101 short stories that will leave you smiling, crying and thinking

8/6/2019 101 Short Stories That Will Leave You Smiling, Crying and Thinking

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101 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 share

d. 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 ourminds. 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 101 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?

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 didnt recognizeher. 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. MMTToday, at the age of 70, my grandfather graduated from college with a bachelors degree in business studies. Hes been a successful business owner most of his life, but he told me he earned his degree to fulfill a promise he made to his motherbefore she lost her battle with cancer 50 years ago. MMTToday, my mom is a healthy 54 year old who successfully owns and operates a popular bakery downtown 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 chemo therapy, and succeeded on all fronts. MMTToday, 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 myface. MMTToday, as a young up and coming lawyer, everyone in the firm was congratulating mefor winning my first big case this morning. And all day long all I could thinkabout is how I used a technicality in the law to help a murderer walk away a free man. MMTToday, on our 50th wedding anniversary, she smiled at me and said, I only wish Ihad met you sooner. MMTToday, after 2 years of separation, my ex-wife and I resolved our differences an

d met for dinner. We laughed and chatted for almost 4 hours. Then just beforeshe left, she handed me a large envelope. In it were 20 love letters she wroteme over the last 2 years. There was a post-it note on the envelope that said, Letters I was too stubborn to send. MMTToday, when I slipped on the wet tile floor a boy in a wheelchair caught me before I slammed my head on the ground. He said, Believe it or not, thats almost exactly how I injured my back 3 years ago. MMTToday, someone elses 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. MMTToday marks the ten year anniversary of the day when I slapped him and screamedat 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. MMTToday at 7AM I woke up feeling ill, but decided I needed the money, so I went into work. At 3PM I got laid off. On my drive home I got a flat tire. When I w


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ent into the trunk for the spare, it was flat too. A man in a BMW pulled over,gave me a ride, we chatted, and then he offered me a job. I start tomorrow. MMTToday, 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 nextto me asked her mom why 2 men were holding hands. Her mom replied, Because theylove each other. MMT

Today, after the funeral, I went back to my parents empty house the house I grewup in. As I gazed around in awe of all the great memories we made in it, I noticed an old photo of my parents in their 20s sitting on the coffee table. In my fathers handwriting, across the back was written, In this moment, we were infinite. MMTToday, as I walked away from the airport gate alone with my head held high and eyes beet red from crying, I knew at that moment what it meant to be a military wife. MMTToday, 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 smilebecause Ive struggled with my weight since I was 15. MMT

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 hewas alive 60 of which he spent with me. MMTToday, as my father, three brothers, and two sisters stood around my mothers hospital bed, my mother uttered her last coherent words before she died. She simplysaid, I feel so loved right now. We should have gotten together like this moreoften. MMTToday, my richest friend growing up filed for bankruptcy and one of my poorest friends growing up purchased his second vacation home. MMTToday, 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 re

luctant, 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. MMTToday, I was all dressed up and waiting on my blind date to arrive. He never showed up. It made me feel ugly. I thought he may have seen me from a distance and bailed. Then as I left the restaurant alone, I heard a little girl ask her mom if I was a princess. It made me smile and it MMT.Today, while I was driving my grandfather to his doctors appointment, I complained about hitting 2 red lights in a row. My grandfather chuckled and said, You always complain about the red lights, but you never celebrate the green ones. MMTToday 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 actuallybegan crying. As he left the office building, he took off his jacket. His t-shirt underneath read, I love the USA! MMTToday, 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 inthe evening they went out onto the dance floor. The man got down on his kneesso they could slow dance together. They danced the rest of the night. MMTToday, I was the maid of honor in her wedding. Four years ago she was declaredcancer free. Eight years ago, during our senior year of college, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and told she had eighteen months to live. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, my close friend died unexpectedly in a car accident. A cab driver saw me

crying outside the hospital all alone at 3AM. He stopped, helped me into the cab, drove me to my house 30 miles away and refused to let me pay him. MMTToday, I kissed my dad on the forehead as he passed away in a small hospital bed


