Life Changing Experiences

[Bows]

http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right

 

Good people still exist. I consider myself one of them.

 

Here's my two short stories from today.

 

Woke up to a phone call from Kendra (Who's real name is Kym, she just prefers Kendra [for whatever reason], but I'll call her Kym from now on) asking what I'm doing today. I said nothing and she said we should go to the city with our friends and I agreed. So we all get together at my friend Chazz's ex-girlfriend Alyssa's house (who is Kym's best friend) and sort everything out. We leave around 12:00 PM and head to a McDonald's to grab a quit bite before we head to the BART station. Everyone else had already ordered their food and was sitting down eating while I was in line still. A little girl in ragged clothes walked in and got in line behind me; she appeared to be entirely alone. I heard her jingling some change and it turned out to be .59 cents. I ordered my coffee and fries and stepped out of the way so she could order. I waited next to the cash register to see what the little girl was doing and she looked at me and smiled, seeming happy. She asked the older lady working the register for one of the .50 cent cookies that they sell. It turns out it's .66 cents after tax. She was heartbroken. I asked her if that's all the money she had, and she said yes, that she hadn't eaten in three days and was trying to get enough money to eat. I asked if she had any parents and she said she didn't know where they were. I grabbed her hand and took her back to the register (I had taken her aside to talk) and ordered a Happy Meal with the generic girl toy they offered, as well as a small Oreo McFlurry and gave it to her. She seemed confused, as if nobody had ever done anything like this for her. I then gave her a $50 bill and told the manager of the McDonald's to call Child Protective Services and find her parents, and buy her some new clothes with that $50. He did just that. Before we left the little girl (who's name is Kaylee) came up to me right at the door and gave me the toy she had gotten from the meal and gave me hug and a tearful thank you. I said don't worry about it, enjoy your new clothes sweetie, and left.

 

Fast-forward to about 2:30 PM -- We're in the city. I've got some loose change hanging out in my pocket and there are plenty of homeless people in the city, so I decided to give it to someone. I grabbed a Grande Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks and my friends and I headed into the main shopping area to enjoy the day and do some Christmas shopping. About fifteen minutes into our walking around, I spot a homeless man sitting on the steps with his dog, apparently asleep. Target acquired. I walk over after telling my friends to go ahead without me for a minute. I sit down next to him and gently tap him on the shoulder; not wanting to startle him. He wakes up and his dog slowly walks over to me and licks my hand. I ask him his name; it's Tom, he says, and this is Kinder, pointing at his dog. I introduce myself and grab his small empty soup can next to him and drop some change into it. God Bless, he says; and smiles weakly. We both get up and as I'm getting up I subtly pull a $100 bill from my jacket pocket and shake his hand, slipping it into his. Before he realizes what happened I pet the dog, bid farewell and start walking away. I turn my head around to see him crying and holding his dog. I tear up and sit down in a semi-secluded area of a cafe to take in what I had just done for two complete strangers not three hours apart. I never even told my friends.

 

Sometimes I wonder if people notice things like that. Then I remember 95% of society is filled with people who only care about themselves, and that thought is promptly shoved out of my head. Good night, TIF.

 

I consider it a life changing experience. It really put a lot of things into perspective. Times are tough and the way people act only makes it worse. I always ask my friends why they never tell people to keep the change, or donate to charity/research funds, etc. The only answer they can offer me is an "I don't know, I just don't." I am a heavy believer in Karma. What goes around definitely comes around; if you are a selfless person I feel that you'll be rewarded. Not by God or some bullshit, but by the people around you. It rubs off. Try holding a door open for someone, or simply smile and say thank you. I'm rambling now though, so, onto the point of the topic.

 

What is your greatest life changing experience?

[Sy_Accursed]

It's all very well saying people should give money away, but the truth is most people simply can't afford to in the current economic climate.

 

Personally my biggest life changing moment was in the last year of high school. Can't really pinpoint what it was, without saying more than I care to reveal on a public forum, but it essentially turned my entire life around and helped me get my head unjumbled etc.

[Nexaduro]

I'm not a changing sort of person. Very uniform in my ideals, habits, pretty much everything.

