Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

I came out as trans 2 weeks ago and my mom is being "supportive" by buying a binder, that I paid for, and calling me my pronouns, when she feels like it. She thinks we have to have a reason for BEING trans or nonbinary or anything like that. She truly doesn't realize it's not a choice it's just ourselves. She broke down crying during a fight we had about her being like this then she forcibly hugged me for 20 minutes while I tried to get away and doesn't understand why I don't want to hug her anymore. She isn't understanding the whole, love your child unconditionally thing and truly thinks I can just forget about the trauma this woman has given me. So should I go no contact when I turn 18 and can go to college or try and amend things with her?

Recently, my mother moved into a new home, but little did we know that she would be neighbors with quite a difficult individual, whom I'll refer to as Karen. During the initial days of my mom settling in, she went out to restock her pantry, leaving my best friend and me to handle the task of moving her furniture. We shared the driveway with Karen, and while offloading the furniture, we apparently ruffled her feathers.

Karen approached us almost immediately, questioning whether we had permission to be there. My friend and I were baffled, assuming she was pulling our leg. However, after confirming that my mother had indeed purchased the house, Karen launched into a tirade about how our truck was tarnishing the newly paved driveway with mud.

Weeks later, Karen's husband, who seemed rather amiable compared to her, came over asking for financial and physical help to build a fence between the properties. Although tight on finances, my mom agreed to contribute when possible, and I volunteered to assist with labor.

The situation escalated when my band and I decided to practice in my mom's garage. Despite it being a long weekend evening, Karen complained about the noise disturbing her children around 8 p.m. We tried compromising that we'd lower the volume in an hour, but she insisted on an abrupt end. Resigned, we closed the garage door in her face and continued as initially planned.

Every social gathering at our house seemed to provoke a police visit, courtesy of Karen. However, the officers often left apologizing for the disturbance, acknowledging that we were not at fault.

The climax of tensions occurred following my grandmother's funeral. The entire community was mourning, and many gathered at my mom's to commemorate her life. Of course, Karen deemed this an inconvenience, fixating on her blocked driveway the following morning. In the throar of grief and frustration, I confronted her, leading to a heated exchange urging her to leave our property.

Honestly, if this drama unfolded on a reality TV show, I bet viewers would be glued to their screens, picking sides, and likely cheering when we finally stood up against Karen’s incessant complaints. It would make one wonder whether sympathy for our situation would be universal, or if some would applaud Karen's strict adherence to rules.

And you, what do you think about the situation?

I'm almost 30. I swear I tried my absolute hardest to make a life for myself I wouldn't regret. I remember even from middle school age want to not-regret anything. I tried to make meaningful connections, do well in school, and be true to my desires.

I wanted a career I could be proud of, friendships and family I could count on, and most of all to fall in love.

I worked and worked and worked. I got into dental school and worked even harder. I hope you can understand how hard this was for me. I'm not naturally gifted. But I got through and graduated. I have at least a job now. I know that's good. But it's absolutely not enough. I thought if I fought my hardest I could make a life I love. But all I have is an empty life I hate.

My family cannot understand how I'm unmarried at this age. They are traditional and I have Indian heritage for context. My younger brother recently got married. After this my single status was very difficult for them to accept. I think now, they view me as unmarriable.

I have significant debt due to the cost of my education. I have full confidence I can pay it off within 4 years. But it is a constant source of stress for me.

I became very depressed during my education. And I have been diagnosed with major depression for 8 years. I did not take this lying down. I went to therapists. I'm seeing a therapist now. I've tried many medications. I've tried acupuncture, spiritual healing, and exercise/diet changes. But I couldn't shake it.

I have one good friend. But to be very honest with you they are someone who asks me for money consistently. I feel pathetic saying it, but it's the truth.

I think there is no escaping this terrible life. There is no chance for me to live happily now.

I know many many people are suffering in the same way I am. And my heart aches for them.

I want to know. Is there anyone who has been this low and found a good life after this? In my opinion, I am terminally ill and I fear there is no hope for me. I would appreciate any advice or perspectives.

The other evening, right as my workday was wrapping up, my wife Lena gave me a ring. She was over at her brother James's place and was pondering over our dinner plans. After a brief chat, we all agreed to meet at a quaint restaurant close by. The place usually has a slight wait, so timing was key. Lena and James were roughly ten minutes away, whereas I was a bit farther, about fifteen minutes out. They said they'd head out immediately, so I hustled to get there on time.

