25 Bitter Truths About Life Shared By People Who Are Over 25 Y.O
"Hoping and wishing doesn't make things change. Making different decisions and working hard does."
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Life is a relentless teacher, and as we journey through our twenties and beyond, we inevitably encounter challenges that shape our perspectives and mold our characters. On a recent Reddit thread, a user posed a poignant question: "People who are 25 years old and above, what's the harshest life lesson you've learned?"
The responses that flooded in were a tapestry of experiences, each thread contributing valuable nuggets of wisdom born from personal trials and tribulations. Read some of the interesting ones below.
More info: Reddit
Image source: Wonderful_Whereas402, cottonbro studio
My grandfather told me when I was younger, "some people are just born evil and sometimes it's impossible to see them coming." He was right.
Image source: ChibiSailorMercury, Andrea Piacquadio
It *looks* like other people are blessed with motivation and self-discipline and make stuff happen. If you sit and around long enough, the angel of self-discipline will float to you and bless you with the desire to do healthy, productive stuff that will benefit you in the short, mid, long term.
False.
You have to get off your couch and do what you don't feel like doing right now. That's the lesson I had to learn.
Image source: thebaddestgoodperson, Samantha Garrote
No one is going to save you. You have to save yourself.
Image source: CheddarCheeseCheetah, RDNE Stock project
That life can take a loved one at any time so cherish those you love, make time for family and friends, and tell people you love them often.
Image source: Spire-hawk, Andrea Piacquadio
You can do everything right and still fail.
Image source: ElToberino, cottonbro studio
If your employer is doing something illegal or unethical and you decide to confront them about it, for f***s sake, do it in a way that all communication will leave a paper trail.
Image source: hexenkesse1, Rebrand Cities
Many people in "leadership" positions are anything but leaders.
Image source: fermat9996, Ketut Subiyanto
You generally have to first make a mistake in order to avoid making it in the future.
Image source: anon, Jill Wellington
You can be really happy one moment, and then super sad in the next. It’s important to appreciate each of these things for what they are. You won’t be happy forever, you won’t be sad forever.
Image source: Far_Statement_2808, Denniz Futalan
S**t can go south in a literal heartbeat.
Image source: Ginoblee, Antoni Shkraba
Do not lie to your significant other. Have hard conversations and trust them enough to be able to have them with you. Give them the chance and don’t be afraid/avoid doing it it in fear of rejection or judgement. I learned that one the hard way unfortunately.
Image source: Cool-Introduction808, maitree rimthong
Living life costs so much money.
Image source: GamerMan566, Kampus Production
That your co workers/managers are not your friends. They are nice to you in person, but when you're not there they talk about you. This is coming from experience.
Image source: Watchingya, Stanley Morales
I should have tried harder in college and worked with a goal in mind.
Image source: UnfitDiscord, Designecologist
You can't make someone love you by giving them more of what they already don't appreciate.
…still chewing on this one.
Image source: PersonMcNugget, Flávio Santos
Sometimes the problem is you.
Image source: Darkfirex34, Pixabay
You can have a loving family, great friends, and financial security but still feel isolated and empty.
Image source: unurbane, Matthias Zomer
Your health can evaporate quickly
Image source: shaqdeezl, Mikhail Nilov
There are some truly f****d up people that live and breathe to f**k over other people.
Image source: SwimmingAd60, khezez | خزاز
This is for the people pleasers like myself.
You can bend over backwards for everyone, be a doormat, make it your life goal to avoid confrontation, and you're still going to end up being the super villain in someone's story by the time you hit 30.
You're writing your own story. Set your boundaries and realize no girlguy, vice, or amount of money is worth compromising them.
Image source: VT_Squire, khezez | خزاز
People don't really attract like-minded people. If you're a normal person, you think along the lines of the golden rule. But I'll tell you this... there's gonna be *someone* you consider to be a friend who's going to not only disappoint you, they're going to hurt you, and they're not even going to value your friendship enough that they care to rectify that. Hell, they might even enjoy it.
Image source: hanoonamenhs, Andrea Piacquadio
I'm 35 and the harshest lesson I learned is that life sucks sometimes. You think you have everything figured out, but then something bad happens and throws your whole plan off track. It's important to be flexible and not take things for granted cause s**t can hit the fan real quick, yo.
Image source: nmonsey, Trần Long
Don't drive when you are sleepy.
I feel asleep driving after working night shift.
I was in a coma for two weeks and partially paralyzed.
After four months in the hospital I was medically retired from the US Army.
Before the accident, I was in great shape and I was running about ten miles per day training for a race.
I have not been able to run since the accident.
Lesson: Don't drive when you are sleepy, you could die or hurt someone else.
Image source: spatulador, Alex Green
You're going to have regrets. Things you didn't do as well as you could have. Things you didn't earn. Things you did that you didn't mean to do. Things you didn't do that you wanted to do.
Don't waste the present dwelling on the past. Use the regrets as lessons to change your decisions.
