Your voice is just perfect for storytelling. This is one of my favorite videos of yours. The story still hits me hard every time I come back here, so powerful that I tear up. Thank you for sharing this.
What a beautiful story. As a parent and grandparent we often don't know what incidents may influence a child and what memories or reactions they may have and I am sure we often get it wrong, but your Mom's actions really touched your heart.
You payed this forward. Do you remember when I wanted that Limited Edition, Holographic Mewtwo card that came in one of those Nintendo Power Issues but you'd promised it to our cousin? I broke down crying for a long time but later found the card on my pillow on my bed. I still have it. You made the change in plans up to Nic by creating a new pokemon, designing & printing out a one-of-a-kind card he could take home; Cut it out and used a common card as the base for size reference & to match the proper card weight. It was legit. That left an impression on my life, too, and might just be why when I see someone really wants something with their whole heart & soul and I feel it's in my power to give it them, I do my best to secure it, even when it sometimes comes at a personal cost I feel I can afford, or at least make up for later. Thank you for that. And I thank Mom, too, for showing you that compassion first.
One of the heaviest memories I have is seeing my mother struggling, putting up Christmas lights by herself. My Dad was in San Francisco still, 1000s of miles away and I just felt so, so badly for my mother. She was tired. On the verge of tears. Acting as a single parent while my Dad finished out his contract at a company. But she did it anyway, because it meant something to me. And it brings out emotions I never want to feel again.
When I was a kid, my grandpa lived pretty far away so every now and then, my dad would take my sister & I on a drive to visit. I used to throw fits about never wanting to go because I hated the drive and thought his house was boring. When I got older, I always made plans with friends to avoid going. Now I'm 20 years old and he's in the hospital with heart problems and lung cancer. The doctors don't think he'll make it to Christmas and I regret never going on this trips to see him.
This is probably one of my favorite videos of yours. So simplistic, yet such a powerful message. And each time I come back to watch it, the emotion is all still there
That was a great story. I remember a great many little moments in my life, and like you don't know exactly how they shaped me, I just know that I constantly go back to them. Great video!
It's possible I just wept while watching this. I have a whole pile of those little, seemingly inconsequential, but somehow ultimately very heavy moments. It's good to know I'm not alone in that. I know it's been years since she passed, but I'm still sorry about your mom. I'm sure you still miss her a lot. The way you always talk about her, I get the impression that she was wonderful and you two were close. Thank you for sharing your life with us, good and bad.
I totally understand the crushing feeling a moment can have on you the rest of your life. When I was 11, I moved away. I was very angry about the move and so I hid in my room for a week. My dad called me out to meet a girl who lived next door. I just said hi and went inside. Apparently this girl liked soccer just like me and when my dad told her she went inside to get her ball so we could play together. I remeber feeling so angry with myself and not ever wanting to hurt someone that way again.
When I was 12, my mom was in a hospital bed in our living room, dying of cancer. My dad asked if I could stay with her for a few minutes alone while he showed my family something out back. She was so far gone that she couldn't interact with us, just stare out the window at the sky. I stood by that window holding her hand and for a second she looked straight at me. I got scared and ran to call my dad back in. The look of terror in her eyes and the guilt of running will always stay with me.
I know that feeling. I can't pull any specific memories from when I felt it, but I remember it. I remember so fully and deeply. It is the feeling of realizing that the way you acted was wrong, and although you got what you wanted it, you didn't deserve it. You didn't get it in the way you feel you should have. This story rang so true and clear to me, all I have to say is thank you.
this is one of the most touching stories i've heard. i guess the moral is that we don't even realize all the things our parents do to us (especially when we're kids). maybe we never truly understand those things unless we become parents ourselves. this just made me think of all the small (and big) things my mother has done to me. i need to go hug her right now.
All the stuff that he said, about carrying a memory with him and knowing that it impacted him but not knowing how....it makes me really happy that I'm not the only person who feels that about certain memories. Thanks, Michael.
I read this book called Soul Print by Mark Batterson and it talked about how certain little memories, like this one, are so much more important to us than other memories. The book talked about how the memories that weigh heavily upon us are the ones that shape who we are and where we go. This video really reminded me of that.
That was incredibly touching. Today's the 14th year anniversary of me losing my dad to cancer. Granted, I was very young when it happened but it's still very touching to hear such personal stories like this one. It's amazing how memories like this stick out after all these years.
This truely made me think alot about my life. I have never really had a proper family. Yeah my mum and dad are still together and i live with them and my sisters but it has never meant we were a family, at least not in the way i would think a family should be. You are so lucky to have a mum like that, she seems like an amazing person
I don't have a particular memory, just lots of small ones. Mum's are amazing. Just thinking about what she has done for me, and how much I love her makes me teary.
This memory isn't so much a moment but a routine that i didn't know how important it was until it was broken. My grandpa was the only father figure I ever had. when i was in elementary school, everyday i would come home and sit on his lap and he would give me a lollipop . one year he was diagnosed with cancer, but everyday we would still sit in the livingroom together, watching tv. after he died i was heartbroken & slept in his armchair for 3 days, and all i wanted was 1 more afternoon with him.
