51 Short Stories that Will Leave You Smiling, Crying and Thinking

Posted By Jigyasu.

51 Short Stories that Will Leave You Smiling, Crying and Thinking

Since its inception eighteen months ago, our sister site Makes Me Think (MMT) has truly evolved into a remarkable online community.  Every day, users share their thought-provoking life stories and vote on stories that other users have shared.  Some are happy, some are sad, and others twist your emotions, pulling them in several directions at once.

As stated on the MMT About page, 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.

I believe the 51 stories listed below perfectly fulfill that description.  Of the thousands of stories that have been submitted to MMT in the last eighteen months, these are my personal favorites.

What do you think?

1. Today, after a 72-hour shift at the fire station, a woman ran up to me at the grocery store and gave me a hug.  When I tensed up, she realized I didn’t recognize her.  She let go with tears of joy in her eyes and the most sincere smile and said, on 9-11-2001, you carried me out of the World Trade Center.  MMT
2. Today, my mom is a healthy 54 years old who successfully owns and operates a popular bakery down town a goal she had all her life.  15 years ago she was diagnosed with cancer.  In the face of death, she quit her store clerk job, opened the bakery, started chemotherapy, and succeeded on all fronts.  MMT
3. Today, after I watched my dog get run over by a car, I sat on the side of the road holding him and crying.  And just before he died, he licked the tears off my face.  MMT
4. Today, as a young up and coming lawyer, everyone in the firm was congratulating me for winning my first big case this morning.  And all day long all I could think about is how I used a technicality in the law to help a murderer walk away a free man.  MMT
5. Today, after 2 years of separation, my ex-wife and I resolved our differences and met for dinner.  We laughed and chatted for almost 4 hours.  Then just before she left, she handed me a large envelope.  In it were 20 love letters she wrote me over the last 2 years.  There was a post-it note on the envelope that said, Letters I was too stubborn to send.  MMT
6. Today, someone else’s tragedy provided the miracle my family had prayed for.  Thanks to this stranger, my dad will have a heart.  Its so odd to think that an accidental death just saved his life.  MMT
7. Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the day when I slapped him and screamed at him remorselessly for not letting me in the bathroom after we ate breakfast.  That moment also marks the positive turning point in my battle with Bulimia.  I think he saved my life that day.  MMT
8. 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
9. 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 Ive struggled with my weight since I was 15.  MMT
10. Today, my grandpa died.  As I was crying and telling my grandma how sorry I was, she said, Lets stop being so sad and instead celebrate the 80 wonderful years he was alive 60 of which he spent with me.  MMT
11. Today, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mother’s hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died.  She simply said, I feel so loved right now.  We should have gotten together like this more often.  MMT
12. Today, my richest friend growing up filed for bankruptcy and one of my poorest friends growing up purchased his second vacation home.  MMT
13. Today, I pulled into a small gas station in the middle of the desert in New Mexico and realized I had left my wallet at my girlfriends house 5 hours away.  I had no money and barely enough gas to make it another mile down the road.  The only other person that stopped for gas was a burly looking trucker.  I was a bit reluctant, but I asked him for some spare change for gas.  Instead he filled my tank and said, Someone did this for me a few years ago.  MMT
14. Today in downtown San Diego, I watched a blue collar Mexican man get harassed for being Mexican.  It was a blatant act of discrimination.  And the man actually began crying.  As he left the office building, he took off his jacket. His t-shirt underneath read, I love the USA!  MMT
15. Today, at a jazz club in San Francisco I saw a man and woman enjoying a drink together.  The woman was a dwarf and the man must have been 6 feet tall.  Later in the evening they went out onto the dance floor.  The man got down on his knees so they could slow dance together.  They danced the rest of the night.  MMT
16. Today, I was the maid of honor in her wedding.  Four years ago she was declared cancer free.  Eight years ago, during our senior year of college, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and told she had eighteen months to live.  MMT
17. Today, I received a gigantic gift bag from one of my friends.  She said she appreciated me being there for her, and that I am one of her best friends.  She is mentally and physically handicapped, and I merely see her for half an hour once per week.  MMT
18. Today I met a 90 year old woman at Kinkos who was getting her passport photo taken so she could go on a Safari in Africa next month for her 91st birthday.  MMT
