Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

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Make it stop

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Another wave of messages come through

You throw your phone across the room

Shattered and broken

Yet still turns on

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Another load of messages

Overloading your brain

You swipe open your phone

Wincing as the broken glass slices your finger

You open your messages

"Traitor"

"Cheat"

"Liar"

"Fake"

You switch off your phone

You can't do it

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You burst into tears

Why do they hate me so?

My girlfriend is moving in soon, and I have come to the conclusion I need to end things before that happens. She routinely snaps at me over minor annoyances and I'm expected to apologize afterwards. On the rare occasion I have been snappy towards her, I also end up apologizing. I do not intentionally push and pull b

i rlly dont even kno where to begin, it just feel like everytime i start 2 feel a lil bit ok again, BOOM something else hits me. like its a joke or sumthin, like life’s playin a game with me n im always the loser. i try 2 keep goin, i swear i do, but dang its hard when bad stuff jus keep stackin on top of eachother. one thing after another like i dont even get a break. first it was my grades droppin, then my best friend started ignorin me for no reason, then my dog got sick and now my mom nd me keep fightin all the time. its like i cant breathe. ppl be sayin “stay positive” but like how??? how do u stay positive when the world keep throwin crap at u over n over?

it aint like i dont try. i get up every day even when i dont wanna. i smile at ppl even when i feel like cryin. i go 2 school, do my homework (well, i try but my head be all over the place), i say sorry when im wrong, i be nice even when ppl rude, n still things just go bad. like no matter wat i do its never enough. nd i be lookin at other ppl who dont even try half as hard as me nd they gettin everything good. they got friends, they got money, they got happiness, n im just here like what the heck did i do wrong? i must of done something really bad in a past life or somethin cuz this cant just be normal. no one i kno got this much bad luck all the time.

sometimes it feel like i’m cursed or sumthin. like theres a cloud over my head that just follow me everywhere i go. i be scared 2 get happy now cuz every time i do somethin bad happens right after. its like the universe waitin for me to smile just so it can slap me again. nd ppl dont really get it. they’ll be like “you’re strong, you’ll get thru it” but they not me. they dont kno what it’s like wakin up every morning with a knot in ur stomach cuz u dont kno wat mess is gonna hit u next. i keep askin god or whoever’s up there like “why me?” but no answer. just more bad stuff. i dont even want big things. i just want peace. i just wanna have one week where nothing go wrong. that’s all. is that too much 2 ask?

i kno ppl got it worse, nd maybe that make me sound selfish or whatever but pain is pain. just cuz someone else got problems dont mean mine dont matter. i jus want 2 feel normal. i want 2 wake up and not feel dread. i want to smile and not fake it. i want friends who stay and family who understand. i want to believe that things gonna get better but when everything keep fallin apart over n over its hard 2 keep hope. but im still here, barely, but i am. maybe one day things will change. maybe not. but i’m tryin. even if the world keep throwin bad stuff at me, i’m still tryna stand. even if i’m broken, i’m still here. and i guess that mean something… right?

I'm a 25-year-old guy stuck in a typical corporate job in America, and I frequently question my life choices that led me here. One of the few friends I've made at work is "Ash," a 24-year-old woman. Since we're both under 30, we naturally gravitated towards each other among the older office crowd.

Just yesterday, during our office "spring cleaning" day, everyone was told to dress down in tough but comfortable attire—think jeans and a T-shirt but no sweats allowed.

The drama began when Ash was pulled aside by our boss for her choice of clothing, specifically her cropped sweater paired with jeans, which exposed her midriff. Despite the casual dress code, our boss decided her outfit was inappropriate and handed her a spare company-logo T-shirt to wear instead.

Ash vented to me for half an hour about how the boss's comments were unfair, sexist, and humiliating. She argued that she adhered to the guidelines, choosing something comfy that could get dirty, exactly as instructed.

