Imagine staring down a seemingly insurmountable obstacle: emotional turmoil, a broken relationship, addiction etc. These moments of crisis can leave us feeling utterly paralyzed, unsure of how to move forward. But amidst the fear and uncertainty, there’s also a wellspring of resilience. As the following anecdotes gathered from Reddit entries will show, with support and perseverance, even the toughest situations can be navigated.
A Bike That Saves My Life
Many years ago, after I got out of the army, and my new family (Wife and 8-month-old son) had left, I got a big tax return. I was in a black pit and had zero desire to live. I got into my little car, and drove into town, with (the) intention of buying a firearm so I could go far, far away from any other people and just end it.
Across the street from the gun store, I saw a motorcycle shop. They had a used 1986 Honda XL250R. I asked about it. The salesman promptly climbed on the bike, kicked it to life right there in the shop, rode it out into the street, and proceeded to ride the damned thing up and down the road in front of the shop on the back tyre.
I bought that bike, instead of a firearm. Hauled it out to some trails. Rode it around. Dropped it in the mud. Rode some more.
I did the same the next day. And the weekend after that.
And the weekend after that.
My parents hated the very idea that I had a motorcycle of any kind. They “knew” I’d be dead within six months. That was 17 years ago.
If only they had known what I went out for that day when an old Honda saved my life.
—Idiot_Savant_Tinker
A Phone Call From Across The Country
Was lost in drugs and alcohol bad. Worse than I’ve ever been. I was taking Suboxone to heroin. Which it did but I was still addicted to it. I was smoking crack. All my money was going to it. Also drinking heavily. I hated it but couldn’t stop. Came to work after drinking a pint of vodka. Had another one in my car. Drank it smoked a cigarette. I passed out and my boss knocked on my door and said punch out go home. So I was terminated. 2 days later I got evicted from my apartment. I was late on rent and they also went inside to change the heater vents. It was completely fucked up. Crack pipes and shit everywhere. Got some money from getting fired because they gave me all the money owed to me counting vacation time and 401k liquidated. Got a shitty ass hotel and kept smoking crack and drinking. Flipped my car. I was fine but the car totaled. Ran through the woods and found my way to a hospital and told them (that) my friend was driving my car and it flipped. So I didn’t get a DUI. I got lucky. Anyway, I was so disgusted with myself and a goddam angel from heaven came and saved me. I was trying to get to rehab but my insurance sucked and I think my work only kept it on for the rest of the month. No luck.
Then all of a sudden I’m connected on the phone with a place that’s across the country. I almost hung up. They said they would pay for the plane ticket, (I) just (need to) show up. I didn’t believe them I thought it was a scam. But I said, “fuck it what do I have to lose?”. Showed up at the airport (and) the ticket worked. Someone picked me up and brought me to detox. I went through a solid month of hell but I made it. If I didn’t get connected to that person I was going to smoke the rest of my crack and throw myself in front of a train. I was calling local rehabs. I don’t know I got connected to one across the country but it saved me. Left it all behind and haven’t looked back. I’m now married. I have a somewhat decent job, a somewhat decent car and 2 cats and just living life.
— Anonymous
A Help from YouTuber
I realised that I’d suppressed my emotions about growing up to the point that I lost the ability to tell what any emotion was. I could vaguely recognise ‘good’ or ‘bad’ so I moved out of home.
I ended up finding a YouTuber who made music that I thought was cute so followed them. They ended up making a tonne of videos basically journalling and processing a tonne of their life on camera and I ended up watching those so much because I found it fascinating to watch somebody experience life so differently.
It ended up giving me a path back to healing my emotions and processing my life. I (have) since gone on to have counselling and a lot of effort (was) put towards my health after that.
—AdonisO
Ally McBeal Helped
Was suicidal at university in the 90s. Never attempted but kept planning it and was probably <24 hours away from going through with it many times.
Not gonna lie when I say Ally McBeal saved my life. (Please laugh, because it’s hilarious. But it’s fucking true.) I’d never encountered a show so fresh and modern and honest and clumsy. I watched it religiously, recorded it, (and) watched it again and again. I thought if this nutty fictional woman can exist in this fictional world, why can’t I?
Over time my suicidal thoughts dissipated. I went to therapy. Haven’t been suicidal in >20 years.
I’m now married to the most amazing human in the world, going on 13 years. I have few close friends but they’re very close and wonderful people. I’m an exec at a Fortune 10 company, making fuck you money, travelling the world for work to places like London and Tokyo.
Every day is a blessing.
—DougIsMyV*brator
Life is challenging but they aren’t there to break us. Most of the time, they happen because we need a little bit of push to be a better version of ourselves. The anecdotes above showcase ways other people navigate hardships and suicidal ideation. As Publilius Syrus said, “Fools learn by experience. I prefer to learn by others’ experience.”