Your mom sounds like such an amazing and kind person. Getting you that even though she'd already gotten you a year's subscription (and that in itself is amazing) because she knew how much you wanted it. I wish my mom was like that. -3
The first day of kindergarten we all sat in a circle, and another girl kept trying to sit next to me. I didn't want to be friends with her, so I moved, but she followed me. I moved a couple more times, but she followed me each time. I don't know if I realized how judgmental I was being then, or if it was years later, but I remember it sometimes whenever I am socializing or dealing with people. It helps me to remember to get to know people first.
Once something like that happened to me as well. Almost exactly the same. The reason my mom bought it for me was because I was really depressed when I was a kid and I didn't really talk or say much or do anything really besides read, and one day I wanted this pooh bear doll that I saw in the store and unbenounced to me, was going to be getting for my birthday. She got it for me because I finally wanted something, and that day I realized that she really loved me. It helped me a lot.
One of the moments that have shaped me and I carry with me always is when my mother was in the hospital and she was in a lot of pain and after asking the nurses for more medication, they told me that they couldnt give her more. So I sat beside my mother and asked her "what can I do for you mom and she said" Just sit next to me and hold my hand "..and I did , I sat there and cried with her.....
When I was small, I had a best friend, and she was my best friend for a few years. One day, however, there was a letter on my doorstep addressed to me from said friend. She had written me that she did not want to be my friend because I was not popular enough. I was devastated.Now I am in college, and because of that event, I have more friends then I could ever have dreamed of. Also, if someone is nice to me, no matter how weird they are, I will always consider them a friend. - Marissa
I don't have many memories from when I was little, only snatches of things. Like the color of my mom's shirt on a certain day, or talking with a character at Disney world. I've had that feeling in my chest whenever I feel like I've let my mom down, but I'm still only 16 and I still really hate being wrong so I don't really do anything about it, but i know one day I'm going to look back and be mad at myself for it.
This story reminded me of a memory of mine. It was my first day of preschool, and when my mom came to pick me up, i was happy and excited to tell her about my day. However, when i got in the car, she looked really sad, so i asked her what was wrong. She started to cry. She then said, 'Grace, today, some really bad people did some really bad things.' She then proceeded to hug me. That day was Sept. 11, 2001.
When I was about seven, my friend was at my house, and she sat with my older sister on her bed and said that the bed was a special place where only the cool kids could sit. So I started to climb on the bed, and she pushed me off and said I wasn't cool enough. I went to my room and cried, and my sisters followed (despite my friend's protests) and eventually, the only reason my friend apologized was because she wanted to keep playing with my older sister. I picked bad friends when I was little.
I have a similar heavy memory. I was about 9 and I saw this beanie baby that I wanted. I begged my dad for it, he said no a couple of times and I reminded him what a good, cute, well behaved darling daughter I was. We got up to the counter and I saw that it was literally the last dollars he had. I tried to stop him and put it back but he bought it anyway. I still have it and that memory still brings tears to my eyes.
That was very profound, Michael. The fact that you simply realize how much that memory means to you is as important as discovering the many ripples it has made in your ocean.
This video is so good. Everyone else is saying it but it's true- you're a born storyteller. Several of the heaviest memories I have are similar to this in that they tend to revolve around words of love and wisdom from my mother, especially ones that were gentle corrections of things I had done that were stupid, hurtful, or deliberately unkind to others. These moments and her responses to them shaped my character in many ways and continue to do so, even though she does not recall some of them.
I never comment on anything, but this is one of the most personal, articulate videos I've ever sat down to watch. Your December 1997 edition of Nintendo Power is just as easily my Mutt in the Iron Muzzle Wishbone book, or those shoes light-up sneakers that I used to go crazy for. I got that vacuum feeling all over again. Thank you for sharing with us, and with me.
Michael, I love the way you enunciate. Your speech is so clear and sharp, its almost calming to listen to you speak when you tell us these stories. I second the desire to have you narrate a book, any book. Please!
I can't think of any big moment from my childhood that has hung around like that. All I can think of right now is watching Dr. Phil in 2nd grade and learning about how babies are made. Thank you Dr. Phil for saving me from an awkward conversation with my mother.
I remember the first time I failed a test. I was (still am) a good student and my parents had (and have) really high expectations for me so I was terrified of telling them. I actually cried in class because I didn't want to tell them because I thought they would yell at me. When I told my mom I started crying again, expecting to be yelled at. She hugged me, and when I stopped crying the only thing she said was "Well what are you going to do about it?"
Wow. This.. almost made me cry actually. I think I have a few similar memories, but ones which haven't stayed with me anywhere near as much. That's rather haunting. And I think if she had just told you at the store, it wouldn't have made anywhere near as big of an impression.
I could listen to you all day Michael! Not in a creepy way, but I just love the sound of your voice! It's so calming....especially when you tell such stories ;D
the one thing i can think of off the top of my head that has stuck with me is when i was in fourth grade and my dad picked me up from school on the day that my great uncle died. anyway, what i remember is my dad trying to calm me down and saying "shhh, it's all right." and i told him "no, no it's not all right, he's dead." and yah now i've gotten a little more perspective on life and death in the past ten years, but i go back to that to remember that sometimes it's okay to not be all right.
