Can you recall any moment when “the light came on” and you realized something that changed everything?

I remember working in retail during college. Of course I would try my best to do a good job. Going above and beyond while getting myself stressed with the job as if I'm in line to get promoted. Then my girlfriend at that time was like, "Why are you stressing over a 2 dollar raise?". Then I felt pretty stupid. Starting salary for my major was 70k at that time.

Ever since then I keep myself more aware of what I'm heading towards rather than what happens on a day to day basis. Like yes I might not like a particular job or a particular company but it's just a stepping stone in the long run.

It costs more than a penny to make a penny

Watching people i knpw die of drug or alcohol abuse. That will get wake u up

Yes, and please bear with me my friend. I try not to get too "pushy" if you know what I mean but I was just talking about this story today and I definitely feel it applies to your question. 😆 It is no secret here that I lost my two sisters and spiraled out of control for a few years getting into drinking and drugging trying to fill a void that nothing was filling, being rebellious because HE was suppose to heal my sister! Before I knew it I was trapped in a life I didn't know how to get out of. I ended up on my parents doorstep with my three kids, an eviction, no income and a husband who just got arrested. A couple months later my oldest daughter asked if she could move out of state with her Big Grandpa because he took her to his church and she loved it. Well I wasn't about to lose my first born to Arizona so I found a church to go to here. Walked in high as a kite and swore I was slick in hiding it... (😅) anyways I ended up staying. But as the fog lifted away from me and reality became clear again I always questioned "Why God? Why would you take BOTH my sister's and leave me with none! You claim the Lord giveths and He takeths away and I have had the taketh away but how the heck can He possibly giveth something that can never be giveth again?" I struggled with it. About a year and a half later I found myself on a mountain at a ladies retreat with my Church. My Pastor was praying for me and on the inside I was screaming please God take away this pain of losing my sisters! Then all of a sudden I heard my Pastor say "Okay Lord???" And he peeled his hand away from my clinging grip and walked out the door. He literally walked away, out of the room and I was in a panic! I thought to myself "how could HE ditch me to! I mean I guess since God ditched me he might as well ditch me to!" I was crying. Then I felt a hand touch my back and I opened my eyes to see at least TEN of my sister's from church sitting around me, praying for me and crying with me. He showed me that day that He may have taken two of my sister's but He gave me quadruple and then some. THAT was a light on moment which began a healing in me, which began a change in me. 😊

I was the teller supervisor at a bank. I was working 50 hours a week. The one thing I always did was leave on time on Friday evening. My husband and I had a standing date night. After a particularly hard week I made sure before I left that everyone had what they needed as I didn't want any phone calls. My husband had been out of town most of the week and we just needed sometime to catch up with each other. Sure enough when I got home there was a message on the answering machine. It triggered a panic attack. I am not a person prone to such things. It is the only one I have ever had. It was when I knew I needed a new job. I had one within a few months. Better pay. Better hours. Better benefits.

I think I have shared mine before . . .

It was in a college class called "Reason and Romanticism"  . . . It was about the dark ages and the introduction of the Protestant movements . . . And the many religions fragmenting after the Bible was translated so the common folk could read and interpret . . . .

That light bulb of an epiphany went on right there in that class, and I felt a Rush or Surge of acknowledgement in the understanding of just how much religion had a hold on humanity . . .

This was the catalyst for many more epiphanies to follow . . . It was a weird feeling and I thought so very alone until I found others like Caltex and "Z" who felt and believe similarly. 

I was waiting to see where our responses would go, and there were very thoughtful posts (Except the one about the pennies, ...what?). Thanks to all. 

Like Dark (er, Darik) I awakened to the falsities of religious teachings and began a journey of discovery and enlightenment that lasts to this day. The exact moment of clarity is unclear (ironic?). I was maybe 11 or 12. 

Thus it led me to vigorously pursue my education, to live life passionately, and value time above all. One shot, one chance. Always give your best. 

There is no fiber of doubt in my being that my life is better for it.