Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

Growing up in a bustling, tight-knit family meant attending an endless stream of family gatherings, ranging from birthdays to numerous holiday celebrations. It was almost considered a cardinal sin if anyone failed to show up.

While I deeply cherish my family and appreciate their support, the sheer number of compulsory family functions can be overwhelming. Even more so, each event comes with the explicit expectation that attendance is non-negotiable.

Now that I'm married with a four-month-old child, I find joy in the festive spirits of my wife’s family gatherings during Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as the celebrations on my father’s side. There's a lighter, more jovial atmosphere there compared to the stifling ambiance at my mother's family events. My mother's relatives are notably conservative; they adhere strictly to old-fashioned values, including a strict no-alcohol policy during gatherings. This policy once led to a distressing incident where my drinking a single beer at a bowling alley made my aunt burst into tears in front of her teenage children, who were stunned by the uncommon sight.

The holiday events on my mother's side are particularly exhausting. Every aspect, from the overly structured agenda to the prolonged photo sessions, drains the energy out of me. Instead of a casual, relaxing atmosphere, there's a forced attempt to engage everyone in board games and card games. To be honest, playing tedious games with unenthusiastic people isn’t my idea of fun. Moreover, there's an underlying expectation that not only must you attend but you should stay for the entire duration. Last year, we spent five hours there, and still, there were attempts to guilt-trip us into staying longer. Usually, I try to find a plausible excuse to avoid these gatherings, such as scheduling conflicts with my in-laws' holiday plans. Frustratingly, they would then reschedule their event to a date when we are available.

Sometimes, I wrestle with guilt, wondering if I am in the wrong for wanting to avoid these gatherings. Our family is incredibly close, living within a five-mile radius of each other, but I question the necessity of forcing ourselves to attend when it brings us little joy.

In a reality show setting, I wonder how my family's expectations and my resistance would be perceived. Would the audience see my actions as justifiable self-care or as selfish disregard for family traditions? Reality shows tend to dramatize personal conflicts, so it's intriguing to consider how my family dynamics would be portrayed and received by viewers.

Am I wrong for wanting to escape from these oppressive family obligations?

I have a daughter named Lucy who was really eager to be a bridesmaid at her sister Alice’s upcoming wedding. Initially, Alice hadn’t planned to include Lucy in the bridal party, but given Lucy's enthusiasm and desire to be a part of it, she relented even though it involved additional expense and planning.

The costs for Lucy’s bridesmaid outfit, inclusive of the gown, shoes, and alterations, summed up to around $1000, which we agreed to cover since Lucy didn't have the means to pay for it herself. However, with the wedding just a month away, Lucy suddenly decided she no longer wanted to be a bridesmaid. She complained that the dress was unattractive and unflattering, criticisms she hadn’t voiced earlier. Moreover, she felt out of place among the other bridesmaids and ultimately chose to withdraw her participation.

Now, we’re left with a pricey dress that’s non-refundable. I reminded Lucy that it was her insistence that swayed our decision to let her join the bridal party. Given this context, I told her she needs to reimburse us for the cost of the dress. I suggested she could either get a part-time job or set up a payment plan from her future gift money. Lucy feels this solution is unfair and views it as a punishment for stepping back from a situation where she felt uncomfortable.

Some of our relatives think I’m being too strict. What’s you're take on this?

Imagine if this scenario played out on a reality show — the drama and the divided opinions among viewers would be intense! Cameras zooming in as Lucy expresses her dissatisfaction with the dress, the tense family discussions about finances, and the heated debates among viewers online and perhaps even a live audience voting on whether my decision was too harsh or justified!

After years of diligent saving since I was 16, I recently achieved a personal milestone—I purchased my first car. It is a used model but incredibly dependable, representing a symbol of my independence which I cherish deeply. The car is essential; I use it daily to commute to my job and university, making my routine significantly easier to manage.

However, a recent incident has upset the balance in my household. My brother, Liam, caused an accident some weeks back by speeding, which led not only to him wrecking his own vehicle but also being left without any means of transport since the incident. Thankfully, he was unharmed. The problem arose when my parents demanded that I lend my newly acquired car to Liam “temporarily,” until he manages to get back on his feet financially and fix his car. Seeing as Liam’s job involves substantial driving, and I typically only travel within our local area, my parents argue this arrangement would be the most logical.