My mom is the sort of person that never really goes on trips spontaneously.But one day during the summer it was just me and my mom,so she decided on the spur of the moment to go in to town and go to the amusement/fun house place.I got to use all the arcade games,the ones with the claws,whack-a-mole etc,which I was usually never allowed because they're expensive.We then got a prize with the tickets .It was nice because it was all the things we never do - such a nice surprise day out with my mom.
I don't remember much... I remember that it happened, but I can never picture memories in my head. This kinda haunts me a bit, because even though I was 7 when my mum died, I still can't remember a single thing that we did together. I have never cried over her death, and I don't miss her because, you can't miss something you don't remember - you can wish it was there, but you can't miss it.
You got me so invested in this story, I feel like I lived it myself...it's unsettling. Especially at the end when I remembered you said she smiled first before she said no at the store. Oh man what are these feels O_O
When you told how your mother said that she signed you up for the subscription, but bought you the magazine anyway, my heart started beating really fast and I felt that huge impression myself. I don't know what impression it is, either. But I feel it and it's both beautiful and sort of tense.
I'll probably tell this story more in-depth in a video at some point, but I have one memory that is really important to me for whatever reason. One day during my sophomore year in high school, my best friend and I went to this place around her neighborhood that was really muddy and stomped around awhile, just for fun. At one point, she said that when she first met me, she really didn't picture doing this with me in the future. I don't know why that statement is so important to me, but it is.
I just love your person, Michael. I don't know how else to put it! You sound like an amazing person & I can completely understand what it's like to have a heavy memory like that :/
I'm not usually so inspired by something, but for whatever reason, this has inspired to really look back into things in my past and figure out the little things that have shaped me as a person. This really made my day, Michael Aranda. Thank you.
Awww, Michael your Mom is awesome. And I imagine that the lesson you learned was to trust you Mom and not throw a fit if she said no to something because there had to be some reason for her saying no.That would have shaped the way you treated your Mom as well as the way you treat anyone you really trust.
This memory is just so...Heavy. On the serious side though, it's amazing how a memory that can seem extremely insignificant to one person can stay with another their whole life.
Since I discovered his work, I have had a great respect for Michael Aranda. But this may truly be one of his finest works - thoughtful, restrained, and excellent. Thank you, Michael. This is what great videomaking is about.
It's good to be reminded that sometimes "No" doesn't mean "You can't have what you want," it just means "You will get what you really need to be happy, but you don't understand what that means right now." I am spending so much time babysitting, I am now finding myself on the other end of the vacuum cleaner. It's hard to hold onto the "No" of the moment even when you know about the big surprise "Yes!" coming later.
a youtuber/vlogger/person/thing has never made me cry until this video! i definitely have my fair share of memories that stick with me and yeah, i don't know why i remember those and not others..
One day I was returning home from a friends house. I took a shortcut, crossing across a field. A girl approached me, tears streaming down her face. I'd had a bad day and was in a terrible mood. She asked to borrow my phone, to make a call. I could feel my phone in my pocket. I told her it was dead. I felt no shame, in fact, I was just angry at everyone and the world. Not long after, the guilt struck. I've been so much more consciously honest since.
I've been thinking, and I can't define one memory that has shaped me as such. I could name so many, but there isn't one that stands out. There are just three memories I hope I will keep forever.
Mr. Aranda. There is just something about the way you tell stories, especially about your mother, that make me cry every single time. I have been following your videos for quite a while, and it still happens.
You sir, just made me cry. Not just because of the story, but because of your wonderful voice. I'm a radio dj and audio freak. My ears are extremely sensitive to sound. And whenever I hear sound that in my opinion is perfect, I cry. The sound of your voice just did that. Wow...
I used to do the same thing with my mom. Supermarkets, gaming mags... the whole shebang. The one book my mom bought for me was the first issue of shonen jump back when I was about 10. I took it everywhere I went And eventually I got a subscription. In fact, I met my current best friend by his interest, as it seems I was the only one I knew to have such a magazine. Anyway, I'll never forget my mom, and I'm happy to share such memories.Lost her at 16 and I feel I've lived a different life since.
When I was 10, I loved scavenger hunts, and my birthday happened to be the next day. I begged my mom to make one for me so me and my friends could find some treasure at the end. My birthday came, we had the treasure hunt, and it wasn't the prizes that my friends hoped for and none of them took and home. My mom was telling me she was sad nobody liked her gifts and she spent lots of time on them. I felt so so bad, and I still do today, even though those gifts are still hanging up in my bedroom...
I love your videos, Michael. You don't update on a schedule, which makes every upload unprecedented and a pleasant surprise. And when you do upload, the result is always amazing quality and leaves me in a small state of awe.
I did start to cry a tiny bit at the end of the story. I don't know why, maybe it was because I knew that feeling you were talking about, or because of the way that you felt remembering me. However, in regards to the end of the video, I am so disappointed I wasn't able to support her movie. I had left for the wilderness the day before she put up the IndieGoGo page and came back on the last day, but missed it because I hadn't yet seen all her videos that I missed.
