
Remorseful People Reveal What They Didn't Appreciate Until It Was Gone
[rebelmouse-image 18359392 is_animated_gif=80's music lovers absolutely remember the band Cinderella. We've all wailed out a "don't know whatcha got til it's GOOOOOOOOOONE!" a time or two or ten. Younger people might remember a similar line courtesy of a Jonas brother. You ever stop to really think about that idea though? We tend to think of that idea as being about a romantic partner, but one Reddit user asked:
What is something that you don't appreciate you have until it's gone?
And the answers hit us. Sure, love came up. But so did a ton of other little things we take for granted - like being able to taste your food. One stuffy nose and all that deliciousness is gone. So sad!
Nostrils
[rebelmouse-image 18359393 is_animated_gif=The ability to breathe out of both nostrils. You don't even think about it until you get a head cold or allergies or something. The worst is when you're stuffed up and laying in bed then go to switch positions. There's sometimes a moment there where the mucus has to sliiiiiide from one side to the other (cause gravity) and you can't breathe out of either nostril.
Job
[rebelmouse-image 18359394 is_animated_gif=A job you really enjoy. Once you've had one and have to move on to another, you'll hold up that good job as the one you'll compare all other jobs to. And some days that's very tough to take.
It's even worse when you HAD coworkers you genuinely got along with (to the point of spending lots of time outside of work with your coworkers), and while working with them, you ALSO had a job you really enjoy (and paid well, awesome benefits, fantastic work environment / facilities).
Getting laid off from that job was a real kick in the a**.
Teeth
[rebelmouse-image 18359395 is_animated_gif=For a lot of people, their teeth. I have 4 crowns, 1 extracted tooth, and due for another crown. And I'm only 28. don't just brush and floss. Some of us have naturally brittle teeth and grind them at night. Also if you are an athlete you tend to breathe through your mouth more, which is bad for your teeth. Take care of your teeth, people.
No Back Pain? Know Back Pain.
[rebelmouse-image 18359396 is_animated_gif=No back pain. Jesus I miss the days of running around and playing all day with absolutely zip worry about my back hurting. I've gotten a lot better but for a long time if I was doing anything other than laying down in bed, my neck and back would be bothering me, especially if I had to be on my feet.
Everyone's Nightmare
[rebelmouse-image 18345224 is_animated_gif=Toilet paper.
"It Was Brutal"
[rebelmouse-image 18359397 is_animated_gif=Decent Internet in your house. I had to go a couple of months without it when I was moving from place to place, and it was brutal.
Firsts
[rebelmouse-image 18359398 is_animated_gif=Being young and experiencing life for the first time. The first crush, the first kiss, the first love, the first heartbreak, the first recovery, and on and on. Life is beautiful, and it just goes by so damned fast. So many people take everything for granted, and when it's gone, they end up looking back instead of looking forward.
Appreciate what you have, and where you came from. Provide a better life for your children. Leave the world better than it was when you arrived.
Weekends With Friends
[rebelmouse-image 18359399 is_animated_gif=I've been working backend (W-Sat) nights for the past year. Everyone else works the opposite schedule. I literally have no time with friends. I didn't realize how much I would miss the weekend, the time with friends. I'm switching back soon.
Family
[rebelmouse-image 18359400 is_animated_gif=Family. And I know some people have bad relationships with their blood family but I mean the people who care a lot about you and you them. Once that's gone sh!t gets really lonely and meaningless.
Diversity
[rebelmouse-image 18359401 is_animated_gif=Being surrounded by a big, diverse group of people around your age. Probably will never have the chance to meet as many cool people as I did while I was in college. Plus living nearby a lot of friends. Much harder to do postgrad.
Your Pets
[rebelmouse-image 18357865 is_animated_gif=Pets.
When my dog Snoopy died after being my friend for almost 17 years, I realized just how much I didn't appreciate the little things. Getting excited every time I came home and being able to put a smile on my face after a long day. Being there to lounge around with me and watch TV on days when I was sick, sad, or just feeling lazy. Always managing to make me laugh with the absurd ways he would fall asleep or his quirky behavior like when he would scratch at the carpet for like 5 minutes as if he was getting the spot comfortable to sleep on, but then would just go and sleep somewhere else.
