Life is full of grand and crazy moments. When we find ourselves in these moments we often find ourselves at a fork in the road as well. We believe we're pumped and raring to go. But once we're wobbling on the precipice, we feel it, a light tremble, the first trickle of sweat, the final body encompassing deep breath before life could forever be altered, they haunt us, because uncertainty is a fickle mistress. In these crucial seconds we can either retreat or push forward. And once we push forward... history begins.
Redditor u/twitchylittleferret7 wanted everyone on Reddit to tell us about the times when only moving forward was the option by asking.... What was your biggest "crap, no going back now" moment?Quick & Fast!
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Psychedelics, particularly DMT because it all happens so quickly and intensely. KingThommo
Salvia. Never again. Only lasts five minutes, but holy crap does it feel like an eternity. It's like your entire reality gets smashed into thousands of pieces and you're desperately trying to piece it back together, or getting thrust into the space between the multiverses and you're trying to figure out which one you belong in again.
Having your consciousness merged with a red solo cup on the dresser is the kind of experience a man needs no more than one of in his life. Dahhhkness
Philmont.
Happened to a friend of mine in Philmont. He went to the bathroom and had to cross a small stream to get there. The sky opened up for a few minutes and he still hadn't come back. We heard yelling a little later and he was stuck because that small stream had quadrupled in size and was now a raging river. Mail540
Tide Falling.
Canoeing over a waterfall. JadedLit
First time I did a waterfall I thought I was gonna die. I'd been whitewater kayaking for over a year, had all my safety trained friends there with me, yet that feeling of going over and looking down at the hole just made me go 'yep, I've gone too far.' Exverius
Rip Away.
Last summer I replaced my roof. Standing on the ladder at the corner of the house with the shingle stripping shovel, I just stood there for 5 minutes thinking if I wanted to do this or not. Then I ripped off the first few shingles, and there was no going back! Veritas3333
Moving On.
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I made a budget yesterday to figure out how much I'd need to move out. If I work two more hours than planned at a starter job I've lined up, I could do it easily, with all the optional expenses.
That's when it hit me that I'm not in college anymore and I actually could have the money to live independently. I_Ace_English
Jekyll and Hyde....
When my abusive husband was doing his weekly ritual of interrogating me and accusing me of some made up infidelity and goes "Well?! What's the deal here, are we just done??"
Before I could stop myself I was like "You know, yeah, yeah we're done."
He didn't know, until that moment, that I had already spoken to a divorce lawyer and the police and had all my ducks in a row to take the screw off.
But I was planning on actually meeting with the lawyer before I told him, so then it was 2 weeks of awful Jekyll and Hyde bullcrap before I could leave.
I have to say, even though I was like "oh crap," it did feel so damn good to say it though.
Forget that guy. woodsywitch
"I can't wait to find out."
I ran away from an abusive home at 19. I called my dad while I was at work later that day to let him know I was okay and not to come looking for me (he's a narcissist and I was so scared he'd tell the authorities something crazy so they'd track me down for him- like my boyfriend had kidnapped me).
I'd left my car keys on the kitchen table (so he couldn't charge me with stealing it, as he bought it for me), emptied my bank account (because he was friends with the small bank owner) and taken everything I could with me- and that was a pretty big one. He said "you'll never make it without me and my money" and I just said "I can't wait to find out."
That was seven years ago now, and I'm making it. notnowihaveaheadache
The Wings....
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"Here, try this hot wing."
Took a bite and for the next 18 hours, I could only focus on how this was a crime against humanity.
And for those now asking, it was The Last Dab XXX on a drumstick. It was coated all over. I just ate one big bite.
And then I went and shoved my head under a cold shower.
Then, it was bed and bathroom for several hours as I threw up most of it, but some got digested.
I knew going it that it was gonna be hot. My former roommate was a hot sauce aficionado. He never once handed me a wing that was less than a habanero sauce. The question was "am I about to have ghost, pepper-x, Carolina reaper, habanero, etc." Ipride362
1500 Miles.
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Moving 1500 miles away with 2 weeks worth of grocery money, and a 1-star hotel confirmation that would last 1 month, to hold me over Until I started making some money. Mattl54o
PULL!!!!
Got a general anaesthetic for wisdom teeth removal. After waiting what felt like an eternity in a little prep room, I was just thinking about using the restroom just for something to do when I'm swarmed by nurses or whatever. Before I could react, they stuck things all over me and one of them got the drugs in me and I could immediately feel effects.
