Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Bethany, 35, and her five-year-old daughter, Ella, boarded a short flight, with Ella contentedly watching cartoons on her iPad. As they settled in, a boy across the aisle grew restless, throwing a tantrum. His mother asked Bethany to put away Ella’s iPad, explaining they had chosen to avoid screen time. Bethany politely refused, saying, “Ella…

Sometimes, life presents unexpected moments that change everything. This collection shares 16 stories of people whose lives were forever altered by these experiences. One story highlights a 12-year-old who grew up poor, often eating “toast with a little cheese” for dinner. When invited to a friend’s house for a group project, they were thrilled by…

For weeks, a little girl from across the street waved at me day and night. I couldn’t shake the haunting look in her eyes. When I finally went to see who she was, nothing could’ve prepared me for the heartbreaking truth waiting behind that door. Every evening, I would watch this little girl from my…

Mary realized she had forgotten her wallet while trying to pay for some groceries, but a kind boy, Mark, paid for her things. Sometime later, Mary and her daughter learned that Mark’s grandmother needed expensive surgery, so they decided to act, shocking the poor kid. “Oh, geez. I must have forgotten my wallet in John’s…

Joseph Benjamin had few dreams. At seventy-two, the widowed father of two knew what life held in store for him every single day. He got up when the sun rose and cycled to the bakery for fresh rolls. He would then cycle back, eat breakfast, do some chores and wait for lunchtime. In the afternoons,…