Eventually, I grew tired of hearing her complain and bluntly told her that I didn't sympathize with her and that her outfit choice was obviously a mistake. She shot back, calling me just as "sexist" as our boss. I retorted that we work in a professional environment, not in high school; covering up from shoulders to knees should be common sense.

I might have been harsh, but after her prolonged rant, I was at my wit's end and couldn't grasp her surprise at the boss's reaction. So was I really that out of line here?

If this scenario were part of a reality TV show, imagine the dramatic music and close-up shots as the argument unfolds, possibly with cutaway interviews giving our personal thoughts on the incident. The audience would likely be split, with some siding with Ash's right to personal expression and others agreeing with the need for professional attire in the office. The episode could end on a cliffhanger, keeping viewers wondering if this confrontation will affect our workplace dynamic going forward.

Recently my mother got hospitalized for a serious medical condition she’s known about. She got injured in a car accident which caused the condition to flare up. She procrastinated going to get looked at and refused medical care for 6 weeks until her original condition began to cause serious issues. Now she’s back in the hospital, and I’m absolutely terrified for her. But I’m also extremely frustrated and upset with her. She waited so long to get looked at she’s going to miss a lot of important things to me, such as my high school graduation, ceremonies, and senior events. She’s missing my graduation over something to do with her own schooling (as she’s in college) and planned to have a class on the same day I graduate, knowing she wouldn’t be able to make it then. Because of her waiting to get looked at, my enlistment into the military is getting stalled, as I’m only 17 and can’t sign for myself. Both of my parents have been procrastinating this for months and now once I get them to go sign, she decides to finally get looked at and now I have to wait to sign, and some of you know how much of a problem that’ll cause me with it being summer time now. I am so worried about her but I feel so selfish for being upset at the same time. No matter what is going on, what event or who’s thing, it always ends up being about my mother, in some type of way, birthdays, Father’s Day, school events, literally anything becomes about her somehow because of either her achievements meaning more than any one else’s, or how her medical issues make her more important than anyone else’s (which she says frequently to me when I even mention a headache or being stressed). I just wanted one thing to be about me (graduating) and it won’t even be, it’ll be about her, which I get, but it still upsets me no matter what i tell myself. And even while me and my dad pushed to get her to go to the hospital, she wouldn’t go, and then for 3 days straight complained about her problems and kept being a giant pity party (talking about dying and 💀 herself and how dumb she is) but then refusing to go do anything about her issues.

Lately, I’ve been going to work with a knot in my stomach, and I can’t really explain why. It’s not the tasks—I’m actually pretty good at what I do. I meet my deadlines, I show up on time, I don’t slack off. But there’s this weird vibe around me, like a silent wall I can’t break through. People don’t smile when I say good morning. My suggestions in meetings are either ignored or shot down like they’re stupid. I’ll say something, and no one reacts—then someone else says almost the same thing, and suddenly everyone’s nodding like it’s genius. I’ve tried to brush it off, telling myself maybe they’re just busy or having a bad day. But it’s been months. And now I’m starting to wonder… why do people hate me for no reason? Because that’s how it feels. Like I walk into the room and immediately get side-eyed or dismissed, and I honestly don’t know what I did wrong.

I’ve replayed everything in my head a million times. I’m not rude, I don’t gossip, I mind my own business. I even bring snacks sometimes just to lighten the mood. I try to make small talk when it's appropriate, ask people about their weekends, compliment someone’s outfit. But the responses are always short, cold, like they’re trying to get rid of me. And then I see them laughing together, making lunch plans, having these inside jokes I’m never a part of. It’s not that I want to be everyone’s best friend, but it’d be nice to feel like I’m not the unwanted one in the office. Like I actually belong there. Sometimes I wonder if I give off some kind of energy I’m not aware of. Do I look too serious? Too quiet? Too something? It messes with your head after a while. You start doubting yourself, even when logically, you know you haven’t done anything to deserve being left out.

