What’s a small decision that had a huge impact on your life?
Posted by Future-Bug02@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 113 comments
What’s a small decision that had a huge impact on your life?
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Manzilla48@reddit
Had an interview at a particular uni. I’d already received offers from two other unis I liked and was in two minds about going at all.
My mum drove me to the uni for the interview and could see I wasn’t bothered about going. As we approached the roundabout near the motor way she asked if I wanted to still go or just turn around there and head to school. I fancied missing school that day so decided to go.
Ended up getting offered a place there, accepting and meeting my partner on the course. 10 years later and I’ve had a child and moved to her hometown. Made a whole life for myself.
All because I told mum not to turn around at that roundabout…
DoctorWhofan789eywim@reddit
Has the energy of that Doctor Who episode Turn Left.
Manzilla48@reddit
It definitely felt like that sort of moment looking back
YourThighMaster@reddit
There's something on your back!
Jacktheforkie@reddit
Chatted with a guy wearing an Amtrak hat at RHDR New Romney, ended up going to America for 3 weeks and had lots of fun, so going to see some small trains resulted in me seeing a fuckin massive train, driving 2000 miles around Wisconsin and even going to a gun range
Kathleen_Haugh@reddit
I was already working full time after graduating high school. A friend was working at a butcher shop in a farmer’s market. A woman who owns a bakery in the market asked my friend if she knew anyone looking for a job, and my friend suggested me.
Not sure why, I wasn’t looking for a job, but figured why not at least meet with the woman and see if we click?
Almost 11 years later this woman is like a second mom to me, paid for me to go to culinary school for baking/pastry arts, and is going to leave her business to me in her will. She has no children of her own, and I only have a mom but she’s kind of a mess. This woman literally bought my wedding dress when I got married. She is there for me for everything and I love her so much!
I can’t believe an already existing successful business has just landed in my lap because I decided to do a job interview when I was 18.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That’s honestly beautiful. It’s crazy how one small ‘why not’ moment can completely change your life. Just 'checking it out' to inherit a bakery!
exhausted-pangolin@reddit
Are you an LLM?
sunheadeddeity@reddit
I think it is.
Gold-Creme-9597@reddit
This is a wild sort of sliding doors moment, and such a lovely story - thank you for sharing!
Also as someone who doesnt want kids gives me much hope that I can help someone else out along the way!
Technical_Magazine88@reddit
Suddenly decided to leave school at 16 instead of stopping on and pursuing A levels and then going onto Uni. Had a great career instead by learning my way as I was promoted up the system and I’ve lived very comfortably (good salary, generous final salary pension, generous travel perks) lifestyle as a result. Certainly had no regrets despite my parents literally going apes#1t at us at the time.
I’ve always enjoyed work though and going putting myself out there earning for myself since I was 13. Be it menial jobs like weekend paper rounds, valeting cars and taxi’s (on a Sunday morning that folks had threw up in the night before) to landing an apprenticeship at 16 and the rest is history. I’m not knocking higher education today but (and this is just a casual observation here) aren’t there now too many “pop up” universities in the UK offering what are effectively Mickey mouse degrees? Where are the real engineering sciences, tech, mathematics, medicine, economics being taught these days? Like Polytechnics that taught you those skills for life?
sunheadeddeity@reddit
Offered a short paid scholarship to Russia after MSc. Three months only, no real outputs required, just go and hang out in lectures. Applied 10 minutes before the deadline on impulse.
Met someone there, been together 25 years, 2 kids. Sheesh.
Loose_Avocado4670@reddit
That's insane!
Crazy how things turn out sometimes.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That's insane 😭. This might be the most ‘butterfly effect’ answer here.
MainGeneral4813@reddit
That's not how the butterfly effect works...at all
sunheadeddeity@reddit
Most butterfly effect answer...so far!
CreativeAdeptness477@reddit
Found the Russian asset ^
Important-Plane-9922@reddit
You live in Russia?
satanisaniceperson@reddit
Went into my overdraft, it was less than £10 but I vowed never to let that happen again.
HairyN0sedWombat@reddit
I commented on a Reddit post.
We’re moving in together in 3 weeks.