It wasn't after he was gone that I started to truly appreciate all these little moments of everyday happiness he would bring me. That was on top of all the bigger things I knew he had done for me, like being a playmate to a lonely only child. Being someone I could cry to whenever I was going through something hard in my life and in return him doing his best to cheer me up.
All of these things make me miss him a lot, but also make me grateful I had someone like him to bring so much happiness to my life.
The One That Out-Grew You
[rebelmouse-image 18359402 is_animated_gif=Oh man, the amazing angel that put up with your immature sh** until she couldn't anymore. But, because it was the status quo, you were too ignorant to realize it was you who was neglecting her with your video games, drinking with buddies, etc. Now you're alone and you miss her and you hate yourself for taking advantage of her, but she is with another dude who is mature enough. They set proper boundaries that he sticks to, he cherishes her and you have to hate them because you're still a child.
Heh, good times good times.
Wait, What?
[rebelmouse-image 18359403 is_animated_gif=Your hearing.
Seriously kids, stop blasting your music so loud your car rattles. Especially when your car is such a POS I can hear the parts rattling over your cheap stereo. You're damaging your car, and your hearing.
You know that guy at the concert with earplugs? Laugh at him all you want. He's not going to have tinnitus when he's 50.
Get some musician's earplugs, not those dollar store ones, and protect your hearing.
Sight
[rebelmouse-image 18359404 is_animated_gif=The security of having multiple pairs of whole, current prescription, nearby glasses. I smashed one pair, left another pair on the train and now I'm down to one old prescription glasses that function enough that I don't get headaches til I've read for about 20 minutes. Then I gotta rest.
Being blind would be on a whole other level of loss since I live in quite a beautiful area of the country imo so I appreciate my sight by taking walks and enjoying views. There is this terror that I might go completely blind before I get a chance to travel to more exotic places of beauty.
Dad
[rebelmouse-image 18354751 is_animated_gif=Having your father around. Lost mine back in 2004 and I was having a lot of personal issues at the time with addiction. Now I'm clean and living life raising a son and have so many questions and I miss him so much every single day
The Bounce Back
[rebelmouse-image 18359405 is_animated_gif=Physical resilience.
I never realized how terrible I was to my body until it basically stopped putting up with it one day. I used to think stretching before a workout was just something excessively thorough people did. I ran a half marathon once and really didn't train or taper like I should have. Etc. 3 years later I injured a ligament running from my knee to my hip so badly that it still bothers me. I feel stupid and wish I could go back and tell myself to do all the stretches! And hydrate! And rest!
Metabolism
[rebelmouse-image 18354217 is_animated_gif=Being able to eat pretty much whatever you want because you're growing and active with school sports.
College years can be a real wake-up call. I count every calorie and I'm still two full dress sizes bigger than I was in high school.
Sun
[rebelmouse-image 18359406 is_animated_gif=Sunlight. If you spend a couple weeks in artificial light with zero sight of the sun, you start to really appreciate it when you have it.
Play Time
[rebelmouse-image 18359407 is_animated_gif=Someone once said something along the lines of:
One day you and your friends went outside to play for the last time
Throat Full Of Razors
[rebelmouse-image 18359408 is_animated_gif=Swallowing - until you get a nasty virus that makes it feel like you throat is lined with razors. The morning you wake up with a sore throat is the morning you realize how good you had it the day before.
H/T: Reddit
Wise people tend to glorify the past for good reason. Simpler times seemed to indicate just that. Less life drama.
While many technical advances have also made our current life easier, it certainly has come with its share of complications that never existed prior to another time.
Curious to hear from strangers online, one Redditor asked:
"What was actually better in the past?"
People found traveling, particularly flying, was less dramatic back in the day.
Travel Scene
"Airports."
– Ron_deBeaulieu
"This is true. We used to go to the airport to go to the cafe within the airport, watch the planes take off, people watch."
– Botryoid2000
Comfort In The Skies
"Flying in general."
"More seat space, meals included (and a choice of meals), actual metal utensils, luggage included, no need to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight..."
