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Part of the magic of growing up is being able to look back and trace the impact of the decisions you made. In hindsight, tiny, seemingly unimportant choices often do have a cascading effect on our health, wealth, and happiness, even if we can hardly see it in the moment.
So one person wanted others to share the little, seemingly insignificant decisions that turned out to have a far-reaching impact on their lives. From meeting the right person during a chance stop at a restaurant to quitting smoking, netizens share their stories. So get comfortable as you scroll through and upvote your favorite tales. And if you’re feeling introspective, feel free to share your own experiences below.
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#1
I went to prison for a robbery. I did it. I was a drug addict. After almost 5 years in, at a work center, I got a write-up which would make me stay in for a few months longer. The warden offered a deal if I would paint a mural at a local high school of their mascot, they'd forgive the writeup. I had always been good at drawing (they knew that which is why they asked) but had never done a mural. I figured out how to scale it up in my head and did it. I got out about 6 months later and made it my career. I'm now married, happy, and fully booked until summer of next year for work, owning my own business. In September, I will have been out for 10 years. I also hid my initials in the high school mascot mural.
María Hermida 2 years ago
People make mistakes, all the time. But I admire people like OP who own up what they did instead of blaming others. Perhaps going to jail saved his life. Anyway, I'm happy he had the opportunity to find what he loves doing, and he has a great life now.
Timmy Pillinger 2 years ago
If you gave prison officers bonuses for every year an ex-con stays out of prison... If you must have private prisons you pay them for ex prisoners remaining ok.
RELATED:
#2
I chose to be nice to everyone in high-school, even the kids people thought were weird. F****d my life up pretty bad 10 years ago and recently got a call asking if I wanted to train as a software developer by one of those kids. I was frying chicken in a gas station for scraps. Dude told me he remembered me being smart and into that stuff and knew I could learn fast
Life is hard sometimes so just be excellent to each other, you never know what kind of impact you can have.
Passerby 2 years ago
This is one of the rare times I heard this in a positive context, which is just lovely. I am glad for this OP.
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Yvonne Dauwalder Balsiger 2 years ago
My favorite so far! What goes around, comes around... Good luck and success with your new career!
MalP 2 years ago
yup, I've always lived by treating others the way you want to be treated. When DD got married I actually didn't recognize the lady at the bakery at first. Turns out we went to school together. She had lost a huge amount of weight. She was very sweet and told me how she appreciated that I was nice to her back in school. Gave me the warm feels:)
cartoon ghosts 2 years ago
I tried this as a kid it doesn't actually work, people like you more if you're a jerk, qnd you don't get targeted. The 'be nice to everyone' s**t is fake as hell
#3
I broke my hand playing soccer in high school (fell, landed awkwardly). Consequently, all I could do for gym class was walk a loop around the track the entire class period until my cast came off. A girl had a cast on her broken finger (hers got accidentally closed in a car door), so she walked with me every day, and we talked and hit it off.
20+ years later we’re married with a couple of kids.
Nitka Tsar 2 years ago
Interesting. This couldn‘t have happened in Germany. We have fixed class groups. A class stays always together for every subject. Every class have their own room where the different teachers come and go. We only change rooms, if we need a special room, like for cooking, Chemistry, Sport, Computer and such. But the group always stays together, so even in Sport I could only meet the classmates I already know from my class group.
When the average person thinks about a small change, it tends to be a new restaurant to check out or perhaps slightly changing up their morning routine. Mathematicians and meteorologists break it down even further. It’s very possible that you have already heard about the “butterfly effect,” the idea that if a butterfly flapped its wings in, for example, Brazil, a tornado would form in Texas.
An older variant instead mentioned a housefly, while a more “tested” alternative included a gull. Mathematician Edward Norton Lorenz wrote “One meteorologist remarked that if the theory were correct, one flap of a seagull's wings would be enough to alter the course of the weather forever. The controversy has not yet been settled, but the most recent evidence seems to favor the seagulls.”
#4
Playing wow, I picked druid.
Ended up loving playing a healer.
Decided to become a nurse IRL.
Still like being on the healing team.
hwatinternation 2 years ago
Healers, the unsung heros of dungeon runs and raids. Nurses, unsung heroes of hospitals and clinics.
stupidMonkey 2 years ago
Hehe, I liked playing a tank on WoW. Maybe that's why I was a truck driver for 10 years.🙃
#5
Getting a cat. I feel like she has done a lot of positive things to my psyche, against my loneliness, and also helped my mother. Cat sure turned the home into a comfy place.
Power puff scientist 2 years ago
feels like adopting a cat or other pet should not really be on this list as it is not really something small and insignificant right?
Astrophile 2 years ago
I have always been a dog person. Grew up with 8 dogs (in total, not all at once). Last year, after a personal tragedy, my mum bought me 2 kittens on a whim to cheer me up, even though we’d never had cats. Holy cow do I ever love those two kids. They’ve made my little apartment into so much more of a home. I can’t even poop without someone trying to give me snuggles, it’s fantastic. I love cats.
Ivana Bašić 2 years ago
Three is better. If you only have two and anything happens to one, the other one will lose everything. If you still have three, at least they're not alone.
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KombatBunni 2 years ago
Adopting a rescue kitty saved my daughter’s life. Maybe smol but very significant
Lee Henderson 2 years ago
You should get at least two. One will eventually die and having a survivor helps a lot with the grief.
Ruth Harper 2 years ago
In my case, the cat got me. She chose me to rescue her. But best thing I ever did in my life. She's everything good and I just love her so much.
Sara Wilson 2 years ago
Got another kitten when my mom came to live with me with mental health issues. Nothing heals like a kitten or a puppy
#6
Saw an absolutely gorgeous guy on a “dating” app. He was absolutely stunning, and so far out of my league . Normally I would never have messaged someone so obviously attractive but I felt I needed to tell him that I thought he was the most attractive person I’d seen online.
We’ve been together 11 years, married for 7, and I’ve never been happier.
Oh and he thinks I am the hottest thing on legs, so that’s a huge bonus.
Susan Harris 2 years ago
I did that. I got ignored. But I'm happy for you!!!
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Chez2202 2 years ago
This is probably the best comment I have read in weeks. Thank you x
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Mark Howell 2 years ago
Daughter was on a dating app whilst at Uni, no luck. Went to the Campus bar one night with friends and started chatting to a group of engineering students. Thats how she met her beloved. Me I found £5 in my pocket one night and decided to have a couple of beers. That was 25 years ago, I met my wife that night, would not hsve gone out but for that.
While the butterfly effect generally is used to exemplify how time and chaos take the smallest action and blow it up over time, it can be easier to picture it in one’s own life. Take a savings account with compounding interest and do some back-of-the-napkin math to see how much you could have made if you left an extra hundred in it each month last year. If you feel a pang of unhappiness, you aren’t alone, regret is a painful emotion.
