasn’t for sale.
Until it was.
He got the ball!
One day, Cronin found the right store manager willing to sell him the ball. Cronin excitedly checked out the ball at the cash register. In a video of the purchase, Cronin’s daughter Alyssa can be heard giggling the entire time as Cronin triumphantly lifts the ball into the air.
“I’m like Atlas,” said Cronin. “I got the World Cup on my shoulders!”
Buying the giant ball was one massive task, but soon came the next one: trying to fit the ball into Cronin’s small four-door car. This gave everyone, including Cronin, second thoughts. But Cronin’s will was strong.
“Why did we buy this?” asked Cronin’s son.
“Because we have W.C.F.,” Cronin replied. “World Cup Fever.”
Cronin was able to squeeze the massive soccer ball into the backseat and drive it home. He pried the ball out of the car and into his house, where his wife greeted him with laughter.
“We got it,” he said victoriously as he placed it on the kitchen counter.
Soccer fans and brands alike congratulated him
Cronin’s video went viral on Instagram with many soccer fans commenting on his determination:
“This is a triumph a man dreams about.”
“Never give up!!!!!!”
“It’s meant to be 💞”
Even major brands reached out to give their kudos:
“Some display pieces are just too awesome to leave behind.” said Lego.
“The look on your wife’s face = priceless. What’s next? 🤣” quipped Adidas Football.
This isn’t the first time Kevin Cronin/Kickball Dad has made waves online. Cronin has become an avid content creator known for his fandom of most sports—specifically his kids’ sports games and Miami Dolphins football. Fans see videos of him shopping at the grocery store, going to sporting events, sharing his sports takes, and even birding. His daughter Alyssa shoots and edits the videos, leading to a fun family side hustle as content creators.
As the 2026 World Cup starts, it’ll be fun to see fans all over the world show their enthusiasm whether it’s through loud cheers with their families or creating fun videos starring a hard-won giant soccer ball.
Mimi Fletcher has the prototypical origin of a successful working actor: moving out from the Midwest to Los Angeles to become a star. She got her start doing background gigs and now is doing recurring guest roles on television. However, one acting gig she’ll treasure forever was when she got to work with Harrison Ford.
Ford is a part of the main cast of Shrinking, an Apple+ show starring him and Jason Segel. The show is about a therapist (Segel) who, motivated by grief, takes a more proactive and candid approach with his patients. Ford plays Paul, a senior therapist at the practice who suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
When Fletcher met Ford
In 2023, Fletcher got to do scenes with Ford and Segel. It would be one of the biggest highlights of her career so far. However, recently on Threads, Fletcher shared that it was also a highlight of her life that she’ll never forget.
Fletcher shared that her father was a big fan of Harrison Ford. Her dad was also a big fan of his daughter and very encouraging of her acting dream. She shared how her father supported and believed in her, even when she made decisions that her dad wouldn’t approve of. Her dad passed away in 2005 before Fletcher truly “made it” as a Hollywood actor. She wishes she was able to make him proud.
Before going on set, Fletcher was waiting in the holding room with both Harrison Ford and Jason Segel. As they were all waiting, Fletcher thought of her father. She approached Ford and said:
“You know, Harrison, my Dad was a big fan of yours. I remember him taking me to see Witness when I was a little girl. I did some things that I know disappointed him, but he still supported me. He never got to see me do any professional acting, but I’d like to think that today, he’d be proud of me.”
Actor Harrison Ford encouraged graduates at Arizona State University to “build something that didn’t exist yesterday” in a rousing commencement speech on Monday, telling them to “go change the world.” “When opportunity presents, recognize it. This is your time. Own it.” #harrisonford#arizonastateuniversity
Fletcher tried to keep it professional, but the tears she was holding back spilled out. Immediately, Ford rushed to give her a hug.
“He wrapped me in his arms, and held me as I cried. He then kissed my forehead and said, ‘Your dad’s here, he sees you, and he’s proud of you.’”
In sharing the story, Fletcher expressed her gratitude to Ford and everyone on Shrinking. Fletcher felt compelled to tell this story since her father passed away over twenty years ago this June. And since June is also when we celebrate Father’s Day, he’s been on her mind. While Fletcher still mourns her loss, she treasures this happy memory.
Harrison Ford doesn’t need a whip or a blaster to prove he’s a hero. When he was presented the lifetime achievement award at The Actor Awards last night, Ford used his platform to share an incredibly beautiful, masculine, and humbling speech. Please take the time to watch these clips and learn from some of the lessons he tries to share. Han Solo and Indiana Jones ain’t got nothing on Harrison Ford.
