I’m in my 20’s and I consider myself a complete ignorant, in the sense that whenever I make a decision I always think “What would the future me do if I had more experience/knowledge?”
So taking advantage of this space in Lemmy, what lesson that you had to learn by force or that you learned by experience that when you were younger you didn’t see you would teach your younger self?
And I mean lessons like: I must learn to love others, or I am worth more than I think I am.
The importance of all types of maintenance, including cleaning.
When you take care of things right, they can last forever. I have clothing from 15+ years ago due to proper washing, storage, and a little sewing.
I genuinely didn’t understand or care until my late twenties. That was a lot of wasted time and broken things that I could have salvaged.
Whether its cars, computers, your home, or whatever else: regular cleaning and maintenance on a tight schedule is key to preventing interruptions and lost time.
That mental health and having friends is more important than being in a relationship with someone.
I learned it the hard way as I willingly stayed in a toxic relationship way longer than I should have. I was afraid to be alone, I was afraid I couldn’t find anyone else and I was ignoring red flags, because you know…sex…
It was a huge relief when it ended and I cursed myself for not breaking up earlier.
I was afraid to be alone, I was afraid I couldn’t find anyone else and I was ignoring red flags, because you know…sex…
Another thing I would tell my younger self is that how much sex you have isn’t a measure of how successful a relationship is. It’s important to have a functional relationship outside of sex, especially if you want your romantic relationship to last a lifetime. There will be a point for all of us where physical health will preclude a normal sex life, so you best be comfortable with that before it happens.
What matters is they care for you, you care for them, and you both having matching values. Anything past that is just a bonus.
Oof, the list of hard-earned lessons is long. These two stand out the most:
- Deliberately choose and cultivate your relationships. Close friendships and family relationships can be massively beneficial throughout your life.
- Money comes and goes, but time only goes. Don’t waste time at a job you hate. Actually, don’t waste time in general.
Actually, don’t waste time in general.
Or perhaps don’t waste time without purpose? Also, it depends on what one considers a “waste of time.” A hiking picnic in an idyllic meadow may be worth the time and effort to some, but perhaps not to others. I personally prioritize time with friends and family over other pursuits simply because some of the top complaints people have on their death beds are “worked too much” and “didnt spend enough time with friends/family.” However, society doesn’t necessarily reward us for prioritizing those, either.
Anyway, as long as you get value out of what you are doing, it is not time wasted.
Agree 100%
Invest a portion of your savings. Inflation is inevitable and letting your money sit in a regular savings account just means you get poorer every year. I regret not doing it earlier and only started in my mid 30s.
Also, take care of your teeth.
You need to get on anti-depressants because all your problems were solved when you got your ass level.
I forgot to include this one:
In a 1954 speech, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was quoting Dr J. Roscoe Miller, president of Northwestern University, said: “I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.”
I have always taken this to mean that we should focus on long-term goals and not get distracted by today’s minor crises.