– cinemascifi
A Proper Send-Off
"And you could say goodbye to your friends at the gate. Get there early before the flight and grab a leisurely meal with them. Man, airports used to be fun."
– Ron_deBeaulieu
TSA Efficiency
"In the 90s airport security took half as long."
– oarngebean
Many Redditors believe living in the present is a huge economical inconvenience.
Income Injustice
"Prices vs earnings."
– Jimbruno55
Parenthood Crisis
"Psh. Try childcare. Our childcare cost for two children is more than our mortgage. When I was the same age, it cost my parents about $50/week. Today that would be roughly $135/week per kid. We’re paying $500/wk and still don’t have full time care for both kids. Sh*t’s crazy."
– JsDaFax
Criminals seemed to have a field day once upon a time.
Untraceable
"Being a criminal. If there was a security camera, it was too low resolution to make your face very identifiable."
– Delica
Before CSI
"also DNA analysis and fingerprinting wasn't as good, no Internet to track you."
– ScorpionX-123
Leaving The Country Undetected
"It used to be that it was possible for someone to commit a serious crime, move across the country, and never be caught. As communications technology has improved, that’s no longer feasible."
– RealHumanFromEarth
How people occupied their time in the past seemed to be more favorable.
The Life-Line Device
"Smart phones too, Reddit is the only social media I use and still I stare at this f'king thing 5 hours a day. I know I’m addicted to it and I’d love to punt it but unfortunately it’s also my phone, my map, my camera, my tape measure, my dictaphone, my Walkman etc. etc."
– tarkuspig
The sentiment that the past was better stems largely from nostalgia.
Aside from accessing our Gameboys and Tamagochis, my friends and I would ride our bikes or skateboard out in the cul-de-sac.
We would scrape our knees from falling, get knocked to the ground playing freeze tag, and come home with dried mud on our clothes from a day of roughhousing.
It was some of the best times of my childhood, and I feel for today's youth who still have the option of playing outside but choose to live on their iPads and iPhones instead.
They don't know what they're missing, TBH. Maybe it's just me.
Having a dope supportive partner is seriously a game changer, fam.
I'm not suggesting that a person can't achieve success without a relationship. Not at all. What I'm saying, is if you're going to choose to do a team project, it helps when your teammate doesn't suck.
But a moment of honesty - a lot of us have no idea what an amazing partner looks like. If relationships of obligation or convenience, are all you've ever seen, then how could you?
Amazing doesn't look like that at all.
Reddit user Sylva_Glow asked:
"People with an amazing partner, what makes them so amazing?"
Here's what people had to say.
Awareness
"She is self aware."
"Says things like, 'I may have been being selfish', 'You have a good point', and 'I’m sorry'. I do the same and try to admit my faults, and stop on a dime in an argument and say 'I’m sorry, I’m being unreasonable, let’s back up'. "
"In essence we both are pretty good at admitting and accepting each other’s and our own frailties. It’s rare to be with a partner like that."
"Also, she has a hilarious laugh and sense of humor, and though she doesn’t feel so, she’s hilarious."
- Mykneeisbig
"This is huge, same with my wife an I. We can argue about a subject and politely disagree, but we both take turns listening to each other's opinions and 9/10 we both start cracking jokes."
- Woah_man34
"This is so vital. I'm so glad you found someone who does this with you."
- Wonderful-Custard-47
Together Crankiness
"When we're both cranky for silly or small reasons, but we're cranky together, not at each other."
"It reminds me we're always partners, never adversaries."
- MedicalMud53
"How do you achieve this together-crankiness? Sounds way better than being cranky at each other."
- thekindwillinherit
"I’m not the person you asked, and it certainly doesn’t work automatically with everyone, but in a relationship, every issue can be an 'us' issue. Even if it’s leaving the toilet seat up."
"If you have a complaint about your partner, think of it more as a discomfort you’re feeling that they can help you with, and approach it as a problem you can both solve together."
"Have an open and honest discussion about the disconnect and what you bring to the table that is causing the tension as well as what you could bring to help. Therapists often actually suggest visualizing it as sitting side by side at a table, looking at the problem on the table together."