ChelseaGem@reddit
HAVE YOU MET HIM IN REAL LIFE YET
HairyN0sedWombat@reddit
😂😂😂 ok, I know I just admitted I met my partner on Reddit, which is crazy, but I’m not an actual insane person!! I’m not moving in with someone I’ve never met 😂
We have been together 8 months, see each other at least every 2 weeks but often a lot more, there’s a 5 hour car ride between us.
Max1357913@reddit
How do you manage that logistically, out of curiosity? Take it in turns to do the 5 hours? But congrats!
HairyN0sedWombat@reddit
Yeah, it has been made a bit harder by the fact I don’t drive. So previously I would go down to see him by train (6.5 hours, 2-3 changes) or he would drive up to me, every other weekend at least.
But he’s now secured a job near where I live so he’ll be moving up this way and we can start doing this thing full time.
ChelseaGem@reddit
Lovely stuff! 😍 Best wishes for happy cohabitation!
HairyN0sedWombat@reddit
Thanks!!
TSC-99@reddit
Doing couch to 5k
Electric-aura3000@reddit
Healing the Vagus Nerve
cvslfc123@reddit
Drunkenly agreeing to go to Las Vegas on holiday.
My mate then held me to it and we actually went. It was my first holiday abroad without my parents and it made me fully confident to do more travelling.
Puzzled_Caregiver_46@reddit
Buying a keysafe. Seriously. There's nothing worse than getting back to your flat half pissed at 11 O' clock at night and realising that you've left your fucking keys on the fucking coffee table. Then having to phone around your mates and hope that someone is still awake, so that you can ask them if it's OK to crash on their sofa, followed by calling in a locksmith the next day and paying him £150 for 30 seconds work. Fitting one has saved my bacon (and a fortune) many times since .
Max1357913@reddit
In my first week of uni, I accidentally walked into the wrong tutorial group, and met a guy who had a similar interest in music as me, and he recommended I came along to a jam session a society was hosting.
I did go, and two years later I was vice president of said society, and it’s where I made 90% of my uni friends
I had an awareness of the society anyway so may have gone, but having someone I already knew there definitely made me far more comfortable going, so there’s every chance I may not have done
Perfect-World-8416@reddit
Asked my dad to get season tickets behind the goal at football…..met my wife in the seat behind me.
27106_4life@reddit
How many answers are "extra glass of wine...now kids"
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
Buying a bidet.
ChelseaMourning@reddit
Bidet people always want you to know, against your will, that they have a bidet and it’s the best thing they ever did.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
On a thread about small changes which made a big impact on life, you're surprised people mention changes which made a big impact on their life?
I'll block you so you don't have to see such horrific content.
KnockOneOut178@reddit
Don’t have a bidet so the shower head will do me instead. But yes, completely agree.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Peak adulthood is realizing water >>>>> paper.
jonathing@reddit
Early last year I offered to stay behind after work and help a junior member of staff with an unstable ITU patient. On my way home someone pulled onto the wrong side of the road in front of me and hit me head on. They broke both of my legs and my whole sense of self (amongst other things). Making sure that payment was safe has cost me my physical health and my mental health, and almost cost me me job and my marriage as a result.
hiking_n_stuff@reddit
Agreed to do a temp job while working in a pub. Thought it would last a couple of months. Been there 16 years and been promoted and I actually love the job which never happened before
ImTalkingGibberish@reddit
Modernising my CV
Far_Bad_531@reddit
Deleted all social media except this one …game changer for me 🙌🏼
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Reddit survived the purge 😄
colin_staples@reddit
In my opinion, Reddit is not social media - which is all about “me, me, me” (especially Instagram)
I think Reddit is more about subjects of interest, like sold school forums
Far_Bad_531@reddit
It is the only one (for me) that has been genuinely supportive when I have had a question, or looked for help with something in my few Reddit groups, and I appreciate that. 😀
Murfiano@reddit
With a girl when I was 19 she cheated I was in love stupidly. Decided to forgive her, we had a kid cue us splitting up a couple years later after she cheated again. My daughters 20 now and I’ve been part of her life roughly 6 years due to courts, her not letting me see her, missed birthdays and other events due to her mum being a horrible person. In contact with my daughter now who’s scared to meet me because of her mums aggression toward her. Hopefully one day she’ll realise the stories about me aren’t true. Sometimes I wish I had told her to do one the first time she cheated and saved myself a lot of heartache, time and money but ultimately I want my daughter to get to know me and realise her mums stories are just that
Speedbird223@reddit
My Geography A level coursework was incorrectly determined to be plagiarized, scored at 0 and that cost me the A grade I needed for my preferred University.
