What small decision changed the course of your entire life?

[justanothermanicmonday1]

Lighthearted.

Mines was just getting out of a relationship, being in my thirties and thinking I'd never ever meet anyone. I'd got used to the fact that I wouldn't likely have children, and be alone. And I was fine with that.

4 weeks after I ended my relationship, my friend asked if I wanted to be set up on a date with her friends friend. I was extremely reluctant.....

3 years later we have a toddler and a newborn and it was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. I didn't think I would ever be this lucky. He treats me how I deserve to be treated, hands on, funny, respectful, romantic & the best role model for our children!

Intrigued to hear people's stories whilst my newborn sleeps away..... 🥹

DH and I were colleagues who got drunk and slept together one night when away from work. We both agreed it was a one off and it would never happen again as it wasn’t appropriate as he was more senior than me. Admittedly I felt a little rejected and because of that, I kept it strictly professional going forward and I was already leaving in a couple of months anyway.

At my leaving drinks, when he said goodbye and left the bar, a colleague commented that he looked sad when saying goodbye (she and no one else knew about that night). On the back of her comment, I added him on Facebook later on that night.

Seven years later we are married with one child and another on the day!

My boyfriend and I had broken up. I decided to txt him an April fools joke and he asked me out to dinner, we ended up in bed together that night and our beautiful daughter was born 9 months later. She's now about to turn 18 and we now have 2 more daughters.

If it helps, I could also post about a small decision that I still end up regretting about 27 years later. Just so I’m not sounding too smug.

In a dead end job with a failing marriage. Got chatting (Offloading) to a new colleague about my life. She asked me what I wanted to do and I explained that I'd wanted to go to University but failed my A levels (complicated) and ended up married in this job. She informed me that as I was over 21 I could apply as a mature student with no A levels
Six months later I started University. My by then ex was so impressed he did similar a year later (different University). One conversation led to a degree and a fantastic career in my dream job.

In 1984 I think it was, I had just turned into Hans Crescent by the side of Harrods to finish off some shopping. I also needed some toiletry bits and suddenly rationalised that they would be lighter to carry than what I would buy in Harrods. Therefore I turned heel to cross the Brompton Road to go to Boots on the other side. There was a bang that made the earth shake followed by breaking glass. I recall seeing the people who were killed literally yards ahead of me.

I jumped straight onto a stationery no 30 bus before the traffic stalled.

I missed the Harrods bomb with seconds to spare. I can only believe there was a guardian angel on my shoulder that day.

Saying yes when my exH proposed. Now divorced, but a lot of suffering along the way. Should have said no.

On a more positive note, my first singing lesson opened up a world of choir and and singing and music. The best hobby ever 😍

Applied for a random job I had no real interest in and had never considered working in the area of...5 years later have progressed, am gaining further qualifications and confidence in myself and made a brilliant group of friends.

But meeting my husband did change the course of my life. For me, it was randomly booking the one and only holiday I have ever booked alone. Met my husband first day, never looked back.

I decided to go back into education. This after an upbringing with parents who did not believe that women should be educated and a husband who insisted he was clever and I wasn’t.

I achieved the highest grades in GCSEs and A levels. I have a diploma, a degree and a teaching qualification at Masters level.

I was trying to make friends in a new city which I'd moved to alone. I'd met someone who was going to take me to the rock club in town, but I got stood up.

I was on my way walking home when I decided I'd flip a coin. I'd either go home and watch TV on my own or I'd walk back and go to the club by myself and see if I could make any friends. I had horrendous anxiety at the time so it was a really big deal for me to even consider going on my own to a club. I'd never even been to a club before and I didn't even know where it was in the city, so it was a genuinely frightening idea.

The coin said go to the club, so I asked directions until I found it. I went up to a woman who looked friendly and explained I was alone and asked if she'd let me hang around with her. She said yes, and that was the start of me getting to know dozens and dozens of people, some of which are still my absolute best friends and chosen family to this day.

I often think that if My Mum and Dad would have moved to a different area (they were decided between 2) my life and the friends i met would have been very different. After all we are who we are because of everyone and everything. The biggest factor is though I wouldnt have had my DD or my Grand children as I met my DD's Dad in the local Pub (which had we moved to the alternative area I would have had no cause to be in, infact I probably wouldnt have even known it existed. Yes I may have still had a Daughter and Grand kids. It wouldnt have been them though.

