Real life is more like the plot of a novel or the screenplay of a movie than you think. We’ve got awesome protagonists (that’s you, dear Pandas!), intrigue, mystery, and… unexpected twists. After all, what’s a good story without a proper twist? A story that makes the audience gasp, and brings a smile to their faces.
Well, our team here at Bored Panda has traveled over the hills and far away, across the far reaches of social media, to find some of the best real-life stories with twists you likely won’t see coming.
So make yourself a big mug of tea or coffee, grab some biscuits, get comfy, and scroll down to have a good time. Remember to upvote the stories you enjoyed the most, Pandas. And if you’ve got any real-life plot twists to share with us, the comment section is waiting for you with open arms. (Or it would if it had any.)
This post may include affiliate links.
While some people thrive when dealing with unforeseen circumstances and easily adapt to the unexpected, others have a harder time. Far from everyone has a good and easy time dealing with surprises. And some real-life plot twists can be quite shocking, in the worst possible sense. Not everything is as light-hearted and fluffy as on social media.
Plot twists, while great in books and movies, might not lead to the same enthusiasm and adoration when they happen to these people in real life. Unpredictability isn’t for everyone; however, life is unpredictable, so we have to learn to deal with it.
During an earlier in-depth interview, Bored Panda spoke about how to live with the fact that life can be unpredictable at times, whether for good or for ill, with psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers. He went into detail about building emotional and mental resilience so we’re able to weather any surprises or plot twists that life throws at us.
"As human beings, we have a desire for certainty and routine that keeps us feeling safe and able to plan what lies ahead in an organized manner. When unpredictable situations or accidents impact us, it can be traumatic, and we will likely feel a sense of disappointment, frustration, and loss," the psychologist told Bored Panda.
I don’t think anyone is lol 😅
Load More Replies...
You're welcome to buy me a washer dryer for christmas. Of course, it will now be my personal washer dryer. I will only be washing my clothing in it and if anyone else wants to use it they will need my permission and to do something for me in return ...
One year my Dad gave my Mom a toaster. That was a bad year for the WHOLE family.
The dignified way to respond to that is to buy him a vibrator so he can go... himself.
Load More Replies...
The only time an appliance makes an exceptable gift, is if it is specifically asked for, but you should also get them something else as well!
My husband got me a KitchenAid hand mixer (amongst other things) for my first birthday that we were together and I nearly cried from happiness lol
Load More Replies...
My ex husband bought me a carpet shampooer for Christmas one year. I never once showed interest in having or needing one. So glad he is my ex🙃
This only works if the woman actually asked for it. I put a kitchen garbage can on my amazon wish list that I forwarded to my husband for x-mas gifts to me. He got all but the can and said he just couldn't bring himself to buy me a garbage can for x-mas, lol. I get it, but I actually wanted it!
I understand this, please buy me the boring necessities so I can buy myself the fun things.
Load More Replies...
Unpopular opinion, I would absolutely love a washer and dryer for any holiday
Yes, me too. Few years ago my husband asked me what I really really wanted for my birthday. I said I wanted to spend a lot less time doing housework. After laughing, he asked what I hated most. That year I got a washer - dryer, new hover and new iron. It's way more money than I would expect for a birthday because it's for both of us. It bought me a lot more time to do things I enjoyed. Nothing wrong with getting a person what they want.
Load More Replies...
Oh, been there! I got married at 19 (very stupid move!) & the wedding was November 20. First Christmas together & my gift from new husband: a STEAM IRON. That was it. Nothing else. His mother suggested it so I could keep all his shirts ironed. To top it off, the in-laws gift to me? An IRONING BOARD, to go with the iron. The marriage lasted almost 3 years, but half of that time we were separated.
I think the reason why appliances are not a good "gift" for a spouse isn't really because it's useful or utilitarian as opposed to something thoughtful or romantic, etc. I think it's because a marriage is a partnership, and if I gave something like an "iron" to my wife for Christmas, it would be like saying "Here! This is YOUR job!" Appliances are bought together and shared. Buy your spouse a gift that's just for them.
