Sometimes, something as simple as turning left instead of right can make all the difference in the world. It’s small, indiscriminate moments like these that often wind up affecting the outcome of our lives.
Everyone on earth can relate to this, and we all have our own story to tell. Let’s spark the conversation with these 10+ people who share when small decisions changed their lives forever.
1. Flunking out of college taught beepborpimajorp the value of a degree.
“I imagine if I’d stayed and gotten my degree, my life would have been a lot different,” they said. “Instead I ended up working for a few years, realizing the value of a degree, and re-starting my life.”
2. Sometimes a night on the town can make all the difference in the world.
A friend called LtJimmyRay in order to invite him out for a celebratory drink after ending a toxic relationship; he reluctantly accepted the offer.
Later on that evening, LtJimmyRay wound up meeting the woman that would become his wife.
3. A friendly conversation in a college cafeteria resulted in a free education for caliblondie
The two strangers ate lunch and began to “Start small talking and he mentions his tuition is free because his dad is military. I’m like wait… my dad is military and I’m paying?”
4. Saying yes to beers at the pub drove saugoof Down Under.
They were backpacking across Europe when they happened to befriend a fellow traveler from Australia. After an epic night out, the pair kept in touch.
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Roughly six months later, the Aussie invited saugoof to come to Australia for a visit. It’s now 30 years later and they never left.
5. A stranger on a train may have saved TwizTa89’s life.
It was a busy morning and as a result, TwizTa89 missed their usual train to work.
“So I got to talking to a random guy who turned out to be a doctor, he noticed dark patch under my nail and recommended i[sic] go get it checked out. It urned[sic] out to be subungual melanoma (Skin Cancer).”
6. You never know when you’ll discover your passion.
Redditor TopMacaroon signed up for a computer programming class in junior high because they thought that it would be an easy grade.
It would up turning into a lifelong love of computers, as well as an 18-year career.
7. You’ve got mail.
VKH700 was one of the early pioneers of online dating. After meeting a man on AOL back in ’94, she hopped on a plane and flew 2300 miles in order to meet him.
They’ve now been married for more than 26 years.
8. Forgetting to remember hamburger buns altered this Reddit user’s career trajectory.
Upon returning to the store, strongy78 happened to notice a former colleague and old friend shopping:
“Chatted it up with him for a little bit, and 3 days later, I get a call out of the blue to come in for an interview at his company he worked at.”
9. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
That’s the advice that Redditor casskll certainly lives by.
She says that as it “Turns out i’m[sic] a flaming lesbo and i[sic] have the best girlfriend with a cute scruffy old dog living our best lives. Planning on buying our first home in the spring.”
10. Getting injured in roller derby was the best thing to ever happen to WhereTFAreMyDragons:
“If I never said [expletive] it and joined the roller derby team, I would’ve never injured my hip and would’ve never found out I had an underlying life threatening[sic] illness.”
11. Put down the computer and pick up a book.
Redditor runner8810 woke up and realized that they were spending upwards of 10 hours a day on YouTube .
Overnight, they decided to quit — cold turkey. Now, they lead a much more fulfilled and healthy lifestyle.
12. Maybe you shouldn’t be so hesitant to take a friend to the airport, after all.
“A friend asked if I’d drive with her to pick up her friend at LAX airport . This was so she could drive in the carpool lane. I said yes. I asked her friend to marry me 6 months later,” wrote Reddit user Talakor
13. If you enjoy pizza, don’t read this…
Reddit user Holybartender83 contracted horrible food poisoning from takeout pizza, which led to the discovery of IBS. “I’m basically not functional probably 50% of the time,” they said.
“It’s essentially destroyed my quality of life, and I’m terrified that I may never have a normal life again.”
14. A difference of $50 saved this couple’s lives.
Redditor Haxxer and his girlfriend decided to fly home via Paris as opposed to Amsterdam in order to save some money. After landing, they noticed several missed calls from their travel agent.
When they finally returned her calls, she was elated.
“When we call her, she sounds super relieved and out of breath,” Haxxer explained. “She tells us the flight she originally suggested to us, the one from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over Ukraine.”