In a mental tailspin I turned down my second choice University and found myself a completely different University through clearing. Whilst there I met an American who was a little older than me and I got offered a job with an American bank out of University that took me to the US. 20yrs later still in the US.
I think that if my Geography coursework hadn’t been incorrectly marked to zero I’d have gone to that preferred University and my life would have take a rather different course!
colin_staples@reddit
Took up running 15 years ago.
Lost 5-and-a-half stone, achieved things I never thought were possible for me, it’s massively helped my physical and mental health, I’m invigorated invigorated - and I feel younger than I did 15 years ago.
ChelseaMourning@reddit
Decided to take some friends up on the suggestion of going to watch a few local bands at a community centre one night when I was 17. I met a guy there through said friends and I’m now almost 40 and divorcing him after 22 years and a nearly 12yo daughter together.
FedUpFrog@reddit
Decided to get a takeaway coffee before catching my train, took longer than expected, missed the train. On the phone to my partner saying I'd be later than expected as the news filtered through that the train had crashed (Potters Bar 2002). I would have been sat in the carriage that got the worst of it.
takesthebiscuit@reddit
Probably getting braces, late in life!
But since my job is now 80% teams interviews having a great smile has got me a job that pays 2x my old wage and allows me to travel the word
richbun@reddit
One of my Uni selections was because I supported the local team and fancied going to some matches as a joke. Turned out, it was the only place that accepted me, so I had to go there. Ended up meeting a local, and so here I am, still here, nearly 40 years later, cooking her tea.
AwkwardTie9427@reddit
I cut off my narcissist toxic sister, who always said "family first". Little did I know for ages, she really meant "I come first, above anyone else, even you". She used to be my best friend, it broke me, but now I'm a better person for it.
Tight-Principle-743@reddit
Taking an extra 7 minutes to finish listening to an episode of ‘Just a Minute’ before heading to campus when doing my masters, I then got to the library a few minutes later and sat next to a nice international student who needed my laptop charger and she was rather chatty. 19 years later we’re now married with 3 young kids. Best choice I ever made.
tiorzol@reddit
Man you could've avoided all that hassle if you just left on time.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Proof that procrastination occasionally pays off 😄
Tight-Principle-743@reddit
It really did.
fripez256@reddit
Good bit of hesitation
CodeToManagement@reddit
Graduated and had no idea what I was doing applying to jobs. Fired some off randomly and it led me to moving 5h away from home and set me on a career path that’s far better than anything I’d have had staying where I was.
badreligionlover@reddit
Applied for a job late - only did it on a whim.
Got the job. Six months later took the managers job, 2 years later took that managers job... ended up running Europe, Middle East and Africa division. 3 years after a '...might as well,' moment I am earning six figures and loving life.
Unusual_Sherbert2671@reddit
Applied for a job in Saudi Arabia and got it.
Insane tax free earnings which propelled by savings.
Ok-Employee9618@reddit
Arranging the date the eventually lead to my marriage, my house, my children. This must be true for many people
FIREBIRDC9@reddit
Buying Gran Turismo 3 , It sealed the deal , my life since has revolved around cars in one way or another
LegoVRS@reddit
When I left Uni I had a decision to make as to what I did. I could go home back to the small town i was from, or stay in the university town and sign on. I stayed in the university town and started job hunting. I don't think I even ended up getting any money, I applied for a load of jobs, got some interviews and ended up getting a job in a factory the other side of the country. Its almost 30 years later, I'm in my 50s and (touch wood) I've always had a job since then.
A lad I know from the town was in the same predicament at the same time. He got better A levels than I did, and a better degree (albeit in a different subject). He chose to go home. He still lives with his parents, looks a complete mess nowadays and I don't think he's ever managed to hold down a job.