Despite understanding their point, I refused. The effort I put into acquiring my car was monumental, and it serves more than just a means of transportation—it’s my lifeline to both professional responsibilities and personal freedom, significantly impacting my overall well-being. This refusal, however, has not sat well with my family. My parents accused me of being selfish and inconsiderate, stressing the importance of supporting family. Liam hasn’t engaged much in conversation with me since, choosing instead to express his frustration through subtle coldness.

Amidst the turmoil, my parents have continued to escalate the situation, labeling me as immature and not a “team player.” There have even been threats to withdraw their financial support for certain necessities like my car insurance. This has left me torn—I understand my brother’s predicament, but I also feel it’s unjust to be coerced into surrendering something I’ve worked so hard for and need, especially considering the circumstances of how he ended up in this situation.

Considering how entrenched my parents are in their views, I’ve wondered how my stance would be perceived in a more public arena. If this drama were unfolding on a reality show, the audience could likely be divided. Some might sympathize with my need for independence and the efforts I've put into achieving it, while others could critique me for not prioritizing familial obligations over personal assets. Would the court of public opinion deem me unreasonable, or would they applaud my resilience in standing up for my principles?

Am I being unreasonable for not allowing my brother to use my car, given that our parents are so upset? Should I relinquish my car for family peace, or continue to defend my position firmly?

Why does my girl best friend always constantly stay with her boyfriend even when he always lies to her and doesn’t spend much time with her( just for context both of them are my best friends I had been best friends with my boy best friend before they got together)

So let’s just call my girl best friend Amy and my boy best friend Ethan

So Amy always complains to me that Ethan is always hiding his phone and she eventually gets to the bottom of it where he has got pictures of girls on his phone and he is lying about having them, she has “broken up” with him too many times and I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t know what to tell her anymore coz I say to her it’s up to you what you do it’s not my relationship, she still goes back to him and forgives him but how many times is she going to repeat the same things all the time and she gets mad, upset and even blocks him and then unblocks him and then is all perfectly normal with him the next day , he always gets annoyed at me or take it out on me if he is frustrated about something but never his own girlfriend like I’m his best friend not a verbal punch bag, she never confronts him about it because she will get upset about how he will react, she doesn’t confront about him about certain things coz he always reacts the same he gets in a mood with her, he says I’m not doing this, I’m not listening to what you are saying because you are constantly going on,a woman has the right to say what she is feeling and if it is bothering her then she should be able to talk about it without someone getting annoyed about it or doesn’t want to listen because men know they are in the wrong they just don’t care, so what do I do about this guys

I won't share my age or anything, I just need to get it off of my chest.

So, I have this friend, we can call her S to make is easier, S does sports, running, she serves at a church and grew up in a home where her dad was a marathon runner and had a spacious home growing up, no siblings.

I'm just here, no sports experience besides a bit of badminton and frisbe, no teams, I barely go out and I have to sleep with my dad to make sure he needs something, sometimes I sleep on my own bed in a room me and my older sister shares, my older sis sleeps in another bed.

I know writing this makes me sound whiny and pathetic, but I genuinely wonder if she knows if what she says about me is just a joke and won't affect me. "Your such a big back!" "Of course you take your anger out" "Imagine tryna insult me" along with being hypocritical, she would say were 'past a song' then proceeds to play it?? "No one cares that you ate 2 popcorn bags" Well I'm sorry, but no one cares that you thought a noise was something else or that you think the teacher did something 'sus' as you call it. It makes me get an overwhelming sense of emotions, anger, sadness or outright tiredness.

I know she means well but I can't seem to be well myself, I'm confused about my emotional state to the point where I rather be alone with a pen and paper than be with my actual friends, but instead, I lash out and do things I regret after calming down.

I hate this, I hate how I'm supposedly the friend she's talk to if she doesn't have anyone else to comfort or to talk to. I'll be talked to if we're either sitting together or she's with others she doesn't like.

But hey, in the end I'm just 'the introverted artist' friend. S, we aren't in some youtube shorts POV, its real life and what you say to me is gonna make me have second thoughts.