#7
My new desk job’s internet filter stopped me from going to my favorite websites. It didn’t block Boardgamegeek.com, however, so I ended up spending my downtime at work researching board games, game designers, and publishers. I read about a game I couldn’t find a copy of and put together a version of how I thought it might play. Later I found out I was totally wrong about how that game worked, but I preferred my version of the game. Yada yada yada, I’m an award-winning board game designer now.
Astrophile 2 years ago
I miss playing board games! I wish more people were down to play :)
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ProbablyNotBehindYou (he/him) 2 years ago
Please tell us, what's the game you made? I really want to play now!
#8
Took the wrong train in a new city to a job a minimum wage job that I didn't want but needed at the time. Asked a random guy for directions when phone GPS still kind of sucked.
He happened to be going in the same general direction. We rode a train together and nerded out on films we were into. He was an aspiring filmaker (very beginnings of aspirations), and I was just a film nerd without any post high school education or thought of "breaking into the industry." We ended up becoming roommates and collaborators eventually. Sold our first film to IFC like 2 years ago.
#9
First month of uni, can’t wait to take faster bus home to take a dump and continue playing whatever. Cute girl I’ve helped with some computer tech class asks which bus I take as she thinks we live nearby, decide to “ugh, fine I’ll take the longer one”. It’s eleven years later, quit drinking and smoking, have depression under control, finished two masters (was about to quit bachelors in the upcoming week), I’m petting our poodle, playing with our nine month old son while my super hot redhead, freckled, funnier than me, smarter than me, salt of the earth wife takes shower, and I’m asking myself how the duck I’ve got so used to this that I needed this post to get reminded how bloody unfairly lucky I’ve been, all thanks to deciding to hold that dump half an hour longer.
Thinking back to those pivotal moments can make us scream in frustration like Joseph Cooper trying to get his daughter's attention in “Interstellar.” As painful as it might be, we need to go through these emotions to accept and move on. “Being stuck in the past” is a film-psychology cliche, but it does reflect the real danger of not dealing with trauma or other negative emotions.
#10
Nearly didn’t go to a blind date but he was my soulmate. I knew in a blink when I met him. Lasted 33 years and I still miss him…
Alethea Fletcher 2 years ago
Also met my soul mate on a blind date. Together now 35yrs. Married 30. 🥰
Skywitness 2 years ago
I met my wife from a personal add in 1990. I called a friend and asked him to be my best man. He was drinking too and agreed. He asked about her and I said we actually hadn't met yet. I was planning on a long road trip the day after I met her for lunch. Lunch was great and she gave me her phone number and I lost it! I felt like an idiot for about two weeks until I found it back as a bookmark in a book I brought on the road trip. 33 years and three wonderful kids later, we're still together. The friend I called was also my best man.
Barbara Kelly 2 years ago
I was so annoyed at the professor for my graduate school class that I skipped going home because I knew that I would be grumpy. Went instead to my profession's club, to have drink and wind down. (I was a single mom). Three men came in while I was reading the daily newspaper , and we started chatting. Two left in a little while; and the third asked me for a dinner date the next week. He turned out to be kind, intelligent, with a wonderful sense of humor and similar interests to mine....the love of my life.
#11
I volunteered feeding the homeless at a local church years ago, now I’m in a senior position addressing homelessness for the city of Los Angeles.
BrookeBT 2 years ago
You are doing great things. My city is in the process of building 300,000 new houses - but I don't know who can even afford them and it's a ghost town around the developments...maybe 3-4 families in the development. I'm not saying give the homeless all the new houses (which would be nice) but there have so many vacant places. Really, we just have to change our thinking and remember we all need shelter from the storms. Thank you for all you do.
Colleen Glim 2 years ago
Same thing is happening around me. Who needs $600,000 houses? Make them affordable for all the people who dream of home ownership but have been priced out of the market. Affordable housing should be available to everybody
Load More Replies... María Hermida 2 years ago
Great work, but very frustrating. It's sad how little society cares for the less fortunate, or for other living creatures.
#12
Deciding to talk to someone who was angry at his results during a test in class (we were both 15M) We became best friends incredibly quickly, having incredible fun together, wanted to start our rock band, hell he fell in love with a girl and I was heads over heels for her own best friend... what a crazy time! But when died just two months after that, of course everything just crashed down. At the funeral, I was the only representative from high school with our French teacher, with whom he practiced theater. When she mentioned it to me, I proposed to take his place in the play that was being prepared for the end of the year... What followed was an amazing adventure of two years of building back my self confidence, meeting incredible people, having an incredible time, which allowed me to end my highschool after my last play with the troupe, and receiving a thunderous round of applause after the eulogy I did at the end of said play - he was the most comedic person I've ever met, of course I asked for a celebration instead of a minute of silence! Aimery, it's been 11 years already but I wouldn't be half the man I am without the few months we had together. Just like you I don't believe in life after death, but if there's one person I'd be dying to meet again, of course that'd be you, bloody moron! 😁
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
I do know we go on. Not because of a regions belief or wishful thinking. It’s as a result of a dream I had, where my friend let me know that. In the dream he asked for my hand and blew on it three times and asked if I could feel his breath. I did as real is real. He said “ You couldn’t feel that if I was dead. That’s how you’ll know it’s me.” What? That’s how you’ll know it’s me? Crazy statement. Then he left. About two years later, my dad began his process of dying. I was at his bedside. He was delerious, confused and incredibly restless. He suddenly stopped cold. When people are in that state they don’t do that. He reached for my hand and blew on it 3 times, just like my friend in my dream, gave my hand back and he went back to restless. He never knew that friend existed. “That’s how you’ll know it’s me”. He was there. Aimery was there with you always. What you learned from him when he was alive. You will be together one day.
The Problem With Censorship Is ******* 2 years ago
Wow, Aimery is a gorgeous name, I've never heard it before.
_mentally_insane_(he/him) 2 years ago
I've never heard it before either but I love it so much I think i might make it my new name because I don't have one vet. I hope that's not disrespectful to anyone and I'm very sorry if it is
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Nitka Tsar 2 years ago
I wonder how he died. At just 15 years old. His poor parents. RIP Aimery
Of course, many of these stories are positive, like the various “meet cutes” of people being in the right place at the right time. While it might be just as cliche as being “haunted” by the past, a lot of relationships, both romantic and platonic, often happen because you simply bumped into a compatible person. From kindergarten to college dorms, life-long friendships can arise just by spending some time together.
#13
Entered the green card lottery. Friend was trying to figure out how to do it, so I downloaded the instructions and completed an application to show them how. Since it was easier than asking them for all their info, I made a dummy application using my own info. When I was done I thought “meh, might as well” and dropped my application into the outgoing mail. Then forgot all about it. I was highly confused when, nearly a year later, I got a letter from the state dept.
