Sometimes the most random everyday encounters force us to stop and rethink the truths and perceptions we have ingrained in our minds. These encounters are educationally priceless. They spawn moments of deep thought and self-reflection that challenge the status quo and help us evolve as sensible individuals.

On our new sister site, Makes Me Think, we call these thought-provoking life experiences ‘MMTs’. Makes Me Think is an online community where people share daily life stories that provoke deep thought and inspire positive change.

Here’s a sample of 32 MMT stories that were recently submitted to the site:

Today, I was sitting on a hotel balcony watching 2 lovers in the distance walk along the beach. From their body language, I could tell they were laughing and enjoying each other’s company. As they got closer, I realized they were my parents. My parents almost got divorced 8 years ago. MMT Today, I asked my 6 year old son what he wants to be when he grows up. He said, “Mommy, all I want to be is happy.” MMT Today, after spending the last 3 years viciously bickering with the college kid who lives next door, I found myself crying in his arms and thanking him repeatedly for saving my son’s life. MMT Today, my daughter confronted me with the fact that my biggest fear, a fear that has held me back from many life experiences, has never come true. I am 76 years old. MMT Today, I attended the grand opening for Shane’s art gallery. Shane is a quirky, soft-spoken guy with long red hair. For the last 5 years I’ve thought he was a bit of a weirdo. But today I realized Shane’s weirdness is just the side-effect of being an artistic genius. MMT Today, my company employs 130 intelligent individuals and turns a net profit of nearly $500K a year. I started this company 10 years ago after I was laid off by IBM. If they hadn’t laid me off, I might still be working in a cubicle at IBM today. MMT Today, I waited on an elderly woman at the local restaurant where I work. She left me a $90 tip on a $10 tab with a handwritten note that said, “I’m 86 and I can’t take this money with me. So please spoil yourself with it.” MMT Today, I tested a theory that didn’t work, which led me to different theory that didn’t work, which spawned a totally new idea that seems to work really well. Although it doesn’t solve the original problem, all of my business partners agree that this idea has earth-shattering potential. MMT Today, I saw a pretty scary looking guy who had a tall blue mohawk and tattoos and piercings all over his body. He was helping my elderly neighbor take her trash down to the curb. My neighbor told me afterwards that the guy was just walking by and offered to help. MMT Today, I married the man of my dreams. I left for college at 18 and looked for him there. Nothing. I moved to a new city and looked for him there. Nothing. Then last fall I returned home for Thanksgiving. My brother’s best friend, whom I grew up with, joined us for dinner. And I found him. MMT Today, I was reunited with an old buddy. Throughout college we were best friends. Then just before graduation we got into a nasty fight over a girl. Terrible words were exchanged and we never spoke again, until today. And as we hugged each other, we acknowledged how irrelevant that girl is now. MMT Today, my 21 year old son’s alternative rock band received a record deal from a major record label. I spent the last 5 years trying to convince him that college was the smarter way to go. But he stood his ground and pursued his dream. And now he’s living it. MMT Today, I was walking along the boardwalk in Pacific Beach when I saw 4 teenagers heckling a homeless beach bum. He laughed and said, “I’m not crazy! ‘Crazy’ is spending 40 years of your life hating 40 hours a week.” MMT Today, I met a movie star celebrity who has been one of my idols since I was a kid. He was a total jerk in real life. MMT Today, a lady walked up to me in the gym and asked me to give her some workout pointers. She said, “You look incredible! Watching you gradually tone-up and progress in here has become my primary inspiration to get in shape.” It made me smile because I’ve struggled with my weight since I was 15. MMT Today, I implemented a web-based business idea I got from my girlfriend. The kickoff was a total success. She actually tried explaining this idea to me 2 years ago, but I was too busy at the time to listen. MMT Today, I checked my account balance and realized I had been fined $40 by my bank for a $2 overdraft when I bought a coffee on the way to work. “I couldn’t be any more broke!” I cried aloud as I walked outside to get some air. Just then a skinny homeless man limped out from a nearby alleyway. MMT Today, my daughter who struggled to get C’s in grade school owns a multi-million dollar cosmetics company. My daughter who was in the gifted program in grade school is happily employed as a kindergarten teacher making $35K a year. MMT Today, I ran into an old best friend I haven’t seen in nearly a year. We live in the same city, but we’re just so busy. MMT Today, we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We unknowingly held our wedding in a park on the same day a college fraternity was tailgating. There were drunken college kids everywhere. At the time it seemed horrific. But it produced several amusing stories our family still laughs about today. MMT Today, I returned 2 library books that were 3 months overdue. The librarian looked extremely nervous as she informed me of my $34 late fee. When I smiled and handed her the $34, she said, “Oh, thanks for being so nice about it. Most people scream at me when I inform them of their late fees.” MMT Today, my employer officially approved my request to work from home 2 days a week. All of my friends and family were shocked. “When did your employer implement this policy?” they asked. “About 2 weeks after I pitched the idea to the CEO,” I replied. MMT Today, I was dealt a colossal life lesson. My girlfriend is pregnant. I’ve worn a condom every single time we’ve had sex for the last 2 years… except for this one night last month when we were really, really drunk. MMT Today, I visited an old neighborhood where I used to live. The landscaping in every yard seemed better kept than I remember. And everyone on the block seemed friendlier. But other than the couple who moved into my old house, the same exact people live there. MMT Today, my mother-in-law cooked fish for dinner. I have refused to eat fish since I was a child. But I didn’t want to seem rude, so I sucked it up and ate it anyway. Surprisingly, I thought it was pretty good. And I may try it again sometime soon. MMT Today, I was at the beach watching a little girl chase her father’s remote controlled car around in circles. She kept jumping forward and falling on her knees in an effort to catch the car as it skidded by. She did this 31 times and failed. But on attempt #32, she caught the car. MMT Today, a complete stranger outside a local coffee shop was holding a sign that said, “Free Hugs.” I hesitated at first, but then I decided to give her a hug. Truthfully, it felt great! MMT Today, I heard another Michael Jackson song on the radio. For the last 15 years up until the day he died, it seemed like everyone thought he was a freak. Now, all I hear are MJ songs on the radio and people calling him a musical genius. It’s like the world forgot what they had until it was gone. MMT Today, I was sitting on my front porch watching the neighbor’s kid have the time of his life with nothing more than a wooden stick and his imagination. MMT Today, I was in a really bad mood when a young girl came into my office sporting the most genuine smile I’d seen in a long while. She was bound to a wheelchair because she had no legs. MMT Today, I spent an hour with a stranger, said nothing, and walked away feeling like I just had the best conversation ever. MMT Today, I was working in a coffee shop when 2 gay men walked in holding hands. As you might expect, heads started turning. Then a young girl at the table next to me asked her mom why 2 men were holding hands. Her mom replied, “Because they love each other.” MMT

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