... Man, I sound like I'm complaining, sorry.

if i was your daughter, what would you say so that she doesn't keep on thinking of self-harming more than she has so far and give up on life? i'm starving for someone's love and it doesn't matter if i sound overly desperate anymore. pls?

During our trip to Disneyland Paris, my family and I were reveling in the magical atmosphere when we decided to take a break for some ice cream. As we queued up to place our orders, a woman I will name Karen (of course!) cut in line, announcing arrogantly, "I'm more important, I have a FastPass." Although annoyed, we didn't confront her and tried to overlook the incident. However, things quickly escalated when Karen began berating the service staff in English—a language the young employee was evidently not proficient in.

Karen angrily scolded the server, exclaiming, "You've completely messed up, you idiot! I asked for a VANILLA ice cream, assuming it’s vegan. But this has dairy! I’m allergic to dairy!" Her companion, Jack, chimed in with his own insults, demanding the server to "Do your bloody job properly!" This outburst not only disrupted the calm but deeply upset the employee, who eventually broke down in tears and had to call in a translator to communicate properly with the irate guests.

It was disheartening to witness such entitlement and disrespect, especially when everyone else was patiently trying to order in French or politely indicating their inability to do so. The altercation marred our experience, overshadowing the otherwise enjoyable day with a sense of discomfort and sympathy for the mistreated staff member.

Thinking back on this event, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if this scenario were part of a reality TV show. Would the presence of cameras have intensified Karen and Jack's outrageous behavior, or might the public scrutiny have curbed their disrespect? It’s intriguing to consider whether the potential for a global audience would escalate their theatrics or encourage them to adopt a more civil approach.

How do you think Karen and Jack would have acted if they were on a reality show?

Tonight, my brother invited his girlfriend over for dinner, which turned out to be an unusual evening. My family, being Taiwanese, typically uses chopsticks at meals, and this standard practice was at the center of tonight's drama. This was the first time I was meeting my brother's girlfriend, who is Caucasian, and without thinking much about it, I handed her a pair of training chopsticks while setting the table.

She seemed puzzled at first, then politely thanked me and didn’t make a further comment. I proceeded to finish setting up the table and didn't think much of my action. As we sat down to eat, my sister, who is 19, asked my brother's girlfriend if she had ever used chopsticks before or if she would prefer a fork instead. That’s when the girlfriend revealed, "I'm actually pretty good with chopsticks! I just got handed the training ones for some reason." Suddenly, everyone turned to look at me; I could feel all eyes on me at that moment. All I could muster was a bewildered response stating it seemed like "a logical assumption.”

Feeling the awkward tension, my mom quickly intervened, fetching her regular chopsticks. The dinner continued, but the atmosphere had changed. Later, my mom pulled me aside to quietly express her displeasure. She mentioned that my action might have made my brother’s girlfriend feel unwelcome or under assumption, pointing out that it was embarrassing and urging me to be more considerate in the future.

Imagine if this whole situation played out on a reality show. Picture the cameras zooming in as everyone’s gaze shifts towards me, the slow-motion replay of my confused girlfriend's expression, and the dramatic music as my mother retrieves the regular chopsticks. The viewers would probably be split; some might sympathize with my naive presumption, while others might cringe at the faux pas. No doubt it would make for an engaging episode, filled with awkward dinner scenes and family dynamics, sparking debates and social media buzz about cultural assumptions and personal sensitivities.

As a seamstress who owns her boutique, I've always cherished handcrafting wedding dresses as a special gift for my close friends. So far, I've designed two beautiful gowns fitting the unique styles of each bride. I genuinely enjoy both my profession and delighting my friends in such a meaningful way. However, my current situation is a bit complicated. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and actively reducing my workload in anticipation of my impending maternity leave, delegating major projects to my team.

Recently, my friend shared her exciting news of getting engaged, and naturally, I was thrilled for her. During our conversation, she asked if I would be creating her wedding dress. I immediately agreed, assuming there was ample time to work on her gown once she set a date. She revealed the wedding was planned for January 19th. Initially, I assumed January 19, 2026, which seemed perfectly manageable. But she corrected me—it was January 19, 2025! This left me stunned as it was just around the corner, barely five months postpartum for me.

