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Bored Panda

Entertainment

Donata Ruzgaitė

“The Moment The Rope Broke”: 73 Perfect Pictures Taken Split Seconds Before Disaster Struck

Brain Healthline

Timing is everything. Especially when it comes to photography. Sometimes, the camera captures a perfect sunset, a baby's first steps, or the exact moment a romantic proposal happens...

Other times, it unexpectedly snaps something a little less magical and a whole lot more chaotic. Those split seconds just before disaster strikes and everything goes hilariously wrong. These photos are a perfect mix of comedy and tragedy. Minor but funny tragedies that involve things like coffee spills, chairs breaking, slipping, or silly mishaps. Harmless misfortune at its finest.

Bored Panda has compiled a list of the best pictures taken at the most hilariously perfect time. Many are reminders that life is unpredictable, embarrassing situations are universal, and, no matter how graceful we try to be, sometimes we fail in spectacular fashion. And if we're really unlucky, it gets frozen in time forever for all the world to see.

We also explore when it's okay to brush off your clumsiness and when it might point to something serious. You'll find that info between the images.

#1 Perfectly Timed Capture

Image credits: colorfulsoul_

If you've never had a silly, clumsy accident, who are you even? Many of us drop things, spill things, trip and fall, or even walk into sliding doors now and again. We laugh - or cuss - off these minor disasters, and for the most part, they're nothing to be too concerned about.

But at what point should you worry about your clumsiness?

Let's start with the definition of clumsiness. According to Healthline.com, it is poor coordination, movement, or action. Research shows that as we age, we are likely to get more clumsy. This is because brain function plays a role in coordination. And when we get older, our brains become less efficient due to structural damage and decreased neurotransmitter levels.

"This forces us to rely more on cognitive processes that are supported by the prefrontal cortex, a brain region highly vulnerable to aging," explains Healthline.

If you're finding yourself tripping, falling, dropping things, or bumping into furniture more often than usual, aging might be at play. But your sudden clumsiness could be a result of something more serious...

#2 Oh Lawd He Really Comin

Image credits: reddit.com

#3 The Perfect Shot

Image credits: NearlyLegit

It's not unusual to be clumsy when you’re distracted or unaware of your surroundings. "But often, sudden issues with coordination paired with another symptom can suggest a serious, underlying health condition," warns Healthline.

Among these health conditions is a stroke. This happens when a blood clot forms in the brain and decreases blood flow. Or when a weakened blood vessel bursts in your brain and decreases blood flow. Your brain is deprived of oxygen, and your brain cells begin to wither away.

#4 Perfectly Timed

Image credits: acedece

#5 Mid-Air Struggle Behind The Newly Wed

Image credits: TheSANEG

#6 A Couple Of Years Ago, My Friend/Coworker Set Her Hair On Fire While Blowing Out The Candles On Her Birthday Cake. This Was Taken The Split Second Before Anybody Realized

Image credits: MURPHtheSURF

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke every year. Some of them experience paralysis or muscle weakness, leading to poor coordination and stumbling. Aka clumsiness. But before you panic, experts say sudden clumsiness doesn’t always mean a stroke. There will most likely be other symptoms too.

These include slurred speech, pins and needles sensations in your arms or legs, muscle weakness or numbness, a headache and vertigo, which is a feeling that you’re moving or spinning when you’re not.

#7 That's Gonna Hurt

Image credits: hauntcircus

#8 Good Times, Until The Group Picture

Image credits: tillicum

#9 This Deer

Image credits: reddit.com

Another culprit for sudden clumsiness is seizures. "This is often the case with complex partial, myoclonic, and atonic seizures or drop attacks," explains the Healthline site. "Myoclonic and atonic seizures cause someone to suddenly fall as if they’re tripping. This symptom isn’t considered clumsiness."

When a person experiences a complex partial seizure, there will be a pattern of actions and symptoms. They'll typically stare blankly while in the middle of an activity or conversation. Then, suddenly, they’ll start doing something random, such as mumbling, fumbling, or picking at their clothing or objects.

