*Has a moment of realization*

#1

A black person I worked with was called the
N-word by an angry customer. She turned to me and said, “there is nothing I can call you that will ever make you understand how much that hurts”. That completely changed my thinking.

#2

When I realized that my life would be so much better for me, emotionally, when I let someone in my life go. Permanently.

#3

Once when I was about 10, a fox had wandered into our back yard in broad daylight and we noticed it moving around in an peculiar way on a dirt patch in the corner of the yard which we always used to bury our pets (we had many pets over the years). As we slowly got closer to it, we realized the fox was twitching severely, as if having a seizure that wouldn’t stop. It didn’t react to our presence even as we got closer. We called animal control to take care of it, and they arrived and explained that it had some kind of brain infection that slowly takes over its functions until it becomes completely incapacitated but still functioning as we see it today. They quickly helped it to death’s door and it was buried in that very spot.

The fact that it was neurological forced me to consider the state of mind it had been in that day – How long were its motor skills and basic functions slipping away? Did it know what was happening when it walked through broad daylight? Did it know it would die soon? Was it fully aware that we were standing over it? How much did it suffer?…..How much did it suffer *mentally*?

Until then I had loved animals, but still considered them like autonomous bots. This was the first time that I was brought to terms with them as cognizant equals and understand that they have internal mental capabilities and struggles just the same as humans. It brought me to recognize a whole new genre of suffering, and I became significantly more caring because of it.

#4

When my best friend came out and I realized I wasn’t straight either and I was opened up to a whole new world of LGBTQ+ people.

#5

When I found out the church I attended were a bunch of hypocrites and liars. Left that church and religion altogether when I realized all was based on lies and misinformation.

#6

When God’s booming voice from above told me to quit drinking & using drugs…OR ELSE!
Well, it was actually a judge, but he thought he was god. ?

#7

I used to be an awful person (Well, more then I am now), and I was generally being an asshole because I got stressed out (Which was a piss poor excuse), and I accidentally made my grandfather cry. I’m a shitty person, but it opened my eye to how awful I truly was. I make sure to atleast apologize and stop myself now.

#8

The realization that being angry is a choice

#9

Graduating high school. All the stress and depression was gone. Realized life got better and never been more happier. Also that I don’t have to go to a class reunion cause I don’t miss any of them a-holes that caused all this.

#10

I had never been aware of the level of racism that is out there (living in Southern US.) Had finished getting a man ready for surgery and he asked who was “putting him to sleep”. I told him his name and then he started to repeatedly ask me “What is he?” I’d answer doctor, anesthesiologist, again that he’s a doctor, until he got to the part he was really getting at. “Is he an N-word or what? Because you never know what he’s going to do to me while I’m asleep”. I felt like I was going to explode inside. “NO HE’S NOT”, he’s an African American and an excellent physician. While you are asleep he’s going to take exceptionally good care of you.” Then, I could not resist this. Go ahead mister, try and report me. I dare you. I turned to him as I was going through the curtain and said, ” I guess the pre op interview nurse forgot to tell you our sheets are cream colored. Next time remember to bring your own white sheet.” The look on his face was so worth it. Another time I had been in a room while the MD was also there. When he left the man said “He sure is a good doctor for a black man”. Exploding inside. “The fact that he is African American is completely irrelevant. He’s one of the best cardiologists in the country and you are more than fortunate to have him.”. Again, the look was so worth it.” Another encounter with a racist patient was so infuriating to all of us…..well, just don’t piss off the nurses about something like that.

#11

In my early 20’s I became frustrated with the constant harassment and general bullshit of working a dead-end office job and decided to go back to school and earn a degree. I was in a slightly male-dominated program (Science) but felt respected by my peers. Fast-forward six years to graduation and I was at a celebration with students from my program. I overheard a large group of drunk male students talking about a female classmate, referring to her with a disgusting, objectifying “nickname.” They saw the look on my face and one of them said “relax, we’ve got names for all of you.” I was less shocked than I was disappointed in myself, for being stupid enough to think that “educated” men would be more respectful. I’ve worked in research for 25 years and have had a lot of great male colleagues, but sadly there is just as much sexist bullshit as any other job.