That moment when I watched this video for the first time not knowing what it really would have & when u revealed it,this rush of emotions went thru me having lost a parent n trying so hard not to cry or show emotion to th world n to jst stick to routine n power thru it.when it all hit me durin this video,would be a heavey memory for me from nw on.not sure coz it made me finally relieve my tears or coz i let myself feel pain or what...whether its gud or bad;dunno..jst was heavy..thanks Michael
This made me tear up. I'm not sure why, but all I can guess is that I've had similar moments throughout my childhood and early adulthood. I feel very guilty when I inadvertently hurt others, even if I know they know it was accidental. I guess we can put it down to love.
My mom and I were in Pier1 Imports. I was maybe 10. Found this purple teddy bear that I wanted so badly. Followed mom, begged, cried, etc. I had already gotten a toy earlier that week so she said no. I collected myself knowing I had lost. When we checked out, a young couple came up to me and said "We just bought this for you." I'm not sure if they were newlyweds or about to have a baby or something, but they just looked so happy to give me this bear. I named him Stranger Bear. I still have him.
well, there was the one where he really let his viewers into his life and made a dedication video for his mother when she was going through Cancer treatment. That one is just.... No word to really describe it....
I ran away this past year on Thanksgiving day. My family had been fighting all morning over petty things, and on top of that stress, we had my dad's friend coming over for dinner. I didn't know how to cope with how much I didn't want to be there. It wasn't how Thanksgiving should be, I thought. So I packed a backpack, grabbed my iPod and went out the back door. I walked blocks away before my sister came in her car to find me, crying and pleading with me to come home.
Michael, you are a great storyteller. You have the kind of voice that people would listen to for hours even if it you were giving a lecture on shoes or something. Just, great job man.
when i was really little i used to cry every time a friend had to leave after playing at my house and then one day my friend said he had to leave and i thought he left and i started crying then he came back and said just kidding and i was really embarrassed and decided i wouldn't let that happen again and i wouldn't cry when someone left and i never did again and it led me to think about role of emotion in humanity, to control my emotions better, and to think more rationally
One particular scene from a book called "The Isle of Dolphins" that I remember was when the Protagonist (a 12 year old girl) sits on a boat with her tribe to leave the island and sees that her younger brother is missing. She looks back at the island and sees him holding out the fishing spear he went back to get before leaving. She jumps out of the boat to get him, but only hears scream when she reaches the shore. When she reaches her brother, she only sees his body beeing ravaged by dogs.
This story is so crazy because I had a very similar experience when I was younger... one summer my mom took my niece and I to the fair and at one point we saw a little circus act, and at the end they were selling circus-themed coloring books... I really wanted one but when I initially asked my mom to buy one she gave an indication that she was not going to. Once the show was over I started walking out of the tent, but I noticed my mom didn't follow me. I went back in and saw her buying a coloring book... and for some reason my childish brain interpreted this as her buying my niece a coloring book but not me... so I went up to her and pushed her. Almost instantly after everything clicked together and I realized that she was buying us both coloring books and I started sobbing uncontrollably, burying my face in her side. She asked me if I wanted to give the man the money to buy the coloring book but I was too upset to do anything. I remember sitting on a bench later apologizing to her and then apologizing again years later because I felt so guilty. I still have that coloring book, and though my mom and I have had many disagreements since then, that's the one thing I would change if I could.
During my mid-teens I went through a long 'wear black and hate everyone' phase. At eighteen, I found a note my mother had written at the time, just a little diary-type vent. I realised the depression my mother had suffered then was largely my fault. I have never felt so wretched as in that moment. I don't know the moral of the story yet. I'd love to say I've become a more considerate person but in reality I think I've just shut myself off from everyone in fear of making it happen again.
I like to think it was a realization of how much his mother loved him and cared for him, and feeling guilt was just something that reminded him that he wouldn't and couldn't take that love for granted. Which is a good thing for many people to have, in my opinion. Imagine if it was a different scenario, where Michael just shrugs it off and rejoices in the fact that he now has two copies of Nintendo Power along with the year-long subscription that his mother got for him. No heavy memory then...
This video just impressed me. I don't really know why, but I think it was, because I could understand all the feelings you described so well. You're amazing at telling stories!
Your voice is just perfect for storytelling. This is one of my favorite videos of yours. The story still hits me hard every time I come back here, so powerful that I tear up. Thank you for sharing this.
What a beautiful story. As a parent and grandparent we often don't know what incidents may influence a child and what memories or reactions they may have and I am sure we often get it wrong, but your Mom's actions really touched your heart.
I've watched this so many times that I could quote it word for word and yet it still resonates with me. It is beautifully delivered.
7 years ago and I still come back to this
You payed this forward.
Do you remember when I wanted that Limited Edition, Holographic Mewtwo card that came in one of those Nintendo Power Issues but you'd promised it to our cousin? I broke down crying for a long time but later found the card on my pillow on my bed. I still have it. You made the change in plans up to Nic by creating a new pokemon, designing & printing out a one-of-a-kind card he could take home; Cut it out and used a common card as the base for size reference & to match the proper card weight. It was legit. That left an impression on my life, too, and might just be why when I see someone really wants something with their whole heart & soul and I feel it's in my power to give it them, I do my best to secure it, even when it sometimes comes at a personal cost I feel I can afford, or at least make up for later. Thank you for that. And I thank Mom, too, for showing you that compassion first.