Complex partial seizures may only last a few minutes, notes Healthline, and the person will have no memory of what happened. If or when they have a seizure again, they'll likely repeat the exact same actions.

#10 When Taking A Foot To Your Head Is The Better Option

Image credits: smashley1128

#11 The One That Got Away

Image credits: amfree88

#12 Slippery Sidewalk

Image credits: reddit.com

Of course, being intoxicated can also lead to clumsiness. That's because, as many of us know, intoxication impairs brain function and can result in uncoordinated movements or difficulty maintaining your balance.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can also cause clumsiness due to disorientation, tremors, agitation, or seizures.

#13 My Friend Fell Off His Bike Today

Image credits: reddit.com

#14 Ouch! Bird Pulling Woman’s Hair

Image credits: rastroboy

#15 Perfect Timing

Image credits: jammasterdj

Could the cause of your clumsiness be a brain tumor? It's possible, say the experts. And that's because a malignant (cancerous) or benign brain tumor can affect balance and coordination. But rest assured that getting a cancerous brain tumor is rare. And you have less than a 1% chance of developing it in your lifetime.

Apart from clumsiness, cancerous and benign brain tumors can cause unexplained nausea and vomiting, vision problems, personality or behavior changes, hearing problems, seizures, weakness or numbness, and bad headaches.

#16 Perfectly Timed Photo

Image credits: Attackruby

#17 Falling Glasses

Image credits: Zykium

#18 Closely Inspecting The Puck

Image credits: boydskywalker

Anxiety can also lead to clumsiness because it can cause your nervous system to function abnormally. For example, your hands might shake when you have anxiety, or you might see your surroundings differently, in which case, you’re more likely to bump into objects or people.

Similarly, if you don't get enough sleep, you might find yourself more clumsy than usual. "Exhaustion can affect balance, causing you to drop things. Or you may find yourself bumping into things," explains Healthline, adding that getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night allows your brain and body to rest.

#19 Tommy Finally Fought Back Against The Bully After His Mom Reminded Him That He Was A Toucan, Not A Toucan’t

Image credits: Witty_Operation2486

#20 Tried Standing Up On My First Time Paddle Boarding

Image credits: rLal1998

#21 Headshot!

Image credits: SpankyNoodle

There is a range of underlying conditions that can cause clumsiness. But often, your silly tripping, falling, dropping things, or stubbing your toe is just that: clumsiness. The only time to worry is when you have other symptoms, your clumsiness lasts for a long time, or negatively affects your daily life.

#22 Another Spilled Tea

Image credits: doudou21

#23 Taken Just As The Chair Breaks

Image credits: JohnSmithington

One of the best ways to avoid clumsiness is to slow down, be mindful, and pay attention to your surroundings. Another is to exercise regularly. “Movement in general strengthens gross motor skills and balance,” explains Lisa Hobson Stoner, a Life Time master trainer based in Minnesota.

You could also practice balancing by standing on one leg. "Unilateral (single-sided) exercises challenge your balance and help correct strength imbalances that may contribute to clumsiness," says Hobson Stoner.

Basically, stand on one leg for as long as you can - and keep a chair nearby in case you need to steady yourself. Do the same on the other leg. And aim to balance for longer periods each time you practice.

#24 The Moment The Rope Broke

Image credits: loungehog

#25 Perfectly Timed Picture Of Baseball Right Before It Hits Mom (Xpost From /R/Perfecttiming)

Image credits: TigersFan01

#26 She Slipped Trying To Pop The Soap Bubbles

Image credits: reddit.com

#27 My Sister Dropping Me Circa 1993

Image credits: THEsneezedmeatball

Finally, challenge your beliefs. Mind over matter. If you often tell yourself that you're "just" a clumsy person, it's unlikely you'll miraculously become more graceful.

“If we always think of ourselves this way, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” says Hobson Stoner. Instead, speak kindly and positively to yourself. And say something like, "I’m working on my coordination."