What advice do you wish someone had shared with you 10 years ago?

Question

The most important thing I’ve learned is simply to believe in yourself. When you’re young and you have your whole life ahead of you, it feels like you can do anything. I think the advice I would give everyone is to never let go of that feeling. Don’t be afraid to just go for it. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something; anything is possible.

I’ve also learned the importance of good friends. Many of my relationships began through my career, but now the friendships overshadow any professional success we may have had together. Life is so much more comfortable when you’re able to sit in a room full of people you care about.

View Jamie’s full answer.

What are your life lessons?

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Answer 1

Life Wisdom: I wish someone had told me ten years ago about how the sands of time keep sifting through the hour glass and that it's not a good idea to ever "wait" too long for anything.
By this, I mean, don't ever put yourself on hold to your dreams by making these mistakes:
* waiting for another person to be available
* waiting for your hair to grow longer
* waiting to lose weight
* waiting to save enough money
* waiting for this, that or the other...
Instead of waiting for something to occur first in the future before you start living, DON'T WAIT, be brave and go forth with hope and faith into your life. Live each day fully. Don't dwell on memories, that means you're living in the past rather than the present. Choose to live in the present, not the past or the future. I tell you this from experience. Too many times I "waited" only to discover that I let too many years pass by with my excuses and now, it's too late for me to fulfill some of those dreams I had, and thats a very sad awakening.

To avoid much heartache, one should always remember "love without respect isn't anything worth having....including self-love". So, respect yourself and the one you love. Actually, it's a pretty good idea to show respect to everybody. But, especially you must deep down feel it for yourself and your loved ones and they should also feel it for you. If they don't respect you then you need to step back and take a long look at the relationship and decide if it can be improved, if not, then it's time to move on down the line.

Be active everyday, because once you stop it's easy to fall into a routine of living a lazy lifestyle, then one day you'll notice that you no longer have the agility, strength and grace you had when you were younger and once that goes you start to feel old. You can stay youthful longer by being active. Knees that no longer want to let you dance the way you used to, or run, or bend down and get back up without support with your hands on something are no fun... believe me when I tell you this.

So friends, to sum up this wisdom in one sentence, be active, live in the present (don't wait), respect yourself and expect respect in return. Take this advise and I promise you a more fulfilling life.

Answer 2

I always say, "It is better to be pissed off than pissed on"... I'm a young female and today people take to much for granted. I look at teenagers my age and if a person looks at them in a disrespectful way, all hell is about to break loose. And I am more than aware they are the people that will not be making it anywhere any day soon. I had been in many different situations in my life, whether it someone rapping me, putting me down, I had a guy put a gun to my head, basically I'm 19 and I have been through a lot. One thing I know is today I am making a lot of money (I used my "big mouth" to make money). I am a loan officer and I love it, meanwhile I am also studying to become a Lawyer. No matter what situation came my way I overcame it. Last year I was even diagnosed with cancer and today I am a survive, nothing will keep me down and no one. People need to stop being sensitive because today we have problems but by next week we will have a dozen other ones. As long as you have 1 person by ur side that loves you and cares for u, you have more than most people. Live life because if you don't that is the only thing that you will regret. And always remember to treat people like you would want to be treated and this is coming from a New Yorker.. lol <3 Sabina

Answer 3

This isn't mine but it answers the question...xxx

Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.
Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look good
If you die in the middle of it.


Drive carefully.
It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
Eat a live toad in the morning
And nothing worse will happen
To you for the rest of the day.
If you can't be kind,
At least have the decency to be vague.


If you lend someone $20
And never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.
It may be that your sole purpose in life
Is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Never buy a car you can't push.


Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.
Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird,
Sleep late. The second mouse gets the cheese.


When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.


Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened.
A truly happy person
Is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


We could learn a lot from crayons.
Some are sharp,
Some are pretty and some are dull.
Some have weird names,
And all are different colors,
But they all have to live in the same box.


Happiness comes through doors
You didn't even know you left open.
~~unknown

Answer 4

One of the most important things that I have learned now and wish i was aware of 10 years ago is the importance of having a good education.

I was always a very spiritual person thinking that love can solve any problem and as long as we are compassionate and kind beings that everything would be okay and fall into place. I found that this is true and very important in life but I have also found that having money is a very important piece as well. Having a good education can get you a good job and therefore make life more comfortable. Also by having a good education you gain a lot of respect from the people around you.

Thankfully I have reached a point now that even though I did not have the perfect education I am at the same level I would be if I did have one. The difference is that it took me much longer and I had to struggle much harder to get here.

In the end it is all worth it but I do wish I was a little bit wiser then.

Answer 5

I have learned that you can't make a life by yourself. No matter how much you think that you could do on your own, you have to let someone in to shape your heart, fill the void. There is no better gift in life than love, whether that relationship with a friend, a family member, or a lover, it is something that could define your entire being. To have someone at your side through the hardest times in your life will make you so strong, will make you realize that even the hardest mountains you will climb were put there for a reason. With love, it is some times the hardest pain but also the greatest benefit. There is nothing like it, and nothing more important. Before I knew this, I close myself off, and when I lost the ones I should have been loving all along, I was filled with regret. But I've made a promise to myself that in this life, I will show and tell my feelings day after day, and give the gift of love to everyone I possibly can, because there's nothing anyone could appreciate more.

