If you’re over the age of, say, 30, you probably don’t understand the need for a text messaging service outside the one your phone provides. But the emergent company Shine is reaching out to everyone, young and old alike, to make them feel better about themselves. Because older folks aren’t exactly early adopters when it comes to new apps and tech, the company has directed its newest campaign to students who may be experiencing stress and struggles early on in a new school year.
We recently addressed the epidemic of stress plaguing half of all American high school students. The best way to address stress and anxiety is to make students and parents aware that these issues don’t just exist — they’re prevalent.
The company’s new campaign, The Flip Side, seeks to help students share the many internalized issues that may otherwise mount and fester if left unchecked. Further, by sharing these issues, students are learning they’re not alone, there is no shame, and they have support.
Using the hashtag #ShareTheFlipSide, students are confessing what goes on behind the facade of seemingly cool or perfect students.
Make no mistake, the hashtag campaign is a marketing campaign for Shine, but that doesn’t mean it’s not well-intentioned or providing very real benefits for students suffering from countless academic, familial, or social pressures.
Students looking to participate can use this template to disclose what’s going on privately in their own lives, both to feel better about themselves and to let other kids (or adults) realize that no one’s suffering alone. They don’t always know that.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.