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Most of us, at best, learn from our own mistakes and experiences, which is better than not learning at all, but often leaves us unprepared for things we have yet to encounter. So it is always wise to learn what one can from the folks who have lived a little bit more life.
Someone asked, “People who are 55+ and happy with your life, what is your best advice to those under 25?” So if you are in the right age category, perhaps prepare to take some notes, scroll through, upvote your favorites and if you have some wisdom to spill, be sure to do it in the comments section below.
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#1
Dont let work become your life. Your work will not care for you when you're sick, nor love you when you need care, nor hold your hand when you're dying.
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#2
Live within your means. Use debt carefully. Start saving for retirement early as the others say. Focus on good relationships.
#3
Chase what makes you happy, not what you feel obligated to do to please parents (for example). Don’t compare yourself to others: it will suck the joy from your life.
#4
Eat fairly healthy and get daily exercise. I'm now 72 and still run 40 miles/week. However, I have friends 10 years younger than I who can hardly walk to the mailbox. Getting old isn't bad at all if you can still get out, travel, go out to eat, play catch with your grandson, enjoy life. But, you have to be healthy enough to do all those things. It's a lot easier to get into shape and keep it that way when you are in your 20s. If you wait, you may never start.
TheAmericanAmerican 1 year ago
Hellz yea! I'm in my mid 30s and my goal is to live to 100+ so I started 2 years ago with eating the healthiest I ever have and going back to the gym! I live on the 4th floor without an elevator and a dog so my daily cardio is all set! My 3rd floor neighbor is my inspiration because he is 82 and he moves like he's 60 thanks to climbing those stairs EVERY SINGLE DAY! 💪
#5
Experiences can never be taken from you. Get out and see the world, try new things, go to that concert or baseball game or museum or show.
#6
Wear sunscreen!!!
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
And a hat, and sunglasses. UV can damage your eyes too, good polarized sunglasses help a lot.
#7
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. Sometimes you need to be happy with what you have, it won’t get better but it could definitely get worse.
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
Good enough usually is, perfection is a pain in the a** and usually not worth the extra effort
#8
If you are in an unhappy relationship, get out of it, and enjoy single life.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I'd add a qualifier to that: "If you tried fixing it and there is no progress". Everyone has bumpy patches, disagrees over things, even fights at times. If you dump your partner at the first sign of unhappiness then you're never gonna have a long lasting relationship.
#9
Learn how to save and invest money now. If you learn how to do this, 55 year old you will be forever grateful to 25 year old you.
#10
The two biggest decisions are your career and your partner. Your career will probably change and its not too bad to change but changing your partner can be a nightmare. My best advice is to be careful who you settle down with. The people I know my age that are unhappy are unhappy because they picked a bad partner.
#11
A job is just a way to get currency into your bank account, don’t confuse it with who you are. Also, no matter what anyone ever tells you: your work is NOT a family. All but one or two people at your current job will drop you as an acquaintance as soon as you leave for another opportunity.
Additionally, never ever compromise yourself or do any illegal s**t for your boss - ever.
#12
Don’t let your world get small. Travel, have a variety of interests, spend time with family and friends.
#13
wear hearing protection. tinnitus is a b***h
I'mSemperFine 1 year ago
YOU AREN'T MORE MANLY FOR NOT WORRYING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH! The US Army special operations forces wear them, and it doesn't get more manly than them.
#14
As someone not quite 55, my main advice to someone looking to get advice from an older person is this- The world we grew up in changed much slower than the one you're growing up in, so most of the advice you read here will be from that perspective. What was sage advice for us may not be sage advice for you. How much the world changed between 1990-2000 is likely much less dramatic than the change we'll see between 2025-2035. My personal advice? Keep an open mind, be patient (which is *not* the same as allowing yourself to be subjected to abuse), and be thoughtful about your choices (but don't allow your thinking to keep you from making choices- we often never know how a choice will turn out until long *after* we've made it).
Michael Largey 1 year ago
"Be patient" often means "take the time to observe things thoroughly".
#15
Let the little s**t go. Don't dwell on what you can't control. Clean out and toss c**p you don't use every 2 years.
Mike D 1 year ago
I disagree with the idea that if you haven't used something for a year (or 2 or some other arbitrary time) the throw it out. As long as you have the space things can still bring back good memories, books can be read again, or you may need them to the point you would have to buy a replacement. I hadn't used my cowbell in several years but a few days ago needed "more cowbell" and I was ready.
#17
Exercise, limit alcohol and find a partner with a good sense of humor.