 

I'm not trapped in my way of life, but a lot of the time I think I am. When changes do come, they're usually internal shifts of perspective, and even those are often temporary.

 

Your little stories, though, are the sorts of things I dream of every day. I hope to be careful with spending, and give as many charities as I can. Hopefully that bit won't change anytime soon.

[Carl]

Nice stories, certainly seems as though you've brought about a lot of good for those two people. I have no problem with giving money to the charities who help those in need, providing accommodation for those sleeping rough on a daily basis. Being completely honest, though, I don't really give money to people begging on the street. The times I have, it's only small amounts that I may have in my pocket. But knowing that's just going to go to drugs or alcohol puts me off.

 

Can't really say I've had any "Life changing" experiences. I've visited rehabilitation centres, and I suppose that's life changing for me. Meeting some of the most down-to-earth people I've ever met, who simply went through a rough patch in life and turned to alcohol/drugs to get through it ending up the way the have is saddening. Hearing their stories can change the way you think forever.

[Range_This11]

Life changing experience? Reading Brave New World and seeing Rage Against the Machine live in concert in the same month. I might not have the same views I did as an angsty 17 year old now, but it diverted me away from normalcy that's for damn sure.

[enfield]

my life changing experience:

 

realizing biology is interesting.

realizing some humans are so cool.

discovering eliezer yudkowsky and singulartitarians, etc.

[Serpent Eye]

<snip>

It's actually now illegal in my state to hand out/take anything to/from people on the street when you're in a car (ie, handing a homeless person money on the corner could get me a ticket) so I don't really do it too often any more, but I used to do this sort of stuff all the time.

 

The first time I helped someone, I was coming out of the bookstore, and this brother and sister (they were maybe in their 40s) came up to me. They were obviously homeless, and asked if I had any money to spare. I honestly don't carry any sort of cash around with me, strictly debit/credit cards. I offered to take them across the street to the McDonald's nearby. Probably wasn't too safe of me, but I cleared out the backseat of my car and gave them a ride over. I told them they could each get anything they wanted. They were too embarrassed to go in, understandably, so I parked my car (took my keys with me and threw my CDs into the trunk) and went inside and got their food; got them each a Chick-o-Fillet sandwich, large fry, and an Oreo shake. They also asked me if I could take them to their next 'stop' so they wouldn't have to walk, so I did. It was only about 5 miles away, so it wasn't too big of a problem. Near the end, as I was pulling up to the park they wanted to go to, they started arguing and fighting in my back seat, so I quickly pulled over at the park and they got out and all was well. :thumbup:

 

On a different occasion, I had just finished doing some shopping at Target and was driving home. Right outside on the corner of the street by Target there was a man with a sign asking for money. At first I didn't make eye contact and pulled off, but halfway down the road I felt really ashamed and bad about myself, so I flipped around, ran into Target again, and bought some bottled water, Gatorade, beef jerky and a bag of trail mix. I hopped back in my car, drove back to the corner... and the man was gone. I then spent the next 25-30 minutes driving all around town looking for any sign of him. I had almost given up hope, when I finally saw him walking down the sidewalk! I don't even know if I was allowed to pull over where I did, but I stopped my car on the side of the road and gave him the bag of goodies. He was really thankful and we both thought it was kind of funny that I had spent so long looking for him.

 

I personally don't like giving money out to people, but I love offering to buy them food or drinks (water, etc.) that they might need. I know its terrible to say "Well they're just going to buy beer/drugs" but... maybe it's okay if they do buy beer or drugs, but I'd much prefer to buy them something filling like trail mix!

 

:thumbup:

 

I don't consider either of these to be 'life changing' in any way... just sharing my stories. :P My life changing experiences are a bit too personal to share.

[Guest Rob]

I don't think I've had too many life changing experiences. How I am now is sort of a culmination of all of the little things of the past 15 years of my life. No single moment that I can think of has led me to change my outlook on life, though I'm still waiting for it to come.

[Racheya]

I think the most life changing things for me have been people. My friendship with Shannon completely shaped my entire life for most of my teenage years. Meeting Dave and going out with him has helped me become a better person who's perhaps a little less awkward than she used to be.

