Not so much what I did as what I didn’t do. I was picking up a birthday cake for one of my kids and I was standing in line behind a lady who was obviously doing the same thing. Based on her appearance and the fact that she was fumbling through her wallet while on the phone with the bank, I got the sense that she was a little short on cash.
Something told me I should go ahead and pay for her cake. I could easily afford it so why not? For whatever reason I chickened out. I don’t know why.
I left there with my kids birthday cake, feeling very ashamed of myself. It was a small thing and yet to me it was a serious moral failure.
I just put myself in that scenario and had the thought “man, what if she’s flustered about something else, and having a rough day in general, then I go and swoop in and basically accuse her of being poor in public. She’d feel terrible and I will have made her day worse.”
You would have walked out of there feeling like shit in two of the three ways that could have gone. Don’t beat yourself up over it; clearly you’re empathetic and care about people. That tells me you DO act when it’s appropriate and you do want to be a positive force in this world. Congratulations! The world is better with you in it
My partner recently had a financial and vehicle emergency and to help out I moved in with her. I now drive her around and help pay for her rent. I was supposed to stay for a week and now it’s been about two months.
I moved out of my parents to do this and because I cannot afford it, I do not pay part of their rent now. They can afford to get by, but my dad’s work van recently broke down and he works out of that truck so it has affected his income and he now has to replace the van which is very expensive.
They are now struggling financially and I feel like I could help if I move back in with them to help pay for rent. They are now in the same situation my partner was in two months ago, but I have not left to help them and it eats me up inside every morning when I wake up.
Literally all the time, but OK…
Last Saturday night, bored, make an impulse decision to buy soccer tickets. Get some really nice seats, front row of the second level. Seats 1 and 2, on the aisle.
Get to the stadium moments before kick-off, head to our section, there’s a guy and his wife sitting in the two seats on the aisle. I ask if they’re sure they’re in the right place and show him my tickets: seats 1 and 2, right on the aisle. He looks confused, apologizes, they leave. As my wife and I are sitting down, I see the little seat number I missed before. These are seats 20 and 19…the wrong end of the row from where we’re supposed to be. I mistakenly assumed the seats were numbered left to right, but they’re right to left for some reason.
Cringe, wonder if they’ll notice or if they’ll just take the open seats down on the far end of the row. Look over and I see the guy looking at seats 1 and 2 and scowling. The teams are lining up, the game has just started. I sigh and head into the concourse, catch up with the guy as he is coming back down from the right side of the section.
I apologize, say it was totally my mistake, offer to let them keep seats 1-2 since they’re here already, guy insists on taking back seats 20-19 since that’s what he paid for. Completely understand, sorry again for the misunderstanding.
While we’re in the concourse straightening things out, the home team scores what will end up being their only goal of the game. We both miss it. We go on to lose 3-1.
Forgot my best friend’s birthday. We don’t normally get each other anything, or celebrate in any way, so it slipped my mind. Felt awful and wanted to turn back time so bad.
Bear hugged a belayer while in the middle of belaying a climber. Had no idea he was belaying thought he was untieing his knot. Nobody was hurt and nothing happened but I cringe every time I think about it.
I was raised catholic, I always feel that guilt 100% of the time
Almost a decade ago, back when I got my first grown up job, a homeless person came up to me on my way back from lunch and asked if he could have some food. I told him sorry and kept walking. When I got back to my seat, I realized what I had done so I went back out to try to find the guy so I could buy him a meal. Couldn’t find him. Feel like shit every time I think about it.
30 years ago
Someone was harassing an unrequited crush of his and I have an inkling I was harsh on the harasser because of his issues and the fact I was taunt-like when dealing with him. After a day there was an eerie silence and I thought about it for a while.
All the time for the past few months, I went through a break up because of my own stupidity, but recently she wants to talk again, but lightly, and with the fact that nothing romantic is possible. I tried talking to more people and even one I caught a few feelings for but I realized I didn’t actually like them and it just made me realize how great she was again. I just constantly feel guilty cause I want to try again but I know I don’t deserve another chance, and other parts of my life with me trying to find a new place to live, a new job, dealing with college classes that I didn’t really wanna do. I just feel like a constant failure when I had so much opportunity. Got depression meds, and they worked for a while, but they are working less and less now.