"In hindsight I kinda talked about conflict resolution instead of 'together-crankiness' but it’s kind of the same thing."
"We’re all just doing the best we can with what we’ve got. If you’re cranky about something, let your partner in. Give them a seat on your side of the table and tell them that you’re cranky, why, and whether or not they can help and how."
"The best part about a loving relationship is feeling like you’re teamed up with someone against the world."
- blurredsagacity
No Doubt
"Simple: because no matter what, I never doubt in my mind that he loves me more than anything."
"I never worry about him leaving/cheating on me. I can be my complete, authentic self around him. Even when we fight, I know it's just a temporary tiff that we'll talk about later when we've cooled down."
"But, most of all, I know that whatever he's doing or wherever he is, he'll always stop it to drive however far to come help me if I'm in a bad situation/mood."
"Not many people have a partner like that, so I'm sincerely grateful that I lucked out in finding mine 😇❤"
- cloudgirl150
"This is really cute, happy for you :)"
- NeaZerros
"Yay! This is me and my partner too! I love to hear when people have found 'their person' too. Everyone should feel as cozy and loved by their partner as we do!"
- jocietimes
Genuinely Interested
"My husband is genuinely interested in everything I do, no matter how mundane it is."
"When I dragged him to 3 different stores to find a specific mascara, he asks about what makes it so great & then will geek out & read up about cosmetic formulations."
"When I told him a certain lip patch helped heal my cracked nipples from breastfeeding, he started reading up over other potential breastfeeding injuries & how people handle them."
"He doesn’t do it to lord his 'expertise' over me or anything, he’s genuinely excited to just ask me about everything."
"Oh & he started giving me daily massages when I was pregnant & I still get them now. Our daughter is 3."
- eraser_dust
Perfect Match
"The way he still looks at me."
"When I get out of the shower and there's lunch waiting for me."
"How some nights he wakes up in the middle of the night and pulls me closer to him because I've moved too far away or even when he pulls me closer in all situations."
"How he lays in bed with me every morning even though he'd rather go sit on the couch and wake up."
"The sacrifices he makes for me everyday."
"That he tries his best to make sure I am smiling. He's always there when I need him no matter the time or place. There are so many things that he does every day to let me know he loves me."
"Ah. He is just..a perfect match for me. We have our rough times and we get frustrated with each other, but he always treats me with kindness, respect, and love no matter what mood he is in."
"We always make sure to communicate our problems and at the end of most days we go to bed with a smile on our faces."
- vsprintffdgh
Charming Little Things
"Omg, I have a list of notes as to reasons why I love my boyfriend all saved up in my phone. Someday I'm going to gift them to him somehow."
"While the big things matter very much, like how our whole relationship he has helped and stuck by me thru a disability, it's also all the little things that matter every day."
"He prefers Onion Rings over French Fries. However, when we go out to eat together, he will pick fries as a side with his meal so he can share them with me since I don't like onion rings."
"In the mornings, he will block my hand with his so the dog can't lick my hand and wake me up."
"He sees when my phone charge is low and will bring me a charger even when I didn't realize it."
"Whenever he has the cheese out, he sets aside a slice for me."
"When he gets out of bed, he turns his pillow towards me knowing I'm going to steal it."
"If I pour myself more milk then I can finish, he drinks the rest so I don't feel bad about wasting it."
"I couldn't go out in the snow once, so he went out and drew hearts in the snow that I could see from the window."
"He'll sing songs to the pets, dance around the kitchen, squeak when he laughs, use the oven mitt like a dinosaur, and say "aww" while playing Animal Crossing."
"He sends me memes, and twirls the same piece of hair in the front of his head when he's distracted."
"He's amazing! I'm charmed by him every single day!"
- da_throwawayaccountt
Name That Tune
"I randomly whistle a 4-6 note tune while doing tasks."
"And lately she's been guessing them with about 60-70% success rate. It's cute when she tries hard and she lights up with this glow when she gets it right."
"No one gets me but her."
"Married in our teens and about to celebrate our 14 yr anniversary."
- pds_king21
Meow
"Accepting me for every. single. quirk."
