In this cynical day and age, who has time for “The One”? Reddit asked how lucky-in-love folks knew their significant other was the person they were meant to be with forever. From the mosh pit to planned murder scenes, there was never “one” place to figure this “soulmate” thing out. Open a heart to these loveable stories about the moment people realized they found The One.
1. Into the Wild and Into My Heart
We took a six-week road trip around the country in a small two-door vehicle in July. We stayed at campsites along the way and used a two-man tent (which, for the uninitiated, is really small and basically fits two sleeping bags and not much else). She planned almost everything. This was before GPS and she was amazing with the AAA trip maps. She got us everywhere, and I drove.
She could find a campsite in minutes, was a top-notch camper. Best of all—despite our tiny car, the heat, and being so far from home for so long—we not only didn't kill each other, we fell deeper in love. We have been together for 20 years now this past April.
2. Staking a Claim to His Heart
Married 14 years. He says he knew I was the one when he watched me retrieve a sledgehammer and garden stakes from my parents' shed, walk to the garden, and pound the stakes in myself. He said that he thought to himself, "What a woman!" I didn't have a moment, I just gradually realized that he was home to me, and that whenever I had an experience, my first thought was, "I can't wait to tell him..."
3. Seal It with a Kiss and a Cold One
Had two wisdom teeth pulled out and my 16-year-old GF bought a box of ice cream Popsicles from her allowance and biked it all over to my house. She lived pretty far away. She gave me a kiss even though I was a bit bloody and drooling and just had that face of concern and love. That was almost 20 years ago.
4. Can’t Do This Without You
Not a romantic moment, really the opposite. My then-friend-with-benefits came to visit me while I was studying abroad, and I was just way too into the fun party scene to be ready to settle down with someone who had his life so together. I knew if we started dating, he would be serious endgame for me, and it scared me, so I broke things off on the day he flew home. He told me he needed me to keep out of his life for a while, which I totally respected, so I didn't contact him at all for a week.
It was the worst week of my life. Food tasted like nothing; I couldn't get excited to go out or do any of the fun things I thought were what I wanted. So, when he popped back up online and said "Hi," I begged for forgiveness and haven't let go since. Been married almost a year, together for six. He's the light of my life, and all those things that intimidated me about our life together have made him so kind, stable, and loving.
Parties end when the sun comes up, but a good person who loves you makes waking up the best part of your day.
5. “Baby Love” Lasts Forever
After a night out, in a little black dress, slightly tipsy, she was dancing by herself around the living room to "Baby Love" by the Supremes. I came in from the other room and stopped to watch—she didn't know I was watching. In that moment, she was so silly, so beautiful, so real. I still smile now whenever I hear that song.
We've been together for seven years. She has a habit of lighting up my life with little moments like this, whether aware of them or not.
6. A Letter Says a Thousand Words
I received a hand-written note in the mail after our third date saying, "This could be the start of something BIG—I've never been so happy!" That really touched me and confirmed the feelings that I, too, was having. (I still have that note!)
7. Sex is the Best Medicine
We were both piss drunk; I wasn't feeling good and I went to pass out on my friend’s couch. He was so drunk that he was falling over, but he stumbled down the hallway, got me a blanket and pillow, then crawled into the kitchen to make sure I had a bottle of water handy when I woke up. I woke up the next morning to him asleep on the floor; he didn't even make it to the other couch. He took care of me even though he could barely take care of himself. I knew then that I would marry him.
Also, a few nights later we had sex in the rain. That was some good D, couldn't give that up.
8. I’d Never Get Sick of You, At Least
Four months into dating, she was spending almost every weekend at my place. One weekend, she went on a trip with her family. The following weekend she stayed over again, but she got violently ill on Friday night, so I took care of her for the next two days. When she finally felt well enough to go home, I realized it was a better weekend having her there (even sick) than the previous one when she was away.
We got married a year ago and are on our long-delayed honeymoon this week.
9. Puke Your Heart Out
A week into being my official boyfriend, I invited him and his friends out to celebrate one of my friends' 21st birthday (USA). At the bar, she got every guy in the place to buy her a shot. Some point past midnight, I realized, as the designated driver, that the birthday girl definitely needed to go home. She puked in the car twice, once all over herself, and once half onto the window/half out the window.