Upon arriving, I was surprised to see from my parking spot that they hadn't shown up yet. Curious and a bit annoyed, I dialed Lena to check their whereabouts, only to discover they hadn't left their initial spot yet! Choosing to wait in my truck, they finally appeared after an additional fifteen minutes. Once reunited, I walked in to put our names down, but they showed frustration towards me for not doing it earlier. They argued that I should have anticipated and spared us all from waiting.

This isn't a rare incident; it's a recurring theme with them. They tend to delay their arrival intentionally, sidestepping any initial hassle like setting up or, in this case, signing in and enduring the wait. Fed up with this tactic, I decided to stand my ground this time. Knowing that they had delayed their departure until I almost reached, and after confirming Lena had indeed been tracking my location, I opted not to register us until they were present, insisting on sharing the burden of waiting.

When confronted in the parking lot, they didn't originally request me to check us in, yet were irritated when they had to wait, presumably expecting me to have handled it. As someone who values punctuality, their habitual tardiness to dodge wait times grates on me.

They even labeled me inconsiderate for not putting our names down beforehand, despite my intention to instill a bit of equality in waiting. Was it wrong for me to want everyone to experience the wait this time, or was I justified in my actions to bring some balance?

Imagine this scenario playing out on a popular reality TV show. Viewers would likely be split, with some applauding my stand against habitual tardiness, while others might criticize me for creating unnecessary tension. Social media would buzz with opinions, memes, and possibly even polls siding with either me or my in-laws, turning a simple dinner plan into a highly debated drama.

From this experience, how do you feel about people intentionally arriving late?

So I had a surgery 2 weeks ago and since then I keep struggling with complications such as choking and hiccuping specially hiccuping it doesn't stop 24/7 which is ruining my life

I've been in a happily married life with my spouse Dan for over five years now. We both have solid careers and, thanks to our combined efforts, we're quite secure financially. While it's true that Dan earns a bit more than I do, we've never seen our finances as anything but shared. We work as a team and distribute our responsibilities fairly.

However, there's a persistent issue that has been bothering me; it involves Dan's brother, Joel. Over the years, Joel has repeatedly made snide remarks, labeling me a "gold digger" under the guise of humor because I earn less than Dan. He mostly does this in social settings, and while I usually brush it off with a laugh to keep the peace, it's become increasingly irksome. Despite my consistent contributions to our household, Joel's jokes suggest I'm merely living off Dan's earnings.

The situation escalated when Joel, along with his wife, asked us to financially assist them with their share for a family vacation, citing their inability to afford it. After discussing it with Dan, we decided against providing the help. Given Joel's ongoing disrespect towards me, supporting their leisure didn't feel right.

Upon our refusal, Joel attempted to dismiss my feelings by claiming I was overreacting and that his comments were just harmless fun. But I'm fed up. Now, Joel is upset, and some relatives are echoing the sentiment that I'm blowing things out of proportion and that "family should help each other." Though Dan supports me, part of me still doubts my decision. Am I just being overly sensitive?

Now, imagine if this whole scenario played out on a reality TV show. Camera crews capturing every sneer and comment from Joel, the tense discussions with family, and the dramatic showdown of our refusal to fund their vacation trip. Viewers would likely be polarized. Some might sympathize with my irritation at being unfairly labeled, while others could perceive my reaction as too harsh, perhaps urging more family solidarity despite the personal digs.

Am I wrong for not helping because of ongoing disrespect?