The worst is when I actually do speak up about it, or hint at how I feel, and people act like I’m being dramatic. “Oh no one hates you,” they say. “You’re overthinking it.” But they don’t see what I see. They’re not the ones being left out of group chats or ignored in conversations. They don’t feel the tension when they walk into the breakroom. They don’t catch the glances, the whispering that suddenly stops when I get too close. It’s a silent kind of exclusion, the kind you can’t really prove, but you feel it in your chest every single day. And the more people deny it, the more isolated I feel. Because then it’s not just them pushing me away—it’s also me being made to feel crazy for noticing it at all.

I’ve considered quitting more times than I can count. But then I ask myself: am I gonna run away from every place that treats me like this? Or should I just grow thicker skin and push through it? That’s what people always say, right? “Don’t take it personal,” “just focus on your work,” “they’re probably jealous.” But saying that doesn’t take the pain away. It doesn’t make the loneliness easier. It doesn’t make me feel any less like the outsider. I want to believe that things will change, that maybe one person will reach out, invite me in, make me feel like I matter. But that hasn’t happened yet. And I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of wondering if I did something wrong when I’ve bent over backwards trying to be kind, respectful, and professional.

So yeah, I don’t know why people hate me for no reason. Maybe there is a reason and they’re just too immature to say it to my face. Or maybe it’s all in their heads, their projections, their issues. Whatever it is, I’m slowly learning that I can’t let their coldness define how I see myself. I’m still showing up, still doing the best I can, even if no one claps for me when I succeed. And maybe that’s enough for now. Maybe one day I’ll find a workplace where I don’t feel like a ghost. But until then, I’m holding on. Trying to believe I’m not as unlikable as they make me feel. Because deep down, I know I deserve better. Even if they never see it.

I truly wish I never told you who I was. And who I wanted to be. I never expected the absence of words I hated so dearly to effect me in such a way. I wish I never told you I was nonbinary. And that the names made me feel gross sometimes. I wish I was still propped up on your chest while you whispered our nicknames into my ear. I miss being your pretty girl. I miss being your wife. I miss feeling like I mattered to you. I miss you showing off your girlfriend to everyone you know because I was the prettiest thing you've ever seen. But now your to scared to call me pretty. To nervous to tell me I look beautiful. All of our compliments and sweet names are filled with anxiety and it hurts me to hear the pain in your voice. I hope you know I love you. And I hope you know.. that if I could take it all back and just stay quiet about who I was. I would. In a heartbeat.

F18, I apologize right away, because I will write chaotically and jump abruptly from the topic. I just feel that I need to vent, but I have no one to talk to, so I am writing here. And English is not my native language, I write through a translator. I am currently studying at the institute, and I have no motivation to study. I have no motivation for anything at all. I don't know if I like what I am studying, if this is

who I want to become in life. I don't feel smart, I feel stupid, my social circle is much smarter than me, but I can't find the strength to try to study too. I don't feel like I have any real friends, even though I know I have them and I'm privileged to have friends at all. But lately I just don't feel comfortable talking to people. I just don't want to do anything. I hate myself, my body, the way I speak, my behavior, my character. I have no talent for anything, I can't do anything perfectly like others. I want to lose weight, but I can't. I can't remember myself without wanting to lose weight. I don't see myself as beautiful, I don't think I will be beautiful even if I lose weight. I've never been in a relationship, I've never experienced teenage love, it's forever lost to me. I am just so tired. There are still so many topics I want to write about, but there are explosions outside my window and I'm afraid my mom will ask me to go into the hallway and see me crying. So I'm finishing up. Maybe next time. Thank you to everyone who read this.

In my workplace, I stand out as the only individual who's not biologically male. My daily tasks involve unloading and arranging shipments efficiently. It's worth noting that the team did include other genders before, but the current group mainly joined a few months after my arrival.