One of the heaviest memories I have is seeing my mother struggling, putting up Christmas lights by herself. My Dad was in San Francisco still, 1000s of miles away and I just felt so, so badly for my mother. She was tired. On the verge of tears. Acting as a single parent while my Dad finished out his contract at a company. But she did it anyway, because it meant something to me. And it brings out emotions I never want to feel again.
This is just so beautiful i tear up every time.
When I was a kid, my grandpa lived pretty far away so every now and then, my dad would take my sister & I on a drive to visit. I used to throw fits about never wanting to go because I hated the drive and thought his house was boring. When I got older, I always made plans with friends to avoid going. Now I'm 20 years old and he's in the hospital with heart problems and lung cancer. The doctors don't think he'll make it to Christmas and I regret never going on this trips to see him.
This is probably one of my favorite videos of yours. So simplistic, yet such a powerful message. And each time I come back to watch it, the emotion is all still there
That was a great story. I remember a great many little moments in my life, and like you don't know exactly how they shaped me, I just know that I constantly go back to them. Great video!
This has got to be one of the most beautiful videos on the internet.
Have you seen his Mothers Day video?
It's possible I just wept while watching this. I have a whole pile of those little, seemingly inconsequential, but somehow ultimately very heavy moments. It's good to know I'm not alone in that. I know it's been years since she passed, but I'm still sorry about your mom. I'm sure you still miss her a lot. The way you always talk about her, I get the impression that she was wonderful and you two were close. Thank you for sharing your life with us, good and bad.
You sir, have gained a follower. Beautiful video.
I totally understand the crushing feeling a moment can have on you the rest of your life. When I was 11, I moved away. I was very angry about the move and so I hid in my room for a week. My dad called me out to meet a girl who lived next door. I just said hi and went inside. Apparently this girl liked soccer just like me and when my dad told her she went inside to get her ball so we could play together. I remeber feeling so angry with myself and not ever wanting to hurt someone that way again.
so very touching... as a Mother to a little boy, this made me cry. What an awesome Mom!
When I was 12, my mom was in a hospital bed in our living room, dying of cancer. My dad asked if I could stay with her for a few minutes alone while he showed my family something out back. She was so far gone that she couldn't interact with us, just stare out the window at the sky. I stood by that window holding her hand and for a second she looked straight at me. I got scared and ran to call my dad back in. The look of terror in her eyes and the guilt of running will always stay with me.
I know that feeling. I can't pull any specific memories from when I felt it, but I remember it. I remember so fully and deeply. It is the feeling of realizing that the way you acted was wrong, and although you got what you wanted it, you didn't deserve it. You didn't get it in the way you feel you should have. This story rang so true and clear to me, all I have to say is thank you.
The moral could be about how willing parents are... How caring they can be just for their own child, especially mothers.
this is one of the most touching stories i've heard. i guess the moral is that we don't even realize all the things our parents do to us (especially when we're kids). maybe we never truly understand those things unless we become parents ourselves. this just made me think of all the small (and big) things my mother has done to me. i need to go hug her right now.
All the stuff that he said, about carrying a memory with him and knowing that it impacted him but not knowing how....it makes me really happy that I'm not the only person who feels that about certain memories.
Thanks, Michael.
I read this book called Soul Print by Mark Batterson and it talked about how certain little memories, like this one, are so much more important to us than other memories. The book talked about how the memories that weigh heavily upon us are the ones that shape who we are and where we go. This video really reminded me of that.
That was incredibly touching.
Today's the 14th year anniversary of me losing my dad to cancer. Granted, I was very young when it happened but it's still very touching to hear such personal stories like this one. It's amazing how memories like this stick out after all these years.
this story made me cry. great video!
This truely made me think alot about my life. I have never really had a proper family. Yeah my mum and dad are still together and i live with them and my sisters but it has never meant we were a family, at least not in the way i would think a family should be. You are so lucky to have a mum like that, she seems like an amazing person
I don't have a particular memory, just lots of small ones. Mum's are amazing. Just thinking about what she has done for me, and how much I love her makes me teary.
This memory isn't so much a moment but a routine that i didn't know how important it was until it was broken. My grandpa was the only father figure I ever had. when i was in elementary school, everyday i would come home and sit on his lap and he would give me a lollipop . one year he was diagnosed with cancer, but everyday we would still sit in the livingroom together, watching tv. after he died i was heartbroken & slept in his armchair for 3 days, and all i wanted was 1 more afternoon with him.
Your mom sounds like such an amazing and kind person. Getting you that even though she'd already gotten you a year's subscription (and that in itself is amazing) because she knew how much you wanted it. I wish my mom was like that. -3
The first day of kindergarten we all sat in a circle, and another girl kept trying to sit next to me. I didn't want to be friends with her, so I moved, but she followed me. I moved a couple more times, but she followed me each time. I don't know if I realized how judgmental I was being then, or if it was years later, but I remember it sometimes whenever I am socializing or dealing with people. It helps me to remember to get to know people first.
I love the way that you talk and how much emotion you put into your voice. Michael you are amazing.
I am so sorry for your loss. But it is wonderful that you have these heavy memories. They are the best kind. This was a wonderful video.
