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Our perspective on the world is shaped every day by everything we consciously and subconsciously see and experience. Some core ideas form in our minds that are rarely challenged later in life. But they should be. The general idea of 'right and wrong' that we see so often growing up doesn't really continue into the real world. Bad things happen to good people, bad people often face no repercussions for their actions: reality is harsh.

One Reddit user wanted to see what other 'hard to swallow' truths people have already learned. Over 31k people had something to say, sharing things that are difficult to accept, but are the actual reality once you step out of the dream world.

Bored Panda picked out the top raw and honest answers that are better to learn later than never. Scroll down and upvote your favorites, and make sure to share your thoughts; maybe you disagree with some of them? And if we're still missing out on some 'harsh realities', please tell us in the comments below!

#1

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Hard work doesn't always pay off.

y_notavailable , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Колю Майката
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the avocado toast's fault!!1!1!!! Not the fact that rich people get richer by stealing poor people's money, we totally don't do that!!1!!1!1 /s

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#2

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Bad things will happen to you for no reason.

Burnt_Smurf , MART PRODUCTION Report

#3

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some people just can’t be saved, you could give them every benefit in the world and they still could choose to throw it all away and you can’t do anything about it.

IfTimeCouldDie , RODNAE Productions Report

#4

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some parents just don’t love their children.

avaritze , Lenin Estrada Report

#5

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Your government does NOT have your best interest at heart.

CaptainD743 , Pixabay Report

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F. Jeske
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please specify the government you talk about. I have a complete different perception here in the Netherlands.

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#6

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You can't be anything you want to be.

YeahIprobablydidit , Zachary DeBottis Report

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Rens
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe you can't be anything you want but at least you can be kind x

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Parriah
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EXACTLY! STOP telling kids this s**t. Just makes them delusional and unwilling to let something go for a new sustainable dream.

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Jennifer Griffin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got in hot water for telling my 9 yr old nephew that in all likelihood he would in fact NOT be a pro football player. I told him to study hard and focus on education WHILE he played football but to let education be his main focus so he'll have a plan B if (and def when) football doesn't work out. Because realistically, he's most def gonna need a plan B lol Apparently I wasn't being supportive and bursted his bubble.

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Christina T
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people are just okay or good at many things but never really GREAT or talented in anything.

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aZZy_d3Lta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are people upvoting this? This wasn't super bad but it's still homophobic/transphobic. the thing was referring to jobs, not gender or sexuality. (Sorry for the little rant, had to deal with too much of this today)

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David Spencer
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to be a spy! Now that I've told you, I need to kill you.

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RM Ker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unless your parents are billionaires or already in the industry you want to be in. Classim and racism still exist. Student loans are the new debtors prison. Poor people pay multiple times for an education than a rich kid that has everything handed to them.

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A Random Anvil
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly. Otherwise, there'd be no poverty or illness because nobody wants to be poor or ill.

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Anthony winn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's only so many of everything. The scale gets greater for those who grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, ECT. There are millions of kids in sports who dream of being that person. But in reality only a fraction of a percent make it

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SmartTrainers
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something the younger generation are told ...you can be anything you want to be....which is why they get into mental health problems when they realise that can't be anything they want to be. Ok to aspire to something but you have to have a plan B...but they are only ever given plan A

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beverly ledbetter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard that my whole life and when I didn't reach the goals I felt I should I was always to blame. It was never anyone else's fault!😬

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Outlier
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1 year ago

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Margaret Howard
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AMEN YOU CANT BE A PILOT IF BLIND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE A DOCTOR IF DOWN SYNDROME

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Jonathan Labelle
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when i was teen i wanted to be a pro Wrestler but i have the athleticism of plate of waffle

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Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this one. No, Mrs. Smith, little Timmy who has flunked 5th grade twice, is NOT going to become President. Please stop telling him he can. And could we do something about his constant nose picking? Oh, wait - that was Mrs. Trump - nevermind.

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Solidhog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the worst phrases ever invented and told to children. It's up there with "everyone is a winner"

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Allan Hart
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I sure as hell can't be a nerf ball. This is beyond true.