i can't believe another year has come and gone, and here i am, 54 years old, sitting back and reflecting on the events of the past year. it's been a ride full of ups and downs, hasn't it? sometimes it feels like time just slips through my fingers, like sand in an hourglass. but guess what? i survived another one, and I have my health, my family, and somehow the world feels new again. seriously though, how good is it to be surrounded by your loved ones on new year's eve, right? we were all huddled up in the living room, telling stories and laughing like a pack of hyenas. you know those moments when you're just so happy you could burst? that's what it was like. everyone was in high spirits, and looking around, i couldn't help but feel incredibly blessed. and all of them were healthy, thank God! if i'm being honest, it's challenging at times not to worry about the future. there seems to be so much uncertainty, especially with everything happening around the world. you watch the news, and it's hard not to digest all the negativity that gets thrown at you. how many times have you caught yourself thinking, "what's next?" but then i remember the quote from that one song, "life's what you make it," and i think, if i focus on the positive, maybe, just maybe, things will turn out alright. 🙂 i'm sure you can relate. sure, i've got my fair share of regrets and wish i could hit rewind on a few decisions, but that's life, isn't it? you live and you learn. i remember my parents always saying, "don't sweat the small stuff," and i'm really starting to get that now. it's like, what's the point in stressing over things you can’t change? honestly, it's been eye-opening for me to just let things be and, as the classic beatles song goes, "let it be." there's a comfort in knowing that i'm not alone in my worries and thoughts. we’re all just trying to navigate this crazy world we live in, doing our best to put one foot in front of the other. and when you take a moment to step back and look at the bigger picture, you see the beauty in the chaos. speaking of beauty, i can’t help but gush about nature and how it's been my saving grace through all of this. you ever just go outside, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of all the things you're thankful for? i try to do it as often as possible. maybe i'm just getting sappy with age, but every time i hear the birds chirping or feel the breeze against my face, i can't help but thank the earth for its never-ending wonder. there's something so grounding about connecting with nature. it puts everything into perspective for me. you ever notice how everything just feels right when you're sitting under a starlit sky, lost in your thoughts? it’s like the universe is telling you, "hey, don’t worry too much." i guess what i'm trying to say is that, through all the uncertainties, I’m grateful for what I have. i’ve been blessed with a supportive family who lights up even my darkest days and friends who are like family, who always have my back. you can't buy that kind of love, you know? it’s priceless. when you strip away everything else, isn't that what life’s about? creating memories with the people who matter the most is what makes it all worthwhile. sure, i might not have all the riches in the world, and my bank account is nothing to brag about, but feeling this deep sense of gratitude is richer than any treasure could ever make me. the question now is, as we move forward, how do we keep this mindset? how do we keep reminding ourselves of what's truly important when life throws us a curveball? i know i’ll try my best, even if it means slipping up here and there. so, yeah, thank you, earth, for everything you've given me – more than I could ever ask for. here's to another year of figuring things out, loving the people close to us, and appreciating the small joys day by day. let's keep reminding ourselves to breathe and take life as it comes because it's the only way we’re truly going to make the most of what we have. what are your thoughts? looking forward to hearing your take!

Gius... I'm really starting to feel unmotivated. I'm 31 tomorrow and working in IT as a developer for that big electric car company everyone's always hyped about. You know the one, right? (yep, the one managed by a f*ck*ng naz*) I used to be so pumped about working here. I mean, it's one of those dream jobs for a developer and I learned so much! But lately, it's been feeling like a never-ending series of sprints with no finish line in sight. The pressure is crazy. There's this huge buzz about AI and how it's "the future," and everyone seems to think it’s going to revolutionize everything overnight. 🕒 But come on, let's get real here. AI might be smart, but it's not MAGIC. So they shove a ton of expectations on us to deliver futuristic stuff with deadlines that could turn your hair gray overnight.

Ever find yourself sitting in front of your computer, just staring at the screen? That's me on most days now. It's like an endless cycle of code, meeting, code, meeting – you get the drift. And with all this AI craze, it's just getting worse. They say, “AI will take over the world,” and I'm like, yeah sure, in a sci-fi movie! I have all these questions floating around in my head about whether I'm even cut out for this anymore. Am I supposed to suddenly master all this AI stuff or get left behind like I'm some tech dinosaur? Also, the pressure of innovation is brutal – they make it sound like one small mistake and boom, you're done for. Meanwhile, everyday life just keeps speeding by while I’m stuck in this work cyclone. Everyone’s trying to keep up with the pace, probably thinking, "Is this worth it?". How do you guys deal with all this when motivation just disappears?

Man, I've hit my forties, and you'd think by now I'd have life all figured out. But nah, I'm still struggling with this one thing: sleep. I'm just here wondering why on earth I can't sleep even though I'm dead tired. It's like, come on body, work with me here! Like, ever had those nights where you're so freaking exhausted, you just want to crash, but your brain's like, “Nope, not today, buddy!” Seriously, what gives???

I mean, I've tried all those tips and tricks, you know? Warm milk, counting sheep, no caffeine after lunch. Heck, I've even tried listening to those soothing ocean sounds, but nah, my brain's like a hyper monkey jumping branches. Why is it always 3 AM when your mind wants to revisit that embarrassing thing you did in third grade? Anyone else relate to this?? Sometimes I wonder if it's just my age catching up with me or if there's some other cosmic joke playing out. My doctor says it's stress or, maybe, it's my diet. But let me tell you, even when I've had a chill day, this brain isn't ready to hit the snooze button.

