People Are Sharing the One Thing They’ll Never Do Again — Even Though They’re Glad They Tried It
People opened up about everything from cliff jumps to childbirth, and why some experiences are better left as one-timers.
There are the things you want to do over and over again, and then there are the things you’re proud you survived once. A recent r/AskReddit thread hit that second category in a big way, asking:
“What was your ‘I’ll never do it again, but I’m glad I did it’ thing?”
The answers covered everything from adrenaline stunts and extreme jobs to childbirth, war, and the kind of “dark tourism” that stays with you forever. Here are some of the standouts.
Skydiving, Scuba, and the One-Time Adrenaline Hit
Plenty of people went straight to jumping out of planes. One of the top comments put it simply:
“Parachuting! Scared the crap out of me, hated almost every second of it, but glad I had the experience.”
I had a similar experience with this… glad I did it, but my ears hurt SO bad from the pressure (see below). I really don’t need to do it again!
Another user compared skydiving to scuba diving: they’d do scuba again, but skydiving was 30 seconds of noise followed by a few minutes of mentally calculating everything they might crash into.
Others felt the exact opposite. One person said the “adrenaline rush from skydiving was one of the best feelings” they’ve ever had, but scuba diving terrified them so much they couldn’t be paid to try it again.
I also feel this. I can’t bring myself to do scuba diving because I am so claustrophobic. So, I thought doing an underwater scooter adventure would be better. It wasn’t. Glad I made it through without having a panic attack… but never again.
Cliff Jumps, Bridge Leaps, and Realizing You Could’ve Died
High places came up a lot, especially from people who are now old enough to look back and think, “How did I survive that?”
One commenter talked about cliff jumping and summed up their late teens and early 20s with:
“Amazing memories… but there’s no way I could repeat any of them with the stable life I have now.”
Another described jumping off a 50–60-foot bridge into an inlet with a strong current:
“Thrilling experience, nothing I would ever do again. Extremely dangerous in retrospect… Could have ended poorly, luckily we were both strong swimmers.”
Bungy jumping was that for me. I’m pretty sure the guy who got me ready was still hungover, and I did NOT jump off the bridge properly. Luckily, I was fine, and ultimately, I am so glad I did it. But I don’t need to do that again!
All-Night Lines, Black Friday Chaos, and the Early-2000s
Before online preorders and same-day delivery, you queued. For hours. In the cold.
One user said they waited all night outside Circuit City for an Xbox 360 and summed it up as:
“Glad I did it – will not do again.”
Someone else tried Black Friday once just to see whether the “madness was real.” It was.
They watched people fight over TVs and DVD players, feared for their safety, and then discovered the cheap electronics they scored broke within a year and showed up at the same price days later. The conclusion: interesting story, terrible value.
Another person camped outside Ticketmaster for *NSYNC tickets in the early 2000s. They got floor seats and a fun memory out of it, but said it’s “not an experience that needs doing twice.”
Degrees, Burnout, and Jobs That Took Everything
Not every “never again” story was about thrills. For some, it was education and work.
One commenter wrote:
“My PhD. Glad I did it… But that thing was haaard.”
It opened doors and showed them that academia wasn’t their long-term path, but the process itself? Never again.
Another person worked three jobs while finishing school full-time:
“I barely slept, ate like crap, and was constantly exhausted but it showed me what I’m capable of when everything’s on the line. Wouldn’t do it again, but I don’t regret it.”
And then there was the person who moved across the country alone while burned out. It got them out of a bad situation, but it’s not a life reset they’d repeat.
The Military: “War Was Horrible, but My Future Is Bright”
One of the most intense answers came from someone who enlisted at 18 to escape poverty and abuse. They served in a war they didn’t agree with, but said:
“My time in gave me the discipline, determination, and resources needed to dig myself out of hell and build a good life.”
They’re now working on a third master’s degree to become a social worker. War was “horrible,” but the experience moved them out of a life that felt impossible, and they’re trying to use it to help others.
Other commenters admitted they’ve reluctantly steered desperate teenagers toward the military when it felt like the only way out of abusive homes, gangs, or poverty. It’s a grim reality, and definitely not something they romanticize, but it changed their lives.
Marathons, Kilimanjaro, and Finding Your Limits
For some people, the “never again” was pushing their body to the edge.
One person said their answer was simple:
“Full marathon.”
Someone else said they hated it so much they did four more “just to be sure” and are somehow training for a sixth. Another commenter joked that the real question is what’s wrong with them.
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro also showed up:
“Learned the hard way that I’m not outdoorsy haha.”
They trained for a year and were fine physically, but hadn’t factored in the camping, rough conditions, and lack of basic comforts. Another hiker, who does consider themselves outdoorsy, said Kilimanjaro was still “next level” and firmly a one-and-done.
Parenthood, Pregnancy, and “One and Done”
Plenty of answers centered around having kids, with an interesting split between “never again” and “I’d still do it again, but only once.”
Several people just wrote “Giving birth.” One added:
“To me it would be the whole pregnancy and recovery. I love my child, but the process was challenging and often not pleasant.”
Another described preeclampsia, a month-long hospital stay, a three-month NICU stay for their baby, and ongoing PTSD and anxiety. They adore their child, but said they’re absolutely done:
“I love her with my whole heart… but I won’t be granting her request of a sibling.”
Others talked about being “one and done” with kids, not because they regret becoming parents, but because the sleep deprivation, cost, and emotional load are not something they’d willingly restart in their 30s or 40s.
