Hi i'm 20 years old, What are some life lessons that I can learn from from a 40 or 80 year old?

Answer 1

I'm just short of 40, but I hope my response qualifies, as I've experienced more than many 80-year-olds. Well, here goes:

First of all, make sure you cram in as much education as you possibly can, as quickly as you can, and then get the hell out and get experience. I'd say, if you can manage to get a bachelor's degree by age 24, a good, relevant job right afterwards, which you may get fired from a few times (not to worry about that one, there are others out there), and then possibly a master, you're doing fine.

Secondly, don't you go blieveing that relationships are worth sacrificing dreams over - because they aren't. Any partner who really loves you will want you to try and live your dreams. If you meet somebody who demands you to give up dream, ditch that person, they don't love you.

Third, do give people a chance to prove to you how good they are. I know it's easy to get freaked out, but it is worth waiting for people to have a go at being noble to you - they often will be, and you might be surprised by it.

Four, be aware that, even though there is good in all people, it may not be in a certain person, and precisely at the time, when you want it to be there. Other people are just as much subject to personal dvelopment as oneself, and you never know what stage they happen to be at, no mattr how mature you think they should be when you consider how old they are and what function in society they occupy.

Five, stay out of debt. Only education and real estate are worth borrowing money for, all else is just for fun.

Six, take care of your body and your health - in the long run, it's all the capital that really counts, and it's easily squandered.

Seven, don't burn any bridges. You may well feel inclined to torch the odd connection, especially when you've experienced some major disappointment with it, but keep in mind that one tends to meet twice in life...

Eight, be prepared to enter stages in life when you find yourself hating that which you've always thought you'd always love, and beginning to see value in things you've always thought you'd despise forever. Benefit from that transformation. No experience in life is without merit.

Nine, praise people. You'll be amazed at the things this can do for you. Everybody wants to be told they're doing the right thing. And even though you may not be sure one way or another, gambling on the sunny side will work miracles for you, as what goes around comes around.

Ten, always choose that which you really love over what you think is reasonable or clever. Facts change, but sympathy tends to stay.

I hope this makes some sense. Best of luck to you, and remember: Nothing is forever, neither the good, nor the bad.

Answer 2

i'm not even close to 40 yet, but i have long learned one lesson which most 20-year-olds could really profit by...
take a summer to discover who you are, where you stand on things. i don't mean join the circus and grow a beard or anything, just sit down with a good friend and talk about things. moral and ethical issues, controversial topics, religion, politics, what ifs, anything and everything. pick roles and debate it all out. figure out what you believe and why you believe it... and don't forget the why, it's the most important part.
once you know where you stand, you will find that all those horribly difficult life choices you'll have to make will be easier, you won't agonize over every tough decision, and in the end you will have a lot fewer regrets. knowing where you stand will make it easier to be honest, genuine, respectful of others and yourself. you are far less likely to betray your principles if you know what they are and why they are important.
one word of caution, though... never get so set in your way that when faced with new information you can't re-examine the issue. re-examine yourself from time to time, just to make sure you still know who you are, by going back to the same discussions.

for lots of more specific detailed good life lessons, listen to "everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)".

Answer 3

I'm impressed that you're even asking. Most people have to learn things the hard way rather than drawing on someone else's experience. Good for you!

Think of it in terms of networking with others. Find a mentor in your career field and approach them about job shadowing or an internship of sorts if you're still in school.

Just get to know older people in general... even if it means volunteering at a nursing home.

You could potentially learn lessons about love, career, money, any number of things. And best of all, new friends. My grandmother's friend taught me a lot about real estate just from being around her and listening to her gab about her work. I was a bear when I bought my first home and nearly drove the agent nuts, but I got the house I wanted for the price I wanted and turned a tidy profit when I sold it later.

Good luck and again kudos for being mature enough to know you can learn from others regardless of their age.