Lately, tensions have been high, particularly due to the behavior of one of my colleagues who reacts poorly when things don't go his way. His reactions range from hurling boxes to disappearing for long stretches, leaving early, or blatantly refusing to assist when we're swamped—which is frequently a challenge given the volume of items for specific sections.

It seems this coworker, along with a few others, consistently exclude myself and another veteran team member from receiving help, something even our manager has noticed and discussed separately with us due to its impact on our output.

Over the last couple of weeks, these same colleagues have taken it upon themselves to critique my methods. Just last night, the situation escalated. I typically manage my designated area quite well solo if I begin during the loading process. However, due to a lack of staff, my tasks had to start post-unloading, requiring me, unfortunately, to work alongside the problematic colleague. He insists on a meticulous, resource-heavy approach, which I find unnecessarily slow. After expressing my disagreement and opting to continue with my usual method, he lingered briefly before disappearing once again.

During a break, a different colleague subtly broached the earlier dispute. After a light-hearted mishap with a box placement on my part, he questioned my teamwork spirit, eliciting a response from me that highlighted my unchanged work ethic and my year-long track record of successful collaborative work, which seemed stronger with previous teams.

His next question took me aback: "What if I became your boss?" I stressed that I would respect his authority just as I respect our current team lead—it was a matter of hierarchy rather than personal judgments. This conversation was partially overheard by our team lead, who agreed with my stance on respecting authority but didn’t delve deeper.

Despite this, the air amongst my teammates is thick with disapproval, leaving me puzzled, as I’ve never encountered such resistance with other groups or in earlier roles. It does make me question whether I'm somewhat at fault here.

Considering if this scenario unfolded on a reality TV show, the dynamics could indeed intensify. Viewers might be split, with some sympathizing with my adherence to efficiency and others perhaps siding with my colleagues who favor conformity and heavily coordinated teamwork. Reality TV thrives on such conflicts, and the added pressure and drama could definitely skew perceptions even further, turning a workplace dispute into a saga of alliances and rivalries.

Am I being unreasonable in this situation?

We've been divorced for a while now, and we only interact because of the kids. The less I have to deal with her, the better. She's always been full of drama and negativity. Recently, she's been acting differently. She says it's because she's been seeing a "life coach" or something like that. I guess that's just another term for an unlicensed therapist lol. I couldn't care less.

Last week, she called me and asked if I would join her for sessions with this life coach. Oh, and she had the life coach on the call too. I tried not to laugh. It felt like a bad joke. Obviously, I don't believe in that nonsense. She claimed she had "unresolved trauma" that she needed to work through with me so she could become the person she was meant to be.

I started laughing.

I told her if she wanted to waste her time with quacks, that was her choice. But she should leave me and our kids out of it.

Her life coach said I was being "aggressive," so I told her she was just one step above a phone psychic and should be ashamed of herself for preying on lonely, bored women.

Then I hung up.

I sometimes wonder how people would react if this was all on a reality show. Would they see the absurdity of it, or think I'm the bad guy here? The drama would be off the charts, that's for sure.

I recently returned from church feeling a tad perplexed. I have quite small eyes, which I'm somewhat self-conscious about and are normally hidden behind my glasses. During a moment in the service where the pastor was praying over the congregation, I opted to remove my spectacles to prevent them from slipping off. I suppose he noticed my small eyes because, after the service, he approached me, commenting on their size and requesting to see them without my glasses. I brushed off his request with a laugh and a playful 'no', mainly because of my insecurities.

I didn't think much of the interaction at the time, but upon returning home, my mother criticized my reaction. She suggested that I should have just complied with his request, and labelled my response as rude. She even insinuated that my behavior was like that of a teenage girl harboring a crush on the pastor, who is a 40-year-old married man with three children and a wife. I was just trying to shield myself from further discomfort due to my insecurities, and I definitely didn't intend any disrespect.