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. About 5 seconds after he passed, I realized it was the first time I had givenhim a kiss since I was a little boy. MMTToday 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. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, 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 bedroomapartment and forced to play board games and eat supper together. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, at a funeral reception, everyone had something kind to say about the deceased. As they spoke through their tears, many of them admitted that they wish they had told John how wonderful he was before he died. MMTToday, after watching a violent horror movie, my little brother abruptly asked m

y grandfather how he wants to die.Like the sunset,

my grandfather replied. MMTToday, when I witnessed a 27-year-old breast cancer patient laughing hystericall

y at her 2-year-old daughters antics, I suddenly realized that I need to stop complaining about my life and start celebrating it again. MMTToday, as they teased me and laughed hysterically, I just wished they could seethe world through my eyes. MMTToday, as I read my brothers suicide note, chills ran down my spine because I washorrified by the fact that I could relate to everything he wrote. MMTToday, 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 doesnt 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. MMTToday, 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?MMTToday, I was traveling in Kenya and I met a refugee from Zimbabwe. He said he hadnt eaten anything in over 3 days and looked extremely skinny and unhealthy. Then my friend offered him the rest of the sandwich he was eating. The first thing the man said was, We can share it. MMTToday, I told my mom that I feel like Im 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. MMTToday, I met an amazing guy at a local diner during the breakfast rush. He wassincere 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. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, a boy in a wheelchair saw me desperately struggling on crutches with my broken leg and offered to carry my backpack and books for me. He helped me all the way across campus to my class and as he was leaving he said, I hope you feel better soon. MMTToday, I lost my mom to cancer. My whole life I wanted to build an empire of wealth. And now that Im relatively wealthy, all I want is my mom back. MMTToday, after telling my grandmother that I didnt want to risk making such a hugemistake, 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

Today, while everyone else was complaining about the overbooked flight, I smiledand 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


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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. MMTToday, the evening news report forgot to mention that I was driving home from work five miles an hour below the posted speed limit and that he was an intoxicated drug addict with suicidal tendencies who deliberately jumped out in front of my vehicle. MMTToday at 3PM my wife checked herself into an alcoholic rehab clinic all by herse

lf after our son showed her bruise marks and belt lash welts on his backside that she couldnt even recall giving him. I dont even know how I feel right now, angry at her or proud. My head is spinning, and it all MMT.Today, I swore to her that if she followed through with it, Id do the same. Andshe 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. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, my electric wheelchair broke down as I was rushing across campus to takea midterm exam. Two female joggers noticed I was stuck and asked if I needed assistance. When I explained my dilemma, they both pushed me simultaneously all t

he way to my class and got me there just in time. MMTToday, 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 mansmiled 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. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, as I watched my 75 year old grandmother and grandfather being silly witheach other and laughing in the kitchen, I felt like I got a short glimpse of what true love feels like. I hope I find it someday. MMTToday, we were supposed to meet in the park. But instead I met her in the hospitals intensive care unit. And as I sat beside her bed and staring at her unconscious body hooked up to all the breathing equipment, I reached into my pocket, pu

lled out the diamond engagement ring, and cried. Im still here waiting and hoping. MMTToday, when I told my 8 year old son that all of our dreams are within reach aslong as we follow our heart and take action, he asked me if it was always my dream to be a waitress. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor and given 3 to 6 months to live 10minutes before the hospital realized they mixed up my biopsy results with the patient in the next room. MMTToday, as my son cried in my arms, he said, What nobody realizes is that its torture. Every day of my life I wish I wasnt gay. MMTToday, my blind friend explained to me in vivid detail how beautiful his new girlfriend is. MMTToday, my mother passed away after a long battle with cancer. My best friend lives 2000 miles away and called to comfort me. While on the phone, he asked, Whatwould you do if I showed up at your house and gave you the biggest hug in the world? I would surely smile, I replied. And then he rang my doorbell. MMTToday, the main girl who bullied me in high school came into my office apologizing and pleading for a job. Im still thinking about it. MMTToday, I was stopped at a traffic light when a mid-aged homeless woman asked mefor change. I usually I dont 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 breadand peanut butter. She was so happy to see me. MMT

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


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work that day upon learning his daughter was in labor. MMTToday, I was driving to a job interview when I saw a businesswoman standing nextto 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. MMTToday 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 s

oon. I told her I would be in 6 weeks. She smiled and said, Can you please tellmy daddy that I love him. My mommy told me hes never coming home from over there. MMTToday, 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, Im 86 and I cant take this money with me. So please spoil yourself with it. MMTToday, I met an elderly man at a bar in Miami. When I asked him if he was vacationing, he handed me a photo from his wallet and said, Today would be our 50th anniversary. And although shes been gone 10 years now, this bar still reminds me of her smile - when we shared our first laugh here so many moons ago. MMTToday, another cancer patient of mine cried and begged me to let her die. MMTToday, my father told me, Just go for it and give it a try! You dont have to be a

professional to build a successful product. Amateurs started Google and Apple.Professionals built the Titanic. MMTToday, as soon as my 5-year-old baby brother came into my room, I yelled at himto get out without even looking up at him. When he didnt 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. MMTToday, 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 doesnt take youaway from me too. MMTToday, after spending the last 3 years viciously bickering with the college kidwho lives next door, I found myself crying in his arms and thanking him repeatedly for saving my sons life. MMT

