This is by far one of the more bizarre experiences I've ever had. On this, the first day of my 22nd year of living I talked a man out of killing himself.

I was on my merry way home from work. I work the night shift at a hotel (which sucks ass) and I had just gotten off around 6 AM. I was cruising to McDonalds for a delicious Sausage and Egg McMuffin when I noticed somebody walking in the middle of the road. Being the idiot that I am, I kept driving when I noticed that this mother fucker was SPRINTING into oncoming traffic. The car in front of me had to swerve to avoid this guy. Now it was my turn.

This guy is sprinting at my truck and keeps aligning himself with me as I swerve through the road. I make a last second correction and miss him by inches. I wasn't going that fast, but it's a two-ton vehicle... At this point, I call the cops because this guy is going to hurt himself or somebody else - or both. I continue following him because honestly, I thought the guy was on PCP or something and I was going to have to pull my knife out and go Rambo on his ass.

I follow him through a gas station then across the street as he tries to get hit by another car. He ends up in front of a grocery store where he collapses in tears. I roll down my window and can hear the guy sobbing. I mean absolutely the most gut wrenching sobs you can imagine coming from a fully grown man. He looked to be about my age. Pretty clean cut, clean clothes, nice jeans and shoes, hair cut. I yell out to him and ask if he's okay. He doesn't respond.

I keep yelling out to him and finally he responds that he's okay. This guy was just trying to lose a real life game of Frogger, so he's not okay. I ask him if he wants a bottle of water and he says yes. Walks up to the truck, tears pouring from his face and takes the bottle of water. I start trying to get him to talk and he barely can. Not because he's drunk or under the influence, but because he was crying so hard. I present to him my concerns about him running out into traffic and he agrees with me which sets him off into tears again. So at this point I know what he just did was totally fucked.

What I do next is absolutely stupid in every way I can think, but I ask him if I can get out of the car. He says yes. I tell him I'm armed and will defend myself if necessary, to which he responds with more sobs. I give him some napkins and tell him to take a drink, breathe and sit down. He does. We share a cigarette while he tells me about losing his job... Getting kicked out of school... His alcoholic father kicking him out when he got his girlfriend pregnant. Then he goes on to tell me about his girlfriend who went into labor early and then died giving birth... To a baby that did not live.

We talked for about 30 minutes. I eventually ended up talking him out of pulling some shit like this again (for the time being), giving him my number and the suicide hotline number. Gave him $100 of my birthday money and asked him if he could picture a world in which he wanted to live in. He said yes, and I then told him that the rest of his life should be dedicated to creating that world, and to pursue it with the same fury that compelled him to run into traffic and to honor his girlfriend and baby in that way. Fucking cheesy, but I already gave the guy water and $100. Didn't have much more for him... Gave him a ride to a nearby bus stop so the cops (that I called...) wouldn't pick him up.

Maybe this guy was full of shit, really was high on PCP and was 30 seconds from stabbing me in the throat with a coat hanger, but I don't think so. I thought that MY 2012 started off like shit, but after an amazing birthday and dealing with this guy, I realize I'm fucking blessed (in the most non-religious way possible). I can only hope that I had the tiniest effect on this guy's life. Because I know that he did, if only for one day. Because goddammit, this will be the best Sunday of my short life.

Peace, love and crabs, Reddit.

EDIT: Everyone's kind words are unbelievably appreciated. Times have been tough for this guy as well, so this certainly put things in perspective. Slept for a couple hours and woke up still shaking. This bloody mary is definitely taking the edge off, though.

EDIT 2: Front page? Damn. I'll tell you what... After a couple drinks and throwing down some food, I'm not sure I've enjoyed a day this much in a LONG time. I got to work an hour or so ago, and was notified a guest had a stroke and passed away. All of this on the birthday of one of my best friends who passed away almost 2 years ago, the day after my birthday. I don't really believe in "signs", but I'm going to go ahead and pretend that something is telling me my life is fucking great and I need to put my bitch-ass into motion and take every advantage of what I have. Insert other cliched statements here It shouldn't take a day like this to remember how lucky most of us are. Thanks again for all of your kind words! Really helped me out today!