"I was pretty pessimistic about relationships when we went on our first date so I am lucky that I have never faked one situation or personality or even had to present 'my best self.' "
"Small example - I had an ex that I thought was perfect for me. I'm a f*cking weirdo so once I meowed at him. He told me not to do that."
"I meow at my now fiancé and he meows right back."
- Tomoyo_in_Transwise
"F*ck your ex. I can tell what my wife wants from the type and tone of her meows. My wife is very much human and yes, we are both weird."
"And yes, I do meow right back to her as well."
- jayuscommissar
"Meowed at my partner today and he booped me. That’s when you know it’s real"
- AnotherLemonSucker
Her Brilliant Mind
"Her intellect."
"When I met her 30 years ago there was fierce physical attraction between both of us, but what won me over was her brilliant mind. She is the smartest person I have ever met."
"Quick witted, a great conversationalist, and turned out to be the best mother to our daughter that I could have ever asked for. She is very loving and caring and puts family before almost everything."
"Two years ago I lost my father to the delta variant of Covid-19. It was the worst experience of my life. I don't know what I would have done with her strength and support. I didn't think I would make it through the funeral, but having someone you trust completely walking with you step by step makes a huge difference."
"I hope you all have a partner as good as mine to share your lives with."
- wormtail71
Just Do It
"My wife is just a go getter."
"She wanted to learn carpentry, so she did."
"Wanted a better job and she got it."
"When she wants to achieve something she just does."
- daboot013
"Mine rolled her eyes at me for wanting a macramé owl. I don't know why I wanted one, but I always did."
"Some people think they're tacky, and maybe they are."
"She's from a country that didn't have them. She never understood why I wanted one."
"Last year, in secret, she watched a bunch of YouTube videos, taught herself how to make a macramé owl and then made me one for our house and we put it up by the front door."
- fugaziozbourne
Well that was all painfully adorable.
What about you, dear readers? Do you have incredible amazing partners who show you how dope partnership can be?
Tell us about them!
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Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
Have you ever gotten ready to do something that you think will only take a minute or two, but end up taking a lot longer?
Like when you try to print a paper at the library before class, only to find out several other students had the same idea. Or when you decide you can finish the Powerpoint for your work presentation during your lunch break, only to realize it needs to be way more in-depth than you first thought.
Chances are, you've been in this situation before. I certainly have! I can't even count the number of times I have given myself two minutes to microwave a meal only to realize my roommate needs it too (and got to it first) and I don't actually have the meal I planned to eat, meaning I need to spend some time figuring out what to eat instead.
Redditor hungrytiredandbored was curious about what other things take longer than they should, and asked:
"What always takes way longer than it should?"
As If Standing In Line Isn't Annoying Enough
"People buying lottery tickets ahead of you in line at the convenience store/gas station. 'What's number 5? Hmm... what's number 8? Okay, I'll take a number 13, and straight box on the daily 4.'
"They should have a separate line for that. It's so damn annoying."
– DTownForever
Worst Printed Ever
"Printing a document on an HP printer."
"oh you'd like to print a document? You have to create an account with HP. Now let me tell you about our subscriptions services."
"HP. I don't want to create an account. Just make my printer work with my laptop and phone. This is why nobody over 40 owns a printer anymore. You make trash products, HP."
– Ganglebot
It's Not That Hard!
"Doing anything at the counter of the post office. I have no clue what takes everyone in front of me so...long..."
– 8BitSk8r
"Love when you go there to drop off one (1) pre-labelled package and the dude in front of you has never mailed a damn letter before and won't listen when the clerk tries to explain it to him. I hope they introduce self-service machines here at some point so I can just skip the entire thing."
– Jealous_Hospital
Chew, Chew, Chew, Swallow
"My kids eating dinner. Just F**KING EAT IT."
– User deleted
"My 2 year old, an hour before dinner: I'M HUNGRY, I WANT SNACKS! SNAAAAAACK!"
"My 2 year old, with dinner on the table: I'M NOT HUNGRY / I DON'T WANT IT! GIMMIE PB&J!"
"My 2 year old, when it's time for bed: BUT I GOTTA EEEEEEAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT!!!"
