Lessons We Learn Along The Way
Life is tough. No two people walk the exact same path, meaning that in many ways, the way you choose to live your own life is entirely up to you. And though you'll want it to be perfect and flawless, we guarantee there will be tough lessons to learn along the way. Here are 20 hard lessons everyone learns eventually, but they're things that make you strong and not weaker. Take them head-on with your chin held high!
1. Your Best Isn't Always Enough
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try and push yourself, you won't be able to get that job you always wanted or get the girl you've had a crush on forever. And that's okay! It never hurts to do your best, you just learn in life that not everything will always go your way. But at least you can rest knowing you tried.
2. Hard Work Is Difficult
We've heard so many times before that "hard work pays off," but no one ever talks about how difficult it truly is. Being disciplined and pushing yourself towards a goal comes with a lot more ups and downs than people like to talk about. Yes, you should always strive for the best and work towards it, but don't expect it to be easy.
3. Our Bodies Are Fragile
It's common knowledge that our bodies become weaker and more breakable as we get older, but you never really realize how true those words are until you experience it. At some point in your life, you'll simply realize you can't do the same things you once could, whether that's lifting heavy weights or doing a cartwheel.
4. You Lose Friends Over Time
Not all friends are here to stay, no matter how much you wish things could always be the same. There are lots of reasons why friends drift apart; some outgrow each other, some move away, some do hurtful things, but no matter the reason, it's all a part of life and you'll see that soon enough.
5. Your Parents Won't Always Be Around
It's not something people want to think about on a daily basis, but just like everyone else on the planet (including you), your parents won't always be around to help you. As you grow older, so do they! The best we can do is learn to enjoy every single moment with them while they're still here.
6. Your First Love Isn't Always The One
The first time you fall in love will be a new experience you've never had before. It can feel all-consuming, overwhelming, and it might be something you want to feel forever. But for many people, the first one you meet isn't always going to be "the one." You'll get your heart broken, or you'll break someone else's heart, but at the end of the day, it's a moment everyone goes through to become stronger.
7. Things Don't Always Go Your Way
When you're still young, a lot of the times life seems to be pretty carefree and easy. Your parents are always there to help you, your daily routine is always set, and you have little to worry about. But as you get older and learn to take care of yourself, you'll quickly realize that life has its own plans. Things won't always go your way, but you'll learn how to accept that and move on.
8. Life Is Out Of Our Control
No matter how well you plan something, life always might just step in the way and ruin everything. And you know what? That's life! Things happen that we can't control and trying to fix that will just leave you tired and hopeless. You'll learn to grasp that random occurrences will always happen and the best you can do is figure out how to navigate them.
9. Adulting Is Hard
As children, we all dream of becoming adults and living our own lives, but the moment you hit a certain age, the opposite happens: you suddenly want to be a kid again! In other words, we always want what we can't have. Adulting is hard; it comes with responsibilities and a lot of challenges. How you choose to handle it and accept it is what will bring your life joy though!
10. Bills Are Expensive
Even with a full-time job, it might never feel like you're earning enough money to pay off your bills. Grocery shopping is getting expensive, the housing market is terrible, and rent is just out of the question, but don't worry, everyone is facing the same issues. You're not alone in this so never be afraid to ask for help or advice.
11. You Don't Always End Up With Your Dream Job
People sometimes have to choose between reality and what they want. Does having your dream job but not making enough to cover your rent sound better than a stable job you're satisfied with that has decent pay? The choice is up to you; life is filled with hard decisions that you will have to make on your own.
Francisco De Legarreta C. on Unsplash
12. There's No Such Thing As Perfect
Everyone always strives for perfection yet it's a goal that will always be unattainable. You want your life to be perfect, your job, your looks, yet all of that will end in failure. Why? Because perfection is unrealistic and everyone learns that eventually. What you want your goal to be is happiness, not perfection.
13. There's A Lot Of Negativity In The World
Most people are surprised by how much the news can affect their mood and mentality. When there's so much bad going on in the world, how do you stay motivated and positive? Learning to channel those emotions into being the very best person you can be is the best pay to handle all the negativity on the planet.
14. Relationships Are Hard
No, love isn't like the movies and that's something you'll learn the moment you step into your first relationship; it's hard work! It takes a lot of effort from both parties and dedicated commitment to keep things afloat, and you'll also find out just how important compatibility is. Sometimes, hard work isn't enough to keep a relationship alive.
15. You Will Hurt Someone
Even if you always strive to be a good person, you'll likely make mistakes in your life where you'll hurt someone else. Whether it's being careless with their emotions, being selfish, or breaking their hurt, these experiences shape us and show us that we can always do better. It's hard pill to swallow but a necessary one.
16. Being Single Can Be Hard
Lots of people always romanticize being single and how amazing it is, but not enough people talk about the difficulties. Watching others around you find their significant others, not having someone to spend time with, or simply wanting to be in love can be harder to deal with than you might think at first. It's a hard life lesson learning to embrace yourself and enjoy being alone.
17. Traveling Is Expensive
Want to see the world? Sadly, traveling is a lot more expensive that it seems. And when you've got things like mortgages, rent, and other bills to worry about, it can get pushed further and further back even if you don't like it. If you want to experience the world, there's some sacrifices or forced delays you're going to have to make.
18. You Can't Rely On Others To Take Care Of Yourself
At the end of the day, the only person you should be counting on for your mental health is you. Because self-care and self-love all start with you putting in the effort to put yourself first. We may think we can rely on friends and family to always be there, and while you shouldn't be afraid to reach out, you need to learn how to love yourself on your own too.
19. Be Grateful For What You Have
Jealousy is certainly a green-eyed monster that reveals itself even when we try our hardest to put it away. It's easy to look at other people and complain about how easy they have it or all the cool things they own, but in reality, all that does is make you ungrateful for what you do have. Practicing gratitude is an important step towards happiness that everyone learns along the way.
Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
20. Being Related By Blood Doesn't Mean Everything
Just because they're family doesn't give you a right to be treated poorly; people learn in life that sometimes, it's your chosen family that matters more. Being related by blood has little to do with your wellness at the end of the day. Choose people who love you, care for you, and wish for your happiness instead of staying close to people simply because they're "family."
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