35 Real-Life "Santa Doesn't Exist" Truths

Life serves up its fair share of letdowns, big and small. But that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. In fact, life can be pretty darn amazing. It’s just that we have to face the fact that pain, failure, and dashed hopes are part and parcel of being human. Learning how to handle them becomes a must.

A user named u/Just_Surround_2108 recently stirred things up on the r/AskReddit board by asking folks to spill the beans on their biggest adult disappointments. It’s like finding out Santa Claus isn’t real all over again. As you scroll through the thread, you’ll discover people sharing their unfiltered views on everything from work and relationships to beyond. Read some of the answers below.

#1

Image source: Fazi9090, Sora Shimazaki

Sometimes there is no justice.

#2

Image source: LeeroyTC, hermaion

Finding out that “reaching retirement” is about hitting a financial number and not reaching an age.

#3

Image source: FidgitForgotHisL-P, Lisa Fotios

Recycling is, for the most part, a scam by corporations to move the physical and emotional weight of dealing with the harm their packaging causes off them and on to you.

#4

Image source: Fluid_Program_5369, David Sinclair

For me it was realizing the high school mindset in people never ends see it in 60 yr olds in Facebook now

#5

Image source: Party_Chemistry_8961, cottonbro studio

When you finish eating your dinner and there is no magical person to wash the dishes and you have to wash them yourself.

#6

Image source: i_spock, Darya Sannikova

When both your parents die. I am in my mid 50’s and had my mom pass on Mother’s Day ‘22. My Dad then was living with us from then, and eventually reached in-home hospice status with a sudden stage IV cancer diagnosis. He died in January of this year, and then I got laid off from my tech job and was unemployed for 10 months. Nothing takes the wonderment and positive outlook from the world than having to empty out your childhood home solo and throw everything you grew up with into a big dumpster and are left to wonder what our lives really mean.

#7

Image source: Floopydoopypoopy, Keira Burton

Bullies don’t always get their comeuppance. In fact, sometimes they achieve great things. Even the presidency.

#8

Image source: Sweet_Chance_5592, Paweł L.

Finding out people without empathy exist. And they are hard to pin down – even after many years of exposure to them.

#9

Image source: Ok_Arm2201, Alex Kotliarskyi

That going to college and getting a 9-5 wasn’t going to be the fun, creative, latte-filled experience rom coms would have you believe.

#10

Image source: judochop1, https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-house-2194399/

Finally owning a house, then realising you now have to go through the effort and expense of maintaining it. It’s great you’ve got a house for 100k, now enjoy saving and spending at least half that to stop it crumbling, leaking or falling down over the next decades.

#11

Image source: DorianOrosco, energepic.com

Being a hard worker and good at your job doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be rewarded for it.

#12

Image source: mein-shekel, Karolina Grabowska

The money doesn’t trickle down. It never did

#13

Image source: Yoga_and_Cats, Simon Abrams

When I was a kid I thought adults had everything figured out and couldn’t wait to grow up so I could be like them. HAH.

#14

Image source: MysteriousMrSquatch, Irina Iriser

Christmas Bonuses almost NEVER exist. Worse fantasy than the clause…

#15

Image source: nynnat, JohnMathewSmith

Finding out the truth about Mother Teresa

#16

Image source: Smile_Terrible, Andrea Piacquadio

That time period when your relationship switches and your parent looks to you for answers and advice, instead them being the one with all the answers.

#17

Image source: ThingFromEarth, Jp Valery

$500 isn’t a lot of money

#18

Image source: Kangaroowrangler_02, Kimson Doan

That some friends were never really your friend.

#19

Image source: Mattemattics117

The average salary does not go up equivalent to the inflation rate.

#20

Image source: Blind_Wolf, Ephraim Mayrena

Working full time and being too drained to chase your actual dream

#21

Image source: pepperheidi, Sincerely Media

If you’re intelligent, you have to be quiet because of people who are stupid.

#22

Image source: anon, Nathan Dumlao

Learning that two people can love each other more than anything in this world and still not be a good fit for a long term relationship. True and pure Love isn’t always enough

#23

Image source: tamammothchuk, Christian Bowen

Finding out that your parents are people, too, with weaknesses or flaws that you were blind to when you were young.

#24

Image source: Papooof4, Dev Asangbam

Finding out that someone you have looked up to and admired your entire life is actually a horrible person.

#25

Image source: throwmeawaypoopy, Ello

When you buy an 8-piece tupperware set, 4 of the pieces are lids.

#26

Image source: Borsti17, Selcuk Sarikoz

I thought I’d grow up, move out, find my footing in the grown up world and basically switch into cruise mode. Now I’m in my 40s and s**t is confusing as f**k.

#27

Image source: gregsmith0814, Alex Green

HR is NOT on your side.

#28

Image source: ReliefJaded8491, Sawyer Sutton

Finding out that in the US it’s not really democrat vs republican, it’s the rich elites versus the rest of us.

#29

Image source: Personal-Listen-4941, Nonsap Visuals

You never actually feel like the adult

#30

Image source: jakoto0, Guillaume Bleyer

Realizing organized religion is a bunch of nonsense

#31

Image source: Raan6969, Jaromír Kavan

One dumb mistake and it could all be over.

#32

Image source: QuentinTarantulatino

A bachelor’s degree is not a coupon redeemable for one (1) full-time job in your field of choice after graduation.

#33

Image source: Maan9034

Realizing you’ll probably never have the, “aha,” moment that tells you what you want to do with your life and you’d better just pick the least depressing choice.