– terrrrrible
Not So Fast Food
"The fast food order of the car in front of me. This menu hasn’t changed in years - what could you possibly be talking about? Do you know the person taking orders? Is this a personal conversation? Did you not know what you wanted to eat before pulling into the line?"
– WackyBones510
The Longest Line On Earth
"The DMV. I'm 37 years old and somehow I STILL haven't learned it's never a quick in and out."
– Justaguywholikeswine
"Im 26 and have been on line for 32 years"
– twoduvs
Never-Ending Goodbye
"Standing at the door waving your in-laws goodbye"
– NecessaryImmediate93
"My family will be like, "Ok well we should probably go" then immediately stand up, gather their sh*t, thank us for having them over, and leave."
"My in-laws say they should probably leave soon, start a conversation about something, ask if I can take a look at a laptop that isn't working, etc - 45 minutes later their putting their shoes on to go."
"Like, if you're going to stay - then stay, that's totally fine. But I hate waiting in limbo to see if they are going or not. It's unsettling."
– Ganglebot
No Such Thing As A Quick Meal
"Meal prep. I often underestimate how long will take to make dinner by 50+%."
– Pretend_Airline2811
"I came here to say this. Recipe says prep will take 15 minutes, actually takes 45. 30-minute meal? Definitely over an hour."
– LeafyMagician
Just Need A Bit Of Cash
"People at ATM booths"
– peanutbuttercake85
"Yup. If you're in a hurry and just need to take out a twenty guarunteed the person in front of you is a 70 year old who is apparently using the ATM to put a second mortgage on their house"
– randyboozer
Get Me Out Of Here!
"Getting away from an unwanted conversation."
"I've Uh'huh'd 5 times and am looking at the door. Take the hint."
– PM_ME_CUTE_FEMBOYS
Life is a journey, and slow and steady wins the race. Of course, all the clichés in the world don't change the fact that some things should go quickly but don't.
You can't always make things move faster, but you can control how you react to the low speed. If we learn how to cope, we may just find a little more zen.
People Break Down The Most F**ked Up Thing Someone's Ever Said To Them
It's a fact of life that people can be brutal. Whether it's because a person is downright cruel or because he or she is drunk or angry, they can say some awful things.
My Indian aunt once mistakenly thought a cousin of mine was my daughter and told me American teenagers were trashy and stupid. I don't talk to that aunt anymore...
There is never an excuse to be that cruel, but that doesn't stop people from behaving that way.
Curious about this, Redditor Brilliant-End9428 asked:
No Excuse For Cruelty
"Mum's (59) boyfriend got mega drunk a few weeks back, told her that he was "only with her because he pitied her""
"Drunk or not, she wasn't having that. Back to being single."
– astrielx
Worst SIL Ever
"My sister-in-law was joking about how there aren't any male children that will "carry on the family name" when she knows full well that I lost my son at birth."
– otherm0ther
Wrong Reason To Have A Child
""You were our last attempt to save the marriage""
"Thanks, mom. Glad to know I was a failure straight out of the gate."
– Papa_Smurf87
Their Loss
""You're too ugly to buy ice cream from." - Some b**ch to me @ 15"
– Dividebynegativezero
Undeserving Of Being A Father
"When I was 11 my father (who I hadn't seen in 5 years b/c of divorce) showed up at a family Christmas and calmly asked me to not call him 'dad' b/c his new kids didn't know I existed."
– marshfield00
Grandmas Shouldn't Have Favorites
"I was 7 or 8 and I told my grandmother I wanted to be a doctor when I grew up. She told me I would never be smart enough and that I'd be lucky to one day be my cousin's house cleaner."
"My cousin was her favorite grandchild."
"I'm 32 and I still remember it so vividly."
– Jackie_13
ATM
"I hope you realize I'm only using you for your money"
--warlordwinters
No Good Reason For Saying This
"My grandmother and grandfather told 7yr old me if my mom kills herself and my dad dies in Afghanistan they would rather see me rot on the streets than taking me in"
– sugarhornyicetea
That's Not How It Works
"Just dont be depressed. Like bro..."
– SpeakablePerson
No matter who it was that said something that cruel to you, know that you deserve better (and that it might be time to cut someone out of your life).