ADVERTISEMENT

Who wouldn’t like to live in a world without consequences? Where you could go back in time and start all over again. Where we could be fully in charge of whatever happens. Where life would give us lemonade instead of lemons.

The reality, however, is way different. So when someone asked “What are the hardest pills to swallow in life?” in an AskReddit thread, it surely hit very close to home for many people.

The responses started flowing in, with one uncomfortable truth being spilled after another.

#1

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow That a dog’s life is not long enough

anon , Chalabala Report

Add photo comments
POST
natrich avatar
Nat Rich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no actually this is the saddest truth. Someone hurry up and invent a doggy life elixir please. My best friend is 9 this year and I'm getting very scared it won't happen in time!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Animals are worthy of moral consideration

Mountain-Return7438 , Mint_Images Report

Add photo comments
POST
andrew-w00197 avatar
Did I say that out loud?
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Animals, whether pets or livestock have no say in their situation. If you take an animal into your life, it's welfare must be your priority.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow No one really knows you. They know their own version of you.

PamelaJWiley , Rawpixel Report

Add photo comments
POST
frank_3 avatar
frank behnsen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s true even for the people closest to you – like for instance your family. It took me decades to understand that … and a couple more years to accept it as a fact. Oh well …

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow That your boss and coworkers won’t care how hard you worked the second you leave the company.

Enjoy life. Go outside. Have a picnic. Don’t work so hard.

iStillPlayPS3 , stokkete Report

Add photo comments
POST
festersixonesixonethree avatar
Fester Sixonesixonethree
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mostly worked for myself - enjoyed challenges and creating good and easily usable systems. My work was mine... a source of pride in what I had accomplished. And I enjoyed getting paid for my work... but I did it for me, not for the company.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Some relationships or friendships are meant to be temporary. Appreciate the memories and lessons they give you, but when the time comes you have to let go and move on

alexandria-haynes , peus80 Report

Add photo comments
POST
luyendao avatar
Lu
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I keep telling my wife this but she doesn’t like hearing it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Not only is incompetence frequently left unpunished, it is sometimes also richly rewarded.

amvoloshin , bernardbodo Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Being in love isn’t enough to make a relationship work.

VogTheViscous , peus80 Report

Add photo comments
POST
lilliemean avatar
LillieMean
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Falling in love is a feeling. Staying in love is a choice that requires work. A relationship is like a plant that needs tending.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Just because something is not your fault doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility

Drunkula , monkeybusiness Report

Add photo comments
POST
imremiko avatar
Imre Mikó
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This helped me a lot actually. There is a good quote this reminds me of which has a similar lesson for me: Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you're a good person is like expecting a bull not to attack you because you're a vegetarian.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Some bells can’t be unrung. And you have to live with the fallout from decisions you made and things you did when you didn’t know this fact.

the_digital_merc , astakhovyaroslav Report

Add photo comments
POST
wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And apologizing doesn't magically make everything better. We should apologize when we screw up, but nobody is obligated to accept our apology.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Bad things happen to good people.

Sometimes for no reason at all, completely randomly.

Important_Outcome_67 , bialasiewicz Report

#13

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Doesn’t matter how fit you are, you get old and your body starts to break down. It sucks. Hard.

Barrrrrrnd , javi_indy Report

Add photo comments
POST
cali-tabby-katz avatar
Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just turned 41 today. I swear everything in my body started to hurt for no reason, a year ago today XD

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Two justice systems; one for the rich and one for everyone else.

Professional-Ad-1611 , sofiiashunkina Report

Add photo comments
POST
sonja_6 avatar
Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some countries start to wake up on that and change their laws so that fines are a percentage of income and wealth and not fixed amounts of money. A billionaire might just scoff if a parking ticket costs 1000 bucks, but if the fine is 1% of income even they will feel it and think twice about doing it again.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Bad people win frequently.

Some people in leadership position are not good leaders. Some who are not in leadership are good leaders.

People will take advantage of your hard work. Many people get to where they are because of nepotism.

VStarRoman , Pressmaster Report

Add photo comments
POST
wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bad people win because they don't care about anyone else. If you're a good, caring person you'll likely let opportunities pass you by because you realize taking it would hurt someone.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Nobody is obligated to be in your life. Years of commitment and love can go up in smoke because someone decided they were done with you.

Elijahb88 , AnnaStills Report

#17

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow That sometimes even if you tried your best, you just weren't good enough.

Noctis012 , seventyfourimages Report

Add photo comments
POST
ydj_reed avatar
Tortitude
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True. And in a work context, know when to quit. No job is worth your mental health

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow When you're young and healthy, it's hard to imagine being anything but.
When you lose your health, it's mind blowing how quickly things change.

