There are a lot of things they don't teach us in school. Like how to do taxes, care for our mental health, and basic first aid. These are all very important and necessary skills, but there are also some facts about life that would make it a lot easier if we had known them from the time we start adulting.
One netizen was curious to know what some of these facts are, so she asked: "What is a hard truth that you believe should be taught early on in life?" And people came armed with all kinds of wisdom. From quoting fictional characters to sharing their own experiences, people didn't shy away from sharing insights they have learned throughout their lives.
Bored Pandareached out to the author of this thread, u/Flufferfluff. She kindly agreed to tell us more about why she decided to start this discussion. We also chatted with her about whether we can be taught hard truths or we must experience them to know them. Read our conversation below!
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#1
Bad things happen to good people.
Good things happen to bad people.
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The Redditor u/Flufferfluff was bitten by the curiosity bug one day, that's why she decided to ask other netizens about life's hard truths. "I wanted to see what others thought the next generations should be taught during the course of their lives to make life just a bit easier for them," she told us.
"I asked this question in particular because I wanted the opportunity to gather everyone together to see what they think younger people could be taught early on in life." The Redditor's mother also is a big influence on her. She's a mindful living and contentment coach, and owner of Insightful Connections. "She's amazing, seriously," the Redditor gushes.
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We asked u/Flufferfluff what her answer in this thread would be. "The hardest truth I believe should be taught early on in life is that you are your own hero," she told us. "I believe young people should be taught this because we are in control of our futures and what we can do with it."
"Life isn't a Disney movie (I wish it was though) so you can't sing a ballad and bam! Your dreams are a reality. You have to work for them," the netizen adds. Although she's still young, she says she's learned a hard truth or two already. "A hard truth I had to learn the hard way was that not every friend you make has good intentions. It was a tough one!"
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#9
Adults aren't always right, and they're often as confused and clueless as you are.
This includes your parents, so seek second and third opinions when planning any significant life choices.
Older doesn't automatically mean wiser.
People say that wisdom comes with experience. So do we learn about life's truths from hearing about them, or is going through them actually the best way to learn? The Redditor thinks it's probably the latter. "While I believe it is possible to teach someone that 'Bad things happen to good people,' I believe we can best learn through experience. Experience can be learned from and eventually taught, too," she adds.
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Despite this thread's pretty heavy subject matter, u/Flufferfluff is very optimistic. "I think that, despite the hard truths we all have to learn in our lives, it's important to encourage and inspire the younger generations that they can get through any and all hard times, as long as they put in the work!"
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#17
You can't always get what you want, even if you say please.
I'm a preschool teacher and even though we teach kids that sharing is good, we also teach them that if you are not finished with something, you don't have to let someone else use it. And vice versa, you gotta wait your turn, and sometimes you don't even get a turn. That's life.
#18
Your teachers at school are paid to tolerate and humour you.
In the real world, people will not be.
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#22
There is always, always something you don't know.
About people, about situations, about everything.
If you knew that thing, it might make all the difference in your opinions.
Also, don't trust your snap judgements.
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#25
Actions/choices have consequences. Own the consequences.
Also
S**t happens.
#26
George Washington's false teeth were not made from wood.
I felt more than duped learning this is an adult.
I'm sorry if anybody is learning this for the first time from me.
#27
Healing doesn’t have to be so sudden and complete
Its okay to move on while still having that void.
#28
“Not everything is a lesson Ryan, sometimes you just fail.”
-Dwight Schrute.
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#31
What freedom of speech really means.
Just because you *can* say it, doesn't mean you're free from the repercussions of it.
#32
I don’t know if this is necessarily a “hard truth”, but I feel that it’s an important one. I’ll do my best to explain it.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in your own experience, and feel like no one has ever felt the way you do, or could possibly have it worse.
But then you see others enduring circumstances much worse than yours: illness, suffering, unimaginable tragedy. And you may feel guilty, for having self pity when others in the world are having an objectively more difficult time.
You can hold two seemingly opposing ideas in your mind at the same time: yes, their situation is horrible, but in its own way, yours is, too.
Everyone has a right to their own experience. There is no gatekeeping “awful”. That’s not to say you should let your problems be a crutch, but it’s also doing yourself a disservice to say how you feel doesn’t matter. Feel it fully, and then move on. Have compassion for yourself as well as others.
#33
If you get a mental illness, you won't know it initially, even when absolutely everyone else does, because the system that tells you "something is wrong" is inside of a mentally ill brain.
This is also part of why why people stop taking their meds.
