Top Stories

People Share Their Best 'Well, No Going Back Now' Experiences

We're on the road, only look forward!

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!

Giphy

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.

Giphy

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....

Giphy

"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.

Giphy

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.

Giphy

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....

Giphy

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.

Giphy

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

REDDIT

Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or ":zipper_mouth_face:" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk to him about it.

Things People Secretly Love But Would Never Admit To In Public

Reddit user sweet_chick283 asked: 'What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?;

Collection of VHS tapes
Bruno Guerrero/Unsplash

What makes us all unique is our passions and the things we love, whether it's singing in the shower, reading books, or listening to specific music artists.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are judged for our various tastes and interests thanks to social media, and it makes us consciously selective about sharing the things we love on the internet.

Curious to hear about people's personal desires under anonymity, Redditor sweet_chick283 asked:

"What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?"

These aren't really chores for the following Redditors.

Good Clean Fun

"Mopping, im a janitor and generally hate my work... but damn mopping is so good."

– MrDDog06

"When you have a great rhythm going it is something special. I get the same feeling while I vacuum, but won’t let my wife know I enjoy it."

– Bogus_34

Act Of Unwrinkling

"Ironing clothes. A dozen of them. Can’t explain how it relaxes me. I told one person and they looked at me like I’m crazy."

– eerie_white_glow

"My mum misses the days when dad would be out on a Friday night, my brother out with friends and me upstairs quietly playing PS1. She would pour herself a Bacardi & Coke and do the ironing while watching her TV shows."

"I'm sure she doesn't really miss it now that we've moved out and they've retired but it was her wind-down after a busy working week so I can see how people can find it relaxing."

– xdq

Our solo actions can spark joy.

Big Brother Is Watching

"pretending to be on the Truman show and whenever im in my house i act all inconspicuous so they dont know that i know that they’re watching me."

– Bec_121

"C’mon man, you’re not supposed to let him know. You signed a contract when signing up for live views. I’m reporting you."

– doeswaspsmakehoney

The Multi-Tasker

"Playing video games naked at home while eating cheese."

– thickening_agent

Releasing The Kraken

"I love the feeling when you've eaten good fibre and let out a solid long train log in the toilet. That feeling is heavenly."

– therapoootic

"Even better when it’s a clean wipe and not a poo crayon."

– TheWarmestHugz

Ultimate Comfort

"My (male 41) weekend routine is coming home from work, make hot chocolate, start a fire, dress in a ugly pink nightgown made for old ladies and watch forensic files."

– crazyloomis

Some people are obsessed with collecting things.

So Kawai

"Sanrio stationery stores. All those different multicolor pens, a thousand kinds of erasers, spiral bound notebooks galore... my kids sadly have absolutely no appreciation for this wonderland..."

– HavingNotAttained

It's A Staple

"Office supplies have a weird, special place in my heart ever since I was a kid. They don't even have to be 'cute' necessarily."

"Japan's legendary stationery stores is unironically a reason I want to go."

– _CozyLavender_

Not Caring Anymore

"The older I get the shorter that list gets. Not because I love less things, but because I don't care about hiding it."

– Bi-Beast

"YES!! I'm 53 now. I'm working my first job in public since 2006. Today is Halloween and we're allowed to dress up so I am sitting here waiting to go to work dressed as a VERY bad Wednesday Addams. My bf said I'd 'look stupid' because no one else will probably dress up and I'm like, 'WHO CARES!' My makeup looks horrible and not like I practiced, but I DO NOT CARE! I'm having fun with it anyhow and I don't care if my coworkers dress up or not. I'm bein' ME! :)"

– deanie1970

Honorable mentions start here.

The Savior

"Picking up worms from the street and sidewalks when it rains and moving them into the dirt so they don’t burn in the sun, every time it rains I do this."

– sky_kitten89

Hero Of The Moment

"Yoooo I scoot SO many snails and worms. I work as a tech/mechanic at an automotive shop, I had a peoject car towed to my house the other day and it was covered in snails. I saw them when the tow guy/coworker was unloading and I was like, 'oh! It comes with free snails!' and began moving them. He laughed then realized and said, '... Oh, you're serious. Uh... Okay.'"

"I don't care who knows it. These little things barely can look out for themselves, why shouldn't we if we can take a moment to help? I don't care what happens next, it probably doesn't matter overall but I can help this moment."

– chris14020

Why should some of the hidden desires mentioned above have to be secret?

Redditors opening up about some of these would make them a hit at parties–no shaming.

As a matter of fact, I'll totally be down for a Forensic Files viewing party where we all make hot chocolate, light the fireplace, and cozy up together in our respective pink ugly nightgowns for old ladies.

historical reenactors
Sigmund on Unsplash

We've probably all heard some variation of the saying "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Real life isn't just strange, it can also be downright ridiculous.

History is riddled with moments of absurdity.

So ridiculous that people have a hard time believing real life is, well, really real.

Keep reading...Show less