Ennion , Pressmaster Report

Add photo comments
POST
erikgranqvist avatar
Erik Ivan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yupp. Can go in a blink of the eye. It did for me, in that car crash 22 years ago.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow You can't" be whatever you want to be" just by wanting it

Altruistic_Proof_272 , bialasiewicz Report

Add photo comments
POST
rncassidy avatar
Ricardo Ferreira
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And most of the times problems are really problems, not "challenges" how they're trying to sell to us.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow you only get the one life, so dont wait for things to be perfect

Gryffindorq , vadymvdrobot Report

Add photo comments
POST
xeniaharley avatar
Xenia Harley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And don't always wait for something big to happen to make you happy. Find pleasure in the small things, like a beautiful flower, a sunset, the full moon, etc. or life will be dull.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#21

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow That no matter who you are or what you do, the wide, wide majority of people (like me) will be a memory for one generation and then utterly forgotten.

bunkerburner , bialasiewicz Report

Add photo comments
POST
marsom1103 avatar
SCP 4666
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only great leaders, brilliant scientist and artist are remembered by the world.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Sometimes when bad things happen to you it’s your own fault.

SIRUNKLYDUNK2 , jm_video Report

Add photo comments
POST
n-l-rademann avatar
Lennart
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... and sometimes you can do everything exactly right and the bad things still happen

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow The world does not revolve around america.

FuriousRageSE , drazenphoto Report

Add photo comments
POST
violademarest avatar
Kennethbush
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so irritating. No one thinks that. I’m American. We just go about our lives just like everyone else

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow You’re going to not exist in a very short amount of time that will feel like it went by in a blink.

gleafer , seventyfourimages Report

Add photo comments
POST
natrich avatar
Nat Rich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg so true. Not so long ago i was a kid, now I'm a kid in a 40 yr olds body

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Life gives you the test first, then the lesson.

TheHairyManrilla , stokkete Report

#26

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow The people you love the most in life will die, sometimes sooner than you could imagine, and the only thing that will come close to healing that wound is time.

orange150 , ckstockphoto Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Arrogance is not extreme confidence, it's the opposite of confidence and it shows your insecurities.

If people call you arrogant, they are not intimidated by your confidence, they see what you are so desperately trying to cover up.

zazzlekdazzle , andreonegin Report

Add photo comments
POST
censorshipsucks12 avatar
censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't agree with this necessarily. I've met some really talented people who are arrogant. I think arrogance CAN be a cover for insecurity or incompetence, but quite often it's also a case of narcissism.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow No one will love you the way you want/expect them to. I feel like a lot of relationship problems, at least the minor ones, come from a miscommunication of love. We love in our own way, and find ourselves expecting the same kind of love when that’s just not possible. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s hard to remember sometimes.

imjust_ro , Wavebreakmedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
larisa-aljoski avatar
Lärry the rat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is tough, at least it was for me. I'm a very open, super positive and outgoing person. My husband is the not. I hug and kiss for no reason. He still wonders about that after 15 years of marrige. I made him a choclate heart cake. He said it's a little dry. :( But when I sit down on my favorite spot to have my coffee in peace, there are my favorite cookies waiting with a note "Enjoy your you-time". Or when I struggled to get better in running, there was a note in my running shoes "Today your personal 10k record will be beaten". I noticed, he never says sth sweet, but found a way to tell me anyway. It means sth even if it's not the way I wished it was. And I kept all those notes :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Nobody is 100% *good* no matter how much you lie to yourself.

LipsOfScarlet , vadymvdrobot Report

Add photo comments
POST
the_true_opifex avatar
Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've calculated that I'm about 45% evil, which is much better than previous estimates of 70-75% evil.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow you can’t help people who aren’t willing to try and help themselves

to quote a music artist i like “you don’t take the advice you f*****g use me for”

oreggino-thyme , monkeybusiness Report

Add photo comments
POST
jackholt avatar
Greenmantle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No but you can suggest options... apart from that it's up to them to pursue them

shannonmcgill avatar
Shannon McGill
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And let them know you are there, because if nobody cares there is no reason to change

Load More Replies...
galaxyhearteclipse avatar
RikakueRoleplay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why the 'good girl changes bad guy' trope is so unlocked and unrealistic. You only find it in teen rom-coms that follow every other trope to the copy-paste letter. To change is a conscious decision, and you can't force someone. They need to come to you first, and even then it's not your job to help them unless you are the guardian responsible for them.

frank_4 avatar
Rostit .
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink. Its better to protect yourself.

littlerudegirl33 avatar
Rose Losthermarbles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

some of those people like to use ignorance is bliss mentality or use the victim card because they know there are empathic folks who will always help them.

k_e_s avatar
K.E.S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am reminded of this every time we look out our picture windows. Everyday I am blessed to have a 180 degree panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains. Before I married my husband, I tried to get other people (men) interested in investing in real estate to increase their net worth and have a steady passive income when they got older. They didn't want to listen to me and wanted to treat me as irrelevant, like I was stupid and just a pretty face and only good for one thing... I didn't walk away from those people, I ran, because I understood I was better than this. I concluded, "Why waste your time with these people (men) who think so small, can't see farther than their noses and do not want you to have a vision." Today, in less than ten years, my husband and I own several properties and live among millionaires on an island. Ha ha..."He who laughs first shall laugh last!" Don't want to say, "I told you so, but I told you so." :-)

marilynrussell avatar
Marilyn Russell
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, so sometimes don’t waste your time and energy, unless they actually ask for help and you can give it. I read somewhere that giving unsolicited advice is always self-serving anyway.

