Love is so illusive for so many.
When we watch the people who have found "the one" who can't help but wonder... "How did you do that?"
For all the singles, and not in a desperate way, we wonder... is there something we're missing?
How do you find "the one?"
In this day and age love seems like an illusion or chess game.
I'm willing to play, but can I get the treasure map to navigate?
Redditor dkidontwatchAnime to discuss life's most important issue... finding love.
They asked:
"People who have found the love of your life, how did you do it?"
I'm over it all, but not really. I'm willing to try many things. Enlighten me...
It's ME!!
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"Online dating. I essentially found a female version of myself by accident doing this and now have a 6 month old son with her." ~ Zealousideal_Hat4431
Hobbled
"I joined a class for people who had lost their way or were just struggling to get started in life, it was either that or I'd probably end up in jail. She was one of the classmates because she didn't know what to do with her life, She seemed too nice for someone like me so I wasn't trying to win her over but we spoke a bit, and found we got along quite well."
"One day I was messing around with a ball and showing off, I tripped and landed awkwardly knocking the foot out of place, tried to ignore it but the ankle started swelling up and teacher took me to hospital, came back a few days later for a charity event."
"But since I was in crutches I was just supposed to watch, another boy in the class was paired with her and she was clearly uncomfortable, I hobbled on over and took his place she was happy, I invited her for a drink and then we ended up going out that night."
"I was in a bad place at that point in my life but she helped me and fixed me up, we have 2 kids now and been together nearly 16 years, moving into a new house today, we've been through alot to get to this point but things are good." ~ Bigbadbobbyc
The Natural
"At a party of a mutual friend group. I was hanging out when he walked in. I knew this group for a couple years, but never met this guy. Turned out he lived in the next state over while he was in school. We were introduced and started talking. We ended up talking all night. It was the easiest conversation I ever had."
"It all felt so natural. Side note: There were many times when we should have met but didn't. When he lived in my state we worked next store to each other and he used to come in to my work all the time (coffee shop). And he was at several parties that I didn't attend."
"It's for the best because I had a boyfriend at the time and he was still in his 'bad boy' phase. A couple weeks later I get a message on Myspace from the guy. We start talking and decide to meet at the halfway point for a date. The rest, as they say, is history. Been in love ever since." ~ tiny_little_planet
Thanks Bro...
"He was friends with my brother. He was always super nice and was such a wonderful dog dad that I knew he would be a wonderful father. We had been hooking up and his roommate ended up getting a DUI and had to move back home from the college town they lived in. He needed a roommate to help pay rent so I moved in and never looked back. We’ve been together for 15 years now and he is the best husband and most amazing father to our two kids." ~ TalullahandHula33
The Crasher
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"When I was 18, I heard a guy my age talking about books with his friend's at a bookstore closing (RIP Borders) and just… crashed his conversation. Six months later, we were engaged. We’ve been together for ten years now and have been married for half of it." ~ WitchoftheWords
Bookstores are dead. That was my dream. A handsome reader, who likes the smell of parchment.
Alone
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"By being myself and finding someone who does the same."
"If you and the other person are 100% truly yourself around each other and 100% enjoy every minute of it, you just may have found the one. Also, never try to change them. It will build resentment. Instead, work on accepting them and expect that they do the same." ~ HelpMePeez
I said, I guess so...
"We met in graduate school. I wasn’t interested in a relationship and wanted to concentrate on my studies. He said we can go out as friends, right? I said, I guess so... We found out we had a lot in common and had similar values and goals in life, not to mention the same career! Life has been good and I was lucky to find my best friend and soul mate. We’ve been married over 15 years and I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else, in this lifetime or any other." ~ mtn4444
32
"I found myself suddenly single at 31. Still single at 32 but after being in a long term relationship for years I was enjoying the freedom. A friend invited me her house warming party. Not long after I arrived I locked eyes with this guy and we both smiled. I am rather shy and it took me three attempts to get the courage to talk to him. Been together 18 year, married 16 and have 4 kids." ~ battleangelred
I Quit...
"We worked together. He sent out an email saying he was quitting. I always thought he was handsome so I emailed him saying we should meet up for a goodbye drink. Our company offered him more money and a better position in the company so he ended up not quitting."
"We met up getting a drink anyway. Neither of us were sure what we were for months. We got drinks after work and went on 'dates' but weren’t physical because we worked together. One day, we went hiking and then back to his house. It was a beautiful day and we were on the hammock."
"He kissed me and the rest is history. Soon after he moved in with me, we got engaged a few months later. We were married 3 months after we got engaged. We had our son the next year. We are very happy together and I am thankful for him everyday." ~ kristenleighgio
KISMET
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"Took a pee in the ladies room and she walked in." ~ DeaddyRuxpin
At the Christmas Party
"I knew her younger sister, who invited me to a Christmas party at their house. (I was 16). The older sister was a tiny, pretty little blonde. Met her there, but she started going out with another friend. Three months later she dumped him. We all hung out at a open house meant to keep we juvenile delinquents off the street."