I started panicking because I was driving my parents’ car. I dropped her off at home, called him at 3 AM panicking, "How am I going to get this out? OH GOD and the SMELL?!" He told me to come to his house. He was waiting outside with a bunch of cleaning supplies and helped me scrub the car in the middle of the night. After we finished cleaning it all, he said, "You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
Been married to that crazybutt for two years.
10. Vanity Thy Name is Soulmate
When he built me a vanity in his room so I could store my makeup. I remembered telling him one time how I wanted to build my own when I had enough money saved up. Two weeks later, he surprised me and told me how he built it. I seriously knew then and there how I couldn't live without this man. This December we are getting married, I can’t wait :)
11. I’ll Never Burn You
I was teaching English in South Korea and started dating a military guy I had met off of Myspace. Previous to him, my longest relationship was four months, and he and I were nearing that point. A couple English teachers, boyfriend, and I planned a week-long trip to an island called Jeju-do. Leading up to this, I was filled with dread because it was a lot of pressure to be with this one guy constantly for a week.
On the ferry over to the island, I got severely sunburned, and that caused me to be physically sick the entire trip (we camped on a beach and couldn't escape the heat). He was so kind, thoughtful and helpful and stayed with me when our other friends explored. We left after five days, and he spent the rest of his leave at my apartment. All in all, we ended up spending nine days straight together.
When he had to go back to base, I physically hurt from missing him. That's when I knew he was it.
12. A Baller Match
I knew her for six years before we started dating. Its long distance so we only get to see each other a few times a year (I am currently in the process of selling my home and moving with her). The entire time I have known her, she always seemed like a very serious person. She can take a joke really well, but I never saw her as "random."
The first time I was visiting her after we started officially dating, we were laying on the couch together and she asked if I wanted a beer. I told her yes and she came back and handed me a beer. Then when I laid back down, she screamed "CANNON BALL!" and jumped on me. We laughed and then she started to hump my leg. We laughed more.
She is the only one who has ever made me feel good on a daily basis and makes me laugh every day. I love her, I'm just sorry it took so long for us to strike up a relationship.
13. A Million Dollars and Reasons Why
We were on an hour-long drive to try a new restaurant. Our playlist for the ride was his old, old iPod, so I got to learn more about him from when he was a teenager. We were in his parents' minivan. It was great. We'd been together for about five months at this point. The song "If I Had a Million Dollars" by the Barenaked Ladies came on, and he started belting out every word.
Fully performed with hand gestures and all the enthusiasm you could imagine. I watched him sing his heart out and act like a total goofball and in that moment, I just saw my whole future with him. Singing to music from his old iPod Nano, driving his parents' minivan. We'll be married in nine months.
14. The Missing Piece
When I took stock of my life and realized her not being a part of it made it a whole lot less appealing. We complement each other’s personality, we don't blindly agree with the other one, and we make each other want to be the best versions of ourselves. If that's not a reason to marry someone then I don't know what is.
15. Ringing up Romance
I have a bit of a story... So, when I was about 20, I worked as a manager at McD's. One night after close (doing paperwork) a friend and I were discussing what we wanted in a future spouse. I created a list with 28 things on it (yea a bit picky). Obviously, I was not much of a dater...seriously, I had gone on only a couple dates and "knew" the girl was not for me immediately. I knew I had unrealistic standards, but what’s a guy to do?
A few years later (6 - 7) I would call to talk to my brother and would always be nice and courteous to the cute voice on the other end of the line before she transferred me. I had met the office manager/secretary of the small company my brother was working at one time. Cute and pleasant. It was mid-summer. Over time, it got to the point where I would find excuses to call my brother just so I could talk to her. I did NOT realize this at the time (this is important).
I was working at a job where I had some downtime while others moved equipment away and brought new stuff back, so I would call and talk to her (and then get transferred to my brother for a useless question). One day after getting off the phone (in late September), I was sitting there with the one person in the world I consider the stupidest person alive.