I’ve been in the US for 20 years now, married, kids, the whole thing. Biggest change I ever made, and it was just a random 15-minute thing I did to help a buddy
Ni Na 2 years ago
You can apply for a green card to move to the usa. You get a Permanent Resident Card that allows you to live and work permanent without having troubles with a visa. It's popular in Europe. You just fill out the online form and hope for the best.
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Fun Fan 2 years ago
I won the green card US lottery too ... but I declined. Was somehow the same situation as OP's. Except, I never really wanted to live in US (just the 8-9-year-old me). And learning more and more about, I'll choose -if I had to- Australia with all it's NOPEs.
Parmeisan 2 years ago
Thought about Canada? We have fewer creepy crawlies. It is cold here in winter, but it's otherwise very nice. You would want to do some research into the provinces and what their provincial politics are like, though. Alberta and Saskatchewan are both pretty dystopian at the moment, but BC or the maritimes are great.
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Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
Green card lottery for non-Americans: chance to move here to live without a visa and stay permanently. Basically, a lottery to become American. I want to join a lottery to become European. Please. I want to escape!!! 🇺🇲🤮
#14
I took a job in an Emergency Room doing insurance paperwork. I thought "Okay but what happens before they get to the hospital?" That exposure lead to a career as a 1st Responder. I never would have imagined I would be helping people in Emergencies been doing it every day for decades.
Colleen Glim 2 years ago
First responders deserve thanks for their service. Not too sure military does
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BrookeBT 2 years ago
Okay, this is a stupid question....and I don't mean to be a jerk or anything.... Firefighters and Paramedics are generally called 1st Responders. Are nurses called 2nd responders? And if so I'm not sure I like that term. Sorry, don't mean to upset anyone (nurses have saved my life a few times) but I was just curious.
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
First responders are the most important people in a medical emergency. These people probably helped save my mom. She fell and broke her shoulder, but we weren't sure about her head, since she had a lump. The paramedic put a collar on her and kept her awake the entire time. She ended up perfectly fine. Thank you, ambulance workers!
Hiram's Friend 2 years ago (edited)
Came on a car wreck, didn't know how to help patient seizing. To learn, I joined an Army Reserve medical unit. They sent me to Practical Nursing School. Continued to Registered Nursing school. Spent twenty five years as a nurse. Oh and I met my wife of 40 years in that reserve unit. I was a sergeant that married a captain.
#15
I didn't want to see my ex on my Instagram feed so I deleted the app thinking I'll install it after two days. A week went by and I forgot that I had to download Instagram again. Now it's been 2 years without IG and my mental state is in a much better place.
María Hermida 2 years ago
It depends. If you follow idiots you get rubbish. But there's a lot of really interesting stuff there: artists, NGOs, creators, people with huge knowledge about everything under the sun. I love books, for example. I follow the curator at a prestigious library who shows and explains hidden details in medieval manuscripts. If you select the right contents, it's wonderful.
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Interestingly, the term “meet cute” was actually coined by Hollywood screenwriters, although it no doubt reflects the reality of chance meetings leading up to romance. Part of the magic of such scenes is that we can very easily place ourselves in them, as a meet cute is just a chance meeting, not requiring foresight or ability. If you are interested in more small choices with lasting effects, Bored Panda has got you covered, check out our article on real-life “butterfly effect” stories.
#16
Accompanied a friend to a wedding because she didn't want to show up without a "date." It was boring and tacky, and I was impatient to head to a bar afterward. But on the way back downtown from the wedding reception, my friend needed to stop by this block party and deliver a birthday present to her neighbor. I grudgingly agreed to go for a little while before continuing to the bar. On the way from the car to the party my friend casually mentions that'd she'd been meaning to introduce me to her neighbor, actually. I smelled a setup, but went along anyway. Two hours later, I'd completely forgotten about the bar and pretty much anything else as the neighbor and I had been excitedly talking to each other at the party, to the point of ignoring everyone around us. Our kid just started kindergarten earlier this month.
WindySwede 2 years ago
Hihi, you smelled a setup, after she told you of the plan? 🤭 sweet ending though.
The CareTaker 2 years ago
Can we say that the best "Birthday present" was clearly the person the friend brought lol
#17
Me and 2 other coworkers decided to grab some dinner after our shift. One ended up cancelling, so I thought my other coworker would cancel too. We were both hungry, so we decided to still grab dinner together. We'd been coworkers for over a year and have always gotten along, but this dinner truly felt like a first date. It was so enjoyable and we talked so much that we didn't realize the restaurant had been closed and that the workers had been cleaning up around us (servers were too nice to interrupt our conversation). Him and I ended up falling in love soon after that. Been together for over 6 happy years and wouldn't change a thing.
Anne Jones 2 years ago
I thought the same thing. OP and lover were set up. Glad it worked out. 😻
Load More Replies... Nitka Tsar 2 years ago
How sweet is it that the servers did not want to disturb them? They must have had awesome chemistry.
AlienBarbu 2 years ago
the other worker knew, so that's why they *cancelled*, just to give them a chance (well I hope lol)
Isaac Nemo 2 years ago
I like to imagine the staff could see magic in the making and were happy to let you be as long as possible
#18
Took an art appreciation course in college. Had a career that had nothing to do with art, but I've spent at least part of every holiday since then touring museums in different world cities, and various states and provinces in the US and Canada. It's given me so much enjoyment in life.
#19
I was walking out the door of work one day. Phone rang and I decided to go back and answer it instead of leaving. Quick 30 sec call and I was out the door. Couple miles down the road was a bad multi car accident on a bridge. Could have been me.
Mycroft1967 2 years ago
High school. Decided to park in a new spot. Old spot. Someone had a heart attack about the time I parked there. Went through a dozen cars before stopping.
Sonia Bailey 2 years ago
Just been watching a video about the worst aircraft accident at Tenerife Airport. Both the KLM and Pan Am flights involved had been diverted from Gran Canaria due to a bomb at the airport. One passenger decided not to get back on her flight as her bf lived in Tenerife. She dodged a bullet, massively.
Pheebs 2 years ago
Split decision delays that cause accident avoidance always give me a chill. Mine was a camping trip where I changed my mind about going to lay down in my tent for a while longer, and walked up to the bathrooms instead. Less than a minute later, we heard a loud crash and yelling. My tent was completely crushed by a tree twice the width of my body. The trunk landed where my had would have been. My dad thought I was dead for about 5 minutes (the amount of time it took me to use the restroom and walk back).
