this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.

Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. No politics
    • If your topic is in a grey area, please phrase it to emphasize the fascinating aspects, not the dramatic aspects. You can do this by avoiding overly politicized terms such as "capitalism" and "communism". If you must make comparisons, you can say something is different without saying something is better/worse.
    • A good place for politics is c/politicaldiscussion
  4. Posts must be original/unique
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[–] Cevilia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 hours ago

Dave Gorman did a stand-up bit about this. His version goes something like

If you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it clap your hands

If you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it clap your hands

But if you're happy and don't know it, or unhappy and you do

Then the clauses in this song do not apply to you

But if you're happy and you know it and you really want to show it

Then, and only then, please clap your hands

[–] Atlas_@lemmy.world 2 points 5 hours ago

Most of the time, yeah

[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

One time I was both fine and dandy for about an hour, but nobody asked how I was!

[–] mr_noxx@lemmy.ml 64 points 17 hours ago (5 children)

There have been times in my life where I was happy but didn't realize it until it was too late, so this checks out.

[–] feddylemmy@lemmy.world 9 points 14 hours ago

"I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." Andy Bernard

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 10 points 17 hours ago

"Don't know what you've got til it's gone"

[–] cv_octavio@piefed.ca 7 points 17 hours ago

This totally happens to me too. I even tried clapping my hands one time as the realization washed over me like a rogue wave catching a kayaker off guard, tossing them into the cold gray-green water, the sounds of gurgling bubbles robbing them of their last hope for deliverance. 

Alas. 

[–] ClownStatue@piefed.social 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah often happiness is just contentment. It’s easy to get bored with that and “want more” from life. Bad choices can often follow these instincts!

[–] mr_noxx@lemmy.ml 4 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Life is making mistakes and deciding how to live with them. :)

[–] ClownStatue@piefed.social 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I mean, mistakes are a part of life, sure, but I would hate it if they defined my life! I’ve managed to make some pretty good choices along the way, too.

[–] mr_noxx@lemmy.ml 1 points 15 hours ago

Usually those good choices come from wisdom gained from screwing up. At least that's been my experience! :D

[–] mycodesucks@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I mean... I would expect most happy people don't really fully appreciate it unless they consciously work on it... our brains are wired to notice pain - we adapt to comfort. It's why people who already have the world still want MORE.

[–] mr_noxx@lemmy.ml 3 points 15 hours ago

I think culture plays a huge part in this. In heavily industrialized countries (like America, for example), we are taught that more is always better and that living a simple life is somehow shameful or a waste of potential (not everyone believes this, of course - I'm generalizing). Many, many studies have consistently shown that the happiest people on earth are often those who lead the simplest lives. Perspective really is everything.

[–] 58008@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Sometimes you don't know how good you have it until your "rock bottom" turns out to be an elevator which is now headed down a mineshaft 😭

[–] prex@aussie.zone 4 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

. Edit: Yes, I low that is a helix.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 12 hours ago

Subconscious desires being met while conscience ones aren't.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 16 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been happy; and they clapped their hands.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 17 hours ago

Maybe you have been and you just never knew it.

[–] Zealotte@lemmy.zip 10 points 17 hours ago

I was happy once. It was awful, and I forgot to clap.

[–] medem@lemmy.wtf 6 points 16 hours ago

Best (and most existential) one I've seen in quite a while.

[–] Fridam@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 16 hours ago

As someone who've struggled through life, my impression is that a lot of people who dont't, often don't realise how happy they are. It's like they are so used to being satisfied they don't really notice the happiness because they are so used to it

[–] ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 8 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

A lot of people have everything they need to be happy but their perspectives keep them unhappy... It might not be exactly the premise given but it's pretty close. 👍

[–] morto@piefed.social 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

If people were happy and content, it would be much harder to manipulate them in many senses of it, so making people feel bad about them is part of the crushing machine design

[–] ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 3 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)

Sometimes it's also just very profitable (the beauty industry comes to mind).

[–] morto@piefed.social 3 points 16 hours ago

Making people buy stuff is one form of manipulation as well

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 6 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

And it implies that if you were happy and didn’t know it, you’d clap anyway if the song didn’t clarify.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Does it? It sounds to me like it implies that you wouldn't clap your hands unless you are happy, you know it, and you also want to show it. All three must be true for it to be hand-clapping time.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

What difference would you expect if the “and you know it” clause were omitted?

Suppose there are indeed some people who would clap ”if they’re happy”, but refrain “if they’re happy and they know it”. The implication would be that these people are happy and don’t know it—and yet we’re supposing that they would have clapped “if they’re happy” anyway.

If they didn’t clap, adding the clause would have no effect and its inclusion would have no motivation.

[–] oce@jlai.lu 4 points 17 hours ago

If you're unhappy and don't know it, eat one more snack. Crunch crunch.

[–] Trex202@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago
[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago

I think it's incredibly true.

[–] the_q@lemmy.zip 3 points 17 hours ago

Happiness is used incorrectly as a gauge of how one should feel as a baseline. Because of that people get sad or worried when they aren't happy. In truth "meh" is the default state, but it's harder to sell you stuff if you're feeling OK.

[–] Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

If your mood is ambiguous, make a sound!

[–] oce@jlai.lu 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)
[–] YoSoySnekBoi@kbin.earth 3 points 17 hours ago
[–] waz@feddit.uk 2 points 17 hours ago

And ignorance is bliss