Once something like that happened to me as well. Almost exactly the same. The reason my mom bought it for me was because I was really depressed when I was a kid and I didn't really talk or say much or do anything really besides read, and one day I wanted this pooh bear doll that I saw in the store and unbenounced to me, was going to be getting for my birthday. She got it for me because I finally wanted something, and that day I realized that she really loved me. It helped me a lot.
One of the moments that have shaped me and I carry with me always is when my mother was in the hospital and she was in a lot of pain and after asking the nurses for more medication, they told me that they couldnt give her more. So I sat beside my mother and asked her "what can I do for you mom and she said" Just sit next to me and hold my hand "..and I did , I sat there and cried with her.....
When I was small, I had a best friend, and she was my best friend for a few years. One day, however, there was a letter on my doorstep addressed to me from said friend. She had written me that she did not want to be my friend because I was not popular enough. I was devastated.Now I am in college, and because of that event, I have more friends then I could ever have dreamed of. Also, if someone is nice to me, no matter how weird they are, I will always consider them a friend.
- Marissa
I don't have many memories from when I was little, only snatches of things. Like the color of my mom's shirt on a certain day, or talking with a character at Disney world. I've had that feeling in my chest whenever I feel like I've let my mom down, but I'm still only 16 and I still really hate being wrong so I don't really do anything about it, but i know one day I'm going to look back and be mad at myself for it.
This story reminded me of a memory of mine. It was my first day of preschool, and when my mom came to pick me up, i was happy and excited to tell her about my day. However, when i got in the car, she looked really sad, so i asked her what was wrong. She started to cry. She then said, 'Grace, today, some really bad people did some really bad things.' She then proceeded to hug me. That day was Sept. 11, 2001.
When I was about seven, my friend was at my house, and she sat with my older sister on her bed and said that the bed was a special place where only the cool kids could sit. So I started to climb on the bed, and she pushed me off and said I wasn't cool enough. I went to my room and cried, and my sisters followed (despite my friend's protests) and eventually, the only reason my friend apologized was because she wanted to keep playing with my older sister.
I picked bad friends when I was little.
I have a similar heavy memory. I was about 9 and I saw this beanie baby that I wanted. I begged my dad for it, he said no a couple of times and I reminded him what a good, cute, well behaved darling daughter I was. We got up to the counter and I saw that it was literally the last dollars he had. I tried to stop him and put it back but he bought it anyway. I still have it and that memory still brings tears to my eyes.
This was really moving. We all have those childhood memories that just stick in our minds forever.
That was very profound, Michael. The fact that you simply realize how much that memory means to you is as important as discovering the many ripples it has made in your ocean.
This video is so good. Everyone else is saying it but it's true- you're a born storyteller.
Several of the heaviest memories I have are similar to this in that they tend to revolve around words of love and wisdom from my mother, especially ones that were gentle corrections of things I had done that were stupid, hurtful, or deliberately unkind to others. These moments and her responses to them shaped my character in many ways and continue to do so, even though she does not recall some of them.
I never comment on anything, but this is one of the most personal, articulate videos I've ever sat down to watch. Your December 1997 edition of Nintendo Power is just as easily my Mutt in the Iron Muzzle Wishbone book, or those shoes light-up sneakers that I used to go crazy for. I got that vacuum feeling all over again. Thank you for sharing with us, and with me.
Michael, I love the way you enunciate. Your speech is so clear and sharp, its almost calming to listen to you speak when you tell us these stories. I second the desire to have you narrate a book, any book. Please!
I can't think of any big moment from my childhood that has hung around like that. All I can think of right now is watching Dr. Phil in 2nd grade and learning about how babies are made. Thank you Dr. Phil for saving me from an awkward conversation with my mother.
I remember the first time I failed a test. I was (still am) a good student and my parents had (and have) really high expectations for me so I was terrified of telling them. I actually cried in class because I didn't want to tell them because I thought they would yell at me. When I told my mom I started crying again, expecting to be yelled at. She hugged me, and when I stopped crying the only thing she said was "Well what are you going to do about it?"
You know a person is special when all they have to do it talk so entrance so many people.
Wow. This.. almost made me cry actually. I think I have a few similar memories, but ones which haven't stayed with me anywhere near as much. That's rather haunting. And I think if she had just told you at the store, it wouldn't have made anywhere near as big of an impression.
I could listen to you all day Michael! Not in a creepy way, but I just love the sound of your voice! It's so calming....especially when you tell such stories ;D
the one thing i can think of off the top of my head that has stuck with me is when i was in fourth grade and my dad picked me up from school on the day that my great uncle died. anyway, what i remember is my dad trying to calm me down and saying "shhh, it's all right." and i told him "no, no it's not all right, he's dead." and yah now i've gotten a little more perspective on life and death in the past ten years, but i go back to that to remember that sometimes it's okay to not be all right.
My mom is the sort of person that never really goes on trips spontaneously.But one day during the summer it was just me and my mom,so she decided on the spur of the moment to go in to town and go to the amusement/fun house place.I got to use all the arcade games,the ones with the claws,whack-a-mole etc,which I was usually never allowed because they're expensive.We then got a prize with the tickets .It was nice because it was all the things we never do - such a nice surprise day out with my mom.
wow, this... just beautiful. His voice is so soothing... like I just want to hear him read poetry or something. And the story made me tear up.