 

I can't say I've ever had a real epiphany about my life. There have been moments where I've broke down in realisation of how scared of the world I truly am, but I wouldn't ever call those things life changing because nothing changes after them. I've had so many incidents with family where people have argued, tried to kill themself... but a few days later we're all pretending it never happened.

 

I guess these all influence my life in one way or another - but I don't know if I've ever had one of those sudden life changing moments that puts things into perspective or changes my outlook permanently.

[Zierro]

Every word every person has ever said, every object I have every touched or looked at, every mistake, every shiver of excitement, every dream, every sound, every site, and every experience has all changed my life forever. Hopefully, there's still a lot more changes to come.

[Ginger_Warrior]

I think if you spoke to close family and those who grew up with me from an early age, they'd probably say it was my mother dying about four months short of my 10th birthday. When one parent is unable to provide the same level of care as they used to--she was dead, so I can hardly fault her in failing this obligation--I think normally the eldest sibling is forced into growing up pretty quickly in order to fulfill the minor elements of that role, at least that's what I remember of my childhood. I remember when I was 11 years of age being told to essentially babysit my younger brother and sister whilst my dad went to work just to put food on the table and keep his own career from falling in on itself.

 

As tragic as those circumstances may have been, I can definitely trace my career ambitions back to those experiences. My year-long stint with the Tip.It Crew aside, everything I've done in terms of a job or voluntary work has been involved in health care or social care. I guess looking after my siblings in the aftermath of one of my parents dying sparked a more general interest in other people's welfare, and as far as life goes, your interests are what define you more than anything else.

 

Apart from that, I've never really had an epiphany. I've not read a book that's completely radicalised my perception of the world, never listened to a song that compelled me to do something extraordinary. I've just always wanted to use my knowledge and talent to care for others who are injured or sick for as long as I can remember.

[Zierro]

Nice post, Ginger. :thumbup:

[enfield]

Why was it nice? Or were you just showing understanding/support?

[Crocefisso]

Why was it nice? Or were you just showing understanding/support?

The latter, clearly.

[Assume Nothing]

Every word every person has ever said, every object I have every touched or looked at, every mistake, every shiver of excitement, every dream, every sound, every site, and every experience has all changed my life forever. Hopefully, there's still a lot more changes to come.

 

Does this include your ingame experiences? Does this include any bullying/harassment you may have received during your childhood? Does this include every heartbreak you've had, every ounce of suffering you've endured, every depression phase, etc.?

 

It's a sad fact, but it's easy to suppress feelings and memories of the hard times.

[Sally]

I've had a few things that have changed my life, so I guess I shall share them.

 

When I was 12-13 years old, I was in a choir and I managed (after working my butt off to prove I could do it) to gain my first ever solo. I would say this was one of my biggest life changing moments because it showed me I finally had something I was good at, which has opened a lot of doors to me (and hopefully will continue to do so).

 

When I was 14, I started getting help with a lot of issues I was going through, which although some I still need to deal with have made me into a better person (and hopefully not as insane as I could be). It also lead to an issue that should have been picked up when I was a kid to be diagnosed and recognised at 18.

 

Lastly, when I was 16-17, I was taken out to Austria on a week-long music tour with my school, singing two solo's in two of the bands. The fact that my teacher, who had been giving me solo's after hearing me sing in the school celebrations, personally asked me to join this tour still makes me smile, as he was seriously hard to impress (and a little scary).

 

I've also done things for charity, and will continue to do so. If I ever make it as a musician, I will make it somewhat of a mission to help as many charities as I can, as well as bring public awareness to some medical conditions and disabilities that are seen in a bad light.

[Zierro]

Every word every person has ever said, every object I have every touched or looked at, every mistake, every shiver of excitement, every dream, every sound, every site, and every experience has all changed my life forever. Hopefully, there's still a lot more changes to come.

 

Does this include your ingame experiences? Does this include any bullying/harassment you may have received during your childhood? Does this include every heartbreak you've had, every ounce of suffering you've endured, every depression phase, etc.?

 

It's a sad fact, but it's easy to suppress feelings and memories of the hard times.