Here's a funny story: Back in the day, in my twenties, I could party all night, sleep like a baby, and be up and running the very next day! Those were the days, huh? Now, if I stay up past 10 PM, I pay for it with full-on sleepless nights. Oh, the irony! It's like my body's saying, "Remember all those late nights? Payback time!" Anyway, I guess it happens to the best of us. Maybe it's all part of life's grand plan. Are we all just sleepless zombies muddling through??

Honestly, it's not all doom and gloom. I've started embracing this extra "me time" at night. Sometimes, I get up, grab a cup of herbal tea, and just enjoy the quiet of the house. I've started keeping a journal by my bed—more like scribbles than actual writing, but hey, it helps. Random thoughts, ideas, things I want to do the next day. It’s become this weirdly soothing ritual, and dare I say, it gives me hope! Maybe you guys should try it too if you’re in the same boat. You never know, it might just click!!!

And who knows? Perhaps this sleepless journey is taking me somewhere. Like, maybe there's a reason behind all of this night-time contemplation. Could be I'm destined to have some great epiphany. Maybe I'm chasing something bigger than just sleep. They say the darkest hour is just before dawn, right? So, I'm keeping my chin up, hoping for that dawn to come. After all, isn't life about finding balance? It's all about rolling with the punches, despite the midnight madness, or lack thereof!

[Translated from French. Reminder: IIWIARS is English only]

HELLO everyone, I came to France with my family it’s been one year and some months, then I started school in seconde (10th grade) in a local high school and I had to repeat the year. In my second year my life became like a nightmare for me. My high school kicked me out because I had asked classmates for bank cards and money. In my second high school I cheated twice, I no longer have the right to go to school while waiting for the school to give me a final decision. My parents say that if I am expelled they will no longer pay for my school and will find me a job, but I want to continue school; I am at my limit, am I the bad seed in my family? The worst is that I live with my stepfather, and my mother asks if I came to France to destroy her household???!!! I am crying 😢 😢 I am sick of everything.

Me and my best friend have always been really close, and recently, we both realised we had feelings for each other. It was a really good feeling and we were both really happy, but ever since then I feel like they’ve been avoiding me to talk to other friends instead. I understand this is a big thing and it’s gonna take time to get used to this new dynamic and all, but it feels like they’ve been avoiding me, or at least trying to talk to other people instead of me for the past week or so and it just hurts because I want to talk and be with them but I can’t just make them talk to me, or tell me what’s going on.

Alright (I always start with alright lol), So… since 4th grade I’ve had this small friend group with 4-6 people (I’m in 8th grade). In 4th grade, we played this game where one person would pretend to be a dog owner and we would be the dogs, barking in the field during recess. But our generation(being the messed up generation that it is) made it so our whole grade started calling us furries and the Wolfpack. I was scared that kids would actually come punch us in stuff and they didn’t, but to this day I am still mad at those people that bullied us because it was just a game for us little kids to entertain ourselves with.

In 5th grade, there was a group of girls that I hung out with a lot more than my closest friends, and my friends were mad at me about this. I wanted to expand my friendships, and wanted to be good friends with the “cool kids” In hopes that they would stop bullying my friends, and if not, then me (They didn’t). My friend in the so called “Wolfpack” even already had a boyfriend (We were only 11 so I don’t know why I cared lol) and I got so jealous that boys still liked her. Like at least 5 boys in our grade had a huge crush on her, yet still barked and yelled “Furry!” At her whenever she walked by. Honestly, I was not getting much individual recognition in being in “The Wolfpack”, so I was able to make my own friends aside from this friend group! My friends in “The Wolfpack” didn’t like that I was making more friends and we had a huge screaming fight which ended up with my friend saying that I liked her boyfriend (kinda stupid in my opinion I was just jelly she had ANY man). Actually I’ll just end here and do a second part later bye y’all feel free to share your opinion so far!

