Click Here To Subscribe to GOOD on YouTube
When Reddit user Sesipikai took a trip to Rome with his girlfriend, he had more than sightseeing on his mind—he planned to propose to his girlfriend. Like a lot of guys pre-proposal, he carried a hidden diamond ring with him while he and his girlfriend wandered around the Coliseum, waiting for the perfect moment to pop the question. He also wore a heart rate monitor.
The monitor captured the ups and downs of his nerves as he built up the courage to ask his girlfriend to be his fiancée. We turned these data points into the newest video in our Data Vizeo series.
You can see Sesipikai’s heart reach roughly 130 beats per minute (B.P.M.) just as he’s about to start proposing. He’s at his most relaxed about 10 minutes after his girlfriend says yes, falling down to around 80 B.P.M. As he noted in a comment on Reddit, “My heart rate in the office hits about 60. The whole day was walking and thinking so the mean is quite elevated.”
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.