30 and over. What is the biggest life lession you have learned from 30 + years of life?

Question

For me it would be this. You can not worry much about what others think of you and what you are doing.
This was a very hard thing for me to overcome but I am now in my mid 30's and really feel this way. I am a much happier person.

Answer 1

The one thing I've learned is to stop trying to please everyone else. It took me almost 40 years to figure out that making other people happy was NOT making me happy. Once I stopped trying to please my mother (impossible!), my siblings (ditto!), and keep all my friends happy, I found that I had a lot more time for more important things. I also found out who my TRUE friends were. (A very important discovery!)
We all need to balance out the needs of others with our own needs (without being selfish or sacrificial). Finding that balance can be a lifelong journey.

Answer 2

I can honestly answer that I figured that out also, AND that if you are't settled down with your own family, it doesn't make you a social outcast =) I spent all of my 20s worrying about what people thought and if and when I was going to marry etc..then when I hit my 30s all of that stopped. I just got to a point where I thought "oh well, either you like me or you don't , and if you do, that's great and if you don't, that's ok too" =) I'm more mature now in my 30s and dated around plenty to realize what I want and don't want in a relationship. I'm very happy the way "I' turned out in my thinking and how I view things. My family sees it and so do my friends=)

Answer 3

I've learned that people that feel they don't have to worry about controlling hatefulness and disrespectful behavior towards others need to start worrying what other people think before they ruin all their relationships with people.

I also learned believing and living in the truth equals peace.

40's

Answer 4

That you CANNOT change anyone! I guess I had to try anyway and learn the lesson the hard way!

Answer 5

That life really sucks.