Image source: pahobee, Anna Shvets
Take care of your f*****g teeth. Nobody told me that fillings eventually have to be replaced and you’ll be paying for that cavity again in 10 years, and then again after another 10 years, and so on.
Edit: this is not the harshest life lesson I’ve ever learned but it is potentially the most expensive.
#1
Image source: Wonderful_Whereas402, cottonbro studio
My grandfather told me when I was younger, "some people are just born evil and sometimes it's impossible to see them coming." He was right.
#2
Image source: ChibiSailorMercury, Andrea Piacquadio
It *looks* like other people are blessed with motivation and self-discipline and make stuff happen. If you sit and around long enough, the angel of self-discipline will float to you and bless you with the desire to do healthy, productive stuff that will benefit you in the short, mid, long term.
False.
You have to get off your couch and do what you don't feel like doing right now. That's the lesson I had to learn.
#3
Image source: thebaddestgoodperson, Samantha Garrote
No one is going to save you. You have to save yourself.
#4
Image source: CheddarCheeseCheetah, RDNE Stock project
That life can take a loved one at any time so cherish those you love, make time for family and friends, and tell people you love them often.
#5
Image source: Spire-hawk, Andrea Piacquadio
You can do everything right and still fail.
#6
Image source: ElToberino, cottonbro studio
If your employer is doing something illegal or unethical and you decide to confront them about it, for f***s sake, do it in a way that all communication will leave a paper trail.
#7
Image source: hexenkesse1, Rebrand Cities
Many people in "leadership" positions are anything but leaders.
#8
Image source: fermat9996, Ketut Subiyanto
You generally have to first make a mistake in order to avoid making it in the future.
#9
Image source: anon, Jill Wellington
You can be really happy one moment, and then super sad in the next. It’s important to appreciate each of these things for what they are. You won’t be happy forever, you won’t be sad forever.
#10
Image source: Far_Statement_2808, Denniz Futalan
S**t can go south in a literal heartbeat.
#11
Image source: Ginoblee, Antoni Shkraba
Do not lie to your significant other. Have hard conversations and trust them enough to be able to have them with you. Give them the chance and don’t be afraid/avoid doing it it in fear of rejection or judgement. I learned that one the hard way unfortunately.
#12
Image source: Cool-Introduction808, maitree rimthong
Living life costs so much money.
#13
Image source: GamerMan566, Kampus Production
That your co workers/managers are not your friends. They are nice to you in person, but when you're not there they talk about you. This is coming from experience.
#14
Image source: Watchingya, Stanley Morales
I should have tried harder in college and worked with a goal in mind.
#15
Image source: UnfitDiscord, Designecologist
You can't make someone love you by giving them more of what they already don't appreciate.
…still chewing on this one.
#16
Image source: PersonMcNugget, Flávio Santos
Sometimes the problem is you.
#17
Image source: Darkfirex34, Pixabay
You can have a loving family, great friends, and financial security but still feel isolated and empty.
#18
Image source: unurbane, Matthias Zomer
Your health can evaporate quickly
#19
Image source: shaqdeezl, Mikhail Nilov
There are some truly f****d up people that live and breathe to f**k over other people.
#20
Image source: SwimmingAd60, khezez | خزاز
This is for the people pleasers like myself.
You can bend over backwards for everyone, be a doormat, make it your life goal to avoid confrontation, and you're still going to end up being the super villain in someone's story by the time you hit 30.
You're writing your own story. Set your boundaries and realize no girlguy, vice, or amount of money is worth compromising them.
#21
Image source: VT_Squire, khezez | خزاز
People don't really attract like-minded people. If you're a normal person, you think along the lines of the golden rule. But I'll tell you this... there's gonna be *someone* you consider to be a friend who's going to not only disappoint you, they're going to hurt you, and they're not even going to value your friendship enough that they care to rectify that. Hell, they might even enjoy it.
#22
Image source: hanoonamenhs, Andrea Piacquadio
I'm 35 and the harshest lesson I learned is that life sucks sometimes. You think you have everything figured out, but then something bad happens and throws your whole plan off track. It's important to be flexible and not take things for granted cause s**t can hit the fan real quick, yo.
#23
Image source: nmonsey, Trần Long
Don't drive when you are sleepy.
I feel asleep driving after working night shift.
I was in a coma for two weeks and partially paralyzed.
After four months in the hospital I was medically retired from the US Army.
Before the accident, I was in great shape and I was running about ten miles per day training for a race.
I have not been able to run since the accident.
Lesson: Don't drive when you are sleepy, you could die or hurt someone else.
#24
Image source: spatulador, Alex Green
You're going to have regrets. Things you didn't do as well as you could have. Things you didn't earn. Things you did that you didn't mean to do. Things you didn't do that you wanted to do.
Don't waste the present dwelling on the past. Use the regrets as lessons to change your decisions.
#25
Image source: pahobee, Anna Shvets
Take care of your f*****g teeth. Nobody told me that fillings eventually have to be replaced and you’ll be paying for that cavity again in 10 years, and then again after another 10 years, and so on.
Edit: this is not the harshest life lesson I’ve ever learned but it is potentially the most expensive.DE
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