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Leesa Anderson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They messed up the saying it's "you can be anything you want to be" which is absolute bull c**p.

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Mary Pigott
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1 year ago

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Mary Beheler
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any hope that someone 5 feet tall, female, and over 70 years old could become a pro basketball player? I guess you are right.

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TAM204
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm, sure you can. But I will add a MAJOR caveat: if you base your definition of what you want to be on somebody else's definition, then you cannot be anything you want to be and in fact are only setting yourself up for failure. What do I mean by that? Okay, what do you want to be? A musician? Pick up the guitar and start practicing. An artist? Pick up the paintbrush and start painting. A mathematician? Open the textbook and get to solving problems. A pilot? Sign up for the online license course and get studying (and buy flight simulation software). But you'll likely get nowhere if your definition of being a WHATEVER depends on others' recognition of you. E.g. you want to be an astronaut. Okay, save up for a trip on the Virgin rocket or the Amazon rocket. What's that? Oh, you don't want to be an astronaut, you want OFFICIAL RECOGNITION from NASA of whatever their definition of being an astronaut is. Well, then, sorry, I can't help you.

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GadgetGirl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to be not in pain. Not gonna happen, though. My skeleton is a failure.

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Lauren Capp
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am 5'1 and and wanted to play in the WNBA. Yeah, fat chance

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Lou Cam
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, I'm definitely onto plan M in terms of life plans and goals. People always say to have a plan B but no, you have to have a full alphabet for every eventuality. Effort doesn't pay off, skill and talent doesn't pay off, mostly it's how much money you have to start with. If it's zero, better set your sights on the second half off the alphabet.

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K- THULU
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want to become one with the earth and sleep in the arms of the mother goddess.... So at least I've got a chance of getting my wish.....

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#7

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Some people just don't get a happy ending, some people never find happiness or satisfaction. People tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel but for some people there isn't, they never get to see any light, just darkness.

Kermitting_OOF-Side , Pixabay Report

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Firstname Lastname
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And for some of us, the light is like a cat laser pointer, enough to distract us and give us hope, but ultimately not much.

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#8

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Beauty matters in how people treat people.

NakedKittyAlucard , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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king raven
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read some statistics saying that attractive criminals tend to receive shorter sentences than unattractive ones. Messed up.

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#9

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones That it’s more likely to succeed if born rich than if you born talented

anon , Thibault Trillet Report

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Stephen Smith
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would prefer to be born talented and succeed at becoming rich, than be born rich and succeed at staying rich.

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#10

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Sometimes, YOU are the problem in a relationship. And if people keep on leaving you, it may well be your fault. Even if you don’t feel like it is.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

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Karl Baxter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I work with a guy who’s been married and divorced 3 times. Spend an hour or so around him and there are many clues as to why but I don’t think he has ever considered himself to be the common factor in his failed relationships. He’s currently working on wife number 4 but I don’t hold out much hope for this marriage either.

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#11

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones The world goes on after you die.

Euro_Girl , Mike B Report

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JoyfulZebra
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"One generation passes away and another generation comes; but the earth is forever." (Ecclesiastes 1:4)

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#12

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones There is no karma. Bad things happen to good people. Bad people do bad things that never catch up to them. Good people do good things that screw them over in the long run. It’s all random.

Coach_Bolton , Mike B Report

#13

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Us 1st world citizens have it much better than we think we have it.

anon , Godisable Jacob Report

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Sandra Morison
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know I was lucky.......born white in the UK gave me so many advantages . I do try to appreciate it.

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#14

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones First impressions are a very f*****g big deal.

Robliterator_ , Cytonn Photography Report

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graham warley
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On average you judge someone you meet for the first time in about 15 seconds. You are rarely wrong.

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#15

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Not everyone is going to like you, no matter how hard you try.

-eDgAR- , Keira Burton Report

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HelluvaHedgehogAlien
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm… am I crazy? Why are there two double posts with the exact same comments—

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#16

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Money and good looks matter

userid404 , Alexander Mils Report

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Колю Майката
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rich people: "money doesn't matter" | Poor people: OK then, if it doesn't matter can you give some of it to us? | Rich people: Nooooo this is not how you do it!!1!1!