Mrs Irish Mom 1 year ago
This is me now, gave up alchol to exercise more and loose weigh and i dont miss it and my hubby has great sense of humor and makes me smile and laugh every single day
#18
Stay curious. Take time to notice when something or someone is bringing you joy. Simply being happy about something isn’t frivolous. Beware of pessimism masquerading as wisdom.
I like the Kurt Vonnegut advice: “And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.’”
Wintermute 1 year ago
Plus, when you show the gratitude of a moment you get to learn just how much that annoys other people. Which is surprisingly a lot. Nothing seems to p**s people off more than when you find joy in the little things.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
#19
This is the hardest lesson to master. Don’t “give” people the power over your happiness.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
Most of our own misery comes from our own brain and wrong thinking patterns. The Buddha realized this fact and tried to teach right thinking. Modern psychology now calls it cognitive therapy.
#20
You can’t control people, places, or things.
sturmwesen 1 year ago
I prefer the serenity prayer (as an atheist)God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.
#22
Treat your body well now, because you will either reap the rewards of it or suffer the consequences of it later.
Enjoy your life and explore your hobbies and make your friends. Take this time to grow and heal and become the best version of yourself that you can.
HTakeover 1 year ago
Your body is there to serve you; take care of it, but also don't let it go to waste. “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!' ” ― Hunter S. Thompson
#23
I am 66 y.o. Having a spouse you adore helps you overcome the c**p life throws at you.
#24
1. Act in good faith. This is fantastically underestimated. Cultivate curiosity, eschew judgment.
2. Tend to your relationships, even when - and especially when - you don't feel like it.
3. Prioritize being your best, physically, emotionally and mentally.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
If you own a business, be 100% honest. That good reputation for being a straight honest businessman will bring you lots of regular customers. And it will save you from lawsuits if you ever become a presidential candidate.
#25
Share your skills or talents freely with others and ask them to do the same for you. Knowledge is power.
#26
Take a cooking class and you will be much happier that you don’t have to always order out and maybe meet someone new. It’s also better than the dating apps.
#27
Take risks. At least try everything you always wanted to do/attempt. You don't want to be my age and be able to say "I wish I would've done/tried *X*". You get one of these lives. Do it all.
#28
Be patient and pursue meaningful goals.
#29
57 here. Start saving for retirement now. I know it’s decades away, but the sooner you start, the less you have to save out of every paycheck thanks to the magic of compounding interest. By the time you’re 50, you could easily have $1M. I only aggressively started saving at 42 and probably won’t reach $1M before I retire. At a minimum, save enough so you get 100% of your employer match. Have kids by 30 so you’re young enough to spend time with them through high school and to see grandchildren grow up. My youngest is 11 and I know I might never see his kids. Kinda makes me sad. Stay away from debt except for a home and maybe a vehicle. Credit card debt is an addiction that enables impulse buying for stuff you probably don’t need or even want. I got caught in a debt trap in my late 20’s and had to file bankruptcy. All lessons learned the hard way. Take from it what you will.
Kelly Scott 1 year ago
Never have kids you don't want, no matter how much your parents want grandchildren.
#31
Start saving money now! Sock a little away each paycheck in an investment plan and DON’T touch it unless for a home. Save save save and invest with pro advice. You will benefit from decades of compound interest. It’ll give you so much peace of mind.
#32
True happiness stems from gratitude — Making the most of what you have — Rather than letting it rest solely on what you want Once you accept that so much of a satisfying life is learning to negotiate between what you want and what the world gives you - you will be happy
#33
Take care of your goddamn knees. F**k.
#34
Just one aspect of life, but if you desire getting married and having a family, make sure it’s someone who is emotionally stable, actually loves you, and who has a desire to maintain a long-term relationship and won’t seek a divorce after a small disagreement or argument.
#35
63M here. Be patient. I certainly remember my early 20s well. Some scary days financially. Develop a budget. Stick to it. Sacrifice is not a dirty word. And never feel shame for saying, “I can’t afford it”. I actually tolerate that to my sister in law today who said we should go to a concert. Yes, I could have done it, but it wasn’t a budgeted expense. PS. I started with $50 after college and I’m quite comfortable now.
#36
Stop deliberately sunbathing, don’t get any tattoos you can’t cover up if needed, try to save a little money as you go along, travel as much as you can, try not to get too stupid with sex/booze/dope (aim to cut down on the booze/dope/cigarettes by 30), develop a stable foundation for the future whether it be friends, family or a job but try to develop transitional job skills in case your job makes you crazy. If you learn a lot about computers at a desk job there are many many ways that can translate to other work.