Sunshine Lady 2 years ago
I was driving on a highway, almost no traffic. At some point it was just me, there were no other cars visible. Voice inside of me was telling me to go to the left lane. I was thinking "Why? I'm alone, I should drive in the right one. But went to the left lane anyway. 30 seconds later a car entered the highway by mistake and the driver tried to make U-turn. Stopped on the right lane and I went by him with less than 25cm (10 inches?).
Rigor Moreno 2 years ago
Or that couldn't have happened, we'll never know... Just me overthinking. :D
#20
I was doing online dating with no success and I was ready to give up. I almost canceled my date just out of pessimism but figured it was already it’s already scheduled I’ll just go and if it doesn’t work out I’ll just take a break from dating.
The date lasted about 8 hours and 15 years later we’re still together.
Celtic Pirate Queen 2 years ago
Hahahaha! Can totally relate. He was my 6th online match. Met for coffee, checked out the Barnes & Nobles (where he carried the books I was purchasing) and then on to a 3 hour dinner. Been together almost 16 years.
#21
Watching YouTube Minecraft videos. It taught me English and I ended up educating myself and escaping a toxic and abusive situation in my parents' home
Power puff scientist 2 years ago
you learned a whole language from watching minecraft videos? not gonna lie thats impressive if true
EmbersAreOut 2 years ago
As someone who's best friend learned a decent amount of Portuguese and Spanish from minecraft videos (QSMP is specific) it is totally possible.
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The CareTaker 2 years ago
from what I gather from my Spanish fluent sister, in school they only played Spanish videos that taught it, and Dora helped her learn it, which helped all of us a lot (one of our uncles is Mexican and speaks it sometimes, my sister is the same age as him cause our aunt was the youngest of 9-10 kids, so they fought for him, but he loved the aunt to much but love my sister as a bf, now when they get together they start talking in it and no one but me and my bro know a bit of it lol)
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
I learned Spanish from telenovelas. B!tčh was the first thing I learned. Puta!
#22
Grabbed a beer instead of going home early. I got offered a job when I was struggling to find a first job
Bored Birgit 2 years ago
From OP: "Had a talk with a friend about looking for a job. An older guy from the association I volunteer at offered me a job when he heard that"
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#23
A kid's birthday party I wasn't planning to go to, I changed my mind at the last second, met my husband there.
#24
I had a blog where I couldn’t figure out some HTML code, so I emailed the blog of another person who had figured it and they sent me the code. They lived about 1,000 miles from me and had never spoken before. Four years later we’re married, bought a house, and have a child together.
#25
On a night out I went to burger king and at the last second decided to get chicken nuggets with my burger instead of chips. I ate the burger but didn't feel like the nuggets by this point (and wished I'd gotten chips instead) so I asked the person opposite me on the bus if he wanted them (my exact words were 'ay lad do you want my chicken nuggets') he said yes and we got talking. That was 16 years ago and now we are married with a beautiful daughter.
#26
Went to a bonfire, met a random person who diagnosed me with a serious illness that I immediately got treated for and now I’m living life healthier, happier and more fulfilled than ever before.
WindySwede 2 years ago (edited)
Me also! Edit, I se no response on reddit.
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Silas Burke 2 years ago
"Nice to meet you, are you enjoying the evening? So many stars out tonight. By the way, you have stage 3 bone cancer."
Flamingo Croquet 2 years ago
You made me laugh out loud 😁 But in all seriousness: my friend's hairdresser told her that the mole on the back of her head looked suspicious. She had it removed and analyzed - turns out it had been cancerous (not sure if this is the correct term in English but you know, the bad stuff).
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#27
On Friday 1st August 1997, I was going to go straight home from work, but a colleague talked me into going to the pub for "a quick pint" Two hours, a couple of shared joints & 4 pints later, I got on my pushbike & made it about a quarter of the way home before coming off at the bottom of a steep hill & nearly getting killed. I was supposed to be going on a residential course the following Monday, but I was in hospital. I had to re-book onto another sitting, five weeks later, and 300 miles away. And that's where I met my wife - who was living overseas at the time, but by coincidence was planning to move back to where she grew up - literally walking distance from where I was living at the time. Not only did the accident cause me to meet the woman currently sitting next to me on the sofa, but forced me to completely reassess my life. I got my drinking & drug abuse under control (and have since gone sober sober), and got me off the self-destructive path I was on.
#28
It took a random part time job out of desperation making wooden snowboard/skateboard racks. 12 years later I’m deeply imbedded in the woodworking industry and found a career. Didn’t see that coming.
María Hermida 2 years ago
I'd love to start, but I don't know where it how. I'm a very clumsy person, and I'm afraid of making a fool of myself.
Load More Replies... #29
Worked in a kindergarten during my gap years between high school and university (I didn't even plan to go at the time). A kid with speech and social issues happened to take a special liking to me, resulting in me ageeing to work closely with his speech therapist, despite only being the teachers assistant. This reignited my interest in language and made me apply to be a linguistics major. My high school grades made it a long shot, but it turns out that very year they tested out a new system of accepting 50% of students based on motivational essays, to try to combat a high drop out rate in linguistics. I made it in on that, they ditched it the next year cause it didn't work. I now have masters in Language Psychology and start teaching at the same university this semester. If I had applied literally any other year, my chances would have been like lottery odds.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
No such thing as 'just a teacher's assistant'! They are educators and deserve just as much respect as the lead educators! I'm so glad they made that commitment to the child who needed them.
Kel_how 2 years ago
Agreed! I'm a teacher and absolutely couldn't do my job without paraprofessionals. In my district, they're paid pennies which is a tragedy.
Load More Replies... Bear Hall 2 years ago
If it was a Hallmark movies they are happily married now and their kid goes to the same kindergarten.
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Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
Too bad the school dropped the admissions on the entry essay thing, because it CAN work, and OP is a prime example. As a teenager, most of us aren’t motivated in school. However, a few years working in the kind of job you can get without a degree, and then being passed over for promotion because of that lack of a degree, can greatly motivate someone to get j to college, do well, and greatly exceed everyone’s expectations, including their own. I’ve known plenty of older students like that, who didn’t do well in high school, but ended up graduating at the top of their class—-doing way better scholastically than people half their age.
The CareTaker 2 years ago
when I was younger, I used to help the "special" kids as a student helper, I used it to get out of school, but there was one kid that could talk to good had...problems, if you know the kind, he will run around destroy other work and even poop in the room, but something about me, me being diff from anyone he had ever seen, Not too many Japanese Albinoes in USA school are there lol, anyway he loved my hair and I had it long at the time and idk if he thought I was a girl cause of my hair or something but he wanted to brush it, I was only like 14-15 and got permission to bring an extra brush, and I told him if he was good for a few days he could, and every tus and fri he would (badly) brush my hair put ribbons in and stuff, to the point that when I left the school his mom bought a manikin head with a white wig and he didn't mess around anymore.........this made me way more then happy and I would have let that kid cut my hair if he wanted..... since I was abused for my looks when I was tiny
StarlightPanda! 2 years ago
Nah. You were that determined, and you would have received it anyway.
