What did you learn the hard way growing up?

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We all make mistakes but some lessons are harder to learn than others. What is something you had to learn the hard way growing up that you wish someone had told you earlier? Whether it’s a life lesson, financial mistake or something else I’d love to hear your stories.

Comments

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  2. OkInterview3864 Avatar

    Early bird gets the worm

  3. Jennyelf Avatar

    Not everybody who says they care about you cares about you.

  4. nolove1010 Avatar

    Businesses fail, your life changes in an instant and it can be a very long road back to a somewhat normal life.

  5. MediaAddled Avatar

    Open contempt for authority tends to work out poorly. After I got this lesson pretty well learned I started being labelled passive aggressive by teachers.

    The majority of teachers in the seventies and eighties wanted enthusiastically compliant students with a Hitler Youth level of respect for authority. I am not kidding. Maybe it was just a midwest/great plains thing.

  6. mbroda-SB Avatar

    When my parents said “Don’t climb up on top of the neighbor’s RV in their driveway” I should have listened. Faceplanted off the top of that thing into the neighbor’s concrete driveway and tore half my face off.

  7. robotlasagna Avatar

    >What did you learn the hard way growing up?

    Never confuse tampons and crampons. They are two very different things…

  8. zopelar1 Avatar

    My dad (mom was SAHM) sat me down and told me to figure it out because it wasn’t going to just happen. He had (and this was in the 70’s and we weren’t wealthy) career and financial people come out to the house and as a result I selected business school paid w student loan. Best thing I ever did and thank my late Dad often in my prayers. I learned all I needs to be needed and wanted in fast busy offices and fell into a niche area and got continually promoted until I was a company VP by late 90’s.

  9. AtmosphereOk4561 Avatar

    My Mum is very judgemental and used to talk about everyone behind their backs. I thought it was a normal thing that all girls did and lost quite a few friends because of it.

  10. godofwine16 Avatar

    There’s less time than you think.

    Stop procrastinating because there may not be another chance.

  11. Shakylogic Avatar

    Violence is sometimes (many times) the answer.

  12. Maleficent_Coast_320 Avatar

    Just because someone says something doesn’t mean it is true.

    Be careful who you give your heart to. You never get it back undamaged.

  13. Basic_Incident4621 Avatar

    Misery is not doled out in equal measure. 

    Some people have very hard lives and it has nothing to do with spirituality or karma or good choices or hard work. 

    You can do everything right and still end up with a very difficult life. 

  14. coggiegirl Avatar

    Everything is bullshit.

  15. ListenTraditional552 Avatar

    The only person who is going to look out or after you is you.

  16. Thinking-Peter Avatar

    Friends can lead you astray

  17. PhoneboothLynn Avatar

    Wishes have a nasty habit of coming true. Be careful what you wish for.

  18. QuirksNFeatures Avatar

    Even if you’re talented, you have to work hard.