What if your life is really just a collection of “almosts”, those close calls that almost became turning points? The job you nearly got, the person you almost kissed, the train you almost missed (but didn’t). It’s wild how many little near misses stack up in our lives, moments that feel like they could have flipped everything upside down if they’d gone just a touch differently. These “almost moments‘ are the stories we tell at dinner parties, the ones that make us laugh, cringe, or quietly thank the universe for perfect timing.

Let’s walk through some of those universal “almosts”, the kind that make you laugh, cringe, or quietly thank the universe for dodging a bullet.

1. The job you almost landed

Remember that one interview you crushed, but somehow the offer never came? You probably replayed it in your head a hundred times, “If I’d just answered that question differently”, but then a few months later, you see the company is laying off half its staff, and suddenly you’re like, oh… dodged a Titanic right there.

Or maybe it’s the opposite, the job you almost turned down because it seemed too risky, too different, or the salary wasn’t quite right. Years later, you see your would-be colleagues posting about amazing projects, international trips, and career growth that could’ve been yours. These sliding-door career moments haunt us because they represent entire life paths we’ll never know.

2. The flight you almost missed

Airport sprints should qualify as Olympic sports. You’ve got your shoes half off at security, a bottle of water you forgot to ditch, and the gate feels like it’s in a different postcode. Somehow, you make it just as they’re closing the doors. Heart racing, sweaty, but inside, you’re thinking: Wow. My entire holiday almost ended in Terminal 3.

But here’s the flip side: what about the flights you did miss? The domino effect is incredible. Miss one connection, and suddenly you’re spending the night in a random city, meeting strangers at the airport bar, or discovering a hidden gem restaurant you never would’ve found otherwise. Sometimes the “disaster” becomes the best part of the story.

3. The text you almost sent

We’ve all hovered over the send button with something dangerous queued up. An angry message, a confessional crush text, a risky “you up?” at 2 am. And then you stop. Delete. Breathe. And you thank your future self for that microscopic moment of self-control. (Imagine explaining that one.)

The worst ones are the autocorrect near-disasters. You’re typing a professional email, and your phone tries to change “meeting” to something completely inappropriate. That split second where you catch it before hitting send? That’s the difference between keeping your job and becoming an office legend for all the wrong reasons.

4. The person you almost ended up with

Okay, let’s get real. We all have that one person we almost dated, or almost went further with. And looking back, wow! Thank goodness for that “almost.” It’s like seeing an alternate universe where your life went downhill faster than a soap opera plot.

But it works both ways. There’s also that person you almost asked out but didn’t, the one who got away because you were too nervous, too busy, or just terrible at reading signals. You see them years later, happily married, and wonder if that moment of courage could’ve changed everything. These romantic almost moments are the ones that keep us awake at 3 am, playing out scenarios that will never happen.

5. The accident you almost had

Crossing the road with your headphones in, or braking just in time, those milliseconds matter. That split-second awareness gives you a weird adrenaline rush and also a reality check. Like, oh right, life is fragile, maybe I should look up from my phone once in a while.

Sometimes it’s not even your fault. A drunk driver runs a red light just as you’re walking through an intersection, missing you by inches. A piece of construction equipment falls from a building site moments after you’ve passed underneath. These near misses leave you shaky and grateful, suddenly aware of how many invisible threads hold our daily lives together.

6.The hobby you almost started

Remember when you were absolutely convinced you were going to learn guitar? You watched YouTube tutorials for three days straight, researched the best beginner guitars, and maybe even added one to your online cart. You could already picture yourself casually playing around a campfire, impressing everyone with your musical talents.

But then life happened. Work got busy. The guitar seemed expensive. Fast forward two years, and that friend who inspired you is now posting Instagram videos of their performances at local coffee shops. Sometimes those “almost” hobbies remind us we’re always one small decision away from becoming a completely different version of ourselves.

7. The thing you almost bought

That late-night online shopping cart full of “life-changing” gadgets you absolutely didn’t need? Imagine if you’d actually hit buy. Your bank account would still be crying, and your house would be full of things like banana slicers and singing toothbrushes. Some near purchases are blessings in disguise.

8. The call you almost answered

Sometimes, the phone rings and your gut says: Don’t pick up. Later, you find out it was a scam call, or worse, an awkward 45-minute “catch-up” with someone you haven’t spoken to in 12 years. Ignoring it was a life-saving reflex.

9.The move you almost made

The apartment you almost rented in a different city. The house you almost bought. The country you almost relocated to for work. Geographic “almosts” are fascinating because they represent not just different places, but entirely different versions of ourselves. Who would you have become if you’d taken that teaching job in Japan? How would your personality have evolved if you’d moved to that tiny mountain town instead of staying in the city?

Why we remember the “Almosts”

Here’s the thing: These almost moments are what keep life spicy. They remind us we’re not fully in control (thankfully). They’re funny, awkward, scary, and oddly comforting all at once. Because for every “almost disaster,” there’s an “almost magic” chance that life could’ve gone a whole other way.

These moments teach us resilience without us even realising it. They show us that timing, instinct, and sometimes pure luck play bigger roles in our lives than we’d like to admit. They’re proof that we’re constantly making micro-decisions that shape our reality, even when we don’t realise it.

But here’s what’s really beautiful about “almosts”: they make us appreciate what we have. That job you didn’t get led you to the one where you met your best friend. That flight you missed meant you were home when your family needed you. Sometimes the universe’s timing is better than our planning.

Your turn

So the next time you think back to something you almost did, smile. That near-miss is proof you’re alive, learning, and somehow stumbling your way through this weird, wonderful mess we call life.

What’s your craziest “almost” moment? The one that still makes you go “holy shit, what if?” Share it in the comments because we all need reminding that everyone’s got these wild near-misses, and that’s exactly what makes us human.

And maybe, just maybe, start paying attention to the “almosts” happening right now. Because today’s near-miss might be tomorrow’s best story