Life is full of bittersweet moments, no doubt about it.
Experiences that are simultaneously happy and sad, or funny and tragic.
We’ve all had many of them in our lives.
People on AskReddit shared the most bittersweet moments they’ve ever had.
Take a look.
1. The last thing she ever said.
“About ten years ago just before she d**d of lung cancer, my mom called me by my childhood nickname, told me she loved me and then fell asleep.
That was the last thing she ever said to me. I was 35 when she d**d and she hadn’t called me that nickname in maybe 30 years.
I still tear up thinking about it.”
2. Time to let her go.
“Breaking up with my then girlfriend because her dream of moving abroad permanently was coming true.
I was happy for her but sad to see her leave.”
3. Rest in peace.
“Holding my grandfather’s hand as he passed away.
It was incredibly sad to see him go, but also relieving to see that it was peaceful and that he had been released.”
4. Empty nest.
“Just dropped my youngest off at college and this morning woke to the empty nest. We love them and raise them so one day they fledge. It’s heartbreaking and remarkable.
The most bittersweet experience. Dang! Now I’m crying! I can say I truly took the advice of ‘enjoy every day’ for I really did! A few bad moments but never a bad day.
Enjoy your babies!”
5. Sad.
“My fiance’s funeral. It was literally the first time I got to meet his mom. And she was such a sweet lady.
When I tried to give her back my ring because it had belonged to her mother. She refused to take it, she told me “My son chose you to give it to. And it would be rude of me to take back his choice.” She probably still has no idea how much it meant to me.
I literally have no pictures or anything of him. But I still have my memories and my ring I keep in my jewelry box.”
6. Like the old days.
“Recently had one last sleepover with my childhood friend before he passed from leukemia.
It was just like being kids again.”
7. You did a good thing.
“Adopting a decrepit senior dog with one hot mess of a body. He was cherished and adored by myself and daughter.
My daughter was his main squeeze. He had health problems galore but he always persevered, and for a brief moment he got to BE a dog.
One year ago we helped him cross the rainbow bridge. My daughter made the decision that she would be there, she held his snout in her hands and kissed him the entire time.
She was so brave, because of him.”
8. Farwell.
“The last conversation I had with my Grandad he was reminiscing about when he was a farmer, and started talking about his horses.
I asked him how you took care of a horse back then (he stopped farming in the 1950s, the conversation was in 2004) and he spent a good 30 minutes explaining what they did and how much land you needed etc. A simple conversation about country life and animals, two of his favourite things.
I live in another country so when I said farewell I had a nasty feeling it’d be the final time I ever visited or saw that house. He d**d 10 months later. The next time I was able to get to England was in 2011 and I visited his grave instead.”
9. Good luck to you.
“Well, I may be getting deployed unexpectedly due to the current craziness in the world, so my wife and I decided to get married Saturday.
Happiest day of my life, but I’m nervous about possibly having to leave this week or next.”
10. A great bond.
“When my father was d**ng it was kind of sudden but there was a moment at the hospital where he was awake and we were going in one at a time to say goodbye.
He couldn’t speak but he was giving understanding looks, as my brother, his adult grandkids, my mom went in. I was last because I knew he would want a little more time, I’m his youngest and we have a different relationship, not better just more friends ish.
When I went in he immediately motioned in a way that I knew he was thirsty, the nurse saw too so she gave me water to rub on his lips. It was so sad and so intimate. Like he wouldn’t burden anyone else with his comfort in this moment?
I had been quietly taking care of him for most of my life and had recently moved to NY and it was the furthest we had been apart but he still saw me as being able to care for him. That was our last moment together before I watched him d** like 10 hours later. I was the one to tell the nurses to stop reviving him because everyone else was being…. a lot?
At the time I thought it was a sign of this really great bond we had, but now I realize I actually took on a lot of emotional stuff for him I was probably a little young for.
But he also may have been ok doing it because I knew how he felt about me so I didn’t need a moment, or maybe he just couldn’t hold it back anymore. Who knows.”
11. It’s mutual.
“Realizing there was a mutual love with a friend, but that it was platonic, and we absolutely wouldn’t work as a couple.”
12. Bad timing.
“Finding out my crush liked me back.
However she was going to switch cities and we were too young so I let it go.
It hurt, but it was for the better of both of us.”
13. Goodbye.
“My grandpa d**d when I was 9 and the last time I saw him I had an urge to hug him goodbye – even though we usually never hugged.
He d**d the next night and I still remember that hug vividly.”
Okay, you know the drill…
Now we want to hear from you!
In the comments, tell us about your most bittersweet moments.
We look forward to it!