#30
Was at a conference and stepped outside for a smoke. Bumped into a friend of mine who introduced me to the man he was walking with. That man encouraged me to apply for an opening in his office and, six months later, he hired me.
It was the job that jumpstarted my career, changing my trajectory. And all because of a bad habit.
FakeOptimist 2 years ago
The (only) positive thing about smoking : when you step outside to do it, at a concert, conference or just at work, you meet people who wouldn't see otherwise. At work it helps people of different layers to better communicate with other "layers" in my experience.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I have since quit, but smoking literally saved my life. Abusive ex-BF had me Darth Vader'd against a wall and I was rapidly weakening. I chanced to be smoking at the time, so I put the cig out on his cheek. He dropped me and I called the cops. Apparently, the burn jogged him out of whatever drug-fueled delusion he was experiencing, because he just sat there and didn't even argue while the cops arrested him. That having been said, I quit more than a year ago and it is the best thing I've ever done for myself. Smoking, that is. I quit him that night, nearly 10 years ago. Just saw him the other day, though I made sure he didn't see me. He looks like an active drug addict: no muscle, sores, empty eyes, confused facial expression. You sowed it, MF; enjoy the harvest.
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Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
That's the only thing I miss about smoking, the easy camaraderie with other smokers. Especially when you're forced out into the chill of a Canadian winter evening together.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
got my dream job of 20+ years when i called a former prof. to ask a question for someone else...live is funny that way...
#31
I ran to catch a train home for christmas and just caught it. Thought I saw a friend of my sister two waggons in front so I made my way through that full train and found him. He invited me to go for a beer with his friends in the new year. Out of curiosity I went and met a really cute guy in that group. I typed my number into his phone because I wanted to be obvious. That was almost ten years ago, we‘ve been married for four. It blows my mind that if I didn’t run for that train our wonderful daughter wouldn’t even exist.
Miss Frankfurter 2 years ago
Kind of like the movie “Sliding Doors”. The woman is running to catch a subway train. She doesn’t make it. The doors slide closed. As a result of missing the train, this is the way her life goes. In another scene, she runs for the train and she makes it on. The doors slide closed. The movie shows how her life ends up because she made the train.
#32
Was heavily depressed for years, couldn't work, didn't dare to apply for jobs. I wanted to make crispy pork skin roast for dinner. Walked past a building with a little poster "We offer apprenticeships, become a geomatician!" Googled the job, applied, got the apprenticeship. Work offered psychological help, found a therapist, got a medication that worked. I found a job I love and help I needed for my mental health, all because I wanted to buy some pork roast.
just me 2 years ago
In case anyone else doesn't know: Geomatics - "discipline concerned with the collection, distribution, storage, analysis, processing, presentation of geographic data or geographic information"
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
My brother was in a relationship with someone who had severe mental health problems (refused any treatment for her borderline personality disorder, apart from self medicating with weed) that affected his mental health too. She wouldn't let him see a psychologist (threatened him if he did) but he managed to get in touch with the one at his work, who helped him see how toxic the relationship was and to help him find away back to himself after he realised he needed to leave. Now he is so much happier and healthier and has met an amazing woman he has been with for 2.5 years. If you can't go the traditional route to mental health support, find something that can work for you, because you deserve it!
#33
I stopped at a grocery store, and I saw a man standing next to his truck with a bunch of puppies. I approached him and ended up taking him my little angel of a dog. 🥹 He gave me her for free. ♡
Fish Fingers 2 years ago
I remember as a kid standing outside a supermarket trying to just give puppies away to strangers as her stepdad told her that if she didn't get rid of them he'd put a spade through their necks. No pressure for an 8yr old...
Justin Rogers 2 years ago
Hate back yard breeders and irresponsible people. Bob barker your animals folks. Glad they found their fur baby
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
Not believable. There was an entire, whole åss bunch of puppies and you only took one?
#34
Accepted an invite to some dudes team on Overwatch (videogame). Now I live on the opposite side of the country with him and we have two dogs and a Costco membership.
Praea Kitten 2 years ago
Costco membership isn't random. It's just like getting a pet only more humane in case of a breakup.
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Paige Merlin 2 years ago
This could be me, except he moved to this side of the country for me 1,296 days 9 hours and 28 minutes ago ♥️ and we don’t have the dogs, but we do have the Costco membership
#35
Started working at age 16. My supervisor suggested I sign up for “Profit Sharing”, a 401k precursor. Stayed with that company for 25 years, made a nice contribution to my retirement later in life.
Vasha 2 years ago (edited)
A decision I don't even remember taking: In the 90s I worked for a small publisher in Honolulu that got bought out by a larger firm. All the "new" employees had to fill out tons of paperwork for insurance, direct deposit, credit union accounts, etc. A few years later Hurricane Iniki hit the islands, and my husband's new fishing boat was sunk with all hands board. As a new widow I was preparing to sell our home to pay off massive debts. It was then that the CEO of my firm asked "didn't you check the box to have your husband on your insurance?" I didn't remember doing so, but he pulled the paperwork anyway. There it was, a small check mark authorizing payment of 50¢ per paycheck for accidental death for my husband. The payout was enough to save my home, and allowed me to continue living in Hawaii for the next decade.
Mimi M 2 years ago
That was fortunate. I'm very sorry for your loss, and for the loss to the other families.
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Ace 2 years ago
I'm genuinely astonished to learn that many people have not been investing in a pension scheme since as soon as they started working. In most of Europe it's absolutely normal, in many places required. When I talked to an American friend recently who told me her father, an architect, now retired, had no pension and no savings to fall back on I honestly did not believe her at first.
M 2 years ago
Some folks literally just cannot afford to have the extra money taken out of their check in the short run, regardless of how smart an idea it is in the long run
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#36
I was flying to Costa Rica to go backpacking south from there, my sister told me to fly into Guatemala, I had to see it. So I did, and here I am still 10 years later, with a son and a life I never imagined.
#37
2015, in Ukraine. Vinnytsia to be exact.
Went to shop to buy a bottle of water. No gas, no flavor..just a simple water bottle.
Ended up getting married with cashier who saw me a few times and was always curious to know what the f**k I'm doing in that part of the country.
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
Hope you guys are safe and happy now! The war has ravaged your beautiful country.
#38
Going to the gym. Now a year later my life has entirely changed. I think different, I live different, I eat different.
Power puff scientist 2 years ago
also not a very insignifficant commitment. going to the gym for a full year is not something that really fits on this list
FakeOptimist 2 years ago
The decision to start thought is often just an impulse. One I've managed to repress.