#12

I used to cashier and was often way more honest than I should have been for working in customer service. Someone asked me how my day was going and I said “I’m considering abandoning ship.” It was during the worst time in my life and I was both suicidal and thinking of packing my bags and moving back across the country to where I grew up.

Customer responded: Don’t abandon ship. Sail a different sea.

Completely changed how I look at situations and life as a whole.

I wish I could thank him.

I’m now a first year high school English teacher which has been my dream since in was 11. I’m 33.

#13

I was doing an internship for my PhD in psychology at a large, public hospital. I told my supervisor about a patient and he asked me what I did about the situation. I told I didn’t do anything, that I waited to ask him. He said, “If you don’t do anything, who will?” That statement taught me to take on my professional role and step up to help. It guided me through a long career.

#14

In my final year of high school I (F) hung out with a girl. We did everything together but I mostly enjoyed the sleepovers. We lost touch after graduation. A few years later we are both back home visiting family and run into each other. She tells me she is recently engaged and brought her fiancé to meet her dad. A young woman approaches us and I get introduced – to her fiancé.

I am clearly surprised and asked her how long she had known? She said since she was 13. Does your dad know? Yep, since I first knew. Why did you not tell me? You know why. Indeed, I did. It was not something that was ever spoken – just a given. It was not right – period!

It was then that I realized that any prejudices, racism or anything else in that regard that I may have were not of my own. I swore, that day, to rid myself of all the toxic garbage that my parents and family had passed onto me and, especially, to never pass it on to my future children.

Skip ahead 20 years and I am watching Lethal Weapon with my 15 year old son. Mom, I can’t remember that one actor’s name. Which one? The guy with the mustache. I tell him Danny Glover. And then I had a silent cry.

#15

The USMC and Iraq, I don’t recommend either.

#16

When I found out my favorite dinosaur the Brontosaurus (“B” from now on) wasn’t real. I still believed in Santa so this was my first big “lie”. The guy who found/named it had cludged it together from several dinosaurs and made a fake skull to say he found the biggest one. Scientists realized the mistake several years later and fixed it but the guy who funded the “B” scientist was a publisher so he continued the lie. I wasn’t heart broken when the guy at the museum told me. Instead it hooked me on science because he showed me why. Science is about finding better answers and its ok to correct things that are wrong. For the first time, dinosaurs became real because they weren’t perfect. I became a scientist whose chased marmots up mountains and worked in organ banks because of that “lie”. Happy ending – they found a “B” skull in 2015 that matched most of the other bones from the original “B” and 3 species are back. So a mistaken mistake was corrected. I love science.

#17

I worked in a highly competitive sporting industry when I was a young adult. I enjoyed some association with the England squad and ended up being on ‘standby’ for an International junior tournament. Flash forward to me turning professional and being as green as they come, trusting everybody, thinking everyone would be my friend. Like a daft labrador, wagging my tail at people.

The situation was that we had the first team (that you would see on the TV) and the reserves (that people came to watch in the stadium). There were three of us battling for those two positions. Healthy competition, I thought. May the best man win.

Oh, how wrong I was. Everyone was friendly to your face but were just in it for themselves. I thought they were my friends but things got back to me that they had been saying behind my back. I was so disappointed in them I was inconsolable. How can someone be so two-faced? The worst was yet to come.

As I caught up on my experience, I was a threat to the position of the other two guys. Exactly around that time, I was called into the manager’s office where I was accused of having a gambling problem – I did not. A couple of weeks later the manager asks me whether I thought I would pass a drugs test. Of course I would. Then it was a drinking problem – nope. Somebody was spreading rumours.

Eventually I realised that you can’t trust anybody and it’s not paranoia if they really are all out to get you.

#18

When a dear friend died suddenly, and when clearing out their desk, I found their mantra on a piece of paper on top of their workload in the drawer….
1. Don’t worry about things, as most things never happen.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff, it too will probably not happen
3. Give more.
4. Expect less.
(and the one I always smile at, as they said it often)
5. To get something you never had before, you gotta do something you never done before.