This whole situation has left me in a quandary. I had no intention of sounding rude; I was merely acting out of insecurity. Now, I’m unsure how to rectify the situation or if I should even address it further with my pastor or mother.

If this scenario played out on a reality show, the reaction would likely be amplified and interpreted in numerous ways by the audience. Reality TV thrives on misunderstandings and personal interactions, turning minor incidents into major plot points. Viewers might side with me, understanding the action as a defense mechanism against insecurity. Others might view it as disrespectful or unnecessarily cold, aligning more with my mother’s perspective. It would be interesting to see how reality show editors would portray the interaction, potentially spotlighting it as a pivotal moment in the episode, complete with suspenseful music and dramatic cutaways to the reactions of other congregants or confessionals that delve into personal feelings and motives behind the actions.

I recently found myself in the role of a bridesmaid at my friend Clara's wedding. Clara and I go way back to high school; although we don't see each other often, it was still special to be included in her big day. She had also invited a group of our mutual high school friends, many of whom I hadn’t seen since starting university.

Just before the bridal shower, I discovered I was pregnant. This was particularly poignant as I had suffered a miscarriage after announcing my previous pregnancy not long before. Understandably, my boyfriend and I were cautiously optimistic this time around, agreeing to keep it quiet until we felt more secure in the pregnancy's progress.

During Clara’s bridal shower, the maid of honor encouraged a drinking game. I steered clear from alcohol, opting for water, and excused myself from drinking using the excuse that I had an early morning the next day.

All was well until halfway through the party when our tipsy friend, Carla, offered me a shot. I politely declined, but she was persistent, even whimsically offering to wake me up in the morning. Despite my refusals, she jokingly questioned if I was pregnant, to which I hesitantly responded with a flustered no. Sadly, my reaction sold me out. Carla loudly outed my pregnancy, leading to an unplanned flurry of congratulations from everyone.

Though the spotlight unexpectedly turned on me for a moment, I was keen to deflect the attention back to Clara. It was her celebration, after all, not mine. I managed to brush off the congratulations, assuming the alcohol might help everyone forget by the next day.

I wasn’t really enjoying the party since I wasn’t partaking in the drinking, and decided to leave early. A couple of days after, Clara texted me, expressing her disappointment about me choosing her bridal shower to announce my pregnancy. I quickly explained that it was unintentional and that Carla was actually to blame for blurting it out. I apologized hoping she would understand the mix-up.

Imagine this scenario played out on a reality show. It would probably churn up quite the drama, with cameras zooming in on everyone’s reactions. Close-ups on Clara’s surprised face, the amusing confusion amongst guests, and the inevitable sideline interviews where each guest gives their exaggerated take on the situation. The episode would probably be marketed as a shocking reveal with all the ensuing misunderstandings and confrontations making prime time entertainment. It’s bizarre how real-life misunderstandings could be someone else's reality TV gold!

Mother taking advantage of me leading me to not be able to get a job, or go to college

Due to that I feel like I have no control over my life

being stuck at home everyday with minimal things to do or people to talk to

Heath issues that may be due to mother issues

Increased self doubt and decreased attempts to try and help the situation because I feel stuck

Since its always been this way, whenever I try to amend the situation, I'm hit with backlash due to mother not wanting things to change.

Suicidal ideation increases due to loneliness and no path in life

being jealous of other people having jobs/going to school/going out/having friends/essentially doing normal human things.

What's the point of life? I feel like a bird with no wings or voice, perpetually stuck watching others but having no say in anything. I feel like I try, but not hard enough.

My husband, Alex, and I, both in our early 30s, have been navigating marital waters for several years now, holding hands for over a decade. Throughout our relationship, we've encountered rough seas, particularly because of my in-laws' behavior, with my mother-in-law (MIL) at the helm of our troubles. She has exhibited a pattern of control and intrusion, not only towards Alex but towards me as well, often manipulating him to try and bend me to her will in matters that frankly don’t involve her. She's been overbearing, outright disrespectful, and quite invasive. Fortunately, outright insults directly to my face are the only trespasses she hasn't committed.