I don't remember much... I remember that it happened, but I can never picture memories in my head. This kinda haunts me a bit, because even though I was 7 when my mum died, I still can't remember a single thing that we did together. I have never cried over her death, and I don't miss her because, you can't miss something you don't remember - you can wish it was there, but you can't miss it.
This made me cry a little, and made me think about my mom..may she rest in peace
there was something so simply beautiful about the way you told that story.
You got me so invested in this story, I feel like I lived it myself...it's unsettling. Especially at the end when I remembered you said she smiled first before she said no at the store. Oh man what are these feels O_O
I'm not sure why, but this made me cry... Thanks, Michael, for sharing this memory with us.
When you told how your mother said that she signed you up for the subscription, but bought you the magazine anyway, my heart started beating really fast and I felt that huge impression myself. I don't know what impression it is, either. But I feel it and it's both beautiful and sort of tense.
My eyes filled with tears, such a sweet memory, we should hold on to these more often.
I'll probably tell this story more in-depth in a video at some point, but I have one memory that is really important to me for whatever reason. One day during my sophomore year in high school, my best friend and I went to this place around her neighborhood that was really muddy and stomped around awhile, just for fun. At one point, she said that when she first met me, she really didn't picture doing this with me in the future. I don't know why that statement is so important to me, but it is.
I loved the way you told your story--definitely could hear the emotion behind how it felt to be 11 years old.
I just love your person, Michael. I don't know how else to put it! You sound like an amazing person & I can completely understand what it's like to have a heavy memory like that :/
I'm not usually so inspired by something, but for whatever reason, this has inspired to really look back into things in my past and figure out the little things that have shaped me as a person. This really made my day, Michael Aranda. Thank you.
Awww, Michael your Mom is awesome. And I imagine that the lesson you learned was to trust you Mom and not throw a fit if she said no to something because there had to be some reason for her saying no.That would have shaped the way you treated your Mom as well as the way you treat anyone you really trust.
This memory is just so...Heavy. On the serious side though, it's amazing how a memory that can seem extremely insignificant to one person can stay with another their whole life.
Since I discovered his work, I have had a great respect for Michael Aranda. But this may truly be one of his finest works - thoughtful, restrained, and excellent. Thank you, Michael. This is what great videomaking is about.
I think I cry even more just because of his soothing voice with the sad metaphors.
It's good to be reminded that sometimes "No" doesn't mean "You can't have what you want," it just means "You will get what you really need to be happy, but you don't understand what that means right now." I am spending so much time babysitting, I am now finding myself on the other end of the vacuum cleaner. It's hard to hold onto the "No" of the moment even when you know about the big surprise "Yes!" coming later.
a youtuber/vlogger/person/thing has never made me cry until this video! i definitely have my fair share of memories that stick with me and yeah, i don't know why i remember those and not others..
One day I was returning home from a friends house. I took a shortcut, crossing across a field. A girl approached me, tears streaming down her face. I'd had a bad day and was in a terrible mood. She asked to borrow my phone, to make a call. I could feel my phone in my pocket. I told her it was dead. I felt no shame, in fact, I was just angry at everyone and the world. Not long after, the guilt struck. I've been so much more consciously honest since.
I've been thinking, and I can't define one memory that has shaped me as such. I could name so many, but there isn't one that stands out. There are just three memories I hope I will keep forever.
Mr. Aranda. There is just something about the way you tell stories, especially about your mother, that make me cry every single time. I have been following your videos for quite a while, and it still happens.
You sir, just made me cry. Not just because of the story, but because of your wonderful voice. I'm a radio dj and audio freak. My ears are extremely sensitive to sound. And whenever I hear sound that in my opinion is perfect, I cry. The sound of your voice just did that. Wow...
His voice is so poetic and soothing. It makes me want to cry.
Get help. Geezus.
I used to do the same thing with my mom. Supermarkets, gaming mags... the whole shebang. The one book my mom bought for me was the first issue of shonen jump back when I was about 10. I took it everywhere I went And eventually I got a subscription. In fact, I met my current best friend by his interest, as it seems I was the only one I knew to have such a magazine. Anyway, I'll never forget my mom, and I'm happy to share such memories.Lost her at 16 and I feel I've lived a different life since.
I teared up watching this, no idea why, and then I scroll down and see that other people did the same. There's just something about it.
When I was 10, I loved scavenger hunts, and my birthday happened to be the next day. I begged my mom to make one for me so me and my friends could find some treasure at the end. My birthday came, we had the treasure hunt, and it wasn't the prizes that my friends hoped for and none of them took and home. My mom was telling me she was sad nobody liked her gifts and she spent lots of time on them. I felt so so bad, and I still do today, even though those gifts are still hanging up in my bedroom...
I love your videos, Michael. You don't update on a schedule, which makes every upload unprecedented and a pleasant surprise. And when you do upload, the result is always amazing quality and leaves me in a small state of awe.
I did start to cry a tiny bit at the end of the story. I don't know why, maybe it was because I knew that feeling you were talking about, or because of the way that you felt remembering me. However, in regards to the end of the video, I am so disappointed I wasn't able to support her movie. I had left for the wilderness the day before she put up the IndieGoGo page and came back on the last day, but missed it because I hadn't yet seen all her videos that I missed.