My father is very aware that "household appliances NEVER count as a gift", unless specifically asked for. Mom has him well trained. :)
If I had a partner, which I don't, I'd love to get a washer dryer or even a vacuum cleaner that is quiet lol. One year my adult daughter bought me a beautiful nonstick frying pan and I was very happy with that. I needed a new one.
Ha ha my mom told me that my dad bought her a toaster for Christmas the first year they were married and he learned a valuable lesson indeed. For as long as I can remember, and until his death in 2019, he always bought her jewelry or something nice for Christmas.
Had the same thing from a bus driver when I bought a vacuum cleaner on valentine's Day. Was just a coincidence, but it made me smile that she checked.
What sort of idiot man thinks a new appliance is a gift? If they ask for a specific thing like a stand mixer then that’s ok but a new washer as a gift is like asking to be in the dog house. I once read a comment that said if your going to buy me an appliance you should get one that fits up you back side easily as that the only place it’s going, I find this to be a good life rule to follow
Would have been fine at my house. One of my favorite Christmas gifts was a Tactical Flashlight. But, I'm the girl who would rather shop at Home Depot than Nordstrom.
Yea, my ex got me all kinds of cleaning stuff and his parents got me the washer and dryer. I was thankful but sad he didn't get ne anything at the same time. He didn't understand.
Ive gotten household things and love it... This past Xmas was a mattress, maybe be grateful?
If I got gifted a household necessity like an appliance I would return it for the cash and take a spa day.
For your birthday...a washer.....and for my birthday......no more birthdays ever....
My husband once bought me a new vacuum cleaner and it was delieverd on Valentine's Day to my work and I told the UPS guy, "That had better not be my Valentines' Day gift!" He kind of got this weird look on his face and got out of there pretty quick. I was on the phone 5 minutes later to the hubby.
The poor installer should not have to see the wife killing the idiot who for some unknown reason thought that it was a good idea to buy his wife a new appliance. I bet he wonders what happened to that guy for years
Got a Dyson once that I very much wanted. $600. I know people love them, but I hated mine. "Luckily" it lasted less than 5yrs.
Load More Replies...
"It is important, however, that we embrace the fact that the world can be unpredictable and uncertain, and become more tolerant of this being a reality,” the expert noted that unpredictability might not be what many of us like. But we still have to learn to accept that it exists as a phenomenon.
“Understanding that things are sometimes out of our control helps us to accept that not everything goes to plan, and accept when things happen to us that are negative. This acceptance allows us to embrace the change and difference, and manage our expectations so we can become more resilient to the ups and downs that all our lives lead,” he said.
In the psychologist’s view, in the case of negative, even traumatic, unpredictable experiences, it isn’t always easy or straightforward to see if the individual will turn everything into greater resilience. In other words, some bad experiences don’t always lead to growth in some individuals. In other cases, however, it can have a galvanizing effect.
"Post-traumatic growth isn't always simple to explain or utilize, but often the adversity we face can create a precedent for what we can overcome, help us to see what we need to be grateful for, and give us an understanding of the support we do have,” psychologist Lee explained to Bored Panda.
“A big part of opening the door to grow from our struggles is finding acceptance and taking ownership over what you can control and finding healthy ways to express the negative emotion that comes with challenges that test us," he said.
Lee also revealed to Bored Panda what strategies helped him when he had to learn to walk again. "Using journaling and talking about how I felt played a significant part in my recovery when I had to learn to walk again, and gave me the space to grow to become mentally stronger as a result,” he opened up.
And he made you think it was a coincidence! He has dozens of drawings made, sold to people that he followed for years to select those he liked, and then found a way to approach them in a non-suspect way. After a period of time they got used to his "style" after looking at the portrait everyday, so they felt a familiarity when seeing him that makes them think that they were vibing with him. The rest is compatibility! :p
“It is also important to reflect on all the hurdles you've overcome, so you can see what skills and lessons you've learned to apply in the future, and adversity often helps us to see what really matters, and gets us closer to knowing our values and purpose."