I remember vividly thinking "well hell, no going back now" as they wheeled me to theatre. And then the procedure and recovery went as smoothly as they could've gone. Reddit
The Tides.
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Stepping off that sandbar I could barely reach to swim out to the girl caught in a riptide... and not knowing how a riptide worked. It took what felt like hours but, spoiler alert, we made it.
Too early in the season for lifeguards. I remember calling out to people walking their dogs on the beach but we were so far out they didn't even look towards us. BlueFalconPunch
That wasn't three!!!
First time I went sky diving was a tandem jump and the guy told me on the ground "once we get in the door we'll rock back and forth 3 times, on the third time forward just roll out the door." So, me being the trusting sort thought that was a solid plan. We get up to altitude, open the door, I put my feet on the little platform and cross my arms just like he told me to. He rocked back once and pushed us out the door immediately. My only thought was "That wasn't three!!! Oh crap, we're falling!" Tenragan17
The River Runs...
When I was younger, letting my older cousin talk me in to a canoe ride down a flooded river. We'd planned it days in advance but there was a lot of heavy rain in the area and the normally calm river was near flood level and quite rough. I really didn't want to do it but I didn't want to let him down either so I still went.
I knew as soon as we saw the river this was a terrible idea. The whole thing was a crap show and I honestly though we were going to die. We had no control and at one point we got stuck nose down and a large rock, knowing if we tipped out we were drowning. We somehow made it out and to the shore where we walked back with the canoe. Mcfangus
Winnemucca....
I hopped a freight train once, and the moment it hits 15-20 mph, you're just along for the ride.
But the real "no going back" moment came when the train stopped on a siding outside Winnemucca. After waiting there for like 5 hours, I decided to walk into town and get some ice cream sandwiches. As soon as I got 50 yards from the train, I realized: if it starts rolling now, I'll be too far away to chase it down. I'll just be stuck in this town for a while.
EDIT: For you kids out there, riding freight trains is dangerous and illegal (and dirty and loud and unreliable). Don't do it!
Also, I should point out that Winnemucca is home to some of America's best Basque restaurants, fantastic cowboy heritage sites, and it's the gateway to the Black Rock Desert! It's got something for everyone--not just stranded hobos! cortechthrowaway
Thanks Dad....
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When I was about to get on the plane to my first semester of med school, my dad, never one for sentiment, said "well, you're now actually worth more dead than alive, don't screw this up." Dr_D-R-E
FLY....
During take off on my first ever flight at the age of 30. I have a real intense fear of heights. Michaelwordenbr
I hate look over edges, so maybe I have a fear of falling more than heights. Like looking out a plane window is fine but if my head's against the glass it's not. SomeSaltyWalnuts
East Vail Chutes in Colorado.
Hiking back country snowboarding with a guy. Got stuck in a flat area and needed to hike out in deep powder. It was getting dark and kept coming out of thick trees to 50 foot plus cliff areas. It was getting darker and we didn't have much light left and finally came out to another cliff area with about a 10 foot cliff, 20 feet of landing and then a second 10 foot cliff area that had a narrow landing to an open glade.
It was either go for it and don't fall and get hurt or start making a snow tunnel and get ready to sleep on the mountain for the night at East Vail Chutes in Colorado. We both made it through the cliff jumps safely but it was sketchy. When we got to town we both had a couple tall whiskeys and the first bar we got too and I was still shaking. Could have possibly died if we had to stay on the mountain over night or got seriously hurt (and then died) making the jumps to get to an area we could get down as it was getting dark but it was either jump or start making a snow shelter.
We were definitely not prepared with back county gear and got lost in the area even though we had both ridden it a few times with some experienced people who had taken us down before. Scary and something I will never forget. magicted43
Throwdown!
Walking into a MMA fight and the cage closes behind you. Pretty ok I would say. I got punched in the face a lot but subbed my opponent with an armbar. It was just an amateur level fight but you learn a lot even there. Like you don't really hear your coach you are way too consumed by what's going on at least in the first few fights.
Also, you can't really improvise so a game plan is pretty important because you will just revert to the basics you practiced. Also, you get tired as hell. Just stuff you don't really understand if you're never in a fight. podfather2000
Time to Start....
Getting in the ambulance after suffering a grand mal seizure from alcohol withdrawals.
