18 Life Lessons That People Learn Too Late

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Life is full of lessons, learning experiences, and wisdom. No matter what stage we are in life, there always seems to be something new to learn.

We took to Reddit to find the most important lessons people have learned so far. We compiled a list of the top-rated responses.

1. Enjoy One’s Own Company

“There is only one person you spend your whole life with: yourself. If you aren’t okay with you, there is an issue,” one person said.

“People pass in and out of each other’s lives all the time,” said another, “but you are stuck being you. Try to make the best of it.”

While people come and go in our lives, we remain ourselves throughout life, so it’s essential to be comfortable being alone and enjoy your own company.

2. You Create Your Own Problems

“That most of your problems are self-created. And you can solve them all by realizing it,” another person said.

Realizing that many of the issues we face are self-inflicted can be difficult, but it is a key lesson to learn. By understanding this concept and taking responsibility for our actions, we can begin to take steps to solve problems that have been created by us.

With practice, we can learn how to recognize and fix mistakes before they turn into bigger issues. Taking ownership of our lives and the choices we make is one of the most important lessons life has to offer.

3. Fear is The Real Enemy

“I have spent my whole life scared – frightened of things that could happen, might happen, might not happen. Fifty years I spent like that. Finding myself awake at three in the morning,” one person admitted.

One person realized that fear was the real enemy, so they decided to confront it by getting out in the world and tackling it head-on. This taught them an important lesson – fear is the real enemy and must be faced.

To live life to its fullest, it is essential that we confront our fears and gain control of our lives. Doing so will allow us to learn some of the most important lessons that life has to offer. With courage, anything is possible.

4. Stay Humble

One person realized it is important to stay humble, acknowledging that beliefs may be incorrect and you can be wrong at times. Such humility can bring unexpected victories, even if one has lost the battle.

“It took me much of my younger years to realize that it is actually incredibly liberating to accept that you might be wrong,” another person said.

5. Don’t Take Life Too Seriously

“It’s not like you’re gonna get out of it alive,” one user commented jokingly.

6. Be Frugal

“Be frugal. I mean incredibly frugal,” one person said.

One person stressed that it is important to be frugal and not waste our income on things we don’t really want or need. They advised against buying items impulsively, as they won’t make a person feel better about themselves in the long run.

Instead, this person recommended taking time to research large purchases, as this can lead to more meaningful expenditures. In essence, being able to control one’s spending will free up income for things that bring genuine joy. This is a lesson that everyone can apply to their lives.

7. Learn, Learn, Learn

“Do your best to learn something about everything and everything about something,” one person said.

“Similar to this, learn something every day,” one person replied.

8. You’re Your Own Worst Enemy

“You are your biggest critic,” one person said.

“You’ve clearly never met my other half,” one user replied jokingly.

9. Don’t Hold Yourself Back

“Don’t hold yourself back; you might regret it later in life,” one person said.

One person realized that taking risks and not holding yourself back is important, as this could lead to regret in the future. Another person echoed this sentiment, noting that there is no opportunity without a certain level of risk.

This lesson encourages individuals to take chances in pursuit of their goals and dreams, understanding that a certain amount of risk is necessary for success. This can be a difficult lesson to learn, but it is essential in order to take advantage of the opportunities that life presents.

10. Age Doesn’t Matter

“Age is not wisdom. And age does not immediately deserve my respect,” one person said.

One person learned that age does not always equate to wisdom, and respect is not automatically deserved merely due to someone’s age. It took them some time to realize that childhood bullies and immature people grow up, too, and their character doesn’t necessarily improve. This lesson implies that one needs to practice discernment when engaging with people, regardless of age.

11. Stop Worrying

“This too shall pass. Nothing is permanent in this world, everything good will go away, and everything bad will pass as well. So, stop worrying about so many things, and do your best,” one person said.

Nothing in life is permanent, and the good things, as well as the bad, will pass.

12. Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

One person learned an important lesson in the most difficult way possible, but it was also the only way to register its importance and “take it to heart.”

He had been discussing the possibility of studying abroad for a semester with his friend, and the friend wanted to do it but said they would wait until they were older.

Tragically, just a few weeks later, the friend died during a rugby game due to a cardiac arrest at only 17 years old. This experience made it clear that there is no guarantee of “getting older,” thus, one should not wait but do what they want to now.

13. There is No Correct Way To Live

One individual realized that there is no single right way to live life.

They had spent years believing that getting a university education and following the traditional path of job, family, etc., was the only way to go.

However, they realized everyone is different, and it is okay to pursue alternate paths that fulfill individual passions and desires.

13. There is No Correct Way To Live

It is important to not waste time feeling pressured to do what one believes is “expected” of them, but instead to make the most of life and do what makes them happy.

“I wasted years thinking I obviously should be in uni to get a great education because I thought I had the brains for it, and I shouldn’t ‘waste’ that,” one person said.

14. Write Things Down

“Write sh** down. Meetings, social engagements, doctor’s appointments, shopping lists, tasks, errands you need to run tomorrow, bucket list ideas, that thing you want to tell your grandpa, but it’s midnight, so you can’t call him right now. All of it,” one person said.

15. Get Good Sleep

One individual realized the importance of sticking to a regular bedtime.

“Harder than it looks,” one person remarked.

“Aaaand it’s four in the morning,” another quipped.

While this can be a difficult habit to form, it is essential in order to get proper rest and be productive during the day.

16. Admit When You Are Wrong

One person learned to recognize when they were wrong and take the proper steps to defuse a confrontation. They learned to take a step back, admit their mistake, apologize if necessary, and remain silent.

“But if I raise my voice, maybe then they’ll see that I’m right!” one person joked.

17. We Learn From Experience

One individual realized the importance of treating their children kindly when they make mistakes rather than getting angry.

When they were younger, their parent had previously been quick to react with frustration when they didn’t know something instead of stopping to think about how they couldn’t have known without experiencing it first.

He wrote: “My father was very upset and was yelling at me for not putting the curtain on the inside of the tub, to which I responded with ‘How was I supposed to know?’ My dad was silent for a moment and just told me to go and he will clean it up.”

17. We Learn From Experience

“Later, he never stopped to talk to me and apologize for yelling. He said something along the lines of ‘I realized that there is no way you could have learned about things that to me may seem like common knowledge without having ever experienced it yourself.'”

One person replied. “This is such wonderful parenting advice. It’s so much easier to be kind to your kids about what they don’t know. You get back such kindness from them in the long run. You also see them being kind to others.”