"What is a one in a million thing that happened to you that will NEVER happen again?" This was today's burning question from Redditor UwUsnapmyneck, and we learned that the average person has faced at least one situation that has defied the odds.
Just look at (the probably not so average) Olivia Colman's disbelief over her own Oscar win. She never thought she'd find herself up there, so she thanked Lady Gaga while anxious as hell.
You don't have to win an Oscar to have a really cool "one in a million" experience, however. Take note.
"They wouldn't even admit us to the hospital..."
My wife started leaking amniotic fluid at 21 weeks. They told us there was nothing they could do for the baby. We were so anguished at the thought of losing him, the fluid was very low and she was constantly leaking.
They wouldn't even admit us to a hospital until she was 23 weeks, it was about 10 days out. It was the longest 10 days of our life, we were going to the doctor constantly just for them to monitor and get a sonogram. The day before she hits 23 weeks my wife says she doesn't feel like she is leaking anymore, our fear is that she has ran out of amniotic fluid.
On the morning of 23 weeks we go to the doctor and get a sonogram. The plan all along was as soon as we hit 23 weeks, we go to the doctors office to confirm fluid level, and then they were going to send us to the hospital straight from there. Somehow the amniotic sac that was ruptured has sealed.
To everyone's surprise, the fluid was back to normal range. We are all in shock. The doctor tells us to just take it easy and we can head home. My wife delivers our son at full term with no health issues.
Everyone at the hospital tells us how lucky we are to have the amniotic sack seal. After the birth the doctor tells me that in the 40+ years of delivering babies, he could count the number of times on one hand that he has seen amniotic sack ruptures heal.
I don't know the odds, but I do know my wife and I are incredibly lucky to have our little man. He is 10 months old today as well.
"Not over yet."
Giphy
Out in a boat on a lake trying to catch fish. Not having any luck. See an osprey dive out of a tree into the water. Osprey comes up with a fish and starts to fly away. A bald eagle dives out of another tree and attacks the osprey in mid-flight. Osprey drops the fish. Eagle continues to rip into the osprey. Pretty cool right?
Not over yet. A huge raven drops out of a third tree, plucks the falling fish out of mid-air, and flies away with it.
No one believes this story. I mean it is a "fish story" right? I'll never see that again.
Damn smart raven, eh?
"It takes about five minutes..."
Was at Dave and Buster's for a friend's wedding reception probably 10 or so years ago. I wanted to play skeeball. I'm not really good or anything, just liked playing and their machines were in really nice shape.
Get $5 in tokens, and the very first game I got a bunch of 100's and ended up beating the score to win the jackpot. I had like 860 points or something. Flashing lights, siren going off, everyone looking at me.
It takes about five minutes for all the tickets to spit out of the machine. It was a giant pile on the floor. Meanwhile, I just wanted to play some skeeball. It finishes and the teenager minding the counter climbs up to the top and resets the jackpot counter.
I put in another token and wham. Did it again. Bunch of 100's. Another jackpot (much less this time). The kid working gives me this look like I cheated. "You can't play anymore."
I gave all the tickets to my friend's daughter and she went on a shopping spree. As many rubber balls and plastic trinkets to last her a lifetime.
"I was standing outside..."
I was standing outside listening to my friend tell me how he had been fired earlier that day. He had just finished the story and said "So yea, man. Been a rough day," when a bird pooped right on his head.
"I took a job..."
I took a job in a somewhat remote area of northeast China about 20 years ago. I had two roommates (1 American and 1 Canadian) and we were part of just a handful of foreigners out of about 2 million Chinese in that area.
Fast forward 10 years and I'm back in the USA. I was dating a girl who was going on a girls trip to Mexico. She and her girlfriends went out to a bar and got to talking with another group of people. One of the guys there started showing photos from his travels and lo and behold - there I am. He was my roommate from China a decade before and while chatting with these girls decided to share the pictures of his travels. After a few of those "prove that you know him" questions they both flipped out.
Small world.
"My husband and I..."