#19

When my son was about 5 I was doing some housework. He came to me and wanted me to play with him. I told him I was sorry, but I was busy. He said “But you’re always busy.” I put the housework aside and went and played with him. The housework could wait.

#20

You know, life’s not fair. Although I miss the mark on some days. Some days I get it right. After hearing Bobby Mcferrin’s song “Don’t worry be happy ” I realized it’s all a state of mind and it changed the way I think about what it takes for me to be happy.

#21

Got promoted to a leadership role. Shortly afterwards, of my closest coworkers get in a beef. I try to sort it out myself because one or both of them could have been fired over the incident. I deal with it before anyone else finds out, but neither one appreciates my help.

First one (same position as me) reports me for using the word “s**t” in our conversation (trust me – every second word out of his mouth was worse). I get hauled into the manager’s office and a letter placed in my employee file for being “unprofessional”. Not much I can do about it.

Second one (my subordinate) invites me to her place for a bbq where she gets stoned and tells me something disturbing about how she stalked an ex-coworker (that I was still friends with). Next day – coincidentally- the ex-coworker asks if I think she was crazy to think she was being stalked. I said no. It gets back to the stalker that I had the conversation with the ex-employee and said she wasn’t crazy … and I get hauled into the manager’s office and suspended for two days for “breaching confidentiality” of my subordinate…… For talking to someone not employed by our company…… about something that had nothing to do with our business……. in the private residence of the subordinate….. who was high at the time.

This has changed the fundamental nature of who I am as a leader. It’s everyone for themselves out there. There is no such thing as a work-friend.

#22

When I asked my mother how I could improve my drawing. She should have said she was busy just then, but instead, she said it was fine. I never asked her another question.

#23

I never truly understood what real helplessness was until my infant daughter has an illness that she might never recover from. Thankfully everything is fine but I often think of that and it centers me with any life problems I might encounter to provide perspective.

#24

Taking LSD. Just the once, but it did open my mind.

#25

When I learned my doctors didn’t expect me to survive cancer. They told me I’d never see my 40th birthday.
I’m 45 now, but facing my own mortality completely changed me.

#26

Was looking at an ad for a very very cheap but horrible and run-down appartment. And was later wondering, who buys such horrible appartments. And realised, it could bring much better return on investment as the nice appartments I was looking at previously. So the at the next opportunity, I was the only one bidding, got it and turned it into a gem. Two gems, actually, one is already sold and the other one is waiting for the final touches.

#27

When I realised that my son would be better with no father, than with a toxic, manipulative, abusive, drug using alcoholic father. It’s only happened in the last two weeks that I have finally found the strength to cut him out of our lives, but I already feel so much calmer. I always thought I would know the signs of abuse, and that because I was not being hit that things weren’t that bad, that it was just “normal” couple stuff that everyone went through. But it’s not. Being constantly belittled, stolen from, guilted into giving money & taking out loans, gaslit, having any self confidence destroyed, manipulated etc.. it takes its toll. They develop a hold over you. And I felt like I couldn’t cope without him in my life because no one else would want me. But then I had the realisation that I cannot have my son grow up and see the relationship between his parents and think that it is an acceptable way to treat a woman (or anyone for that matter). We’re finally free. I’m going to get therapy. I have amazingly supportive family & friends, that are just glad that I have finally seen the light. My son will grow up surrounded by love, happiness & good people.

#28

When I was about 11, I was talking with my best friend and I don’t remember what I said, but it wasn’t about Africa, but she misunderstood something and yelled, “I am not African!” and ran home crying. This is in the US and she was black and I was white. She rarely got mad and rarely yelled. She was a quiet, sweet person who would typically get hurt rather than mad.

I didn’t understand all that stuff. (I thought I was black for 6 months when I was 7, because she was “black” and we were the same in my view.)