 

Of course. I can't say I remember every single fact about my life, but I've never suppressed depressing events. I've learned how to deal with negative situations from those experiences.

[Nexaduro]

Every word every person has ever said, every object I have every touched or looked at, every mistake, every shiver of excitement, every dream, every sound, every site, and every experience has all changed my life forever. Hopefully, there's still a lot more changes to come.

 

Does this include your ingame experiences? Does this include any bullying/harassment you may have received during your childhood? Does this include every heartbreak you've had, every ounce of suffering you've endured, every depression phase, etc.?

 

It's a sad fact, but it's easy to suppress feelings and memories of the hard times.

 

Of course. I can't say I remember every single fact about my life, but I've never suppressed depressing events. I've learned how to deal with negative situations from those experiences.

I'm good at forgetting, but terrible at suppressing.

 

Every stupid thing I've ever done haunts me, at least some of those memories will probably save me from future mistakes.

[obfuscator]

Every word every person has ever said, every object I have every touched or looked at, every mistake, every shiver of excitement, every dream, every sound, every site, and every experience has all changed my life forever. Hopefully, there's still a lot more changes to come.

 

Does this include your ingame experiences? Does this include any bullying/harassment you may have received during your childhood? Does this include every heartbreak you've had, every ounce of suffering you've endured, every depression phase, etc.?

 

It's a sad fact, but it's easy to suppress feelings and memories of the hard times.

 

Of course. I can't say I remember every single fact about my life, but I've never suppressed depressing events. I've learned how to deal with negative situations from those experiences.

I'm good at forgetting, but terrible at suppressing.

 

Every stupid thing I've ever done haunts me, at least some of those memories will probably save me from future mistakes.

Exactly. You learn best by making mistakes. Sometimes it sucks, but it's the best way...

 

And I agree with Zierro. Life and everything about it is "Life changing".

[Aten]

Great topic, expecting some nice reads :thumbup:

 

I've had a couple life changing experiences, but coming to the realization that school was just a massive waste of my time and money (and subsequently dropping out) has been the single greatest one. I live a pretty good life now without all the bullshit and constant cash drains from tuition.

[Crocefisso]

Life and everything about it is "Life changing".

By definition.

[Lekti]

I think my biggest life changer was trying to kill myself, and in a sense i succeeded.

 

I had a horrid childhood, abused by my at the time Step father, and his family. Things like touching, and being locked in closets, beaten and a lot of similar things. And i was always bullied at primary school which lead to me being home schooled from age 12 onwards. When i was 14 my own grandmother kidnapped me and my younger brother, saying my mother is not worthy of raising us(she's one of those types that is really into religion) In my teenage years i felt very much alone, and that nobody understood me as a person, whenever i went out in the world i would be yelled at or have things chucked at me. And suppressing everything just pulled me down so much by the time i was 17 i tried to end my own life, my parents don't know this as i did it while on a work experience trip they made me go on. My heart stopped for a good 3 minutes after overdosing on pain medication.

 

Now i say in a sense i succeeded because i don't look at trying to kill myself as a bad thing. I gained out of it a very new vibrant look on life and everything excites me from every touch, every sound, every smell, every piece of art i make or get the pleasure of viewing and then to be influenced by all of the things the world has to offer. I love and embrace life and the world whenever i can and i would never in a million years give up this scene of felling, love and respect i gained from those times.

 

Out of everything i pulled myself up and out of my dark times, found a new love for art and started expressing myself digitally through my own pieces of art work. decided i wanted to do something with my life that involved my art work, so i applied to one of the very best art colleges in england, and graduated with the highest grades out of everyone in my year group. This lead me down the road to who i am, and where i am in the world today, a student studying digital media arts, for movies and computer games, with such a wide, but chilled laid back look on life that it often all seems more like a dream then anything else.

 

---------

I think i rambled on a bit and a lot of the above read back as gibberish in some places, but i will leave it how it is, as i think it gets my life message across perfectly the way it is.

 

Live everyday to the fullest, love who you are as a person and not who you think you should be, this world we live in has all of the inspiration you could ever need to be the most beautiful person you can be, love life, and life will love you in return.<3

[Assume Nothing]

Indeed, it's possible to gain a new outlook or perspective upon life upon a revelation - I've been through many similar phases myself so I'd certainly know how it feels to be in such a situation.