Dark Tourism: Auschwitz, Hiroshima, and Nuclear Sites
A lot of people mentioned visits to places that document some of the worst things humans have done to each other. They’re the kind of trips you’re grateful you took, but you only need them once.
One commenter said visiting Auschwitz was their answer:
“It’s something that you need to do at some point in your life but it’s very hard hitting to actually see the place.”
They described seeing nail marks on the gas chamber walls and rooms filled with shaved hair and shoes. Another person compared it to visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and said experiences like that divide your life into “before” and “after.”
Someone else had been to the Trinity test site, Los Alamos, and then Hiroshima’s museum. It opened their eyes to how horrific nuclear weapons really are. They’re glad they went, but don’t plan to go back.
Travel That Was Worth It… Once
Not all travel was emotionally heavy; some was just a lot.
One person answered simply:
“Visit Egypt.”
Another user replied that they’ve heard this so many times they’d rather never go at all. No elaboration, just a strong vibe that it was overwhelming. (We highly recommend visiting, but read this realistic guide before you go.)
Someone else said, “Being in Times Square watching the ball drop.” They were there for New Year’s Eve 2001 and now watch it on TV, thinking, “I would never!” but they’re glad they experienced it once. (We have a whole separate article on this experience, too.)
Others brought up waiting in the blistering heat from 7 a.m. to watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks. Spectacular show, zero desire to repeat the wait. (We also highly recommend this realistic guide before you do this!)
A helicopter ride through the Grand Canyon also made the list, described as “the best way to see the canyon, but never again” after hearing about fatal crashes with the same tour company.
Disney, Guest Services, and Jobs That Shattered the Magic
The “famous rodent in Orlando” got a mention too. One user said:
“Working for the famous rodent in Orlando. Great learning experience, but never again (or any guest service role). My mental health was destroyed.”
Someone else talked about working as a crisis specialist on a suicide hotline. They felt they truly helped people and learned how to talk to those in crisis, but the job was “immensely stressful” and started causing physical health issues from anxiety. It’s work they’re proud of, but not something they could keep doing long-term.
Drugs, Partying, and Growing Out of It
A lot of commenters admitted their “never again” was drugs or hard partying.
One person’s answer was blunt:
“Cocaine. Tried it once. I can see why it’s popular. Won’t ever do it again.”
Someone else listed LSD, ecstasy, speed, and coke “before fentanyl was an issue,” and said they would never risk anything that isn’t weed now because of how messy the drug supply has become.
Others said their version of “glad I did it, never again” was heavy clubbing, blackout nights, and hardcore social drinking that now leads to two-day hangovers and zero patience for drunk strangers.
Extreme Gaming and Hobbies That Felt Like a Second Job
Not everything had to do with real-world danger. For some people, it was hardcore gaming.
One former World of Warcraft raider wrote that being in a top-tier guild, getting server-first achievements, and playing at that level was “one of the best times” in their gaming life – and something they never want to repeat. The daily grinding and pressure nearly gave them a panic attack just thinking about it now.
Another commenter pointed out how serious it used to be:
“The resume you needed to get into even a decent raiding guild back in the day was insane. Harder to get into than a real job.”
Again: cool story, not a lifestyle anyone is rushing back to.
In the end, the thread reads like a reminder that some of the most meaningful experiences in life are also the ones that cost you the most time, money, sleep, or sanity. You might only need to climb that mountain, work that job, or stand in that crowd once – and that’s still enough to shape who you are now.
If you read through this thread, it lines up with a lot of the behind-the-scenes stories people only feel comfortable sharing online. I’ve covered those worlds before, including what workers in “behind closed doors” jobs say really goes on (such as morgues, restaurants, hotels, and more) — and how some experiences stay with them long after they’re over.
“I Can Smell Death Now”: Workers in ‘Behind Closed Doors’ Jobs Share What Really Goes On
From hospital labs to hotel housekeeping and nursing homes, people in hidden jobs are revealing the stuff the public would rather not think about.
Read more: “I Can Smell Death Now”: Workers in ‘Behind Closed Doors’ Jobs Share What Really Goes On
People Are Sharing the “Dream” Lives They Want You To Stop Romanticizing — ‘Nothing Like Getting Paid To Ruin a Good Hobby’
A recent thread asking, “What do you wish people would stop romanticizing, because you’ve lived the reality of it?” cut straight through those daydreams. Thousands of comments poured in, and the overall message was blunt: a lot of the things we glamorize are exhausting, isolating, or downright traumatic when you’re actually the one living them.
People Who’ve Worked for the Rich Are Sharing the Most Out-of-Touch Things They’ve Seen — ‘We Replaced a $15-an-Hour Worker With a $600,000 Machine’
When you grow up watching TV shows about mansions and private jets, it’s easy to assume rich people are living in a completely different world. According to one viral thread, a lot of them absolutely are.
Americans Asked What’s “Normal” in Europe but Weird in the U.S. — These Answers Hit a Nerve
People compared everyday habits on both sides of the Atlantic — and some differences surprised even seasoned travelers.
Read more: Americans Asked What’s “Normal” in Europe but Weird in the U.S. — These Answers Hit a Nerve
People Are Fed Up With These ‘Luxury’ Add-Ons That Used to Be Standard — “Everything’s a Subscription Now”
If it feels like you’re getting charged extra for things that used to be included (and you’re somehow supposed to smile about it), you’re not imagining it.
Read more: People Are Fed Up With These ‘Luxury’ Add-Ons That Used to Be Standard