When I finally said enough is enough and decided I needed to quit drinking before it killed me, I thought I could detox on my own as I was terrified of hospitals. I was wrong. I spent a week detoxing in the ICU, and now, almost a full year later, I'm still very happily sober and I'm completely thriving. HorseMeatSandwich
No Trees... No Problem.
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Mountain biking with some friends on a new trail, which wasn't even a bike trail. We hiked most of the way up since it was too steep to ride up. Carried our bikes all the way up. Rested at the top for a bit and then rolled over the edge. I remember as my front tire crested and gravity started taking over I thought, "there's no way I'm stopping now, unless a tree stops me." ProjectSunlight
Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "
" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk to him about it.
Of course, most of the time, it was “just a phase". And looking back, those phases are regrettable, to say the least. Here are some prime examples of that.
SirGergoyFriendman asked:
What was your biggest/most regrettable "It's not a phase, mom. It's my life." that, in fact, turned out to be just a phase and not your life?
The enthusiasm of a young person can lead to some unexpected changes that parents are just not ready for.
Hi, Wheeljack!
I was VERY into The Transformers when I was a wee lad in the 1980s. One day, I decided to change my name to the name of my favorite Autobot. My name was lame, and I wanted an awesome Transformer name. And I was VERY insistent that my parents only call me by my new name. Calling me by my 'old' name would cause a big fat tantrum on my part.
So for the better part of a week, my poor parents had to call me Wheeljack.
Very 2008.
Ariana Grande Shrug GIFGiphyMy cat-ear phase. I wore cat ears every single day. Everywhere. I had like 20 pairs of them. Now everyone thinks I'm a furry.
I find that very cute and wouldn't have thought you'd be furry. Even if you'd had cat mittens. I think my suspicions would have started if you moved a bit like a cat, displayed catlike grooming habits or got a cat mask.
Not gonna lie, that car sounds cool.
I went to a car show once as a teen, and the only newer car there was some chick's PT cruiser. It was hot glittery pink, and at the time I was obsessed. I insisted that one day I would have a hot pink car, with pink seats, pink dash, pink carpets, etc. I was pretty heavily goth at the time, so my parents just rolled their eyes.
These phases can often lead to some very strange fashion choices.
That’s commitment.
When I was a teenager (early 00s), I was waiting for my mother to pick me up and was wearing one of those sh!tty sports wristwatches. It was itching me so I took it off for a second, but then she arrived and because I was struggling to get it back on my wrist, I looped it around the equally sh!tty chain I had around my neck in a rush to get out the door.
My mom asked me about it in the car, and I told her this was my new style and I planned to wear it like that every day. She rolled her eyes.
I wore that watch on a chain around my neck every single day for 3 years or so. There are even professional family photos where I'm wearing it because I refused to take it off.
One day, the chain broke and I lost the watch. I was in high school at that point anyway and it was a major lady repellent, so... phase over.
Not everyone can be Eminem.
slim shady eminem GIFGiphyBaggy pants, being a rapper someday and being a professional skater.
When I was about 14 and Eminem was starting to blow up I bought myself a keyboard with a synthesizer. It cost like $200 which was all the money I had saved up. It finally came (this was way before amazon prime and such) and I tried rapping.
My sister told me "you're effing horrible" and I gave up right then and there.
This should be a sin.
I used to button the top buttons of polo shirts.
I must say, this is probably the worst one I've read.
Looking back at our regrettable choices, all we can do is cringe.
An optimistic look at bad tattoos.
check me out season 3 GIF by PortlandiaGiphyBeing a tattooer. Regrettable because of those poor people who have my awful doodles on their bodies.
Take heart! My favorite tattoo is the one I drunkenly got my buddy to do in his living room one year during March Madness! It's dumb and frankly mediocre? But such a good story and has such good associations I smile every time I see it.
RIP Fredro’s.
My friend and I decided we were going to open a bar in Jamaica with exotic snakes in glass cages in the walls at each booth. We convinced ourselves it would be amazing for at least two years in college. It was going to be called Fredro's.
My entire family made fun of me for it. Once we got out of college, we realized it was not feasible and joined the office grind. We're also two white guys with no ties to Jamaica.
Talk about cringey.
I wore a top hat with an anime pin on it for around a year. Met one of my current best friends while wearing it, idk how he could bear to speak to me after that.
My weirdest phase was probably when I insisted on wearing knee-high rainbow socks to school every day. But honestly, I don't regret it. I rocked those socks, and I wish I still have a pair.