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#17

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones We're not all special.

Some of us will not find love.

We're not all equal.

TheDevilsAdvokaat , Tan Danh Report

#18

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You will likely be lost to history. In just a few centuries, nobody will remember or even knew you existed. Sad, I know, but you just have to accept it.

Timyoy3 , Pixabay Report

#19

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Mistakes do define you. The little ones don’t, but if you make a big mistake, it will alter your life to an extent. Saying that they don’t matter is a lie that will prevent you from diagnosing life problems later down the line.

CaptinHavoc , Liza Summer Report

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#20

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You don’t always keep the good friends you meet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make more later on down the road!

viking162 , Matheus Ferrero Report

#21

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones You’re the bad guy in someone’s story, so many of your enemies will never admit to doing anything wrong, but the thing is neither will you in some situations.

People justify their own behaviour to themselves. That’s why so many people can’t apologise and double down on the s****y things they do.

the-salt-of-dungroon , Monstera Report

#22

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones All human beings are capable of being viciously immoral. There’s a point where we can be forced or force ourselves to become completely animalistic. We can perpetrate murder and genocide, as just one example, and if justified to ourselves correctly, we will feel no remorse. We like to think that the only people capable of such horror are a minority but the truth is that we are all capable of it given the right circumstances.

viktor72 , Anna Shvets Report

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Kathryn Baylis
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dehumanizing someone, considering them an animal, a rabid animal, is how humans justify killing them—-and spinning it that “the rabid animal” actually deserved to be put down. It’s totally f****d up, but it’s what we do. Soldiers in a war are sent there to kill as many of the enemy as possible. That enemy is vilified by being portrayed as less than human, as vicious animals, as deserving to be killed—-and people applaud them for killing more of the enemy than the enemy kills them. I know it’s a way to dissociate, to justify going against everything we’re taught about not killing people so we don’t go insane from committing an act that society would otherwise consider aberrant. But maybe by not dehumanizing others, by retaining the context that we’re all humans and shouldn’t be committing acts of violence against each other, maybe we might finally leave our worst tendencies behind us, and finally take the next evolutionary step—-one that the knuckledraggers continually keep pulling us back from—-by becoming a truly elevated species that doesn’t give in to our more animalistic tendencies. (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)

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#24

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People refuse to accept that this IS the reality. Lots of time and money is spent cushioning that blow.

We live here. We live now.

Best get used to it.

Wyrdeone , Keenan Constance Report

#25

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Pain is inescapable. Not even acknowledging that pain is inevitable and preparing for it ahead of time can lessen it.

You will be taken by surprise, you will be hurt, you will not enjoy it, you will not be able to numb it, and there is nothing you can do except take it on the chin.

Cryptids4Sale , Inzmam Khan Report

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K- THULU
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the Buddha said all life is suffering.... And he wasn't fkn wrong....

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#26

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones Very few people truly accept their mortality, and most of the time when it truly sinks in, people get scared and want to avoid it.

MettaMorphosis , Pavel Danilyuk Report

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Rupp
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making your final plans is the best time to mess with people. For example, I'm stating I want my remains scattered, but I don't want to be cremated....

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#27

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People can just simply fall out of love with you for no reason.

You fretting about whether it's you or something else or the investment is basically you giving them the reasons to strengthen the reason why they stopped loving you. When they could very much not have a reason at all, feelings and priorities can change.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

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K- THULU
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And some pretend to so as to not harm the one's they love....... Rather be a martyr than a millstone.....

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#28

People Are Sharing "Harsh Realities" That No One Wants To Accept, And Here's 29 Of The Most Insightful Ones People like to be lied to. They don’t like finding out they’ve been lied to

cozygo , Teona Swift Report

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Miss Frankfurter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do not like to be lied to! I CAN (for emphasis) handle the truth. Whatever you do, don’t lie to me. Whoever has lied to me will find out how much I don’t like it.

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