I think that relief is one of my favorite feelings. This is probably because by its very definition it is preceded by something bad, so it is always going to seem even better by comparison. Still, there are few things comparable to being able to put something bad or scary behind you and look forward into a near future that is safe, or at the very least palatable. When you are relieved, you can be sure of one thing: the worst of it is over.

I can’t claim that looking at memes is always the most relieving experience. Sometimes, it’s quite the opposite. Nonetheless, that doesn’t detract from what a soothing prospect it can be to promise ourselves some mindless meme scrolling time after experiencing stress or upset. The types of memes that are popular may change, but their purpose stays the same. It’s time to enjoy being pleasantly distracted.