There are some experiences that don’t just give you a good story. They permanently change how you see the world. They make you more grateful, more resilient, more empathetic, or simply remind you how much bigger life is than your daily routine.
When someone on Reddit asked, “What life-altering things should every human ideally get to experience at least once in their lives?”, thousands of people shared the moments that had the biggest impact on them. Some answers were breathtaking, like seeing the Milky Way from a truly dark sky. Others were difficult, including heartbreak, failure, and standing beside a loved one in their final moments. Together, they paint a surprisingly powerful picture of the experiences that shape us into who we become.
Here are 29 of the most thoughtful and memorable responses.