I said something like "Man something is 'off' in my life, I just can't put my finger on it." Mr. Stupid looks at me and says incredulously "Really, you don't know?" I shake my head "No, what?" He looks at me and laughing says, "You are in love!" DONG! A massive gong goes off (around 90% at this time). I sit there in amazement while realization settles in....he's right!
Well, things progressed from there to talking every day for three hours (+/-1). For context, my phone conversations are usually less than two minutes, and even when talking to my dad or mom they're only 5-6 minutes. We went on our real first date Dec 22, 1996. It was our 6th or 7th date (Jan 2 or 3) that I KNEW 100% that she was the one for me.
Funny follow-up: the evening before my wedding. The same friend from McD's says to me "I never thought you would get married!" I reply, "What kind of a thing is that to say to me the night before my wedding?" He laughs "With your list I NEVER thought you would find anyone that suited you." I was shocked. I pulled out my list (mentally) and started checking off things that my Fiancée (now wife of course) met.
24 out of 28 things on the list. I was flabbergasted that she matched so well. Of course, I chalk it up to my subconscious checking that list much earlier than I did. Just passed 19 years married to the most beautiful woman on the planet. I love her dearly, and we have three awesome kids. Life is pretty damn good :) (except for debt)
16. No Shame in Being Picky
When we were going home after a long night of partying, and I needed to pick my nose due to some super sharp and annoying buggers. I looked over to her to see if she is looking just to see her picking her nose for the same reason. Truer love has never been found.
17. Slow and Steady Wins my Love
The moment that really sticks out for me is when we were driving down a road (35mph, pretty busy road) and I see a turtle crossing the road. I slow down to a stop, hitting my hazards and making sure people behind me are slowing down and without a word. He hops out and moves the turtle out of the road. Such a simple thing that made me realize how incredible he is.
Wikimedia Commons, Bernard DUPONT
18. A Million Little Moments
Not a stark moment of realization—more of a realization that I had crossed some line at some unidentified point of my thought process moving from "Oh yeah, my boyfriend" to "Oh yeah, my life partner" and was completely comfortable with that. For me, the lack of a lightning moment was the biggest sign that this was the right person for me, based on my personality.
It was like realizing I was in the deep end, but also had a floatie and an ice-cold can of beer. Complete security and comfort.
19. Shout It from the Rooftops
She was my boss at a local grocery shop; it was love at aisle one. She came to me and yelled about something stupid—and I knew she was the one who will yell at me until I die.
20. Put Your Hands Together, Forever
We were round at our mutual friend's house for drinks. We all got into the "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" discussion. Me and my SO ended up pretending we were amputees at a concert and helped each other clap with our respective remaining hands in the air. This was about 20 mins after having met her for the first time.
First date arranged for the following Friday, a couple two hours later, still together 12 years later.
21. At Least Our Love Doesn’t Have a “Best Before” Date
He came up to my desk and said, "This might sound weird, and there's no reason for me to know this, but that mixed-berry yogurt you're about to eat has expired."
22. Road Trip into Eternity
I used to work with mine four and a half years ago. We were good friends. Kept in touch once or twice a year after I left early on. A year and a half ago, he sent me some beer for Xmas (home brewer), so I texted him thanks, which turned into a "What are you doing for Xmas?" convo. Turns out he was going on one of his annual long motorcycle trips, but his friend backed out, so he was going to ride down to Cabo and back over 10 days.
I asked if he was going alone and he said he was—and asked if I wanted to go! Impulsively I said yes. Best decision I ever made. I rode 2200 miles round trip to Cabo on the back of his motorcycle. Four days in, it got romantic. Day five I knew I loved him, and he was the one! We got engaged four months later, married three months after that and we have our first baby on board before our first anniversary!
Friends are the best lovers :)
23. All You Can Eat Love Affair
It was our second date. We were having dinner at Famous Dave's, and I told him about how much I loved the cornbread muffins. He was telling me that he had to be up-front about how he doesn't share food. No bite-stealing, offering, etc. The food comes and my meal is minus the corn muffin. I said something like, "Oh, remind me to tell the waitress I didn't get my muffin," and without hesitation, he gave me his.
The guy that doesn't share food shared his food with me. And that's when I knew.
