Everything happens for a reason, right? Even the worst things that happen to us make us the person we are today, and while it may suck at the time, ultimately it can lead to growth and happiness. Here are some of Reddit's best mistakes.
u/S_aturn asked: What was the "best mistake" you have ever made?
Smooth move.
Watching this guy painting a beach scene in a touristy area of my city. Nobody else was watching, I was just zoning out, it was relaxing. This girl walks up and I didn't even notice, and she goes "wow that's beautiful." Just a joke as reflex but I shot back "you're beautiful."
I immediately realized what I'd done and I turned to this gorgeous girl and she was blushing. I think we were both speechless for a second. We flirted for a couple minutes but I was far too flustered from my f up to ask her out. Which makes no sense in hindsight but it was a great mistake.
Good pupper.
Giphy
Getting my dog.
I was a dumbass 19 year old who couldn't afford a dog nor did I get the type of dog for my lifestyle.
I had to keep being better for her. We had a rocky journey, but now she's a spoiled ass boxer that goes to daycare and plays every day.
Um....why is that a problem?
Helping my last girlfriend's brother make some money by paying him to watch my cat. She flipped out and ended up breaking up with me over it.
Turns out, my relationship was pretty toxic and I couldn't see it because I was so in love. Still recovering from the toxicity, but I can see it as a positive now and I'm really looking forward to 2020 because of it.
Buttf*ck nowhere is the best.
I moved to buttf*ck nowhere to start a job. My mom kept saying it's a dead end, and that I really need to switch jobs every 3 years if I want to progress. It was a 5 hour drive through twisty winding roads to a place where nothing but sheep, cows, and turnips grow in a 100 mile radius. It was pretty dire, and I could only think that I was making the biggest mistake of my life.
Well, turns out people in buttf*ck nowhere pay quite well to make sure you stay in buttf*ck nowhere. I've been getting a 5% bonus every year, around 2% pay increase every year to account for inflation, and an extra 5% pay rise every year for performance. Property prices are very cheap in buttf*ck nowhere. I met the love of my life in buttf*ck nowhere. It's quiet, peaceful, and crime is almost nonexistent.
Awwww.
Giphy
Deciding to take a paid internship. It was a total scam, I had to door knock on houses and then convince them to hire me to paint that house.
My wife was working with the same company and we met at a Christmas party.
Getting banned can be the greatest blessing.
I was sent to work in another office that didn't have their sh*t together. Apparently I made some mistakes and customers got pissed off and it got back to my boss. Fast forward 6 months and that office is still a sh*t-show, but I never had to go back because I'd been "banned." It was great.
Yum!
When making a batch of oatmeal-raisin cookies, I mistakenly used "Craisins" instead of raisins.
The cranberry flavor and texture turned out to be a big hit with everyone that tried the cookies.
We love a good flight mishap.
Giphy
When booking airline flights on-line was newish, I booked a flight from New York to Detroit and a rental car at the airport. I meant to fly into Detroit Metropolitan Airport but booked to Detroit City Airport by mistake.
The plane landed and they rolled up some stairs to the plane almost immediately. I walked fifty feet to the terminal building; waited a few minutes for my bag; walked thirty feet to the car rental counter; got my key; walked another fifty feet across the road to the car lot; got into the rental car and drove away.
Ten minutes later I was passing Detroit Metro on I-94. Had I flown into the larger airport, I would have still been waiting for the plane to pull up to the gate and for the extendo-thing to be hooked up.
Another cute one.
This girl (A) was introducing me to her friend (B) at a restaurant. I thought nothing of it at the time, but later she (A) asked me what I thought of her friend(B) and my response was "She's cool, I like her" as in "she's a cool person, I like her as a potential friend"
Shortly after this conversation, she(A) went to her friend(B) and told her I liked her and wanted to date. I didn't have the heart to tell her (B) otherwise. So long story short, we have been married for 5 strong years
Cats change lives.
I thought this said "biggest mistake" and I was so pumped cause I had a great one. But nope. Thought really long and hard about this and had nothing until I read that one comment about them having a dog.
So I'll say this: my roommate moved out and ditched her cat with me, said she'd try putting her up for adoption and never did. And I couldn't handle doing it myself so I kept her. So here we are, never was supposed to have a cat, never thought I ever could have a cat, and now this cat is quite possibly the only thing keeping me alive. Where would I be without her?
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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