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#39
Scratched myself up in the field in ROTC training due to my own stupidity. **Debated whether to go to the medical tent, since it was super minor. I ultimately did**, and the cot next to me was a cadet from another school that was in a unit more in line with my career goals. The cadet got me an interview with the commander, and when I graduated and commissioned, I was assigned there. In the first few months, I met my now-wife, who was also new to the unit. Nearly two decades of marriage later, we’re both retiring and traveling the world together.
#40
The decision to stop drinking. I wasn't addicted or anything and only drank occasionally. However, I got into a depression and a burn-out. When you are stripped of many joys in life, you automatically start seeking refuge and escape. You see how thin the line is between having a glass of wine to drinking yourself to unconciousness because the darkness is overwhelming. It would seem like the easy way out. While it didn't help me to get out of my depression in itself, I got out of it better because I stayed away from things that feed escapism. It's better to be a recovering *depresso* without an addiction problem.
#41
I had just moved to Florida from PA with my brother, and we decided to grab lunch at a restaurant we’d never been to before. Got to chatting with the waitress, explained we were new, etc. She brought over her manager & he offered me a job on the spot. Met a cute bartender and 10 years later, we’re married with a 5 year old. Live in a new big city together. Just jumped on the gravy train of life head first by picking that place to eat at.
#42
21st December 2014. A girl I was crushing over at the time and had some casual flirting with, was going to a party, but having asked her out the day before and been turned down, I decided to sack the party, go see my family early. I headed home a day earlier than planned for Xmas. Was living in Glasgow, took the train from Queen Street Station. Got the 14:39 train back home with no issues. Very next day on the news. Bin lorry had crashed into Queen Street station around half past 2 in the afternoon, driver had a heart attack and lost control of the vehicle and killed 6 people. The place where it crashed, I was walking by, with earphones on 24 hrs before. So yeah I didn't die because a girl turned me down and I decided not to head to the same party. Life's relentless.
Fish Fingers 2 years ago
A girl I knew was was working in the World Trade Centre, and decided to come back to the UK one day earlier than planned. She finished at the WTC on the 10th.
MakeupMama68 2 years ago
My brother’s friend from university Daniel Song was working in the north tower that day 😞 So awful.
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Debby Keir 2 years ago
To clarify one point - the bin lorry driver had a blackout - and not his first.....
Lee Henderson 2 years ago
Being turned down isn't so bad but when you ask a girl out and she laughs at you....
M 2 years ago
Then you realized you dodged a bullet, because it turned out she was an awful person, deep down.
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#43
About 22 years ago I was fresh outta highschool and had no idea what I was going to do with my life. I went out rollerblading one evening and I decided to go down this road that looked familiar. I noticed a house and thought "hey, that kinda looks like my buddy from HS's house," so I decided to knock. Sure enough, it was his house. He was having a LAN party that weekend and invited me to come over, so I did. Ended up meeting this obnoxious kid who wouldn't leave me alone. Kid ends up becoming my best friend and shaping the direction of my life. He eventually convinces me to play World of WarCraft when it came out. Roughly 3 years later I met my now wife in WoW. All because I decided to go up and knock on a door.
#44
Checking out a new tea shop that opened up in my area. I became friends with the owner and she told me about a coding bootcamp, and less than a year later I had a great new career.
Zakaar Bovus 2 years ago
I love you and hate you all at the same time right now
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#45
I'm terrible at Judo and dislocated someone's shoulder. Felt guilty so decided to learn First aid and found a course 40 mins from where I live. Met my wife there and I often think what if I didn't slip up whilst training...
Whatshername 2 years ago (edited)
But did they relocate the other person's shoulder after the course? The poor soul had been waiting long enough I'd say.
Debby Keir 2 years ago
If a 'first aider' repositioned *my* doslocation, I'd be really worried - leave it to the professionals.
Load More Replies... #46
Found a book by the name "God and the new physics" at my grandmother's place when I was 12. Now I finished a master's in physics.
Let’s Be Kind 2 years ago
God created physics! (And now, waiting for all the snarky comments…🙄).
#47
Took an antibiotic for a possible infection and was perfectly healthy before. Ended up with permanent nerve damage at 24 years old and it turns out I never had an infection to begin with.
Stardust she/her 2 years ago
This is why you take antibiotics when prescribed and not on a whim
James016 2 years ago
A big problem is that people are getting prescribed antibiotics when they don’t need them.
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Amy Chirman 2 years ago
Would that antibiotic have been Cipro? Many people experience horrible side effects and bad reactions to that family of drugs, myself included. If I could afford to, I'd sue the F out of the company that produces it.
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
unless you were taking fluoroquinone, the antibiotic did not cause the nerve damage...in which case, it sounds like you may have had a viral infection that lead to the nerve damage
Ace 2 years ago
Only partially true. We've no idea where the nerve damage came from but it's extremely unlikely to have been a direct result of the unprescribed antibiotics (assuming they were genuine). Doctors do not routinely prescribe them these days, but they used to in some places, and it has helped some diseases develop resistant strains when patients do not complete the prescribed course because they recover from the non-existent infection very quickly.
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#48
After completing 3 science degrees I wasn’t having a good time. Randomly decided to apply to get into medicine thinking that I’d never get in. Anyway, I’m a doctor now, love it and hate it but definitely changed my life for the better overall
Paul Pienkowski 2 years ago
Thank you for your service, doctor. And all the risks and life threatening diseases you face daily so others can live.
Hiram's Friend 2 years ago
Two degrees, English lit and Theater Arts. Ended up in nursing. My story is in #14 above.
#49
Went for a jog even though I didn’t want to. Ended meeting a cute woman who was a bit of a motormouth but we had a lot in common. We ended up dating for about 4 years. We wanted different things and ended it but she’s still a fantastic friend.
#50
Decided to relax my leg while trying to kick the ball, missed the ball and f****d my knee up. 2 years later still hurts
#51
Adopted a dog. I didn't even adopt her, my wife asked if she could adopt a dog and I merely agreed to it. My mental health improved approximately 1000% after getting the dog. The routine of feeding, walking, and playing with the pup just keeps me going and I never get that "empty" feeling of being by myself.
#52
I had no direction in college, so after year 3 I decided to take a break and just work. I already had a part time job on the books and a friend encouraged me to look into a position he knew about in pharmacy. It was off the books, I had free time, so I decided to give it a shot. My boss taught me everything and had patience with me. I took to it like a fish in water and worked 2 part-time jobs while I decided what to do about college. 30 something years later, I'm licensed and proud to say I've learned ALOT. That part-time, off the books gig, developed into a recession proof job in healthcare that made it possible to provide for myself and family. Never thought I'd be in healthcare, and steadily climbed that occupational ladder. Don't be afraid to jump into new areas, ESPECIALLY if the support/training is there.