24. Partner in Crime
When me and my wife were watching, my stepdad cut some tree branches back with a chainsaw. There was a lot of sawdust flying around and I said, "Imagine doing that with a body. It would make the biggest mess ever. You'd have to lay plastic all over your whole bathroom." What followed:
Wife: Why the bathroom?
Me: Where else are you going to do it, the living room?
Wife: Yea, there's more space.
Me: But the furniture would be ruined!
Wife: Just get a new living room set after.
Me: That would get expensive over time.
Wife: (laughing) Just how many times are you planning on hacking up a body in the house? And why in the house anyway?
Me: If I was outside, the neighbors might get nosey.
NOTE: I don't plan on hacking up any bodies, but the fact that she just played along was endearing.
25. She is the Best Chill Pill
When I'm around her I feel like I can breathe. I have terrible social anxiety but being around her is easy. I have always needed time by myself but not anymore—as long as I'm around her I'm better than I ever thought was possible. She saved me.
26. Love at First Fight
Screw all this corny stuff. I knew after our first fight. We were able to sit down both, say we were sorry, and talk it out. This has been the defining difference. Can you fight kindly, can you resolve your problems kindly? Can you take a deep breath and let go of your personal problem to alleviate the issue at hand? Can you sacrifice being right for the sake of peace?
That’s when I knew she was my other person.
27. Life After the Friendzone
I think I just found out last night, and it’s been right in my face for two years. Me and the guy have been good friends since freshman year of college. He dated one of my friends for a bit. He has, in the two years, professed his love for me etc. but I never took it seriously. However, without fail, he has always been there for me. Always.
We have very similar interests, and he will listen to my rants for hours, watch me cry, or get crazy high/drunk with me. His apartment has always been clean, he's hardworking and organized, yet such a fun and sweet person. He's also quite attractive but I only ever saw him in a platonic way…until last night.
I went out on a date with a terrible guy who ended up chasing me out of the restaurant. I was in tears and call my dude friend. He was just like, yeah come over, and let’s watch some bad Riverdale together (my guilty pleasure). I come over, and his roommates are there too, who are all really nice people. We watch Riverdale, everyone goes to bed and it’s me and him on the couch. I just felt this overwhelming feeling of “I want to be in his arms right now.”
He was surprised by me inching over, and just holds me and strokes my head. He then says I can sleep over if I want. We lie in bed and just have a really honest conversation about life and stuff. Then I wake up six hours later, and I'm still with my head on his chest. He starts doing cute touchy things, and I start getting really horny.
Then I jump up and say, "You're really turning me on right now and IDK if we should have sex." He smiled and said "WOAH I didn’t even think this was possible. I thought you saw me as like a desk lamp." I start laughing, we both start laughing, we just hold each other for 20 more minutes until we both need to get on with our day.
I can't stop thinking about it and about him and all of the cool things we have already experienced together, and how much I adore him, and he adores me. If I had to marry someone right now, I would easily choose him.
28. Nothing Fishy About My Feelings
We were on a double date at a sushi place, and I was eyeing a roll that was a bit too far away for me to reach. She paused her conversation, grabbed a piece, and fed it to me. But that wasn't what made me realize she was the one: It was the way she looked at me when she did it. It was like she was star-struck. I started noticing whenever she would do it, and she did it a lot.
She still does. She's pretty great.
29. You Can’t Escape Your Future, nor do You Want To
When she mentioned marriage and kids, I did not have the urge to run away and hide, but rather saw a possible future I'd want to have. In the end, it turned out better for me than I could have imagined. I was lucky to find her.
30. The Gang Finds the One
The first time she was over and hanging out, SHE chose to watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
31. Ourselves at Last
I met my wife while at a Xmas party with a guy I was dating (I'm a lesbian and was trying to be straight). The moment I saw her I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I sparked a conversation about her Fitbit...I know, smooth. From there she moved from the end of the table to right in front of me. We talked all night while everyone got drunk.
Now skip ahead two months. I broke up with said guy and my wife and I spoke every day. I was working in her town for a temp job in the hospital, so she offered me a place to stay. I had gone home for the weekend and she texted me saying she was on nights. She picked me up at my home then we went for a long drive all around central Alberta.
