#1 I Always Wanted To Buy These Colorful Balloons, But My Parents Refused. Today, On My 30th Birthday, I Bought One For Myself
#2 I Got Disowned By An Entire Branch Of My Family For Wearing Makeup, And After A Week Of Crying And Self Doubt, I’m Kinda Over It
#3 From Homeless And Unemployed (26) To A Surgical Assistant (40)
One day, while looking for a restroom to relieve myself, I stumbled across a college that just so happened to have an open house enrollment going on, and figured that was the perfect excuse to enter the building and freeload off their toilets. Little did I know, however, that the universe had other plans for me. A guidance counselor had approached me and asked if I was here for open house. Being embarrassed to admit my true intentions, I told him I was and ended up joining him as he regaled the countless opportunities presented before me.
I was intrigued by their surgical technology program and decided to give it a shot. Needless to say, I had finally found my passion in life. Went to school for 18 months, plus an additional 4 months of internships, all while homeless. Upon graduation, I was offered a permanent job at the hospital I interned at, and after 4 years, I had enough cases to take the CSFA exam.
I have been a surgical assistant since, and I remind myself every day just how fortunate my life turned out. Now that I'm an old man, I feel I have enough experience to encourage others that it's never too late in life to strive for better. You just have to have patience, persistence, and passion.
Many of us fear the unknown. We feel anxious about the unpredictability of a situation, which hinders us from taking action. American psychologist Dr. George Everly describes it as the “creeping dread” that not only does nothing to change the future, but also takes the enjoyment out of the present moment.
“We desire to wait for the moment of absolute certainty, but that moment seldom comes other than in retrospect,” he noted.
#4 I Recently Lost 170 Pounds. Took Me Two In A Half Years
#5 My Art Got Stolen By 1000s Of Online Shops So I Sued Them And Bought An Apartment With The Money
I tried to fight the theft by myself but gave up because it became too overwhelming. For every counterfeit item I got to remove, ten new ones popped up.
Then 2 yrs ago I started working with a law firm. 16 lawyers took down over 2000 shops to this date & recovered funds. They said it was the biggest case of art theft they have ever had to deal with and they’re still working on it!
After almost giving up and at some point even wanting to quit art, I just bought my own apartment with the money my lawyers recovered so far!
Artists: never give up fighting for your rights! You’re worth it!
#6 After Years Of Depression, Today I Started My Day With A Beach Walk
I cried after I took this picture. I thought it was lame that I was so proud of feeling happy that I had to share it. A glimpse of what happiness is like.
Dr. Everly argues that uncertainty does have its benefits. That even if our brains have a psychological bias to protect us from the unknown, embracing the unpredictability, even the precariousness of life, can lead to limitless possibilities.
“If we can learn to tolerate the initial fear and vulnerability associated with uncertainty, we can avail ourselves of the potential that the unknown holds—and all that life has to offer,” he wrote.
#7 In The First Picture, I Thought About Giving Up, Because I Didn’t Receive Any Visitors, But Today I’m Managing To Live From My Dream Of Being An Illustrator
#8 Today I Taught Myself To Lay Laminate Flooring. It’s Not Much, But I Wasn’t Taught How To Do Stuff Because I’m A Girl
I don’t speak to them anymore.
#9 Today’s My Birthday. My First One In My New Apartment After 3 Years Of Being Homeless, Depressed And Heartbroken
Many of these stories are about major decisions that turned out to be life-altering in the best way possible. It can be an inspiring tale of living life to the fullest, something we often hear but tend to dismiss as mundane.
That then begs the question: how do you begin living life to the fullest? Award-winning psychotherapist Dr. Barton Goldsmith offered some valuable insights, which start with self-acceptance.
#10 18 Months Ago, I Decided To Stop Drinking And Get My Mental Health In Order
#11 Spent My Entire Life In A Church That Brainwashed Me Into Following Their Dogma
#12 After More Than 4.5 Years Of Losing Hair And Feeling Insecure And Self-Conscious About It, I (22m) Finally Decided To Let It Go
As Dr. Goldsmith stated, learning self-acceptance leads one to a “path of enlightenment.” Once you’ve achieved that, the journey becomes enlivening and comforting.
“You will begin to see that we are all flawed beings, and your journey through this life will never be perfect, and neither will anyone else’s,” Dr. Goldsmith noted, adding that what tends to follow is the absence of judgment on yourself and others.
#13 Dad Sent Me This Yesterday
#15 18 Months Today Since I Made The Decision To Cancel My Nose Job And Never Look Back
As the date approached I realised the nose job would never actually make me happy because my issue wasn’t about my external appearance at all - it was much deeper and something cosmetic surgery wouldn’t fix.
Anyway, I am finally starting to love my nose and how it makes me unique. Getting a nose job was the best thing I never did.
We’d like to hear your personal stories, dear reader. What decision do you pride yourself on making that changed your entire life for the better? What pushed you to take the leap of faith? Let’s liven up the comment boxes below!
#16 After Having A Massive Panic Attack On My First Exposure Therapy On The London Underground To Overcome Panic Disorder And Agoraphobia
#17 I'm No Longer Taking The Approved Alopecia Medicines Due To Harsh Side Effects. I've Decided To Fully Embrace The Fact That I'll Be A Patchy-Headed Princess And I'm Ok With That
#19 A Year Ago Today, I Moved To The Other Side Of The World, Without Knowing A Word Of Any Foreign Language. Today, I Passed A German Exam, Permitting Me To Study At University
#20 I Left The House Today