19. Today, in the cutest voice, my 8-year-old daughter asked me to start recycling.  I chuckled and asked, Why? She replied, So you can help me save the planet.  I chuckled again and asked, And why do you want to save the planet?  Because thats where I keep all my stuff, she said.  MMT
20. Today, I am thankful that my family has acquired enough wealth so that my parents can afford to live in their own house and send me and my siblings to college.  But I miss the days when we were younger and were all crammed into a 2 bedroom apartment and forced to play board games and eat supper together.  MMT
21. Today, my fathers mistress saved my mothers life when she ran into our fire-engulfed house and pulled my mother out to safety two minutes before the roof collapsed.  MMT
22. Today, after watching a violent horror movie, my little brother abruptly asked my grandfather how he wants to die.  Like the sunset, my grandfather replied.  MMT
23. Today, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hysterically at her 2-year-old daughters antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again.  MMT
24. Today, as they teased me and laughed hysterically, I just wished they could see the world through my eyes.  MMT
25. Today, as I read my brothers suicide note, chills ran down my spine because I was horrified by the fact that I could relate to everything he wrote.  MMT
26. Today, my son and I were in a car accident.  I came out of it with just a cut over my eye, but my son fell into a coma.  The doctor said if he doesn’t wake up soon his chances of a full recovery greatly decreases.  An hour ago he opened his eyes and said a word I thought Id never hear again, Mommy.  MMT
27. Today, I interviewed a woman who is terminally ill.  So, I tried to delicately ask, What is it like to wake up every morning and know that you are dying?  Well, she responded, What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?  MMT
28. Today, I told my mom that I feel like I’m failing with my alcoholism counseling and that I want to quit.  Then she said my 8 year old brother told her, I really like the new Elliot so much better.  MMT
29. Today, I met an amazing guy at a local diner during the breakfast rush.  He was sincere and handsome.  We agreed to meet back at the diner for lunch, but he never showed up.  I found out this evening from a mutual friend that he was in a fatal car accident on his lunch break two blocks away from the diner.  MMT
30. Today, for two hours I stood next to a 50 something year old, burly biker looking guy at a Lady Gaga concert while he sincerely sang his heart out.  MMT
31. Today, I lost my mom to cancer.  My whole life I wanted to build an empire of wealth.  And now that I’m relatively wealthy, all I want is my mom back.  MMT
32. Today, after telling my grandmother that I didn’t want to risk making such a huge mistake, she looked at me and said, Looking back on it all, there are so many mistakes I wish I had had the courage to make when I was your age.  MMT
33. Today, while everyone else was complaining about the overbooked flight, I smiled and joked with the gate agent about my willingness to sit in the belly of the plane with the luggage.  15 minutes later, the gate agent found me sitting in the gate area and hand delivered a first class ticket to me.  She winked and said, Thanks for being so patient.  As you know, the coach cabin is full.  MMT
34. Today at 3PM my wife checked herself into an alcoholic rehab clinic all by herself after our son showed her bruise marks and belt lash welts on his backside that she couldn’t even recall giving him.  I don’t even know how I feel right now, angry at her or proud.  My head is spinning, and it all MMT.
35. Today, I swore to her that if she followed through with it, Id do the same.  And she slowly pointed the gun away from her forehead and toward the floor.  Then she handed it to me and cried in my arms for almost three hours.  MMT
36. Today, a 12 year old boy died in a house fire near my neighborhood.  After he pulled his mom to safety, he ran back into the burning house for his 5-month-old baby sister.  MMT
37. Today, I was in line at the store behind a man holding a dozen roses.  When he got up to the cashiers counter, he realized that the cashier looked sad.  The man smiled and said, Im buying 11 of these roses for my wife.  And then he handed the cashier the 12th rose.  She smiled from ear to ear.  MMT
38. Today, when I told my 8 year old son that all of our dreams are within reach as long as we follow our heart and take action, he asked me if it was always my dream to be a waitress.  MMT
39. Today, after spending the last year working 60 hours a week in an attempt to give my family a more comfortable life, I forgot about my sons 14th birthday.  My son told me what the family really needs is more of me at home.  MMT
40. Today, I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor and given 3 to 6 months to live 10 minutes before the hospital realized they mixed up my biopsy results with the patient in the next room.  MMT
41. Today, as my son cried in my arms, he said, What nobody realizes is that its torture.  Every day of my life I wish I wasn’t gay.  MMT