Politely, I explained that the timeframe just wouldn't work with my maternity plans and asked if she might consider a later date if she wanted me to design her dress. She was firm on her date, and I didn’t push further, but I made it clear that under these circumstances, I couldn't commit to creating her dress.

She seemed not to grasp the amount of effort and time needed for such a task, especially questioning why I couldn’t simply make her dress during my maternity leave. In a moment of frustration, I might have been harsher than intended, questioning if she understood the stress it would entail on me while being pregnant.

This led to some tension within our friend group, as she expressed her disappointment publicly in our group chat, hinting that I played favorites and that my refusal was a clear indicator. Though I'm quite upset, a part of me feels remorseful. While I'm not confident enough to entrust my employees with the task of a full wedding gown—they're not quite there yet—I'm considering perhaps offering to design either a rehearsal or reception dress as a peace offering.

Imagine if this whole ordeal were to unfold on a reality show? The drama and tension would undoubtedly be heightened, with cameras zooming in for close-ups of the emotional exchanges. Viewers would be split, some empathizing with the pressure and health concerns I'm facing, while others might side with my friend, feeling her disappointment and interpreting my inability to commit as a personal slight.

What reaction might follow if I explained the situation on a reality show?

Today, I was doing my homework.

Let's take in account that in a few hours, I have to choose which options to take for the 2 years that will come in high school, tomorrow I have a test in math, a test in English, 1 presentation in Dutch over my origins, 1 presentation in History over France and its castles.

My father came back from work (at 16:00), he started talking to me nonstop and asking questions about my life, when It's clearly obvious I'm occupied. When he asked me another pointless question, I didn't hear it (since my sister was blasting music) so I responded with a "What?".

I suspect that my tone could've come off as rude, but I was annoyed and I yelled loudly 'cause my sister was BLASTING music.

He started screaming at me, telling me "What did you say to me?" as if he hadn't heard it. He was angry, again, because apparently, I'm always disrespectful and should respond with a "What did you say, sir?" when I just want to be left alone.

They're my parents, but they shouldn't be parents when they're clearly not ready. They know how to take care of kids because they take care of kids everyday! But they don't take care of their own because we're "grown up" (I'm 15). But when the timing is prefect, we're suddenly too "young" and we're wrong and they're "right".

To hell with parents.

When your child tells you about their trauma, their problems and open up to you, you shouldn't denigrate them, invalidate their feelings or START TALKING ABOUT HOW TIRED YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR WORK WHEN THEIR TRAUMA IS YOU.

so yeah

I write songs sometimes

on the way home from after schol band practice yesterday

I came up with a song in my mom's car lol.

I only have most of the chorus

I need to know:

1: is it good?

2: what line should I add to finish the chorus?

It's in the style of like, think Three Days Grace or Linkin Park

here it is:

"And all the colours fade to black

I can't keep going forward, but I can't turn back,

I'm conflicted,

I am stuck,

I'm so sick of feeling numb,"

So that's it

I need another line but idk what to put

and I have no verses either but I'll figure that out myself lol

In my line of work, there are periods when I'm either completely out of cellphone range or buried in tasks where phones are prohibited. These blackouts are not random; they're scheduled way in advance and usually eat up the entirety of my day due to stringent safety protocols I must follow.

At the time my wife, Emily, was nearing the end of her pregnancy, I had arranged to take leave around her due date to ensure I'd be there for the birth. However, life threw us a curveball. Emily went into labor almost a month early, right when I was deep in a no-signal zone conducting an inspection. I didn't get the news until I regained signal, and by then, everything was over. When I finally reached the hospital, my wife had already given birth.

That event was about a year and a half ago. I've strived to be an active and present father since. Yet, the issue that keeps surfacing is Emily's constant reminder that I missed the birth of our child. It seems to come up in every kind of argument we have, from serious discussions to trivial chats about which fast food to pick up.

Today, I hit my limit. The trigger was a debate over whether to switch our child's daycare to a more conveniently located one near our home. I handle morning drop-offs, and Emily does the pickups. The daycare she prefers, though closer, is significantly pricier, and we simply can't swing it financially. In the heat of the argument, she threw the missed birth in my face again. I lost my composure and told her she needs to move past this and stop bringing it up in every argument. This didn't sit well with her, and she stormed out, calling me a jerk.