To all the people out there cringing over their past selves, remember that you were just a kid, and to be easy on yourselves. After all, we've all been there
Yet, too often, manufacturers who oversell their products fail to deliver what is promised and are inevitably left with angry customers who want their money back.
Whether the merchandise was defective or ridiculously overpriced, strangers online shared some of their worst purchases when Redditor BooksMcGee asked:
"What is the worst product you ever paid money for?"
Short Life Span
"This NERF gun that's supposed to shoot tennis balls for your dog. I bought it cause I thought you could load 3 at a time and shoot them far, but it's just one and it's super loud and the gun broke after like 4 shots (reading reviews later, this was a common issue)."
Lame Pets
"There were these toys called squiggles when I was a kid and the commercials made it seem like the toy was alive. It looked like you would get this crazy little fuzzy worms as pets that would follow you around an so sick tricks and listen to your every command. It was really just a piece of fluffy string tied to another piece of string with googly eyes on it. People may say that it was supposed to be a magic trick but they should also explain that to a 5 year old who really wanted a pet."
Card Value
"Not their fault, but I paid $70 for a Yugioh card hours before it was limited to one copy. Probably dropped to $20 by the end of the day."
These purchases were bad for your bum.
"A bicycle that literally fell apart before I made it out of the parking lot."
Not Worth Sitting On
"Joybird brand couch. Was so terrible, we returned it. Still hard to believe, we returned a freaking couch."
Going Nowhere Fast
"A 2000 VW Beetle (used)."
"Biggest piece of sh*t that literally had to have just about everything replaced before 100k miles and would still break down every time you left the driveway to the point where the tow-truck driver knew us on a first-name basis."
Expensive Lemon
"An Oldsmobile Achieva from one of those buy here pay here places. I should have known better, but I was young and thought I was getting a good deal. I had the thing for about 5 months, I drove it for maybe 3 weeks. The rest of the time it was either in the shop, or in my driveway waiting until pay day so I could afford to fix whatever broke on it this week. Eventually told the dealer just take it, I'm not paying for it any more. He said nope, and I will make sure your credit is ruined. I said well you sold me a lemon, do you really want to go this route? He came and took it. Never reported anything to credit. I heard he got sued by several other people who sold sh**ty cars too and eventually went out of business."
"Always amazes me when I see them driving around still, I can only assume there's enthusiasts who just love repairing horribly designed cars."
– zerbey
These Redditors were not convinced what they ingested was edible.
Bad Cereal
"A box of plain Cheerios. Thought they were honey nut, poured a bowl, was very disappointed."
"If I wanted to taste cardboard, I'd just eat the box."
– gor8884
Space Pizza
"A burnt frozen pizza at the air and space museum cafe in DC. I Don't wish that experience on anyone. There are some amazing restaurants in DC, don't settle."
– Alseids
The following electronics just gave off a bad charge.
"Asus Transformer Pad TF700"
"This was one of those early 'high end' Android tablets that was grossly underpowered, and it showed. Thing was slow as sh!t in no time flat. Rookie mistake investing into shiny new tech while they were still working all the bugs out. Think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $350-400 for it..."
– Luke5119
Bad Apple
"macbook pro 2018 13" touchbar. 2 years old and dead (battery). they're asking $300-$400 to change the battery. malfunctioning keyboard with double presses and missing presses. that's a lot of money for bad design."
Chilly Reception
"Past winter my old room heater broke down and I had to buy a new one. Went to a store nearby and somehow got convinced to buy a very costly heating device.. It's also my fault, since there were some sligthly cheaper options around, but nope. I wanted the expensive one thinking it will make my small room a volcano with little to no effort/cost (that's also what the seller told me). Long story short the device wasn't doing ANYTHING. No significant temperature changes, too much space, a weird noise, and was doubling my previous device in utility cost. I still gloom over those 80 euros.."
Some of my disappointing purchases was clothing, but only because I purchased them online. Unless they are a brand I'm familiar with, I'm usually fine with buying new jeans off of their websites.
But when it comes to graphic tees only available on specialty shops, an M-size shirt is not necessarily the same size as those found in other reputable stores.
I bought a medium sized T-shirt from a boutique store online because I loved the look of the design. But when it arrived, the supposed medium fit me like an XL.
At least I gained a fierce cleaning rag from this impulsive purchase.