What Would You Tell Your Younger Self? Life Lessons From Those Who've Lived And Learned
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The saying goes, ‘With age comes wisdom', and isn’t that the truth? As we journey through life, several critical milestones shape our worldviews and offer invaluable lessons.
However, often, by the time we gain these pearls of wisdom, our past selves, who would have benefitted the most from them, are way behind in the rearview mirror.
Have you ever wondered, ‘If only I had known then what I know now!’?
Reflecting upon missed opportunities, unexpressed love, and taking good health for granted are typical retrospectives that often arise during the golden phase of our lives.
In the quest to reveal these insights, 17 individuals who’ve walked the path of life shared their wisdom, tracing the contours of their deepest regrets and speaking proudly of their defining accomplishments.
Let's dive right in!
Be mindful in selecting your life partner: 'Your partner will be responsible for the majority of your life's happiness and misery. Don't force yourself into a relationship out of need, and certainly do not ignore red flags in a bid to always see the good in people.' — Beatrix, 68.
Change is good, but...: 'Don't morph into someone else just to obtain acceptance from another. Pretending to make a good impression is futile in the long term. You are you, and that's your strongest selling point.' — Sandra, 65.
Embrace your feelings: 'I wish I had let myself be happy for feeling love all those times, because that is a wonderful feeling.' — Elizabeth, 74.
These perspectives on life will make you stop, think, and perhaps tweak your outlook towards life.
‘Honour your parents. You’ll miss their lectures, love, and even the arguments when they’re gone,’ said Julie, 65—a heart-rending sentiment echoed by many.
Beatrix, 68, urged us to put family first. 'Travel more… even if you have kids, a mortgage, or other responsibilities stopping you… Do something every day that brings you happiness, otherwise, what’s the point?'
And the secret to a fulfilled life as proposed by John, 67? Kindness. As the saying goes 'Money can't buy you happiness', and it seems to ring true; positivity and kindness indeed appear to lead to higher satisfaction in life.
Phil, 74, urged everyone to free themselves from the digital screens once in a while.
‘No one looks up at the sky, at the birds, at the trees. You’re going to end up with arthritis in your thumbs and a hunched back if you keep on looking at that phone,’ he said.
Don't rush through life. 'Time is precious. Don't rush through life just so you can tick it off your to-do list.' Young, 80, advised.
As we journeyed through the enriching experiences of our life, we took a pit stop at the value of friendships.
'Your true worth is determined by how good you make others feel about themselves.' Young, 80, advises. Indeed, positive friendships enhance our happiness levels, reduce stress, and maybe even help us live longer.
‘Quality over quantity’ is a motto Liz, 66, has cherished and passed on. Having many friends seem impressive, but having loyal, heart-warming friendships is what truly matters. She says, ‘...Someone who has one true friend is the luckier one’.
Arguably the most important piece of advice: We all progress at different times. As Beatrix said, ‘I went through life comparing myself to everyone’s progress, and most of the time just felt like a massive failure. That was a lot of valuable time wasted on feeling so horrible. But your time will come!… There’s no need for this constant comparison. It’s not a competition.’
Life's biggest lessons aren't scored in classrooms but imbibed from experiences along the way.
We hope these gems inspire you to lead an even more fulfilling life. Now we'd love to hear—what advice would you tell your younger self if you could? We invite you to share your wisdom with us!
However, often, by the time we gain these pearls of wisdom, our past selves, who would have benefitted the most from them, are way behind in the rearview mirror.
Have you ever wondered, ‘If only I had known then what I know now!’?
Reflecting upon missed opportunities, unexpressed love, and taking good health for granted are typical retrospectives that often arise during the golden phase of our lives.
In the quest to reveal these insights, 17 individuals who’ve walked the path of life shared their wisdom, tracing the contours of their deepest regrets and speaking proudly of their defining accomplishments.
Let's dive right in!
On Love:
Love nurtures our hearts, fuels our passions, and gives us strength to face life's challenges. Image by formatarw from Unsplash
Be mindful in selecting your life partner: 'Your partner will be responsible for the majority of your life's happiness and misery. Don't force yourself into a relationship out of need, and certainly do not ignore red flags in a bid to always see the good in people.' — Beatrix, 68.
Change is good, but...: 'Don't morph into someone else just to obtain acceptance from another. Pretending to make a good impression is futile in the long term. You are you, and that's your strongest selling point.' — Sandra, 65.
Embrace your feelings: 'I wish I had let myself be happy for feeling love all those times, because that is a wonderful feeling.' — Elizabeth, 74.
On Life:
Family provides a foundation of unconditional love, shared memories, and a support system that stands the test of time. Image by RDNE Stock project from Pexels
These perspectives on life will make you stop, think, and perhaps tweak your outlook towards life.
‘Honour your parents. You’ll miss their lectures, love, and even the arguments when they’re gone,’ said Julie, 65—a heart-rending sentiment echoed by many.
Beatrix, 68, urged us to put family first. 'Travel more… even if you have kids, a mortgage, or other responsibilities stopping you… Do something every day that brings you happiness, otherwise, what’s the point?'
And the secret to a fulfilled life as proposed by John, 67? Kindness. As the saying goes 'Money can't buy you happiness', and it seems to ring true; positivity and kindness indeed appear to lead to higher satisfaction in life.
Phil, 74, urged everyone to free themselves from the digital screens once in a while.
‘No one looks up at the sky, at the birds, at the trees. You’re going to end up with arthritis in your thumbs and a hunched back if you keep on looking at that phone,’ he said.
Don't rush through life. 'Time is precious. Don't rush through life just so you can tick it off your to-do list.' Young, 80, advised.
On Friendship:
Friendships bring laughter, companionship, and a sense of connection, reminding us that we are not alone on our journey. Image by Helena Lopes from pexels
As we journeyed through the enriching experiences of our life, we took a pit stop at the value of friendships.
'Your true worth is determined by how good you make others feel about themselves.' Young, 80, advises. Indeed, positive friendships enhance our happiness levels, reduce stress, and maybe even help us live longer.
‘Quality over quantity’ is a motto Liz, 66, has cherished and passed on. Having many friends seem impressive, but having loyal, heart-warming friendships is what truly matters. She says, ‘...Someone who has one true friend is the luckier one’.
Arguably the most important piece of advice: We all progress at different times. As Beatrix said, ‘I went through life comparing myself to everyone’s progress, and most of the time just felt like a massive failure. That was a lot of valuable time wasted on feeling so horrible. But your time will come!… There’s no need for this constant comparison. It’s not a competition.’
Life's biggest lessons aren't scored in classrooms but imbibed from experiences along the way.
We hope these gems inspire you to lead an even more fulfilling life. Now we'd love to hear—what advice would you tell your younger self if you could? We invite you to share your wisdom with us!
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