 

I find myself wandering - why do we ask philosophical questions? The only true answer lies within oneself. It is, perhaps, that our lives are without meaning or divine purpose, but why should that stop us living life to it's fullest potential? Hmm.

[Bows]

Life and everything about it is "Life changing".

By definition.

Clearly not what I'm meaning here though, obviously.

 

So far there's been some very nice stories shared. I look forward to seeing more. Keep posting! :thumbup:

[Dupin]

Here's one for you:

I was in a fight, one day, and got knocked out. When I came to, I was in a room I didn't recognize. I looked for my phone - had none. My wallet and ID were gone. I went downstairs, finding myself in a rundown motel, and asked the clerk at the desk to use his phone. I called home, but got no answer. I called my girlfriend. She didn't recognize me or even know my name. I panicked and started frantically punching in the numbers of a close friend, but the clerk gave me a look and asked me to leave.

 

Out on the street, I looked around. I didn't recognize where I was, but a with information from a passerby I deduced that I was actually not far from the home of a friend. I ran the four blocks to his apartment, took the stairs two at a time, and knocked heavily, panting, at is door. It was answered by his sister. She had never known me, but she told me her brother would be home within the hour. She invited me in for coffee and a shot of mescaline. I refused, noticing that she was already a little buzzed, but she insisted, so I took it.

 

The stuff really tripped me out, and I collapsed on the couch. She realized I wasn't doing well, and went to the bathroom for a remedy. Having waited for what seemed like hours, I got up to follow her. That walk was the longest journey of my life, and it seemed I saw the entirety of the starry dynamo as I stumbled across the thick carpet.

 

In the bathroom, I saw nothing. As my eyes slowly adjusted to the bright, white light, I noticed a shape on the floor: a crumbling skeleton. It looked thousands of years old, but somehow I knew it was her. It was in that moment that I realized I was living a Philip K. Dick story, and I made the whole thing up for fun.

 

 

No, but seriously, I don't believe in epiphanies and I think every moment of one's life is as important as any other. I do have a good story, though, but it's personal.

 

It goes something like this:

I was woken up in the black of night to see two huge, muscular men in my room. They spoke quietly and told me I was leaving. I was seventeen years old, and my parents were in the background, as if to affirm the absurdity with their silence.

 

I showered and dressed in five minutes and stumbled out to their car. The next hours flashed by in an over-tired daze: a car, an airport, a plane, Chicago. An airport, a plane, Salt Lake City, beautiful mountains and a cool breeze. It was March, but the sun warmed me to the bone and the mountains shone bright green.

 

They took me to some ugly house on some ugly street where some ugly guy with eyes like surgical tools informed me I was heading out into the desert. I was given cheap hiking clothes to wear and a pair of hiking boots.

 

Out front, I helped another guy with the sharp, glinting eyes of an owl load some strange gear into a truck, then hopped in myself.

 

Over the next ten weeks, I lived in the wild with a bunch of teens. I slept under a tarp strung up with cordage. I hiked every day with a hiking backpack I made myself, in which I carried all my worldly posessions. We bow-drilled fires and cooked rice and potatoes and pasta.

 

No electronics. I saw a car a couple times and people outside our group maybe once.

 

No computer. No phone. No contacting friends or lawyers.

 

No showers.

 

Ten weeks, but the longest days of my life. I didn't count.

 

When it snowed, we crowded around the fire. When it rained, we hid under a tarp it. Above all, every day, we hiked.

 

By the end, I loved it more than anything.

 

I moved on, having completed the program.

 

Now I'm at a boarding school where we can't use the internet, we have no video games, and we have to ask to use the bathroom.

 

I could leave if I wanted to, but it's not so bad. Anyways, it's the clearest path to graduation and a great college (boosted along by some SAT scores), so I'll just work with what I've got.

 

So that's why I vanished, and that's why I'll be gone again pretty soon.

 

I don't believe in epiphanies, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't change my life.

 

 

In other news: OH HAI EVRYBODY