What is the most important thing you have ever learned in your life?

Question

What is the most important thing you have ever learned about life? How old were you when you learned this lesson? How did you learn it? Who did you learn it from? Why is it important?

I am a teen and I want to know more about life.

Answer 1

I'm a 32-year-old mother of a 2.5 year old. I've been with my husband for 12 years. He was my "first and last." I eat healthy, quit smoking back in 1999 after my sister developed cancer, and I exercise 3 days a week. i started out in a trailer park in a trashy part of North Charleston, SC and am now a First Class in the Navy with a loving family and inspiring friends. My family lived off of welfare and government food, hand-me-downs and Salvation Army when I was growing up. We now donate our household salaries back to the Salvation Army, charities for children and animals, etc. to say 'thank you.'

You probably aren't looking for autobiographies, but my life story leads up to what I have learned in my own life based on my experiences with others.

First of all, be happy with what you have. There's always someone else worse off.

Second of all, the material things aren't even a quarter as important as health, family, love, compassion for fellow human being, and being happy with yourself even if you're alone in the movie theater or a busy restaurant.

Third, if you want to make room for new, get rid of the old.

Fourth, don't worry over the small stuff. You're gonna have a flat tire, your banking account will occasionally suffer, you might get dumped or fired or the TV might break. But, if you didn't get stabbed, infected with a disease, or die in a nuclear bomb, you shouldn't lose sleep over the trivial things. Lose sleep over the really important things but only to work it out that night so you can sleep the nex.

Last, we're all going to die. Some sooner than others. Live like you'll die tomorrow, but save like you'll live forever. Treat friends and family like you'll have affiliations with them until eternity, but if they abuse you and put you at risk (abuse, violence, etc) get away. Life is too short to hang onto to the wrong people simply to avoid being alone.

I love my daughter more than anyone, and my husband. I try to find moderation in everything, take good care of my teeth, don't try to keep up with the neighbors next door by getting the Lexus or Dooney and Burke simply because they do, and I realize that what I have could all be gone in the blink of an eye by a terrorist, house fire, or by my own stupidity.

Life is what I have made of it. This is my own lecture to myself and not to you. You will surely have insights I can never be a part of. You may become a doctor or a waste collector, a spouse or a nun. You may be older than me in mind and spirit and have insights to lend to me.

What works for me may not be right for you, so I hope you enjoy your own path in life, and I wish you all the goodness in the world.

I know I could still be living in that tiny two-bedroom trailer in ten mile in North Charleston, with a deadbeat father miles away and wondering how the other half lives. I ow what I have to friends, family, teachers, soldiers who died to give me rights that aren't available to females in other countries, and the higher power. I can also take some small credit for opening the door when opportunity knocked.

Maybe life doesn't have to have riches or grandeur or luxuries or fame. Maybe just love, a kind smile, laughter, and some peace and quiet in a safe place are all we need.

I hope you find all those things.

Answer 2

I learned that lying is not for me. I think it's accepted in some cases, but overall, it's better to be truthful.

I had to learn the hard way too. I didn't even realize how much I was lying to people. It started to get out of hand. I wasn't a pathological liar, but I was well on my way. Before I knew it, I couldn't even tell people who I was because I just didn't know anymore. When I finally let my fears go and stopped lying, I felt like myself.

I thought that by covering up my past, people wouldn't find out about it. Eventually, I had to weave a confusing story about my old social life. I felt so ashamed about it too.

Anyway, my tip for you is to open up. Don't hold yourself back by keeping things from people. It's so much easier just to tell the truth. Then you won't have to think about what you told that person and how you can get around the topic.

I understand that there are times when people don't need to know the truth. And it's different for everyone. So use the discretion wisely. You're off to a great start.

Great question.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You are a smart teen to be asking such a question....Im not sure what the most important lesson I have learned in life is. There doesn't necessarily seem to be a recurring theme in my life that would make me consider any such lesson learned as the most important lesson in my life. Although, I agree that one's family is the most important thing we have in our lives. So, I guess that's the most important lesson I have learned, if I had to choose just one. My family taught me this lesson...

Answer 4

Tolerance.
I learned it in grade school, being outside of the cliques because my parents held some ideas that weren't easily accepted by other parents. I could have hated them, but I had parents who discussed things with me and I understood why they held beliefs different than others. I could see that these differences were not very different at all, and it was simply a lack of tolerance that was hurting me and my younger siblings. I learned that there is room in this world for all kinds of views and ideas. It has allowed me to fit into many situations, get to know some very interesting people and live a life full of things that my grade school classmates now call adventures.

Answer 5

I failed the 1st term of a class once,the teacher told me I wasn't smart enough to be in his class.He gave quizzes daily.I never missed a single answer the rest of the year.I learned my personality rises to challenges,but I get bored quickly once I master a task.An imperfection,but one I can live with,even take advantage of.Thanks,DeGraziano

Answer 6

Treasure your time on earth and spend as much time as you can with family and friends. You know not the day nor the hour when they may be called home by God.

Answer 7

the most important thing I've learned, is that i have so much more to learn...

the more you know, the more you realize you don't have a clue...