One day online I met a boy 13 year old me didn’t think anything of it we turned into really good friends then he asked me out I said “yes” because I liked him to the older we got the more off and on we became but we never fought or argued we just wanted to experiment other people I didn’t have a problem with it because we made a promise to eachother that we will always find a way back to eachother and get married and have kids things like that he was my first everything even though I seen him many times anytime I seen him it felt like the first time i couldn’t help but get shy everytime. As time passed by we got older we didn’t talk for a couple months because he got a girlfriend I respected it so it didn’t bother me one random day I got a FaceTime call from a number I didn’t have saved or didn’t recognize it was him we didn’t speak for 6 months and suddenly he calls it was like a dream kind of we laughed and talked he wanted to meet and he told me how much he missed me how could he miss me but he was still with her it didn’t make sense I brushed it off later that day I made an excuse to get off the phone.A couple hours passed and he texted me with a paragraph saying how he messed up and he’s sorry and he thinks we should be together when we are older or just stay how we are he said that he loves me but he loves his girlfriend too I responded “if you loved her you wouldn’t be texting me” he replied and said “your right but you’ve been there through everything at my lowest you were there I’m gonna always have love for you “ I replied “im confused what’s wrong why are you acting like this “ he replied “you wouldn’t understand I’m not gonna give up on us even if you do I’m so sorry” I started to get angry because nothing was making sense I replied “what do you think I am huh I’m tired of being everyones second option I’m not doing it you love her stay with her don’t text or call me “ he replied “how could you be my second option if you were my first choice “ I replied “if you were for me there wouldn’t be any choices” he replied “you fuck it up for us not just you me too we both did everytime we got together it was right person wrong timing that’s why I’m in this situation I’m in because we couldn’t get the timing right” he typed “let’s talk on Wednesday please “ I replied “okay”

He replied “I love you “

I replied “ I love you most”

The next day he texted me “Goodmoring text me when you wake up “

I texted back that I was up

Hours went by no reply

Then I sent a text at 7:34 pm

Didn’t go through

I turned to my sister and asked if I could use her phone I typed his number in her phone and sent a text

It went through

I sent another text

“Why did you block me ?”

He read it

I hear my phone “DING DING DING”

I go to grab my phone he unblocked me and said “can you just leave me alone you said to stop texting you and to leave you alone that’s what I’m doing “

“Did you text my girlfriend ?“

“Just let me be happy stop tryna ruin my relationship “

Tears form up in my eyes I didn’t understand why I replied “I didn’t text anyone “

3 days passed a notification popped up someone requested my account I requested there’s back boom I’m accepted I click on there story ……. My stomach started to turn my eyes felt like they were on fire it was his girlfriend posted him and her but that’s not only it her 3 highlight was a picture and in the picture there was a baby his girlfriend was 6 months pregnant it all started to make sense now I didn’t know what to do it’s not like I could do anything all I did was cry and cry I had to accept another women’s baby will have the eyes of my first love the eyes that 13 year old me looked into maybe in another life He didn’t break our promise .

What do you think!

I recently got promoted at work, which allowed me to move into a new apartment in a desirable neighborhood. It's the first time I've lived on my own, and I'm genuinely proud of the independence and space I've earned.

However, things took an unexpected turn. My older brother, Thomas, who's always had his share of financial instability, found himself in a bind. He and his wife, notoriously poor with money management, were evicted from their apartment due to soaring rent prices. Now, homeless with their two children, ages 5 and 7, Thomas reached out for help.

Thomas asked if he and his family could crash with me while they sorted out their situation. But here’s the hitch: my apartment is a modest one-bedroom, barely spacious enough for me alone, and certainly not designed for a family of four with young kids. I’ve never dealt with children and the thought of childproofing and constantly monitoring the kids is daunting.

I tried to offer financial assistance instead, suggesting that I could pay for a temporary rental or a hotel stay. Despite this, Thomas and his wife are firm on the idea that staying with family is not only economical but also less stressful for their children.

The pressure from my family didn’t take long to mount. My parents and relatives began labeling me as selfish, accusing me of prioritizing my “fancy apartment” over the well-being of family. They remind me excessively that “Family helps family,” and plead me to consider my young nieces, which does tug at my heartstrings.

Despite the guilt-tripping, I've decided to hold my ground. However, it's left me isolated, with family members expressing their disappointment, making me second-guess if I'm being unreasonable or cold-hearted.

If this scenario were featured on a reality show, imagine the varied reactions from audience members! Viewers might be divided, some sympathizing with my need for personal space and understanding the limitations of my living conditions, while others might vilify me for not opening my home, dramatizing the situation with intense family arguments and emotional appeals from my brother, casting me in a less than flattering light. Reality TV thrives on such conflicts, and my situation could easily be framed to boost drama and engage viewers.

Am I really the bad guy here for wanting to maintain my personal sanctuary and my lifestyle?