I've repeatedly expressed my frustration to Alex, pleading with him to address the situation more firmly. However, his efforts have been tepid, leaving her behavior unchecked.

For years, I plastered on a smile and kept silent to avoid drama, but the grievances have stacked up so high that I'm constantly on the brink of eruption whenever we visit. I’ve even suggested to Alex that we should minimize our interactions with them for a while, but he insists on maintaining our visits. He's not blind to the toll it takes on me.

On a recent visit, the familiar pattern unfolded. MIL began her usual antics, and I reached my limit. This time, I voiced my objections, challenging every inappropriate and invasive remark she made. Taken aback, she questioned my sudden outspokenness. In a measured but clear tone, fueled by years of pent-up frustration, I confronted her about her continual disrespect. I told her plainly that she was reaping the consequences of her actions, of beds made and now to be lain in.

The atmosphere turned icy, and we soon left. Though I felt a surge of liberation from standing up for myself, the fallout was palpable. Alex seemed torn, MIL incensed. He later admitted he understood my feelings but wished to keep the peace, suggesting I apologize.

I stood my ground, stating that any future reconciliation would require visible change and respectful behavior from her end—that I wouldn't apologize for my outburst as it was neither disrespectful nor unwarranted. I reminded him of the numerous opportunities he had to intervene and that I had warned him no one would like it if I had to take a stand. I had never yelled or insulted her, so the idea of apologizing for my reactions felt absurd.

Imagine if this confrontation had unfolded on a reality TV show. Cameras rolling, capturing every charged word and sharp glance—a spectacle indeed! The drama would undoubtedly be heightened, with viewers on the edge of their seats, perhaps even siding with me or criticizing my outspoken moment. Reality TV thrives on these raw, emotional exchanges, turning personal battles into entertainment. Would the public see me as a villain or a heroine standing her ground?

At 25 years old, and working as a waitress in a fairly upscale restaurant in the city, I've had my share of peculiar experiences, but nothing quite as jarring as my encounter last night. A young couple was seated in my area, and from the get-go, the atmosphere felt uneasy. The woman shot me sharp glares, while her companion was more focused on my appearance, giving me uncomfortable smiles.

While taking their drink orders, the man engaged flirtatiously, inquiring about my favorite drinks and complimenting my taste. His girlfriend, however, seemed dismissive and rudely snapped her order at me. Things escalated when I returned with their drinks; the man made inappropriate contact by brushing his hand against my thigh under the guise of an accident. As I reacted in shock, the woman accused me of behaving provocatively.

I was appalled and told them sternly they needed to settle their bill for the drinks and leave. I firmly believe that the mantra "the customer is always right" has its limits, especially when respect is compromised. My manager, on hearing the commotion came over. I explained the situation, only for the couple to claim they were merely acting out a jealousy role-play they thought I would be complicit in – which was bewildering and unacceptable.

Expecting support from my manager, I was instead taken aside and told it was a 'misunderstanding' and not to cause a scene. Feeling undervalued and harassed, I realized my manager was reluctant to take action, a pattern I had noticed before. Driven by frustration, I left the premises and even decided not to show up the following night.

This morning, my manager expressed his disappointment over a text, critiquing my leaving the team understaffed and failing to close my section properly. While some co-workers are sympathetic, others, shockingly, think I should be flattered by such attention, conflating harassment with desirability.

Had this scenario unfolded on a reality TV show, I wonder how it would have been perceived by the public. Reality shows often amplify personal interactions for dramatic effect, so perhaps my confrontation might have been edited to either vilify or vindicate me depending on the storyline they wished to push. It’s curious how different the public reaction might be under those circumstances, with some viewers possibly siding with the couple or the manager, while others might support my stance on harassment and professionalism.

Am I wrong in my reaction to this situation?