#53
Broke up with my high school sweetheart before college because I didn't want a long distance relationship. I would come to regret it and miss her miserably over the next five years, even while dating other people. I would stalk her myspace pics (yes I'm that old) and she just got more and more beautiful every day. One day, my friends were grabbing a bite to eat then heading to the local mall. They invited me but I wasn't feeling it and absolutely refused to go. They managed to talk me into it. Long story short, I bumped in to that old flame at the sunglass hut and the rest is history. Happily married for 12 years with a great life and two amazing kids. I always think about what would have happened (or not happened) if I had the will to say no to my friends just one more time. It just seems so improbable to me how my life turned on that one decision.
#54
When I was younger I bought a pair of pinstriped slacks and a chain pocket watch because I thought it'd look rad. I signed up for a sears credit card to save 50% or whatever and then paid it off right away. That early credit card gave me a head start on a long credit history which in turn has contributed to a great score (800+). Helped with vehicles, a house, etc.
Kim 2 years ago
It’s simple, banks need to know that you are responsible to pay off your debt. The best think to do is buy a pack if gum on credit. Pay it off straight away. And do that a few times. Then cut the card and never use it again. You will have super high credit score. (I’m not american, I’m swedish but got this explained to me)
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#55
A little over a year ago, I read a fanfic and something in my brain was telling me that I should comment (something I rarely do). Did this for another month or two until I decided to leave my discord on one my comments. We now message each other every day, and we even met in person back in June to attend a convention together. She's my best friend, and it all came from one silly little comment I left on her story.
#56
Had dropped out of college and then decided to return. Applied for housing and the housing office gave me the choice between two rooms. I chose one and ended up dating the Resident Assistant on my hall. We married three years later and just celebrated our 26th anniversary.
#57
Got tired of dating apps and not finding anything long term. At the beginning of the COVID shutdown I decided to look into dating websites even tho they were old and clunky and not very user friendly. Ended up finding my wife there. 😊
#58
Grabbing lunch instead of skipping it in middle school, I was really depressed back then and I met my current friends there, my life has just bee way better, and I probably wouldn’t be here without them.
#59
Started usind electric toothbrush about 7-8 years ago. Also, started brushing my teeth before goong to bed every day. My oral health has improved a lot ever since.
A Something 2 years ago
I couldn’t go back to a normal toothbrush at all now. Had my electric one 12+ years now
Load More Replies... #60
My wife and I met online in Texas in 2015. My roommate got wifi and I ended up making a dating profile on POF and from the first I messaged her we hit it off, we have 3 kiddos now and are very happy together! In early 2016 we went on a one week vacation to California and on the drive back to Texas we decided to move to Cali (we moved back to TX in 2019) just to try it out. We got married in Cali and had our first 2 children there. Before the road trip to Cali, moving there had never even been a thought to us!!! So many variables left out but those some of the most smallest choices that ended up having huge impacts in our lives
#61
At 5 years old i decided to pick sides between my emotionally scared mother and my alcoholic stepfather. I picked the side of my step father.... At 21 years i figured out that that decision caused me to develop social adjustment disorder which i got diagnosed a year later. After 5 years of therapy and self reflection i got ready to move to a big city and go to university. I am still a little socially crippled but far far better than 5 years ago. It took me quite some time but now i am able to talk to people.
#62
Decided to pursue medical school again after failing the first year due to kidney disease. Met my fiancé ❤️
#63
Watched a beginner blender tutorial series. Pretty sure that played a large part of why I got hired at my current company, and I just received a promotion after less than a year with a $10k/year raise that involves me using blender to make beauty renders for marketing material.
#64
Bought a blender. Quick oats, natural peanut butter, frozen banana, protein powder, seeds or hemp hearts Every morning. Super healthy breakfast. Energy for hours and hours
#65
I've been replacing my "who cares anyways" with "I can always logout" and gravitate more towards absurdism to make living worth while. I'm very nihilistic. I value life in general, just not mine.
#66
Decided to work out again. I'm loving it and I'm so much happier.
#67
I accepted a friend request on Facebook from someone I’d never met or spoken to. She became one of the most important people in my life. Traveled internationally for the first time in my life to meet her family. I only wish things had worked out in the end, I would have happily married her.
#68
As a teen I got curious about psychedelics and got an ounce of blue ape mushrooms. Didn’t know what I was doing and I ate the whole ounce. Never been the same
Mimi M 2 years ago
If you click the link there's much more in the followup comments - too much to post here. Cocaine addiction, DID/MPD, HPPD...
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
It depends, an ounce of dried shrooms is about ten times as potent as fresh ones.
Load More Replies... What do you think ?
Stardust she/her 2 years ago
When I was 6 years old, my dad used to travel a lot for work and occasionally he would bring back something for us. One day I woke up very early and I saw that my dad got an encyclopaedia which he left on the couch. I decided to try to read it and I found the first chapter to be very interesting. It was about astronomy and I’ve been obsessed with it since then
Cosmologist wannabe (he/him) 2 years ago
Best astronomer origin story I ever heard. Mine was way simpler. During the summer of 2020, I picked up a few books from a library and brought them to a vacation home near one of the most known observatories in AZ. (Sadly it was closed) I opened up the book. The book was a bit to math-y for me, as I was an 11yo then. It was 400 something pages long. The book was called “Welcome to the Universe” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Gobbled up all the non-mathematical info in 5 hours, or so. I always had a small passion for all things space, but that book practically rocketed me up to a total astronomy geek (pun intended). And damn, best guy I have ever read from. I am also going to be going to try to get into one of the best astronomy camps in the US. And this year I get to choose a [REDACTED] at the end of my school year. And I am also planning to become a CIT at a “camp” for children at the one and only Lowell Observatory.
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Tomato Froggo 2 years ago
I was thinking about ending myself once, but I reached out to a friend first. They convinced me not to, and they’re probably the only reason I’m still here. I’m way better now, and I’m really grateful
MrsFettesVette 2 years ago
I'd had one too many bad dates and was pretty fed up with relationships, decided I was pretty happy with my life as it was. Joined a social website at the urging of an older, wiser friend for the interaction and community, with no expectations of any relationship. I saw a post from a guy who lived two states away who was too young for me saying he was just looking to make friends and that he was loyal and a good listener. I thought, "this guy sounds nice, I'm down to make friends" with zero concept that he would be romantically interested in a woman 13 years older than him. How could we possibly relate to one another on a romantic level? And I could see lots of women his age on the site flirting with him. But I was always down to meet new friends so I sent him a note anyway. Fast forward 11 years later and we've been married for years, have cheered each other on and held each other up, own a home and are parents to a crazy little house werewolf, and are each others favorite person.