That could have so easily been me.
lavayuki@reddit
I was the same, although for me it was a case of moving country after uni or staying. I decided to leave my home country (Ireland) and come to the UK for a better life and better job prospects. Things are 10 million times better here. I have since settled, bought a house, got a permanent job in a big city and made local friends, none of which I could achieve in Dublin (Yes I had no friends there let alone the other stuff)
My parents obviously hate the fact that I left and didn’t take over their family company but I don’t care, screw them. I have not returned for over a decade and never will.
My brother did similar and ran off to Dubai and works in a large AI company. So we both jumped ship for better pastures and careers. Neither of us met my dads expectations, and he continues to huff puff about it years later
Sugared-Lemon-Zest@reddit
There was a girl I was attracted to but not madly in love with. I knew I should keep my feelings to myself for a couple of reasons (long story) but at a New Years party, very drunk, I ended up kissing her.
It led to a relationship where I wasted five years of my life, lost a friend group and the whole thing left me mentally drained.
BitcoinThrowaway202@reddit
eesh sorry
this turned out to be a r/yesyesyesyesno story when i thought it would be a r/nonononoyes story
:(
BitcoinThrowaway202@reddit
going to therapy
Empty_Magician5698@reddit
Not standing up for myself with my partners family - I ended up with ptsd.
Lemon-Flower-744@reddit
As someone with shitty in laws too, my heart goes out to you.
To answer OPs question, I stuck up for myself against my in laws after years of bullshit and they blocked me lmao. I'm SO glad so I don't have an obligation to go visit them or have them in my own home ever again.
Its a difficult one when you try to get on with your in laws when it's clear they treat you like shit.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That sounds really tough. I hope things are better for you now 🫂
Empty_Magician5698@reddit
Getting there. PTSD is like a virus, mine came with ocd too so kinda invaded my whole life.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Respect for working through it, ‘getting there’ still counts!!
Empty_Magician5698@reddit
Aww thankyou
_Just_Ayano_@reddit
And they are still your partner did they at least defend you?
Empty_Magician5698@reddit
They are, just about. It was a complicated situation so I do kind of understand why he felt he couldn’t, but he still should have.
GeggingIn@reddit
After being dumped that afternoon, I desperately wanted to stay in crying over old photographs.
My pal wasn’t having it, forced me out of bed, told me to get dressed and come and get shitfaced with them.
Woke up with a horrible partial memory of smashing tequila and shouting “Fucking Belfast bastard” with some man.
The man inexplicably text and we’ve been married fifteen years.
Flosstopher@reddit
Put the uni I went to down as a last minute as I needed to fill the slot. It was away from home and had half decent entry requirements so thought that’ll do.
Ended up going there and meeting my husband on day one. Two kids and a cat later 😂
We’ve been married 10 years and together for 15.
Also making the split second decision to launch myself at my sister’s abusive ex-boyfriend when I caught him holding her up against a wall at a family event. She was terrified and he disappeared in to the night and has left her alone since she dumped him.
I broke his nose and gave him a decent amount of bruising from what we heard.
It was the least he deserved after my sister showed me pictures of the injuries that he’d given her during her relationship. Thank god for my crappy childbirth ruined bladder for making me think I was going to wet myself at that moment! My sister is happy with a lovely bloke now so it worked out well for her 😊
Gold-Creme-9597@reddit
I had a lightbulb moment when I was doing an ice breaker mid PGCE. I left on the spot, by some miracle broke into the industry I'd always dreamed of but never had the confidence to even try. I was 20, it's lead me on a wild and varied career journey, people often say I've lived many lives. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to me if I'd ignored my gut and stayed put, I would've made a terrible teacher for a start...but also weirdly proud of myself that I finally stood up for what I wanted and made it happen. I often forget that now I'm older so thanks for the reminder :)
delpigeon@reddit
Despairing that I would ever find someone, late one night, I made my height criteria less strict on the old dating apps. Swiped right on some shortarse that evening and... the rest is history! :P
x0_Kiss0fDeath@reddit
Sending a message to a boy in another country that I thought was cute. We had so much in common and I assumed he'd never even respond. I now live in a different country and we've been married for 13 years this year.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
From ‘he probably won’t reply’ to 13 years of marriage 😄 what a plot twist
x0_Kiss0fDeath@reddit
Genuinely - context is that I was looking at studying abroad and wanted to see what "cute boys" were in the area (I was young and that was way more of a priority than many other things LOL). He happened to be nearly identical to me with hobbies and interest so I thought I'd at least say hi! hahaha I think if you were to ask him, his response would be deciding to respond to me as he nearly didn't as he didn't think I was a real person! LOL
Illustrious-Bass9651@reddit
That’s “the road not taken theory.” Do you turn left, right or go straight ahead? Each path infinite possibilities- but once taken, you can never get back to where you began… Many a thing in life I regret, each choice foolish or not makes you a wiser person; if it doesn’t, you need to ask yourself - why am I not being taught a lesson?