Am I really the bad guy here?

It’s interesting to think how this family spat might unfold on a reality show. The audience might be split, with some empathizing deeply with Emily for experiencing childbirth alone, and others siding with me, understanding the uncontrollable circumstances I was under. Reality TV thrives on such personal conflicts, sparking debates and perhaps even audience polls to gauge public opinion on who’s being unreasonable. The drama, while personal, could make for compelling television, encouraging viewers to reflect on the balance of professional obligations and family life.

If this were a segment on a reality show, what do you think would be the viewer's reaction?

(its my first time posting on here, i just needed a place to vent and feel heard)

long story short, when i was around 5-8 (dont remember exactly) i was sa'd by my older brother and his best friend at the time. i was way too young to understand what was happening to me, all i knew is that it felt bad but they wouldnt stop. thankfully this only happened once because i told my mom, but then it was never brought up again, until a couple weeks ago.

the thing is that i never thought of it as SA because it felt too horrible admitting to myself that i am a victim. that being said, this trauma began showing up as me hating femininity, wearing baggy clothes to the point i didnt even undress at the beach/pool/during summer, i absolutely hate the idea of coming across as vulnerable, smoking, substances, SH,etc... in november of 2024 i finally accepted the reality. it felt so horrible that i relapsed in smoking but i thought it was better than relapsing in SH.

long story short, ive made a lot of progress since then. i told my therapist about it and it was the first time i cried in therapy in 5 years, i told my mom about it and she was very loving, but i still cant overcome it.

the nightmares and flashbacks stopped after i managed to talk to my mom about it. but theres one thing left to do, and that is to talk to my brother about it.

the reason why this is like the final boss of overcoming the trauma is that he's made advances on me in the past. not recent, but around 4 years ago he tried to get me to let him 'penetrate' me. apart from that, he's also made comments on my body when i was forced to wear dresses for formal events, talking about how big my boobs are, or how sexy i am. he has also sent me a picture of his dick in the past. thats as recent as last year.

sexual trauma is such a huge part of my subconscious identity that i am almost a legal adult and ive never been in a relationship. i dont wear makeup or dress in a feminine way cause i see it as being vulnerable. ive also never talked to my irl friends about any of this, even tho im craving to have someone listen.

i let my brother get away with so much because our dad passed away a few years ago, and i felt like my brother just wasnt in his right mind. that being said, a lot of what i mentioned happened before my dad's passing and even then, i let him get away with it because dad was an alcoholic.

surviving trauma is hard, but i think surviving the aftermath is even harder.

the first time i admitted to myself that the sa did in fact happen, i threw up.

Greetings everyone,

I’m a 31-year-old male, and my wife, who is 30, recently settled into the idea of starting our own family after securing stable jobs and purchasing our first home together. As part of this new chapter, I suggested my wife should get her driving license, which she previously did not need while living in Boston. To support her, I provided an old car for practice and arranged lessons with a certified driving instructor. She successfully passed her driving test!

Although she was quite content with the car I first gave her, I wanted to surprise her with something special. Until then, I had been driving a 2011 Civic, and neither of us had ever owned a brand new car. Drawing from some savings, I decided to buy her a shiny new Mercedes A220, which she absolutely adored.

Now, this is where the main event unfolds.

Approximately a month after the Mercedes arrived, my old Civic unexpectedly broke down. The mechanic informed me it suffered from multiple issues, primarily electrical wiring faults that affected the engine power. My wife generously offered her Mercedes for me to use for work while we figured out what to do with the Civic.

Upon arriving at work, a colleague of mine (let's call him Chad), noticed the shiny Mercedes and approached me for a chat. He inquired about its price and where my usual Honda was. Just as I began to explain the situation with my Civic, he abruptly interrupted and asked if he could take the Mercedes for a spin. I politely declined, explaining that it was my wife’s car and I wanted to keep it in perfect condition for her. Chad seemed annoyed by this and briskly walked off.