sparkle127-tl avatar
Trish L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can lead a jackass to water but can't make em drink

unusannusgeneration avatar
Unus Annus Generation
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew someone that i was trying to help there family with food and other things they were struggling with. This is so true. They refused help, and they'd just dig a deeper hole for themselves by helping other people. Which is nice and all, but it was a problem. And it got to a point where they would complain that they didnt have enough, money food, etc.. Blaming other factors why they were struggling. But one of the main factors were that they just werent helping themselves. (And sometimes the problem can be that they just take too much pride in themselves, that they dont want help.) Anyways we were helping them, but we just got in a loop hole where it was causing a problem for us too. I felt/feel bad. But it is also there fault for whats happening.

chrissymariahhill avatar
Chrissy Mariah Hill
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've come to the co conclusion most people like that just complain and say oh woe is me. So others will feel bad for them and they get something from that person. And it's an endless cycle. You can only help yourself. It is not up to someone else to help you get ahead.

oscar_6 avatar
Oscar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But, how can we be certain we've tried hard enough to help convince them to help themselves and accept our help? 😢

charleswhitaker_1 avatar
Charles Whitaker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The point is that you can't convince them to help themselves or accept your help. You can only let them know that you love them and will help them when they are ready.

Load More Replies...
tlgmc avatar
tl gmc
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't always listen to advice, I bought a 2 bed consi thinking it'd improve my life, because people with more experience recommended it, it's been the worst decision of my life. Should have stood renting. I've gotten horrible recommendations since years ago and need to not listen to any advice

johnnystorm avatar
Johnny Storm
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's why I would always just provide my insights and option how to go on from there only if they ask. If not, I would practised the so called "I would be the best listener by focusing on you and forgot everything after you done"..

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

Yep which is why addiction is NOT A DISEASE it is a choice to keep drinking

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Sometimes things just change, it’s nobodies fault but they change.

ATequilaMockingbird , Pixabay Report

Add photo comments
POST
leannemariedantoni avatar
Agnes Jekyll
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone once said (but said it better), "the only constant in life is change"

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#32

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Accepting the fact that the person you thought you'd spend the rest of your life with might not be the one.

IAmMyth , south_nostalgia Report

Add photo comments
POST
thislifemelodic avatar
Austin Sauce
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is false. There is no “one”. A relationship takes hard work and sacrifice, regardless if they are what you considers “The one” or not.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow That lot of people you have are just there for the fun times, when accidents and life trauma happens most of the people you thought of as a safety net will just vanish.

Like how you think as a new parent that if something happens to you, there are this village of close friends and tight knit relatives and family that will be there for the kids. It’s really tough to accept the idea that it’s really not like that.

ToppsHopps , stevanovicigor Report

Add photo comments
POST
wendillon avatar
Monday
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course. Everyone has their own c**p to deal with and your c**p might just be more than they're willing to handle. Nobody is obligated to go through hard times with you, which is why we should appreciate those that choose to do so even more.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

People come and go from your life and sometimes you’re the reason why.

RebootKing89 Report

#35

Problems need to be solved. Most of them don't go away if you ignore them.

PurgaznNings Report

Add photo comments
POST
samuelpelatan avatar
Samuel Pelatan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the problems, that's a really touchy advice if you suffer from anxiety because most of your problems are made up to give a reason for your anxiety to exist in the first place.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow If you want a great life, great friends and experiences, you have to seek them out for yourself, and nurture them. They aren't randomly assigned to you, and no one else will take care of it but yourself (ofc also partly depending on other people, but you have to have agency)

fluffyegghead , Rawpixel Report

Add photo comments
POST
bemcath avatar
Cathy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! And it is something you can learn even though it might feel awkward at times. And don't be set back too much if it doesn't work out with someone. You will find your tribe 😘

View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow You will probably have to be ok with losing in nearly all aspects of life

offcommy , DragonImages Report

#38

Not everything will happen according to your plan.

JascnBriel Report

Add photo comments
POST
natrich avatar
Nat Rich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know. Noone ever reads from the script I pre planned in my head for them. It's so rude!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

You aren't as unique as you think, so probably you aren't much different compared to the other 100 people that someone may have met that day. The "I'm built different" dialogue goes on everybody's head.

anon Report

#40

“Some Bells Can’t Be Unrung”: People Share 40 Hard Truths That May Be Hard To Swallow Being cynical is not the same as having healthy skepticism.

It doesn't make you seem smart, but rather short-sighted and just angry that the world didn't just award you everything you feel entitled to because you are so gifted.

zazzlekdazzle , OlgaSmolina Report

Add photo comments
POST
frank_3 avatar
frank behnsen
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my experience, trying to see the world as it is, not how it’s supposed to be is often misinterpreted as cynism. Well, maybe so – but that’s okay with me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 88 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.