I never expected that I would ever accept my loneliness as solitude instead. (Further kudos to Bay12 for having awesome people to help me not feel so much like an outsider.)
I never expected to enjoy drinking alcohol (real beer, like Guinness, and liquor especially), or getting high either. (I'm at least wise about when I use either. Don't wanna lose work because of them.)
I never expected to fulfill a few of my childhood dreams as an adult. No less, be able to carry one of my fulfillments with me for whenever I get bored. (PSP + a handful of Emulators + crap-tons of roms (many also ones I always wanted as a kid) = happy inner child)
I never expected to actually be accepted for my oddness, anywhere. (Again, Bay12, you all rock. Closest thing to a nakama I got.)
I never expected to face past bullies, and far exceed them in potential.
I never expected such a pathetically weak little target, ripe for bullying, like oneself, can be recognized as a hardcore badass. (I do believe I can drink my original bullies under the table as well, and be able to mock them for being "lightweights".)
I never expected to be able to actually prove some people wrong in their beliefs of some of my odd behaviors (talking to myself, for example).
I never expected to be able to right myself without need of a self-help book, and end up as an example for others to follow in "getting (understanding) life". Furthermore, when given examples from their books, I am already much further than them, and I never read any of the books they pushed onto me either.
I never expected to be as strong as I am (body, mind, spirit).
I never expected to still look so young, despite how I live my life (Junk food, lazy-ass, playing games much the time) up to my current age (and furthermore, still trick people with it unintentionallty). Cue many an underestimation because of being mistaken for an inexperienced late-teen; and the shock on their face when they hear my actual age.
I never expected to actually take interest in learning things after high school.
I never expected that freelancing would actually work out as an actually good direction to go career-wise.
I never expected people to ever actually understand me since childhood.
I never expected myself to be any bit social. (Sometimes, I may need alcohol to get over myself quicker before talking.)
I never expected that I would ever start getting hints of attraction more often from women. I used to be a woman-repellant, or always perma-banned into "friend" (or more like acquaintence) without any idea what I did, since childhood. Worse off, I
was being myself. (Talk about a confidence-killer with that one.)
I never expected that (any of) my car(s) can last as long as it(/they) did, considering their conditions. I believe my willpower is strong enough to override nearly anything. (maybe not really, but considering how deep in the pit some of my past cars got, they somehow still ran and didn't really break down whenever I drove; for everyone else, they ran like crap.)
I never thought I can actually out-think my older brothers as often as I do these days (Even trying to snoop inside my computer without my authorization is a chore). Even some of my "Play to Lose" strategies result in me winning many games, especially, I suppose, because they always "Play to Win". I prefer to call it "Having ‼Fun‼". (Fun Fact: I'm actually banned from playing some (mostly board and card) games during family game nights because my strategy screws everyone up so bad, and I consistently win from it.
No Thanks! being the hardest ban I've been hit with.
Everybody doesn't want to play against me anymore in that game.)
I never expected that MS Excel would be, by far, one of my most versatile tools.
For having not been much a fan of math since school; I never expected numbers would hold my interest so much.
I never expected to be a fan of anime.
I never expected to be such a strong influence in many other people's lives, despite not having a lifestyle or career with such an expected impact. Most of what I do is behind the scenes, or as a last-call backup that 9 out of 10 times, is always there to catch.
I never expected to be recognized as "The Fun Uncle" out of my brothers according to the next generation of my family. Not just fun, but also surprisingly responsible and somewhat reliable, according to others; especially since before their time, I used to be recognized as the complete opposite. Then again, it probably also helps that I'm the "guy with the games" (which is also frighteningly competent when playing with/against them), and one of the less/least mature family members despite being a middle child; I know what to expect, and can even serve as an interpreter for new members of the family/clan.
I never expected, at least during my childhood, to have descended from generations of badassery.