Here's what it's done for me (skip it if you like ;D):

Just yesterday, I saw the implications of chess pratice outside of the game. Consider this: when practicing certain tactics, positions, etc., in puzzles and games, you learn to recognize similar patterns in many positions. Many of these positions might have one or two small things in common or have some large likenesses - and via practice in pattern recognition, you are able to connect your previous experiences and make the proper move. Note "pattern recognition".

Last evening, I was studying biology - generally not something you'd immediately relate chess to. However, I noticed, as I was doing this, I began to connect several pieces of information with each other - in particular, the names of certain enzymes and steps in a process, making memorization simpler. Indeed, thanks to this pattern recognition, memorization of the aforementioned process actually began to seem simple!

It is important to realize that pattern recognition is very similar to application of previously used information (rather than simple repetition). Since chess positions may be different, but have some similarities, you're using application of previous chess knowledge to supplement your current position with the correct move.

Next, note that the point of college education is to teach people how to apply their factual knowledge. Such application has been vital in every one of my classes in college so far - application is the clear point! Thus, I should conclude that chess has helped me take a step closer to being able to think like a collegian rather than a superficial fact-collector. =D

I could use this information to once again relate chess to IQ and to the implications of IQ, but I won't. That's reserved for this discussion --> http://www.chess.com/article/view/iq-and-chess---the-real-relationship3

So, tell us what chess has done for your life! =D

 Thanks for the touching story..

 Chess has done alot to me, too much to explain.

Anybody else? Specific stories?

This is a true story.

An immigrant chess master gets a job at a big company. He discovers the company has a chess team and easily gets to be board 1. He applies for a higher paying job in the company. He passes written test but fails an interview that determines his ability to communicate in English. Things looked grim. But is surprised when his boss wishes him good luck the next day in his new  job. When he starts in his new job, he discovers that several of his team mates in the chess team are in high positions in his new job.  

My teeth are whiter and my hair stopped graying.

i got smarter in iq

I end up using up massive amounts of time every day staring at chessboards.

...which is, of course, awesome. ^^

 this is good one

I now have women follwing me EVERYWHERE. And throwing their panties at me. It's really getting out of hand.   

Actualy, its helped me and a good friend of mine kind of get back in touch. We never lost contact, but just hardly spoke for months at a time. But now we found an email based chess site that lets you make a move and send a message and we have been playing for months now.

It give me headaches.

Chess is not human..

unless your referring to a human (which is impossible)..

so therefore chess has done nothing to me.. last i checked my room was still messy.

ohh... chess is my passion..!!!

A Girlfriend in every tournament! LOL

Jokes apart- Chess has given good sense of analyzing and more to come in future.