When I was young (and dumb), I thought I had all the time in the world, so there was no rush or urgency in my life.
Now that I’m a little bit older, I sometimes panic when I think about all the time I wasted just being, well, young and dumb.
But I guess a lot of people probably feel that way about their past. And there’s no time like the present to start something new or turn it around.
Do you think there are some life lessons that you learned way too late?
Let’s see what AskReddit users had to say about this.
1. Truth!
“People aren’t thinking about you even a fraction of the amount you think they are.
You’re noise in a lifetime of experiences and a busy mind.
This is a good thing. It means you can just get what you need from people and not over think it, safe in the knowledge that they’ll forget you almost immediately.”
2. Use it wisely.
“That the most valuable commodity is time.
Time to play with your kids, time to take that trip you always wanted, time to spend with the people you love.
It’s the only resource we can’t get more of yet we throw it away with excuses and never do anything to change it.
Write that book, go back to school, tell that girl you love her because if you don’t all you’ll have is regrets.”
3. Take care of Number One.
“Be patient and wait. It’s better to be alone than with someone that doesn’t respect you.
No matter how much or good your are to someone, some of them will screw you over.
Always look after yourself first.
Start early with physical hobby and keep fit, you have one body and there is no replay.
If you love someone but they don’t love you.. move on. It will hurt like hell but in the long run, you’ll be happier.
Giving money doesn’t equate to affection, the gratitude will be short lived and you’ll only be an ATM to them in the near future.”
4. Not worth the time.
“Not everyone and every situation is worth your time or energy.
As someone that’s a bit of a “fixer” I often end up wasting my time trying to help people that didn’t deserve it or solve problems that nobody really cares about. It’s hard to know when to just walk away.
The other thing is protect your time it’s more valuable than your money. You can always go make more money you cannot go make more time. Time once lost cannot be regained.”
5. You can get help.
“That there IS hope for you to fix your mental health problems.
I left things for 10 years not knowing there was decent help to be had.
Although to be fair, things have progressed a lot since then”
6. Avoid them.
“Just because you’re blood related to someone, doesn’t mean that you owe them anything.
Toxic people are toxic people and you are not required to give them a single ounce of your attention if they are hurting you.”
7. Yes!
“Never put your education/ job / plans on hold for a boyfriend / girlfriend especially while in college.
Especially when you’re 19…”
8. Good point.
“To become more comfortable being uncomfortable.
Go toward your fears, don’t run from them, within reason.”
9. You gotta do it!
“Look after your knees and your teeth.”
10. Truth.
“Sometimes you can do everything right and still fail.
And that is not a weakness; that is life.”
11. Keep it separate.
“Don’t bring things home from work.
I had a bad day at work. Came home and got in an argument with my gf about something…and stopped halfway.
Yes, she really had done something, but the only reason I got so angry about it was because…I had already been angry, from work. Otherwise i might have just let it go.
From then on I learned to separate work from home. I was 28. I felt like this was a lesson I should have learned earlier.”
12. Confront it.
“If you made mistakes, always confront them and the consequences right away.
Waiting doesn’t make it better, it makes it worse.”
13. I like this.
“Happiness is enjoying the things you have, not the things to come.”
14. Take care of ’em!
“Dental hygiene should have always been a priority.
Only really had a few bad years at end of teens/early 20s where I’d go to sleep without brushing teeth every day or go for regular checkups. The cavities are permanent. The crowns I have still feel weird to me ten years later.
To be straight up I think I am also just unlucky with genetics because I know people who don’t care for their teeth almost ever and have no problems. But you really don’t want to find out which person you are by not staying on top of things.”
15. Good tips.
“Nobody is watching you, and nobody cares.
People are far too wrapped up in their own lives. Live yours fully without fear!
Radical candor/honesty is always the best policy.
You are always responsible for your own emotional health.”
16. The best possible you.
“Don’t chase others (relationships). Be the best you possible.
Read. Work out. Think. Be happy by yourself.
People like people who have a story to tell.
Don’t live through others.”
17. Do the right thing.
“The value of responsibility, to me it’s an ethical thing.
Doing the right thing eases your conscience so much more than just doing what you feel like doing.
Sure it can be stressful, but you sleep so much better and feel more at ease when you do what you know is right.”
18. Talk is cheap.
“People will tell you a lot of things, but their actions are what is important.
Someone will tell you that they will always be there for you, but that is not guaranteed. They will say they want you to be happy, but then do things that hurt you.
Sometimes without knowing, sometimes on purpose, sometimes because they are a coward.”
19. What a drag.
“Never allow someone to treat you as their therapist. If they tell you all their problems but get defensive about your simple requests, they are not worth your time.”
20. You gotta work hard.
“Just because you did well in primary school doesn’t mean everything will come to you automatically in life.
Learn to put real effort into your work.”
21. Be active.
“You have to actively take care of your body. Health is not a passive measure of avoiding things that are bad for you.
It takes time and effort to keep your body working in all the right ways. This doesn’t mean just exercising to a point of exhaustion every day, but includes stretching and breathing exercises to make sure you’re not staying tense after the workout, and to make sure you’re effectively exercising when you do. You have to constantly question proper form and change your ways when you’ve been doing something improperly. It takes dedication and intelligence.
It’s not easy and you’ll keep telling yourself you live a healthy lifestyle until it’s too late.”
22. Everyone is on their own path.
“That everyone only has his own perspective of life.
Just because someone lived through half their life doesn’t mean they know how someone else lives their life best.
People are different, times are different, circumstances are different…”
23. It really doesn’t matter.
“You shouldn’t care what your high school experience was good or bad or what your classmates think of you because who cares about high school after 18?
If high school was your peak you have a sh*tty life ahead.”
24. Always trust your gut.
“Listen to your gut instinct.
If something feels off about a person or situation, there’s a reason.
Believe it the first time and walk away.”
25. Research your career.
“I know this sounds wrong but hear me out. DON’T do what you love for a living, unless it pays well.
Research your career path before choosing one and prioritize potential earnings and time off. Do what gets you the most money and benefits with the least amount of time invested. Do what you love in your free time, making it your career can ultimately make you resent it and lose your enthusiasm for the hobby you love most.
Almost every job becomes a mundane chore if you do it every day, no matter how much you enjoy it now. I know it’s anecdotal, but, I always loved wrenching on cars. I started tinkering long before I could drive. I’m d*mn good at it and made a career out of it. The problem is, doing it every day has made me lose interest in doing it for fun.
I don’t have cool projects anymore. I see cars as basic transportation now and have no interest in building/modifying anything. The pay isn’t terrible, but it isn’t great either. If I could do it again I’d have kept it as a hobby and gone into a field that is boring but pays for REAL life outside of work. Ultimately work is a means to an end for most people and all of the high minded ideals of “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” stuff is bullsh*t.
Get that money, retire as soon as you can, and live life to the fullest while you can.”
26. Enjoy the whole ride!
“Life isn’t over when you’re out of your youth!
Keep yourself relatively healthy and you can do so much in your golden years.”
Do you think there are any life lessons that you learned too late?
If so, talk to us in the comments and let us know.
We’d love to hear from you!
