What burnt toast has to do with life-altering turns of fate

We've all had moments where our perfectly laid-out plans fall apart at the last minute. Maybe it’s a missed appointment, a canceled trip, or a sudden change that feels frustrating in the moment—only to realize later it was for the best. For one woman on TikTok, this idea took on a life-altering meaning when her parents unknowingly avoided a tragic fate.

Anna Noel (@annanoellll) recently shared an emotional video about how her parents were supposed to be on a doomed flight—one that crashed and killed every passenger on board. Their reason for missing it? A sudden, unexpected illness that turned out to be something much more.

The flight they never took

A moment of tragic physical address saved Noal's life.TikTok | @annanoellll

In her video, Noel begins by expressing her condolences to the families who lost loved ones on the tragic Alaska Airlines Flight 261, which crashed on January 31, 2000. The flight was scheduled to travel from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with a stop in San Francisco before its final destination in Seattle. Her parents were supposed to be on that plane.

She explains that her parents frequently traveled to Mexico, as they were considering moving there. But on the morning they were set to leave, her mother suddenly fell extremely sick. At first, she assumed it was anxiety and tried to push through. Since their tickets were non-refundable, her father was reluctant to cancel their trip. However, as her condition worsened, he had no choice but to stay behind with her.

"I'm sure my dad was probably a little bit annoyed, but soon he would be very thankful on January 31, 2000."

— @annanoellll

That was the day their scheduled return flight crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. All 88 people on board lost their lives.

A heartbreaking yet miraculous revelation

As shocking as the near-miss was, what Noel's mother learned afterward made the story even more extraordinary. Her sudden sickness wasn't just anxiety—it was morning sickness. She was pregnant.

But then Noel drops a heartbreaking detail:

"I'm an only child, though."

— @annanoellll

Her mother ultimately lost the baby. But in Noel's eyes, that child had a purpose. "That baby's purpose was to save my mom and my dad's life," she says.

The bittersweet nature of the story struck a chord with viewers, with many seeing it as a profound reminder that even life's hardships can have a greater meaning.

The ‘burnt toast theory’

Noel ended her video with a powerful takeaway:

"This is your reminder—if you're feeling down, or you're running late, or if something happens to disrupt plans you already had—maybe it's for a reason."

— @annanoellll

Her story resonated deeply with commenters, many of whom referred to it as an example of the "burnt toast theory." This popular idea suggests that when something seemingly inconvenient happens—like burning your toast in the morning, causing you to be late—it might actually be preventing something worse from happening down the road.

"Burnt toast theory! Anytime something inconvenient happens to me I try to thank the universe instead."

— @dejarussell__

Finding meaning in the unexpected

Noel’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that not everything is within our control—and maybe that’s a good thing. What seemed like an unfortunate disruption to her parents' plans turned out to be the very thing that saved their lives.

The next time you're stuck in traffic, miss a bus, or experience a last-minute change of plans, perhaps take a moment to consider: Maybe there's a bigger reason for it. Maybe the universe, fate, or some unseen force is looking out for you.

And maybe, just maybe, your burnt toast is saving your life.