Anyone with even a passing interst in poetry knows of the Robert Frost poem, "The Path Less Traveled." What might be less common is how many people actually took the poem's message to heart, choosing to walk a path less traveled by others. Whether it;s in career, love, or personal choices, choosing a less traveled path can seem exciting...
...until you read these stories.
Reddit user, u/PiXXa_RaiXE, wanted to hear about:
People of Reddit, what terrible path in life no one should ever take? [SERIOUS]
Get Those Answers
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A life of asking questions without making an effort to find out.
"Does he secretly hate me? Will she be disgusted if I asked her out? Would I be wasting my time if I studied to be a professional ice cream maker? Will I be happy if I leave him? Is this lump going to be a problem?" Etc...
Worse still, some people make up their own pessimistic, dismissive answers.
"Of course he hates me, I'm a piece of sh!t. Of course she won't go out with me, she probably likes that @sshole Chad. Of course I'll never make money making custom ice cream, that's a stupid dream. Of course I'm not going to be happy, he beats me but who else is going to love me? This lump is probably nothing, and if it is cancer I don't want to confirm it."
Have a question? Find out the answer.
Don't Blink, But Also Don't Take An Eye Off the Horizon
Living only for the moment, and not planning for your future. This will screw you up over time if you have no clear goals in mind.
You'll Have To Trust Again Someday
Thinking everyone has bad intentions.
Always think people have good intentions/a reason to do what they did/are doing. I started doing this and it has actually made me a happier person. Note: This does NOT mean put yourself in dangerous situations, trust you gut
Always Try
I have two:
Don't go to schools just because your friends/Boyfriend/Girlfriend are going there because people are changing all the time and you don't want a career path forced on you from following someone only to break up with them a couple months in.
And try in school. It may subject you to ridicule but an education can get you anywhere and will open up so many doors. Poor test scores due to not trying or generally not caring may set you back a while with jobs and opportunities.
So Much Sugar
Drinking soda or really any bad carbonated beverage. I'm 22 years old and have drank them continuously since I was like 6. Everyday I have a liter of coke. It's freaking addicting and you don't realize it much when you're drinking them how bad it actually is.
I ran cross country in highschool and competitively swam. This was the only time when I didn't drink any soda of any kind, just water and natural fruit juice. If I drank a soda even just a small can I felt it when exercising mainly because all of my sports were heavy on lung capacity and endurance. You find out very quickly how much harder it is to breathe while drinking soda then without.
I breathed so clear and my lungs felt great when I ran but the second I had a soda i felt it. I miss those times when all I drank was water. Sodas really mess you up.
Your Mental Health Should Take Priority
Not treating your depression from the start with a professional and trying to overcome it alone. 6 years later down the road, diagnosed with severe depression and anhedonia.
Currently on medication. Life changed drastically, it is like taking off a pair of grey and dark glasses. Mental health is no joke and should be a priority in everyones life!
You Can't Make Everyone Happy
People pleasing!
As a wise man once said, you can't make everyone happy, you're not pizza.
There's Always More To Learn
Never take the path of "I know better than everyone else."
Even the absolute dumbest person can teach you something. Same goes for a person a lot younger than you or someone you can't respect.
Always be willing to learn and grow.
Figure It Out
Don't self medicate with booze and/or drugs (the former being my problem for years),find out the reason why you want to self medicate in the first place and get the appropriate help/guidance.
Also don't self medicate with food.
I'll Do It...Later
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Not the worst, but procrastination. It becomes a habit really fast (from my experience).
"I'll start exercising tomorrow." "I'll clean up later."
I started saying these things years ago and only recently started running again.
Edit: I used to be able to do 300 sit ups almost everyday. Now, I can barely 35 (but that's progress from when I could only do 10).
Stand On Your Own
Trying to ride on other's coattails when you're young, doing this will make you too dependent on others and you will have a tough time when you move away from your parents/guardians. Also, if you're older and have children, don't let their heads get too inflated, what I mean is don't let their ego get too large because when they realize they are like all the rest of us, their life can turn upside down.
Choose Your Own Life
Perusing a career path and choosing a major that your parents want you to do, but you don't actually have any interest in.
Also, going to college without knowing what career you want, accumulating massive student loan debt and being left with no viable career opportunities.
Being Overtaken By Fear
Letting Anxiety/Fear stop you from living your life or doing things you could potentially love. Or being too afraid to find help for mental health issues (anxiety/depression) No one should ever feel alone or without options.
It's Not Just You, It Affects Other People
Be aware of how much you drink and what it does to your family.
Someone in my family is an alcoholic. This person thinks because they quit drinking whiskey that they have quit drinking. Not how that works! This person drinks wine from about 3pm until they go to sleep. I can't even imaging how much they go through in a week. They've gotten physically, emotionally and mentally abusive with people in the family. This person was always an obnoxious bully, but the alcohol has magnified these qualities. No one in the neighborhood they live in will speak to this person since they assaulted me. And this person can't figure out why!
If we have a family function and the host asks if this person would like something to drink, this person thinks they mean alcohol. Even though they knows none of the rest of the family drinks! They've embarrassed their spouse by being stupid drunk when they've had people over. It's aggravating watching this happen. I'm so angry with this person!! I'm not even sure if I love this person any more. I hate having to be in his presence. They are drinking themselves to death.
More Than 20 Seconds, Everyone
Brush your teeth. Can't begin to understand why I let mine rot. But while dentures may be easier to look after they will never be as comfortable or as functional as my original set.
This needs to be way higher up, I can't stress how important it is to brush atleast twice a day, especially before bed.
Visit The Doctor, Everyone!
Neglecting your own health. Used to think I'm damn near invincible because I'm still young. Worked about 70hours a week just for that damn raise. Neglected health check ups just because I can.
Got diagnosed with Glaucoma and my left eye is quite f*cked up. Not sure what the future holds for me but I'm damn sure taking care of my body now.
Don't Do It Just BECAUSE
A relationship for the sake of having a relationship
Or getting married because you want to be married
Or getting married/having a kid because you think it will fix your currently rocky relationship!
Do It For Yourself
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Picking a career path to fulfill your parents' dream.
It almost ruined my self-identity. Currently I am doing a course I like at a university of my choice. I might have destroyed my relationship with my mother but for the sake of my own sanity it was worth it.
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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.