Answer 6

No matter how much you think that you could do on your own, you have to let someone in to shape your heart, fill the void. There is no better gift in life than love, whether that relationship with a friend, a family member, or a lover, it is something that could define your entire being. To have someone at your side through the hardest times in your life will make you so strong, will make you realize that even the hardest mountains you will climb were put there for a reason. With love, it is some times the hardest pain but also the greatest benefit. There is nothing like it, and nothing more important. Before I knew this, I close myself off, and when I lost the ones I should have been loving all along, I was filled with regret. But I've made a promise to myself that in this life, I will show and tell my feelings day after day, and give the gift of love to everyone I possibly can, because there's nothing anyone could appreciate more.

Answer 7

No matter how much you think that you could do on your own, you have to let someone in to shape your heart, fill the void. There is no better gift in life than love, whether that relationship with a friend, a family member, or a lover, it is something that could define your entire being. To have someone at your side through the hardest times in your life will make you so strong, will make you realize that even the hardest mountains you will climb were put there for a reason. With love, it is some times the hardest pain but also the greatest benefit. There is nothing like it, and nothing more important. Before I knew this, I close myself off, and when I lost the ones I should have been loving all along, I was filled with regret. But I've made a promise to myself that in this life, I will show and tell my feelings day after day, and give the gift of love to everyone I possibly can, because there's nothing anyone could appreciate more.
Source(s):

Answer 8

I've learned so much about myself, and who I can be, in the past few years, though I wish I had known it sooner without having to learn the hard way. But, in actuality, the biggest lesson I have gotten out of these years is the fact that when you want something done, you can create it for yourself. In a society where everything seems to be handed to us, all morals aside, we still have to come to the realization that everything we want, is possible, and that it's in our hands. No one else will create for you a world which you have dreamed of, because if you want it bad enough, you will work for it so you can appreciate it so much more when it's finally there at your fingertips.

Also, I have learned that you can't make a life by yourself. No matter how much you think that you could do on your own, you have to let someone in to shape your heart, fill the void. There is no better gift in life than love, whether that relationship with a friend, a family member, or a lover, it is something that could define your entire being. To have someone at your side through the hardest times in your life will make you so strong, will make you realize that even the hardest mountains you will climb were put there for a reason. With love, it is some times the hardest pain but also the greatest benefit. There is nothing like it, and nothing more important. Before I knew this, I close myself off, and when I lost the ones I should have been loving all along, I was filled with regret. But I've made a promise to myself that in this life, I will show and tell my feelings day after day, and give the gift of love to everyone I possibly can, because there's nothing anyone could appreciate more.

Answer 9

I feel as if there are no "true" friends out there. By true I mean people who won't hurt you in any way. At least I haven't met a friend like that. I wish I was told that the world can be cruel, and to keep a hard shell up when it's cruel to you. I feel like I do all that I can to be a good person, and in turn the cold world always comes to bite me in the butt. It's important to look past the cruelty of the world, and not let it bother you for too long. It's something I must learn how to do. Besides that, and even including what I wish I was told...I think that most life lessons must be learned individually. Just by being told something, our stubborn human nature doesn't believe it until we see it. My little cousins all grew up and i lost a grandfather that was like a father to me and that is when i relized life is so short and every minute counts.
My cousin Sammatha is now 18 and doing the same thing as I did 10 years ago. I have told her exactly this. I hope I can help her not to learn the hard way.

Answer 10

The advice i got was use a condom, don't have kids early, get straight a's, be a nurse, lawyer, teacher etc.

It doesn't matter what advice i was getting because i had mega mental health issues i was dealing with ocd+depression. And most people would not agree with me but i got into a career that most people would not approve of and have never regretted it. It is the money and time alone to reflect and research that helped me get rid of ocd and i still have quite a bit of depression which i have a feeling will go away in a year. I felt like i would die if this does not go away. It felt uncontrollable. Now the new problem is to prepare either by saving or get diploma for future when it's time to switch career. I like what i do and would be okay to do this for 5-10 more years.

I didn't want, care or remember much of others advice. I knew what i wanted. And that wasn't what they would agree with. If i can get rid of this depression which i know i will but it's just a matter of time, then a big portion of my dream would have come true and i would never have been able to do this without the money+time that my unapproved of job
allows me.

There is no advice that i wish i was given but the best advice i've gotten was "Follow your heart." Just do what needs to be done, and go for it.

Life is a risk. Sometimes you fail and sometimes you win. People may or may not be good to you. It's all a learning experience. And at the end you may not achieve your dreams or you may but it's important to focus on the journey and accept things that can not be changed and do whatever you can to achieve your goals.

Answer 11

you can't make a life by yourself. No matter how much you think that you could do on your own, you have to let someone in to shape your heart, fill the void. There is no better gift in life than love, whether that relationship with a friend, a family member, or a lover, it is something that could define your entire being. To have someone at your side through the hardest times in your life will make you so strong, will make you realize that even the hardest mountains you will climb were put there for a reason. With love, it is some times the hardest pain but also the greatest benefit. There is nothing like it, and nothing more important. Before I knew this, I close myself off, and when I lost the ones I should have been loving all along, I was filled with regret. But I've made a promise to myself that in this life, I will show and tell my feelings