Answer 4

Good question, Eat healthy, Exercise moderately, dont smoke, dont do drugs, dont drink to much, buy property as soon as u can and keep buying more when u can , try and save as much money as u can, work as much as u can whilst ur young, basically try and set urself up for when u get to 40, I know it seems a long way away now but trust me, it will seem like a few months and your there. So try and get as much capital as u can cos when u get to 40 what you bought at 20 will be worth 10 times more, if only I could go back, I'd be a millionaire now, you lucky person you. Good luck.

Answer 5

If it is possible for you to live at home for a couple more years do so. But work as much as you possibly can and make as much as you possibly can, and save it !!!

You will need (ALL of it) to get into your own home.

If your parents can let you stay longer do so and keep saving every penny. If you can get a place to live with out a mortgage you have life by the B_ L _S !!!

A mortgage on a cheap home ($100,000) is about $1,200 a month for 30 years of your life.
That is $432,000 dollars you will pay on that mortgage.

Why pay some one else $332,000 of your hard earned money?

Answer 6

I am 49 .
Try not to be a thrill seeker.
Every morning I feel every motorcycle wreck,every Karate tournament,every" I bet I can jump from this roof to that one",every
"that doesn't look that high to me",every "I am sure that will hold my weight"
Well young man do you get the Idea?
Oh don't forget "you cops don't scare me"
Enjoy a normal life even if it seems a little boring,it's better
than knowing what the local emergency room looks like.Or in my
case knowing who's on duty on nights vs days.
Oh let's not forget "I am sure I can jump that with my
dirt bike if I just get going fast enough"
You may think you healed up just fine,but when you get older all that thrill seeking comes back to haunt you.
Take care of your body,you only get the one,and spare parts are not always available.

Answer 7

Well, I'm not 40 or 80, somewhere in between. The best word that I would give you is to treat others with dignity and respect, not matter what. That is a very difficult thing to do and it will work your character into something very cool.

Answer 8

1. If you haven't started already....Start to invest at least 6% of your paycheck in a blended mutaul fund and foreign stock investments.

2. You can't change people so if you are with someone and thinking about marrying make sure that there is nothing that you can't live with for the rest of your life.

3. Go to college while you can. Don't put it off.

4. Pick a career now and work towards it.

Answer 9

Don't sweat the small stuff, but realize it's the little things in life that matter. If you hurt someone that you love, apologize quickly and profusely.....there is no such thing as pride w hen you love someone and are wrong. SMILE...people who smile live longer and healthier lives. You will have regrets....but tis better to regret having tried and failed then to regret never making the attempt. Nobody ever said on their deathbed, I wish I spent more time at work. Make sure you have a balance of work and home life....and if the scales tip...make sure it's it's in the favor of your family.

Answer 10

45 yr old male, NY

Watch the little things that people say and do, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT A PERSON, If someone is telling you how they screwed someone over, remember that this person could do it to you. If they are mean to Animals, they are mean to people too.

SHUT THY MOUTH ! Never tell anyone anything too much info

Aviod conflict: If someone does something to piss you off, just cut them off, they are done with you, just a quick "Hi and Bye", never help them again, shut your mouth about it, "stick them with a fork" because they are "DONE", as far as your concerned.

Tell your mother that you love her ! That woman is the ONLY person in the world that REALLY REALLY LOVES YOU !
SHE WOULD SIT IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR FOR YOU ! NOBODY ELSE WOULD EVER DO THAT FOR YOU, BUT HER ! (my mother died in 1988, I still sometimes cry for my mommy)

Practice random acts of kindness to strangers, and Animals trust me, this comes back 1000 times to you, who ever your God is, trust me, he keeps score !

Good Luck in life my friend, this is good info that took me a long time to learn, also in life, when we are young, we think our parents are so stupid, What's amazing is, as we grow older, they seem to get smarter. Enjoy life, there is no dress rehersal, laugh as much as you can, don't worry about so much, the things that we worry about are really not that important, Health and family should be your only concerns, everything else will find its way, Laugh a lot, and enjoy life, it's short, we are dead a long time ya know.