#37
Have fun in your 20’s. Travel and get out in the world and don’t waste money on expensive c**p you don’t need. Live within your means.
BrownTabby 1 year ago
Travelling is also something expensive that you don’t need. I enjoy it, don’t get me wrong, but it’s a luxury like any other.
#38
Peaks and valleys. I've been a homeowner, great career, friends, family, travel, social life, expensive cars. I've also visited food banks, not had enough gas money, lived in the ghetto, been suicidal many times, in jail, chose bad relationships. Now, at 58, I'm living the life of my dreams. I've started over from rock bottom 4 times in my life. My advice: keep good company. The 5 people you keep company with often dictate the quality of your life. Pick people that are smarter, wiser, more content than you. If you have unresolved issues, get therapy. Stay away from excess, especially alcohol. Fun, boozy social outings in your 20's and 30's can morph into a 10:00am belt to get through.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
Yin-Yang. It does not mean just good/bad. It refers to the cycle of life moving from constructive to destructive and around and around until we die. Need to learn at a young age that the hard stuff will eventually change.
#39
Learn to be content. Life is going to change. The unexpected changes can be extremely difficult. You are always in planning mode, accept this concept. Lots of life circumstances are temporary, push yourself, setbacks are part of life. Nature is the best medicine, exploring the wilderness.
keyboardtek 1 year ago
Life is what happens when you are making other plans. John Lennon, I think.
#40
1 - Save and invest 10% of your income. Pay yourself first. 2 - Focus on this: How many people have you helped, and how much have you helped them? 3 - Don't worry about what people think of you. 4 - If you have children, do all you can to love, guide, and help them. 5 - "One day at a time." This saying used to bug me in my twenties and thirties - but it is so unbelievably true. HTH!
Donna Peluda 1 year ago
#2 has taken me 50 years. I've help so many people, simple stuff like moves or DIY, money. I even lent my motorbike to a mate because he had to sell his and he was depressed cos he could ride. I needed some help 2 years ago. I called around and everyone was too busy. No more invites to BBQs.
#41
Do something useful to make the world better, whether it’s raising good kids, helping your friends, donating to causes, being a source of fun or comfort, choosing a service career, whatever. When you get older you start thinking about your legacy. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just try to leave the planet a little better because you were here.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Honestly, I don't think you need to do that. Just don't leave it worse than when you got here. Ultimately everyone will be forgotten at some point so why worry? Basically you don't need to be a good or valuable person, just don't be a bad person.
#42
my advice is this: if you feel your bond is one of very strong love, maintain the relationship, communicating will help all of your glitches, stay open on your feelings about everything. Send love notes, send sex notes, be playful. Do fun things apart too. Keep a daily journal. If you find your not really in love and it's just the idea of love, then don't waste any more of your energy.
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What do you think ?
Caro Caro 1 year ago
Be yourself, love yourself, accept yourself. You are fine just the way you are !
Kathleen McGann 1 year ago
What? No "Don't let anyone talk you into having children"? That's pretty important. People have ruined their lives having children because someone else pressured them
Dave Kennon’s Retirement Revolution 1 year ago
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SBocker78 1 year ago
I would add to reach out, befriend and network with people outside of your social circle/status. It will open your world.
Thrillion 1 year ago
As a moderate introvert, this was one of the hardest lessons. I tried many other avenues to happiness, trips, toys, being entertained, hobbies, etc... The one thing that consistently works making connections and sharing life stories.. Its so rewarding when someone you thought comes from a whole different life shares a story or memory that you related too. Makes them human and a bond is made... That, I've learned, is what life is all about.
Load More Replies... Caro Caro 1 year ago
Be yourself, love yourself, accept yourself. You are fine just the way you are !
Kathleen McGann 1 year ago
What? No "Don't let anyone talk you into having children"? That's pretty important. People have ruined their lives having children because someone else pressured them
Dave Kennon’s Retirement Revolution 1 year ago
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies... SBocker78 1 year ago
I would add to reach out, befriend and network with people outside of your social circle/status. It will open your world.
Thrillion 1 year ago
As a moderate introvert, this was one of the hardest lessons. I tried many other avenues to happiness, trips, toys, being entertained, hobbies, etc... The one thing that consistently works making connections and sharing life stories.. Its so rewarding when someone you thought comes from a whole different life shares a story or memory that you related too. Makes them human and a bond is made... That, I've learned, is what life is all about.
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