Manusha Kanis 2 years ago
Me and my best friend had both picked the wrong future job, we were talking about new career paths and she mentioned florist, I added it to my list. She decided to stay in the same school and I ended up switching to florist school. Turned out I'm really good at being a florist if I might say so myself. Loved all my regulars and being able to help with big moments like weddings and funerals.
Amelia Jade 2 years ago
The start of 10th grade in high school. I did not like the elective I chose. I can't remeber what it even was. But I was allowed to change it. They moved me to an art appreciation (humanities) class. I sat next to this girl I only kind of knew. We hit it off and became best friends. That was when we were 14. We turn 49 this year and still talk every day. Also, that humanities teacher was amazing and inspired a real love of art that has never gone away. I've been to museums in Paris, Amsterdam, etc. And a few years ago made it to my favorite, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. All because I hated some elective and decided to see if I could switch classes.
James016 2 years ago
Many years ago I was on a dating site. About to log out when I just noticed a small icon in the corner of the screen. Clicked on it and someone had messaged me. We met up and 3 years later we got married. We had our son almost 9 years ago. Another one: I used to work in Kensington, London and my commute would take me through Edgware Road station. After getting fed up of the delays and what not, I change my route and started using the Central Line. About 2 weeks later the 7/7 tube bombing happened. I would have been at Edgware Road station at the time the bombs went off had I not change my route.
Superb Owl 2 years ago
Was 12, went to a camp, was bored, there was a guitar, had never even touched one, picked it up, instantly hooked. I could just feel all the music inside that thing, waiting to be let out.
Scarlett 2 years ago
I was extremely depressed at the end of my junior year (had tried to off myself that February). My mom forced me to work at a summer camp that I’d been to as a camper and an LIT. Ended up making some good friends and improving my mental health by a ton. I made more friends my senior year and even got a boyfriend plus I pulled my GPA up from a 1.8 to a 2.9 which let me graduate and get into a community college. I went back to that camp this summer and had the best summer of my life and made friends that I think will last a lifetime.
Adam Zad 2 years ago
Changed my career plans from Biomedical Engineering (wanted to make cybernetic prosthetics) to Speech because I took an Essentials of Public Speaking class to check off a General Education box on the degree requirements. Discovered I loved public speaking and was really good at it. Now a corporate trainer with a Master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology.
Stardust she/her 2 years ago
When I was 6 years old, my dad used to travel a lot for work and occasionally he would bring back something for us. One day I woke up very early and I saw that my dad got an encyclopaedia which he left on the couch. I decided to try to read it and I found the first chapter to be very interesting. It was about astronomy and I’ve been obsessed with it since then
Cosmologist wannabe (he/him) 2 years ago
Best astronomer origin story I ever heard. Mine was way simpler. During the summer of 2020, I picked up a few books from a library and brought them to a vacation home near one of the most known observatories in AZ. (Sadly it was closed) I opened up the book. The book was a bit to math-y for me, as I was an 11yo then. It was 400 something pages long. The book was called “Welcome to the Universe” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Gobbled up all the non-mathematical info in 5 hours, or so. I always had a small passion for all things space, but that book practically rocketed me up to a total astronomy geek (pun intended). And damn, best guy I have ever read from. I am also going to be going to try to get into one of the best astronomy camps in the US. And this year I get to choose a [REDACTED] at the end of my school year. And I am also planning to become a CIT at a “camp” for children at the one and only Lowell Observatory.
Load More Replies... Tomato Froggo 2 years ago
I was thinking about ending myself once, but I reached out to a friend first. They convinced me not to, and they’re probably the only reason I’m still here. I’m way better now, and I’m really grateful
MrsFettesVette 2 years ago
I'd had one too many bad dates and was pretty fed up with relationships, decided I was pretty happy with my life as it was. Joined a social website at the urging of an older, wiser friend for the interaction and community, with no expectations of any relationship. I saw a post from a guy who lived two states away who was too young for me saying he was just looking to make friends and that he was loyal and a good listener. I thought, "this guy sounds nice, I'm down to make friends" with zero concept that he would be romantically interested in a woman 13 years older than him. How could we possibly relate to one another on a romantic level? And I could see lots of women his age on the site flirting with him. But I was always down to meet new friends so I sent him a note anyway. Fast forward 11 years later and we've been married for years, have cheered each other on and held each other up, own a home and are parents to a crazy little house werewolf, and are each others favorite person.
Manusha Kanis 2 years ago
Me and my best friend had both picked the wrong future job, we were talking about new career paths and she mentioned florist, I added it to my list. She decided to stay in the same school and I ended up switching to florist school. Turned out I'm really good at being a florist if I might say so myself. Loved all my regulars and being able to help with big moments like weddings and funerals.
Amelia Jade 2 years ago
The start of 10th grade in high school. I did not like the elective I chose. I can't remeber what it even was. But I was allowed to change it. They moved me to an art appreciation (humanities) class. I sat next to this girl I only kind of knew. We hit it off and became best friends. That was when we were 14. We turn 49 this year and still talk every day. Also, that humanities teacher was amazing and inspired a real love of art that has never gone away. I've been to museums in Paris, Amsterdam, etc. And a few years ago made it to my favorite, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. All because I hated some elective and decided to see if I could switch classes.
James016 2 years ago
Many years ago I was on a dating site. About to log out when I just noticed a small icon in the corner of the screen. Clicked on it and someone had messaged me. We met up and 3 years later we got married. We had our son almost 9 years ago. Another one: I used to work in Kensington, London and my commute would take me through Edgware Road station. After getting fed up of the delays and what not, I change my route and started using the Central Line. About 2 weeks later the 7/7 tube bombing happened. I would have been at Edgware Road station at the time the bombs went off had I not change my route.
Superb Owl 2 years ago
Was 12, went to a camp, was bored, there was a guitar, had never even touched one, picked it up, instantly hooked. I could just feel all the music inside that thing, waiting to be let out.
Scarlett 2 years ago
I was extremely depressed at the end of my junior year (had tried to off myself that February). My mom forced me to work at a summer camp that I’d been to as a camper and an LIT. Ended up making some good friends and improving my mental health by a ton. I made more friends my senior year and even got a boyfriend plus I pulled my GPA up from a 1.8 to a 2.9 which let me graduate and get into a community college. I went back to that camp this summer and had the best summer of my life and made friends that I think will last a lifetime.
Adam Zad 2 years ago
Changed my career plans from Biomedical Engineering (wanted to make cybernetic prosthetics) to Speech because I took an Essentials of Public Speaking class to check off a General Education box on the degree requirements. Discovered I loved public speaking and was really good at it. Now a corporate trainer with a Master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology.
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