Choose your friends wisely, a friend will be with you no matter what problems the world throws at you. Others are blown away with the storms in life!
BG3restart@reddit
Applied for a temporary job to cover six months maternity leave, just to get the interview experience as I hadn't had an interview for ten years. Stayed 22 years, got a great final salary pension and retired at 55.
BloodyCuts@reddit
Quitting the 9-6pm job, which had about 4 hours of commuting per day, and going freelance. Completely changed my life and meant I got to watch my children grow up. Zero regrets.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That’s huge. Giving up stability for time and freedom isn’t easy, but it sounds like it paid off.
SleepySloth2468@reddit
Went to view a dog at the shelter but sadly he wasn’t for us. Husband headed towards the car but I hung back to have one last look at the dogs in the cages we had already discounted from their online profiles. Then I fell in love with a gorgeous dog who hadn’t yet been listed online.
He was my best friend for almost 12 years, and if I hadn’t been a slow walker I never would have seen him.
FellMo0nster@reddit
Decided to say yes to a random social event I almost skipped. Met my best friend there who later got me my current job lol
Appropriate_Emu_6930@reddit
Before I went backpacking I was druggy maniac. It was looking pretty bleak for me. No qualifications or drive. Easily could have ended up in jail.
I went travelling with 700 quid in my pocket on a whim, saw that the world was bigger than my dead end town. It opened my mind. I ended up going to uni, doing well, settling down and now have a happy family life.
Sapphicorns@reddit
Moving to the Netherlands that was supposed to be just for my Master and never left
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
What made you decide to stay in the end?
LieSuccessful8813@reddit
Who you marry , but i guess that isn’t a small decision . but the impacts are ripples
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That’s a big decision, but it’s interesting how it often comes down to small moments that led you there in the first place.
allthingskerri@reddit
Went to watch jackass 3 with mate in the cinema & however many years later a marriage and kids too. We had been mates and there was a biggish age gap but very glad we did it 🤣
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Johnny Knoxville would be proud of that life decision 😂
Cautious_Fail_8640@reddit
Going on tinder whilst in London, live in NE England. matching with a girl in Yorkshire. Met up when I was back home. Been together 10 years married 4
Reeelfantasy@reddit
Finally a successful and decent Tinder story
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
That’s mad 😄 one swipe in a different city and it turns into 10 years together.
TomLondra@reddit
Deciding to move from the UK to Italy.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
From UK to Italy… that’s one way to upgrade your weather 😄
TieDyePandas@reddit
Went very low contact with my dad and step mum earlier this year, my mental health has never been better.
TomLondra@reddit
This Be The Verse By Philip Larkin They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, And don’t have any kids yourself.
TheScottishFoxyBiker@reddit
That's beautiful.
rkr87@reddit
Blood definitely is t thicker than water! Cutting my toxic sister out of my life 4 years ago is one of the best decisions I ever made.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
Sometimes distance really is the healthiest choice.
Zealousideal-Low3388@reddit
I went travelling, didn’t put too much thought into the itinerary, met a girl, we decided to backpack to a place on both our lists together
ended up emigrating after that
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
From ‘let’s backpack’ to ‘let’s emigrate’ 😄 that escalated quickly
GlumAd9856@reddit
I was going to an interview once and got stuck in traffic and an awful one-way system. I was already very late when I got to a junction where I could turn right to go to the interview or left to just go home. I made a split decision to carry on, got the job and worked there for 8 years.
It was a big change in my life and I do wonder where i'd be now if I had turned left.
Future-Bug02@reddit (OP)
somewhere out there is a version of you who turned left 👀
bowen7477@reddit
Wanked into a pair of my mums used knickers. She caught me and threw me out. Desperation is the mother of invention so now I'm a millionaire
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