We talked and laughed all night. At the end of the night, she drove me back home, where we sat in the car awkwardly. She leaned in to kiss me, and her duty belt got stuck on the console. Lol, I leaned all the way in and kissed her. She took my breath away. I knew that night I loved her and couldn't be apart from her. A couple weeks later we moved in together. I proposed to her a few months later.
We are going on three years together two years of marriage. She is the very best part of me. I love her more than anything.
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32. Geek Love
After he interviewed with my boss, he came by my desk and talked to me about the Starship Enterprise and Klingon Warbird that were hanging from my back cabinet, and the Tardis bobblehead and Groot bobblehead that were by my computer. We talked about the different Comic Book Conventions we had been to, what costumes we had and what comics we liked.
We talked like we had known each other for years and were old friends, it was so easy and effortless. A week later I saw the back of his car, he had a Transformer Decal, a Rebel Logo sticker and his license plate frame read "My Other Ride is an Incom T-65" and I knew then that I loved him.
33. Anime Wasn’t a Mistake and Neither Are We
First day I met her, she said something that reminded me of Full Metal Alchemist (I was a lifelong closet anime fan), and I went out on a limb to test her and just said, "Edo-war-do" in my best chimera-child-dog impression. I've never even tried to hide the things I enjoy from her because she was even more of a nerd than I was.
We've been together every day for nine years now.
34. Sealed with a Pin
Right after school one day, my boyfriend came to pick me up from my high school (he went to a different school). It was very hot, and I needed to put my hair up, so I did, and a few hairs were sticking out and I told him, "I would love you forever if you got me a bobby pin." He just said "ok" and we went to Rite Aid to get ice cream.
I didn't feel like going inside to get it, so he went down to get us some ice cream and he came back with bobby pins. I got so happy (I was 16 and it felt like a big deal). After that day, every time we had a small argument, he would always surprise me with a pack of bobby pins and say, "Love me forever."
Seven years later and I have over 20 packs of bobby pins and we are a few months away from our wedding.
35. Thank God I Didn’t Swipe Left
We were both having a hard time finding someone with online dating. I had just come back from another date with a bare-faced liar and logged on to delete my account. She was online about to do similar, saw my profile, and gave it one last chance. I said OK, let's not screw about with weeks of messaging back and forth. Do you want to meet up or not? I was sure she'd tell me to have sex and travel, but she said yes.
This backfired as I was coming down with a cold, and by the time I was due to meet her I had all but lost my voice. I messaged and explained and asked to reschedule, but she insisted she didn't care. Now I'm not a chatty person. We met at a pub at 3 pm, and with my throat on fire, we were still there at 11 pm when the landlord had to kick us out. The time flew by.
I realized I had forgotten about my cold.
36. More of You to Love
When I started gaining weight, she supported me and kindly told me that I was heading in an unhealthy direction. We then started going to the gym and I lost some weight. Happy ending! Love that girl though, she's so amazing. We were only 14 at the time, but for her age, she truly has an amazing heart.
37. She Would Swim Any Waters for Me
I'd been drinking one night and pissed the bed...her bed. With her in it. I spent an hour wide awake and mortified, as we hadn't been living together for very long at that point and I had no idea how to handle it. I eventually woke her up and shamefully told her what happened. Without ridicule or anger, she got up, helped me get the sheets in the wash, and took a shower with me.
It's been three years since that day, and she hasn't once used that event as harmful ammunition in an argument, or even mentioned it at all except as private playful banter once or twice. I understood then that she respected that embarrassing things happen to everyone and that I could always count on her to have my back, and to always keep our secrets.
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38. Talk About a Braveheart
I have posted this story before to a similar thread. I was play-wrestling with my then-girlfriend when we were both drunk one night after a party with all our friends cheering us on. I ended up picking her up and powerbombed her (gently, I'm not a monster) on my dining room table. The table was a piece of trash we found by the dumpster, so when she landed the table literally snapped down the middle and crashed to the ground.
Everyone got really quiet as she slowly got up, turned, looked me in the eye and said, "Is that all you got, wuss?" At that moment I knew she was the one. Been together for a decade, married six years, and now have two kids.