I realized when she went home crying that she had some ongoing, never-ending pain in her life that I didn’t have in mine (and which nobody should have, let alone a little girl). I don’t remember how I figured out exactly what this was all about not being African (probably my Mom explained).

She was two grades below me, so if people were saying mean, racist things to her in school, I didn’t know. The kids in the neighborhood were fine as far as I know, but my other friend’s mom was clearly prejudiced, possibly racist.

That is the day I lost my innocence and realized how incredibly unfair the world can be. And the saddest thing about that is that she had learned it years before 🙁

#29

Leaving all toxic people behind. 28 rn but have never been this happier before.

#30

A few years earlier , I used to HATE K-pop and My friends who liked it. I am born in a Homophobic Family and always saw the world from their eyes. But as Now I grew up a bit , I realized How racist I am becoming !! I hated them because they have tiny eyes , and because K-pop guys wore makeup !! I was so embarrassed when I learned about Homophobic people , Because I was one and didn’t knew !! Even tho I was just 11 , Im Still embarrassed that how stupid I was. If we should not judge a book by its cover , Why judge music by its language ? Why judge people by how they look ? WHY JUDGE PEOPLE ??

#31

The moment in my life that’s changed the way I think was being told I had stage 3c ovarian cancer. It actually changed a lot more than my way of thinking.

#32

Accidently killed a frog. No more deaths.

#33

When my Aunt used my Mother to her benefit and didn’t even looked back when we were in need or bothered to pay my mom back. Never fully trust people even if they’re your family or friend

#34

When I was 8, I had just learned my LGBTQ’s. I was a misinformed child with no knowledge such a community existed. I immediately realized i was part of it (i first thought i was a lesbian, but I now identify as pan openly). I apologize to anyone in my community I insulted when I was 8

#35

This is said here previously, but taking psychedelics.

#36

I have been working as Accountant in small companies. When I met with some accountant of large companies then I came to know that I am a better accountant as I have full control of all accounting aspects from start to end. That accountant can’t do any thing other then assigned to them by their seniors. That’s Then I added “Account Manager” confidently in my resume.

#37

I was just a kid when I realized my parents were getting a divorce. Took me a wile to get over it, but I was still homesick( both of my parents moved)

#38

I will have secret room and it happend!!!

#39

That I have full control of my own happiness. No matter what anyone says, it is their opinion and I have my own as well. What I do that will make me happy, I chose that… whatever the consequences are, I take full responsibility of it. Happiest I have ever been in the past 2 decades. I wish I knew this when I was younger! I chose my choices!

#40

When I was maybe 9 or 10 I was jealous of the “rich” families in our small town, and I asked my mom why we didn’t have a nice new big house and a nice car.
She told me they probably aren’t really rich, they just have a lot of debt, and it has always stuck with me. Now as an adult I don’t feel jealous, I feel sorry for them because they feel the need to display their “wealth”.

#41

So many. When I fought with someone I knew from another racial group and they pointed out to me, in anger, that I was coming across as racist. Huge reality slap. When my first girlfriend left me and I realised I had made a mistake and that I was an abusive POS. When my first child was born and I realised that I’d never love anyone more than that. When my dad died and I realised how powerless I was against the universe and that a person can be gone when their body is still alive. When I got divorced and realised what I wanted most was freedom. Life is tough.

#42

When will the world end. When will you die. These sort of questions keep me up at night. The answer is I don’t know, but don’t treat your life as if something or someone is going to kill you every second in your life. What I’ll say is treat your day like it’s your last meaning have fun, you’ll never know when you’ll be able to do it again.

#43

The USMC and Iraq, I don’t recommend either.

#44

I first became suspicious around age two, when I hat to respect my older sister’s feelings, but she didn’t have to recognize mine. I worked for better gender equality for decades, but decided that it was impossible, and we should seek parity instead when Canada refused to include males in the study on missing and murdered indigenous people, even though they are the clear majority of cases.

#45

I watched naruto now im a weeb

#46

When I realized that people can change and it’s ok to let them go.

from Bored Panda https://ift.tt/3FAV38R
via IFTTT source site : boredpanda