Before My Paternal Nan met my Grandad she was getting ready to go on a date. Her Sister rang a dirty cloth out on her hair. My Nan couldn't and wouldn't go on her date without looking emaculate. This was back in the 1940s when very few people had phones. She had no way of contacting him to rearrange so obviously she just didn't turn up. I often think had she gone on that date her life could have been completely different. She wouldn't have my Dad therefore none of us (kids, grandkids, greatgrandkids) would have been here. My Nan would have had an entirely different family.

Also just over a year before my sister was born my Dad attempted to end his life. Thankfully he was found in time. However if he'd have succeeded in his attempt my sister and my nephews would never have existed.

The night my Dad met my mum he was going on a date. His date didn't turn up. She may have had good reason like my Nan did. My Dad still went out to and ended up in the Pub where my mum was a barmaid and the rest as the say is history. Incidentally also a few days before she was due to and work in Butlins. She got cold feet though. Obviously if she had have gone she probably would never have met my dad. She often used joke "I should have gone to Butlins."😂😂

But ops post didn't say that?

And all of us posting happy things on here will undoubtedly have gone through all sorts of shit too. Doesn't mean we cant talk about good things.

I've been through all sorts of trauma and loss and pain, sharing one rather serendipitous moment on this thread doesn't discount that or show a disrespect for others pain.

I might be making mine tomorrow

Going for an interview for a job with 15 grand drop in salary , less responsibilities, less stress , less hassle

If I like the feel of it , I will be making the move and trying to improve my work life personal balance

Yikes

Oh gosh, that must be hard to take in even now I am sure!

I love the rabbit story

I love this post. This happened to DS too. He seemed to overcome lifelong chronic shyness overnight. Just decided not to care what others think of him anymore and it transformed his social life.

Not running away at high speed when I started seeing my now ex. We were supposed to meet up but something came up. I went to their house later on that night and they'd smashed up the entire living room. That should have been my signal to run away very fast. We got married, had an amazing daughter and I'll be stuck with them in my life until my dying day.

Took the temporary job I wasn't sure about, because the contract was 4 weeks longer than the other temporary job.

Ended up staying for 7 years and it was the start of my career in the field.

The decision to go for fertility treatment

@AlexaCanYouHearMe

This thread isn't in relationships and many of the replies aren't about relationships either.

Why do you think anyone needs to "champion" the thread? (whatever that means).

Couple of moments

First more of a negative that could have been. I had a partner and we moved in together. Wanted to set up a joint account for paying bills but when I went to the bank the woman refused to accept whatever proof of address I had (I had gas bill, she wanted council tax something like that which seemed ridiculous). In the end I just set stuff up from my own account. Well as it turned out my partner at the time has terrible credit history and I am forever thankful I never tied myself to him financially. I often wonder if she was trying to tell me this without telling me.

Second was a decision to move to North Scotland. Went up for a visit as said ex partner had a course. Missed the bus back to where we were staying so decided to walk part way. I absolutely fell in love with the place and still consider myself lucky every time I step out of the door. The partner I moved here with didn't last long so it was a bit lonely for a while but then met my lovely husband as a result of babysitting for a friend when her mother was ill. She worked the odd shift in the pub, I'd mentioned he seemed nice, he was in that night and said similar so she insisted he hand over his phone and put my number in it. One good turn and all that.

Ah lost my big long post 😡I'll do it later.

When I was 19 I worked in a high street clothing shop. I was due to be on annual leave, but got a call asking if I could go and cover a few shifts at a branch in a near by town, who were having massive staffing issues. I initially said no, but since I had no real plans and they were desperate phoned back and said yes. When I was there, they asked me to re-do a couple of their walls/displays, because the seasons/trends were changing.

The next day there was a surprise visit from higher management, who loved what I had done and pushed for me to look at joining the merchandising team. I ended up working as a Field Visual Merchandiser. I was able to support in stores around the country, as well as opening stores across Europe and America.

Merchandising wasn’t even on my radar in my own store, and had I not agreed to do those couple of shifts I would have missed out on a massive opportunity and an incredibly happy few years.

Was invited last minute as a clear space filler to a very distant friend’s wedding. Literally decided to go about an hour before. Met my DH that night.

We both have shudders at what might’ve happened if I hadn’t gone!

Filling out the UCAS application that my head of sixth form put in front of me even though I hasn't ever thought university was for me.