Today at the diner where I work, an elderly couple came in for the 4th time thisweek and requested my table. I asked them what kept them coming back. They told me that I reminded them of their granddaughter who passed away 6 years ago.Then they told me her name. She was my best friend at the time. MMTToday, my dad told me and my little sister that we might lose our house. I was sad, angry, worried and stressed. My 14 yr old sister asked me whats wrong. WhenI told her, she said, Its just a house. I dont care where we live, as long as weretogether. MMTToday, I read countless articles about the slain soldiers at Fort Hood. And itoccurred to me that if these soldiers had been deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq and died there, their deaths wouldnt have made the front page of the newspaper. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, for the four hours he was breathing, his father and I loved him for a lifetime. MMTToday, 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. MMTToday, I stopped to chat with the office janitor like I do every Monday morningon my way into work. And at the end of our conversation he grinned and said, Youknow, youre the only one who ever stops to talk to me around here, and youre thePresident and CEO. MMT

Today, exactly twenty years ago to the hour, I risked my life to save a woman who was drowning in the rapids of the Colorado River. And thats how I met my wife- the love of my life. MMT


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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 affair6 months ago, Im not sure I know where home is anymore. MMTToday, as I stared down blankly at the $750,000 life insurance check, I couldnt help but wish it had been me instead. MMTToday, my wife checked herself into an alcohol rehab clinic after she glanced upat me while she was eating her breakfast and asked how I got a black eye and fi

ngernail scratches all over my face. MMTToday I found out that my high school friend Id been meaning to get in touch withfor the last year died last week. MMTToday, I asked my mentor a very successful business man in his 70s what his top 3tips are for success. He smiled and said, Read something no one else is reading, think something no one else is thinking, and do something no one else is doing. MMTToday, after spending the last ten years serving liquor to alcoholics all day every day I looked in the mirror and felt disgusted. Ive concluded that I am, in fact, a failure, even though all my friends call me a successful business owner.MMTToday, as my grandfather (a military doctor, war hero, and successful business o

wner) 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. MMTToday, its just the six of us. One was raped when she was fourteen. Three comefrom abusive households. Two were orphans. Like me, one spent almost two straight years in a psychiatric facility as a kid. But I wouldnt trade a single one of them for all the perfect friends in the universe. MMTToday, I was walking home from work in the pouring rain without an umbrella. Iwas 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 handedme the umbrella. He said, This is my stop and you look like you need an umbrella. Pass it along someday when the opportunity arises. MMTToday, my friend told me she didnt mind being legally blind, with only 12% of her

vision. She said, After it rains theres usually a dew left on the grass. And because of the way my eyes refract the light, I see rainbows in the grass. MMTToday, at a neighborhood BBQ my neighbors son - a 25 year old Marine dropped to the floor and started crying when one of the other guests lit off a round of firecrackers. MMTToday, 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 themiddle of the street just before a swerving drunk driver ran over my sons tricycle and kept going. MMTToday, 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 abandage on his head. My mom said he insisted that he didnt want me to feel alone. MMTToday, when I tapped the side of my wheelchair and told my husband, Youre the onlyreason I want to be free from this contraption, he kissed me on my forehead andsaid, Honey, I dont even see that thing. MMTToday, I was jogging in Central Park when this lady started screaming for help.Her husband was having a heart attack. I ran over and checked his pulse. He didnt have one. I gave him CPR and got his heart beating before the paramedics arrived. Ive done some bad things in my life, but today I saved a life. MMTToday, I met a powerful businessman who is worth 100 million dollars. In conversation he told me he regretted never making it to his sons hockey games or his daughters dance recitals. It made me smile because my dad is probably only worth a

s much as this mans last paycheck, but he made it to everything. MMTToday, at the food court in the mall, a beautiful girl about my age came up to me and hugged me with tears in her eyes. Once she calmed down, I realized that I


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had pulled her out of a bathtub a month earlier, her wrists covered in slashes.I am an EMT, and her gesture of appreciation MMT.Today, my fianc was in a head-on collision car accident. He is currently in a coma. And all I can think about is the argument we had this morning. I screamedat him for screaming at me. It was a petty argument. But if he could scream now, I wouldnt say a word. Id just listen to the sound of his voice. MMTToday, I have two twin boys in my kindergarten class. I have heard from other p

arents 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. MMTToday, I interviewed my grandmother for part of a research paper Im working on for my Psychology class. When I asked her to define success in her own words, shesaid, Success is when you look back at your life and the memories make you smile. MMT

101 short stories that will leave you smiling, crying and thinking

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