My husband and I met in our late 30s in Indianapolis, Indiana, both living there. We were born in the same hospital, and lived in the same housing addition as children in Riverside, California, and our fathers worked together.
"I was about to fall..."
I was about to fall off the staircase at our flat but my reflexes kicked in and I was able to do a hand spring and flip forward to land on my feet. It won't happen again and I sure hope I don't come close to falling like that.
"When I looked up..."
I was doing a hike in Maui, and at the top of the hike was a large waterfall on a sheer cliff face. The moment I got to the waterfall, I heard this earth-shaking rumbling. I could feel the sound, kind of like heavy bass through speakers. When I looked up at the waterfall, a couple of huge rocks were falling down. If I had been a minute faster on the hike I would have been right below those rocks as they were falling. Terrifying but also breathtaking to see the power of nature.
"One time I pointed..."
One time I pointed at the sky one night and told my little brother "watch this" and a f***ing shooting star came and went.
But sometimes, the wisdom imparted by friends isn't always helpful or relevant to the situation.
Curious to hear from strangers online who could do without specific knowledge, Redditor Saibotnl1 asked:
"What life advice can just f'k off?"
These Redditors have a problem with how certain people have on outlook on life.
Time To Rest
"Sleep when you’re dead."
"Cool, but you’re going to be dead a lot sooner."
– Tag2graff
Irrelevant Sadness
"People have it so much worse than you so don’t be sad!"
– notrachelmar
"To that I like to say, 'people have it so much better than you so don't be happy!'"
– ___jupiter____
Your Life Path
"Almost anything relating to what age you must be in order to buy a house, have children, marry, have a profession, or do anything else. Seriously, everyone's life is different from everyone else's. Make your life the way you want it to be. If you so desire. Up to you."
– Frn071
On The Contrary
“Cheaters never prosper”
"Yes, they f'king do."
– waqasnaseem07
People can get out of any situation they find displeasing.
But others feel people should just "stick it out."
Ignoring Bullies
"Just ignore bullys or get someone else to handle it for you. I have never seen this work, only makes it worse. The only effective way I've seen to deal with them is by not making yourself an easy target and make them scared to f'k with you again. If going psycho on their a** is the only thing they'll respond to that's their fault. Also want to add in schools they will punish you for self defense but that punishment is only sitting around a few hours in detention or sitting around at home with a suspension. The punishment is temporary boredom, it's absolutely nothing compared to being bullied and when it's over the important message will still stand that you will not tolerate being a victim."
– User Delted
Remain to be Miserable
"Stick it out"
"Whether that's sh**ty jobs, shi**y relationships, shi**y living situations..."
"By all means don't just give up on things when you face challenges, but if something feels wrong or is wrecking your peace then take some control and change it if you can!"
– petitezoey
"Easy for you to say," might be an auto-response to these suggestions for many people.
Invitation For Recklesslessness
"Live like everyday was your last"
Yall know what people do when they learn they have a single day left to live?"
– LimeGrass619
A Possible Consequence
"I did that as a teenager and ended up homeless and addicted to heroin. Didn’t pan out for me too well."
"19 years sober though today."
– Open-Section-7263
A Practical Approach
"If I knew with certainty that I had one day left, I'd double-check all my financials, my will, and my insurance policies, make sure my wife had all of my passwords and knew where all the money was, spend the rest of the day with her and the kids, then call the medical examiner and ask to lie down on the gurney so that when I die they won't strain their back moving my remains out of my house."
– Asteriad
Nose Stuck In A Book
"Work while they sleep. Study while they party"
"That's not a recipe for success, that's a recipe for a lot of white hairs, burnout syndrome and a stroke before your 40s..."
– Khomuna
Doesn't Apply To Everyone
"Do what you love and money will follow"
"I love walking my dogs and grilling food for my friends but That sh*t doesn't pay the bills as well as my engineering degree!"
– Elons_android
While people's intentions are good, they're better off keeping their two cents in their own pockets.
Not everyone likes to hear platitudes.
Sometimes, people just want to know they're not alone with their problems over listening to unlikely solutions that are nothing more than superficial pick-me-ups.
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