That moment when I watched this video for the first time not knowing what it really would have & when u revealed it,this rush of emotions went thru me having lost a parent n trying so hard not to cry or show emotion to th world n to jst stick to routine n power thru it.when it all hit me durin this video,would be a heavey memory for me from nw on.not sure coz it made me finally relieve my tears or coz i let myself feel pain or what...whether its gud or bad;dunno..jst was heavy..thanks Michael
It's fascinating to me how a simple story makes me want to get to know you all the more. Good story telling says a lot about someone
This made me tear up. I'm not sure why, but all I can guess is that I've had similar moments throughout my childhood and early adulthood. I feel very guilty when I inadvertently hurt others, even if I know they know it was accidental. I guess we can put it down to love.
I can't put into words how much I regret what I did to my family, and I know I'll carry that guilt with me for the rest of my life.
My mom and I were in Pier1 Imports. I was maybe 10. Found this purple teddy bear that I wanted so badly. Followed mom, begged, cried, etc. I had already gotten a toy earlier that week so she said no. I collected myself knowing I had lost. When we checked out, a young couple came up to me and said "We just bought this for you." I'm not sure if they were newlyweds or about to have a baby or something, but they just looked so happy to give me this bear. I named him Stranger Bear. I still have him.
your videos honestly just make me smile. every time i watch them i just get this goofy, idiotic grin on my face and i don't even realize it :)
I could sit here and listen to your voice for ages. Its so smooth.
It's so strange how something so small and simple can make such a huge impact on our lives.
You're amazing Michael. Seriously. This make me cry. You're amazing.
well, there was the one where he really let his viewers into his life and made a dedication video for his mother when she was going through Cancer treatment. That one is just.... No word to really describe it....
I ran away this past year on Thanksgiving day. My family had been fighting all morning over petty things, and on top of that stress, we had my dad's friend coming over for dinner. I didn't know how to cope with how much I didn't want to be there. It wasn't how Thanksgiving should be, I thought. So I packed a backpack, grabbed my iPod and went out the back door. I walked blocks away before my sister came in her car to find me, crying and pleading with me to come home.
Michael, you are a great storyteller. You have the kind of voice that people would listen to for hours even if it you were giving a lecture on shoes or something. Just, great job man.
This made me cry.. I don't even know.. It was so amazing. Your voice is perfect.
when i was really little i used to cry every time a friend had to leave after playing at my house and then one day my friend said he had to leave and i thought he left and i started crying then he came back and said just kidding and i was really embarrassed and decided i wouldn't let that happen again and i wouldn't cry when someone left and i never did again and it led me to think about role of emotion in humanity, to control my emotions better, and to think more rationally
One particular scene from a book called "The Isle of Dolphins" that I remember was when the Protagonist (a 12 year old girl) sits on a boat with her tribe to leave the island and sees that her younger brother is missing. She looks back at the island and sees him holding out the fishing spear he went back to get before leaving. She jumps out of the boat to get him, but only hears scream when she reaches the shore. When she reaches her brother, she only sees his body beeing ravaged by dogs.
you told this so wonderfully... I have this one memory that isn't even real, it's a dream but it makes me so emotional every time I think about it.
I don't know why, but the way Michael told this story, almost made me cry.
This story is so crazy because I had a very similar experience when I was younger... one summer my mom took my niece and I to the fair and at one point we saw a little circus act, and at the end they were selling circus-themed coloring books... I really wanted one but when I initially asked my mom to buy one she gave an indication that she was not going to. Once the show was over I started walking out of the tent, but I noticed my mom didn't follow me. I went back in and saw her buying a coloring book... and for some reason my childish brain interpreted this as her buying my niece a coloring book but not me... so I went up to her and pushed her. Almost instantly after everything clicked together and I realized that she was buying us both coloring books and I started sobbing uncontrollably, burying my face in her side. She asked me if I wanted to give the man the money to buy the coloring book but I was too upset to do anything. I remember sitting on a bench later apologizing to her and then apologizing again years later because I felt so guilty. I still have that coloring book, and though my mom and I have had many disagreements since then, that's the one thing I would change if I could.
i love your video like this i feel like your talking to us in such a personal way.
During my mid-teens I went through a long 'wear black and hate everyone' phase. At eighteen, I found a note my mother had written at the time, just a little diary-type vent. I realised the depression my mother had suffered then was largely my fault. I have never felt so wretched as in that moment. I don't know the moral of the story yet. I'd love to say I've become a more considerate person but in reality I think I've just shut myself off from everyone in fear of making it happen again.
I like to think it was a realization of how much his mother loved him and cared for him, and feeling guilt was just something that reminded him that he wouldn't and couldn't take that love for granted. Which is a good thing for many people to have, in my opinion. Imagine if it was a different scenario, where Michael just shrugs it off and rejoices in the fact that he now has two copies of Nintendo Power along with the year-long subscription that his mother got for him. No heavy memory then...
This video just impressed me. I don't really know why, but I think it was, because I could understand all the feelings you described so well.
You're amazing at telling stories!
This made me cry, I was honestly that moved.