42. Today, my blind friend explained to me in vivid detail how beautiful his new girlfriend is.  MMT
43. Today, I was stopped at a traffic light when a mid-aged homeless woman asked me for change.  I usually I don’t give out dollars to the homeless because I assume they are going to buy booze.  But I saw her 45 minutes later at 7/11 buying bread and peanut butter.  She was so happy to see me.  MMT
44. Today, my sister told me a student of hers turned eight years old on Friday.  When I realized he was born on September 11, 2001, I said, How horrible for his family.  My sister explained that his grandfather worked at the Pentagon and skipped work that day upon learning his daughter was in labor.  MMT
45. Today, I was driving to a job interview when I saw a businesswoman standing next to her BMW on the side of the road.  She had a flat tire.  I pulled over and helped her put on the spare.  When I arrived to the interview, the woman who I helped ended up being the CEO of the company.  I got the job.  MMT
46. Today at the Atlanta airport, as I walked off a plane dressed in my Army uniform, a little girl grabbed my hand and asked me if I would be going back overseas soon.  I told her I would be in 6 weeks.  She smiled and said, Can you please tell my daddy that I love him.  My mommy told me hes never coming home from over there.  MMT
47. Today, as soon as my 5-year-old baby brother came into my room, I yelled at him to get out without even looking up at him.  When he didn’t listen and I turned around to yell again, I noticed he had a bowl of cherries (my favorite) in his hands.  He said, Sorry, I just wanted to share these with you.  MMT
48. Today, when I got home from dropping you off at the airport, I sat at our kitchen table and stared down at my wedding ring and then up at the photo of my dad hanging on our refrigerator, and then I cried. I just hope the war doesn’t take you away from me too.  MMT
49. Today, I was walking past a group of homeless men who live near my complex.  A cab pulled up next to the men and the driver opened up the rear door and pulled out two huge grocery bags full of food.  He set them down next to the group of men, got in his cab and drove off without saying a word.  MMT
50. Today, for the four hours he was breathing, his father and I loved him for a lifetime.  MMT
51. Today, as I watched my oldest daughter graduate at the top of her class from Harvard Medical School, my wife reminded me that we had her when we were only seventeen.  MMT
52. Today, Im in Iraq on my third tour of duty fighting for a cause I no longer believe in.  And I want to go home.  But ever since I caught my wife having an affair 6 months ago, Im not sure I know where home is anymore.  MMT
53. Today, as I stared down blankly at the $750,000 life insurance check, I couldn’t help but wish it had been me instead.  MMT
54. Today, my wife checked herself into an alcohol rehab clinic after she glanced up at me while she was eating her breakfast and asked how I got a black eye and fingernail scratches all over my face.  MMT
55. Today, as my grandfather (a military doctor, war hero, and successful business owner) rested in his hospice bed, I asked him what his greatest life accomplishment was.  He turned around, grabbed my grandmothers hand, looked her in the eyes, and said, Growing old with you.  MMT
56. Today, its just the six of us.  One was raped when she was fourteen.  Three come from abusive households.  Two were orphans.  Like me, one spent almost two straight years in a psychiatric facility as a kid.  But I wouldn’t trade a single one of them for all the perfect friends in the universe.  MMT
57. Today, I was walking home from work in the pouring rain without an umbrella.  I was walking just behind an elderly man who had an umbrella.  As we both passed under the overhang to an apartment building, he stopped, turned around and handed me the umbrella.  He said, This is my stop and you look like you need an umbrella.  Pass it along someday when the opportunity arises.  MMT
58. Today, the teenager I scream at almost every day for driving too fast in the neighborhood because it worries me that hes going to run over my kids, ran across the street from his driveway to ours and grabbed my son off of his tricycle in the middle of the street just before a swerving drunk driver ran over my sons tricycle and kept going.  MMT
59. Today, I was in an accident that left me with a gash on my forehead.  The doctors wrapped a bandage around my head and said I have to keep it on all week.  I hate wearing it.  Two minutes ago my little brother walked into my room wearing a bandage on his head.  My mom said he insisted that he didnt want me to feel alone.  MMT
60. Today, I have two twin boys in my kindergarten class.  I have heard from other parents that they come from a very broken home in which their mother is in and out of rehab and their father is always away on business.  But their 16 year old sister never fails to get them to school on time or pack them a healthy bagged lunch with a smiley face on it.  MMT

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