As I continued towards the office, I sensed a few unusual stares from other colleagues. Later, while settling into my desk, a close work friend leaned over and mentioned that Chad had spread the word that I had become a snob with the new car, and even called me an asshole for not letting him drive it.

I’m puzzled about what I could have done differently. Was declining his request really that unreasonable? Any insight would be helpful.

If this were a scenario on a reality TV show, I wonder if the reaction would have been amplified for dramatic effect. Perhaps the cameras would have focused on Chad's reaction and the gossip throughout the office, turning a simple misunderstanding into a major plot twist. How do you think the audience would have reacted to this situation?

i'm 23M, and i really dont know where to begin. i'd say for the most part my life is pretty good. i have goals and dreams and im passionate about them, but it seems like when i reach a goal or something good happens to me im so burned out from all the previous things i cannot learn to feel truly happy about them. its like im never satisfied with the life i live. i love and cherish life deeply because i know one day there wont be a tomorrow and everything is done. but its seems like mentally im trapped, mentally i cannot learn to appreciate the things i have going on for me. Recently i was told that i would be getting my own full time job position at the end of the month. others happy for me ecstatic even. here i am stuck in this neutral state. like yeah im happy but then i think ? am i really? and then i started to go down a dark mental road. the two things i desire in life is to be in love and to be financially free. two things i know i can achieve but its seems they are never at the same time.... i met someone recently and the energy has been so good and the vibes were awesome to the point where i was nervous/awkward because i really couldnt believe it. things were great until a day or so ago shit just completely 180s the energy is off and i dont get replied to at all. and it angers me because why ? nothing happened from what i know things were great? it makes me so mad because why? why sit here and go throught all this dates and all just to be snubbed. it hurts me because i know the person i am i have morals and good hearted tendencies i would never do wrong unless done wrong. she tells me she manifested me and all of this yet im getting put on the craziest back burner ever... i feel as if im already fed up with it because it seems like time and time again its the same outcome and its like damn am i insane? because its starting to feel like the textbook definition. i know life goes at different paces and im still young but being old and still searching for my one is something i cannot bring myself to do. i feel like im stuck in my head and i have no way to control it. i dont wanna work the hard job for the rest of my life and i dont want to be alone. i know that im not alone because i have people but alone in the sense i have no one to call my own and its the fact that when i find someone its always stripped away from me to the point where i thought i was self sabotaging my relationships. i wish that i knew my fate in world sometimes because it would be enough to just understand that it will be okay in the end. but thats the mystery of the life we live. Life just feels like its becoming boring and just a repeated cycle everyday. wake up, go to work, come home, game, sleep, repeat that shit is boring games arent even fun anymore the thing i loved the most video games are not fun anymore. videos on videos watched to feel nothing but a laugh here and there. and then back in my head. theres no escape from it and i cant take it i just want to be happy. i have exciting news coming friday but im scared that when that time comes itll be another cycle of delayed gratification if thats even the statement for it. i just want to believe that im just going through the motions but im starting to think its more than that. i just want it to stop, im tired of restarting , im tired of the same workplace drama. im tired of the same thing i meet someone things go great it crashes. im tired of the life i live continuously being a dread because im stuck in the same cycle. im tired of saying im gonna do and never do. i just sometimes honestly want to give the fuck up but i know i cant. last night i thought about killing myself as i looked in the corner of my room because it all feels the same nothing makes me happy. i can't even begin to know what happiness is anymore i thought meeting this girl would light that fire in me again because i would know what its like to be wanted to feel loved. to be happy. but i never even got the chance too. my past 3 situationships have done nothing but dig me deeper in the ground. i just want to amount to something. i just want to know what its like to love someone and they love you back. i just want to be able to wake up and both my physical and mental are happy. this life is so precious and i just wonder is this how my life is meant to be spent? why is it like this? when do me and my people start to win? being counted out hurts more than anything it hurts when it feels like not even your friends believe in you because thats what your brain tells you. i know my life has a purpose and i know that all blessings must be counted no matter how big or how small. but im just stuck. im stuck feeling like shit builds up just to crash and burn i hate that my mind is so creative yet so deceptive i hate that it feels like my biggest enemy is myself and i dont know how to defeat him. i want to just be happy again.