"Myself and four or five of my friends were standing in a circle outside, smoking... and she stepped out of the Hall. One of the guys pulled her into the circle (she was pretty, remember?) and we started pushing her guy to guy to guy.... around the circle. (we were 16, remember? lol)."
"When she got to me, she threw her arms around my neck, and wouldn't let go. Even I can take that hint! She was my first gf. That was in 1971. She is downstairs right now, drinking tea." ~ ThatNewOldGuy
Digits
"Just back from Vietnam, young airman, working at bowling alley to make ends meet. Walked around the corner and there was the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Today we are married for 45 years. Best thing that ever happened to me. My wife said I did cartwheels to attract her attention. Got my nerve up to talk to her. For an hour or so I found any reason to clean her already clean table. She said I was cute and gave me her phone number."
"The number she gave me was 8 digits long. I got mad and threw the phone number away. My manager picked the number up figured out what happened and gave me the good number. Come to find out she was as excited as I was and accidentally added one too many digits. The result we have been married for 45 years." ~ Emergency-Pangolin79
Hey Jen...
"I was 17 year old me working at the gas station/auto garage my grandpa owned. It was spring break week, so we were expecting heavy tourism traffic. Things were running along smoothly, when this Toyota Highlander pulled up. The dad and oldest daughter got out, and went inside. "
"I started pumping the gas, and checking the tires when Jen they came back in. I noticed the band on her shirt was my favorite band, so I simply just sang a line from one of my favorite songs by them. She looked my way, and finished the lyric. I took that as a sign that I should talk to this girl more. It was brief, but I got enough information to know where she was staying for the week, and a coffee date at 6pm that night."
"One date led to three more times seeing her before she left, and us deciding to do a long distance relationship. So many thought it would fail, and that we couldn’t do it, but as we get ready to celebrate our 20 year anniversary of our first date, we’re still proving the critics wrong." ~ Reddit
Open Heart
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"It just happened. Find out what's most important in a partner to you. Don't waste your time on people who are way off what you find important. Stay positive and keep an open heart." ~ BXL01
‘casual encounters’
"Craigslist. I put an ad up in the non ‘casual encounters’ page and got one response. We emailed back and forth for a couple of days and then I asked her out that weekend. We went to dinner and it lasted like 3 hours. An older couple next to us asked us how long we’d been married. We told them it was our first date and the woman said we seemed so comfortable with each other. We’ve been together 9 years and married 6." ~ Anakorhil
The Circle...
"First I worked on myself by taking up hobbies and working out. This naturally built up my confidence. Then I expanded my social circle by going to meet ups. I met a couple people who I'd consider friends. Then I met friends of those friends. Before I knew it someone had come along who took an interest in me. We became fast friends and figured out we shared each others' values. She asked me out and we've been together for 4 years." ~ plasma_dan
16 years later...
"Completely by accident. We were friends in college. I thought he was cute, funny, caring and thoughtful. He had a girlfriend. So I let it go. Moved on, stayed friends, but secretly hoping. In the spring he and his girlfriend broke up. It hit him pretty hard. We hung out more. I kept inviting him to events to make sure he didn’t get estranged from the friend group."
"One day neither of us wanted to go our afternoon classes and we went to lunch instead. He insisted he pay for lunch. I counted that as a date. He did not. About 2 weeks later that I asked if he want to go on another 'date' and he was confused but agreeable. 16 years later. Married for 6. Happiest I’ve ever been. He’s still the man I fell for all those year ago. I will love him forever." ~ foxandsheep
Wallflowers
"Honestly, I always say he found me rather than the other way around. I was a wallflower at a social event my then-friend invited me to and promptly abandoned me at. Not knowing anyone else, I basically just sat in a corner and waited for it to end (my usual anxious go-to move)."
"My now-husband noticed and didn't want me to be bored and alone so he came over and just started chatting until we'd found a few commonalities. He asked for my phone number at the end of the event and just under 3 years later we got married! Amusingly, we were both actively trying to date online when we met, but were on different websites so never would have found each other that way."
"I'm just thankful my husband isn't afraid to talk to strangers, because I wouldn't have had the guts to start talking first. His advice is always start by asking simple questions about themselves, as it's easy for them to answer, most people like to talk about themselves, and you can gage how willing they are to keep chatting from there." ~ saileach
Stories
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"Any post here is going to make me happy for the person with the story. It’ll also make me sad because I no longer believe that something like that is in the realm of possibility for me any longer." ~ Karmachinery
Wine Crush
"I straight up messaged him on social media letting him know that I thought he was hot. I had a crush on him when I was in high school, thought he’d never know who I was (different schools), and years later I was a bit wine drunk and decided to shoot my shot. Absolutely worked in my favor, have never had a love like this." ~ belugawhalebih
I've learned it's all random. Be you. It's all we've got.
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Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.