39. Bonesaw is Ready for Love
Very early into our dating, like maybe a month or two in, we went to my parents’ house so she could meet my little brother and sister. She'd never met my parents or anyone else in my family. Since the first Toby McGuire Spiderman movie came out, my family has had a goofy contest to see who can do the best "Bonesaw is ready" Randy Savage voice.
My family starts doing it as my now-wife is getting ready to leave. We try to get her to do it before she goes, but she is just too embarrassed/bashful to do it in front of all these people she'd never met. She puts on her shoes, says her thank yous and goodbyes, and walks out the door. 10 seconds later the door swings open, she steps inside, yells "BONESAW IS READY" in her best Randy Savage voice, and promptly leaves.
The fact that she faced the embarrassment to participate in this very stupid thing my family does just filled my heart for her.
40. Number Two in My Pants, But Number One in My Heart
Pooped my pants in front of him. When something like that happens, you pretty much have to marry them. Or kill them...
41. My Dame in Shining Armor
I was at a Slayer show with my now-wife (we were friends at the time), and this big woman was clobbering guys in the pit. Then her goon boyfriend would sail in and white knight. So, I saw this go down a few times and got in the BF's face and told him to cut the BS. The girl got in my face; my now-wife got in her face, people go to break it up, and my wife grabs the two people beside her for leverage and jump kicked this witch right in the chin.
I knew then I had to wife her.
42. Nothing Can Slither Between Us
I kind of re-realize she's the one for me once every couple of weeks, but one of the biggest moments was very early in our relationship. So, I initially met her because she was dating one of my friends. They broke up and, a year later, her and I started talking. When I realized I had feelings for her, I told my friend I was going to ask her out and start spending time with her. He wished me the best and said he thought we'd be great together.
Fast forward a month later, and he was doing everything he could to sabotage our relationship. He would tell friends she was only trying to get back at him through me, and he would pull her aside at parties ostensibly to "talk things out so you and Sean can be together," but I found out later he was trying to make moves on her (which she turned down, repeatedly).
After two or three times of this, she stopped agreeing to go off in private with him, which only made him act out even more. He grabbed one of her friends at a party and forcibly kissed them in front of her (literally, out of nowhere, and in front of his own girlfriend no less), and it was after this that I finally pulled him aside and told him in no uncertain words to screw off. He had a chance to say he had a problem with this, and he didn't take it.
After all of this, he stopped being so direct—but kept up the BS behind the scenes. About a month after he tried to kiss her friend at a party, all of my friends kept telling me to check her phone, that apparently there was something in her texts I needed to see. One friend finally told me that the ex had been telling everyone there was some bombshell text she sent him that proved she was only using me to get back at him.
My love for her never wavered, but at this point, I was emotionally exhausted, and I'm a little ashamed to say that this got inside my head. I went over to her apartment that night with the intention of either getting to the bottom of it—I don't believe in demanding to see an SO's texts, but I did want to talk about whatever this might have been—or ending the relationship.
I came in and she sat me on the couch. I was so in my head and broken up about this that I didn't realize she had made my favorite dinner until she pointed it out to me. She then gave me a picture frame she had personally decorated with the two of us in the frame. She had no idea I was coming over to have such a serious conversation, nor did she know there were these rumors going around—she was just being herself and wanted me to be happy.
The relief and happiness came on like a hurricane, and I finally remembered her ex was a liar and a snake who wanted nothing more than to ruin our relationship. My worry evaporated. After dinner, she asked why I had looked so upset when I came over, and I explained that a rumor was going around about a text she apparently sent her ex, and I had heard it enough that it started getting to me.
Without me asking or even broaching the idea of her showing me her phone, she stood up, got her phone, opened it to her texts with her ex, and handed it to me. Even as I objected and said I trusted her, she insisted I look through it. It was at that point that I realized what I had on my hands: an honest, loyal woman with nothing to hide who only wanted me to be happy and hated playing games—and a lying snake who wanted to take my happiness away.
I've done everything I can to make sure she sees the same in me. It's been five years and we're getting married next September.
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