Ooh! I did that! All because I honestly was walking to the direction where I thought I parked my car, then realized I had to save face by acting like a friend was parked waiting for me then left, so I had to walk back to my car.
My next door neighbor who is a friends with the neighbor in the apartment right blow mine was ringing at my door and impatiently so! I wondered what the emergency was. But I still opened the door with an open mind, and she hurries inside my apartment with some takeout... Realizing mid-step that she has her friends door but with her own floor and that isn't how it works! I never seen someone leave so quickly leaving her apologizing words floating in the air behind her. No need to say I laughed but still tried to make it an "It's-OK-we-all-make-mistakes" laugh to not embarrass her even more! :)
Note: this post originally had 69 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
So many badass grannies! If I ever make it to old age, I hope I'm one, just like Betty White!
My now husband took me to meet his gran almost as soon as we started dating. She instantly started giving me instructions about how to feed him and was very clear I should take all his wages and leave him just enough to have a little fun, but not enough to get into trouble until I had trained him well. She told him to marry me as quickly as possible before I realized he was getting the better deal. I didn't take her advice - 20 years on, we manage food and finances better together - he did though. I really loved his gran though her advice seemed for an other age, she made me feel cared for instantly.
Load More Replies... Years ago my friends and I went to see the Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels tour. One of us was extremely "frugal" and wanted to get last minute tickets being sold from posts in the newspaper. When we got to the Cotton Bowl are seats were w a a ay back from the stage behind a large concrete pillar. My other friend thought I was going to push this woman down the stairs. (I never liked her in the first place). We saw this guy walking around talking to the few other people there. He was wearing a lanyard. He was looking at tickets, taking them and giving them new tickets. When he got to us, he looked at them and said "You really don't want to sit here, do you? Here. I think you'd rather sit here." Gave us new tickets. 8 rows from the stage!!! Turned out so much better than we thought and I didn't go to prison for murder. All in all a great evening.
when i was small i told my mom i wanted to see my grandma she took me to the car with my brother who covered my eyes, when i was put in front of her i was so excited because it was the first time i ever see her ,then when my brother removed his hands it was a grave with my grandma's name on it.....was the worst day ever
While everybody is celebrating these smart grannies, I am just sad abotu the amount of opression they lived under - and many women still do, today. Yes, they coped with it, but, Jeez, what a life where you are totally dependend on one man :(
So many badass grannies! If I ever make it to old age, I hope I'm one, just like Betty White!
My now husband took me to meet his gran almost as soon as we started dating. She instantly started giving me instructions about how to feed him and was very clear I should take all his wages and leave him just enough to have a little fun, but not enough to get into trouble until I had trained him well. She told him to marry me as quickly as possible before I realized he was getting the better deal. I didn't take her advice - 20 years on, we manage food and finances better together - he did though. I really loved his gran though her advice seemed for an other age, she made me feel cared for instantly.
Load More Replies... Years ago my friends and I went to see the Rolling Stones on their Steel Wheels tour. One of us was extremely "frugal" and wanted to get last minute tickets being sold from posts in the newspaper. When we got to the Cotton Bowl are seats were w a a ay back from the stage behind a large concrete pillar. My other friend thought I was going to push this woman down the stairs. (I never liked her in the first place). We saw this guy walking around talking to the few other people there. He was wearing a lanyard. He was looking at tickets, taking them and giving them new tickets. When he got to us, he looked at them and said "You really don't want to sit here, do you? Here. I think you'd rather sit here." Gave us new tickets. 8 rows from the stage!!! Turned out so much better than we thought and I didn't go to prison for murder. All in all a great evening.
when i was small i told my mom i wanted to see my grandma she took me to the car with my brother who covered my eyes, when i was put in front of her i was so excited because it was the first time i ever see her ,then when my brother removed his hands it was a grave with my grandma's name on it.....was the worst day ever
While everybody is celebrating these smart grannies, I am just sad abotu the amount of opression they lived under - and many women still do, today. Yes, they coped with it, but, Jeez, what a life where you are totally dependend on one man :(