#34
Many people in our society are terrible. Someone being nice does not mean they are a “good” person. Never count on people to do the right thing. Most people will go with the crowd over doing the right thing.
Anyone can be flipped against you and most likely it will the people closest to you that you trust the most.
Blood does not mean family.
Most of your friends are not really your friends. .
#35
No matter how good you are at your job, the ‘company” itself doesn’t love you, and you have to do what’s best for you. I’ve spent too many years feeling like I couldn’t leave because my boss was great and I loved my job. But at the end of the day the company will survive without you. And if there are opportunities that will make your life more fulfilling, you can’t stay just to make others happy.
#36
You will be lied to, and you will believe it. It happens to everyone.
But the most insidious liar in your life will likely be you. You will lie to yourself, and you'll believe it, because you know exactly what kind of b******t you will believe, and you *want to* believe it.
Just one cookie.
He'd never cheat.
I'm sober enough to drive.
My boss can't do without me.
I'll be fine on 2 hours sleep
12 cookies, he might, no you're not, he'll still fire you, and no you won't.
Nobody can lie to you like you can. Be wary.
#37
It’s always okay to try and fail
Atleast you had the courage to try rather than to sit back.
#38
Assume that nobody, not even closest family will be there for your in the toughest of times. It’ll save a lot of disappointment later and help you find who the real ones who care for you are.
#39
People only care about how useful you are to them.
#40
People don’t stop cheating and being dishonest just cause they are adult. Especially at work. Hard work doesn’t get rewarded, it’s whoever is liked best by management that will get the promotion not who deserves it. Also a lot of big companies don’t have their s**t together and still make a profit. You can be a small clerk and realise how incompetent all the people above you are. It’s frustrating.
#41
Life is not fair, and you have no right to expect it to be fair.
Trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets.
People who are good with money tend to have better lives than people who are terrible with money. Financial stability will lead to a smoother life with fewer obstacles. I've seen good marriages ruined over money issues.
#42
People are trying to scam you.
Nobody cares about your money unless they are trying to make it their money. If someone really wants you to buy something of sign up for something, what's in it for them?
Has it made my kids a little cynical? Yeah. But as it did for me, it will save them from a lot of scams.
Have I missed out on some legitimate good offers because of it? Maybe. But no one got wealthy off of a grocery store giveaway.
#43
Eventually, all our graves go unattended. Don’t take life so serious.
#44
You aren't entitled to anything. I see too often people who think they are the main character and should be pandered to.
#45
Never pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
#46
My Grandfather had a saying: “You can always tell a man that hasn’t had the s**t knocked out of him”.
#47
A) If you don't take ownership of your life, other people will take that ownership for you. And on average they will make the choices for you that are to their benefit, and not to yours. Letting yourself be weak is not a good thing.
B) To the extent that you reject the parts of yourself you are ashamed of, or find hard to acknowledge, they will own your fate.
#48
In almost every case your opinion is not important at all. You might THINK it is but usually it is not.
#49
The universe has no plan for you, no special exemptions or blessings, no interest in your bargains or prayers. Nothing but pitiless indifference.
And if you get dogs, you and your house will stink of dogs.
#50
Nobody gives a s**t about you so you should be the biggest advocate for yourself.
Don’t ever sacrifice yourself just to please others because they don’t give a s**t about you (at work).
#51
If you wouldn’t take someone’s advice, why take their criticism?
Edit to clarify: I mean this in reference to a specific individual. For example, bullying. I mean this to say you wouldn’t go to the bully for advice, their words don’t hold value, they aren’t trustworthy. So if you wouldn’t take their advice, why internalize their criticism?
Same could be said for a hyper-critical parent or family member.
#52
My son just played real Blackjack and Ultimate Texas Holdem in a casino. He's studied the odds and played on apps and was convinced he'd win a bundle. He lost both nights.
I'm glad he lost. Had he won, he would be chasing and expecting that the rest of his life.
#54
That you will one day die and that's the end of your consciousness, so you should make the most of the time you have. So many people waste their lives on religious nonsense when they could be happy instead.
EDIT: The fact that religious people downvote this while providing NO rebuttal just proves me right.
EDIT 2: Again, see how this is getting downvoted with no logical argument that I'm wrong? This proves my point.
#56
No one owes you anything, you are entitled to nothing, if you want something in life earn it, common sense and hard work will get you farther in life than having everything given to you. Not everyone needs to go to college trade schools are cheaper quicker and will give you a great work ethic.
#57
The first person to lose their temper loses. Anger doesn't solve your problem or prove your point.
#58
Raising kids is 100x harder than it looks. And it looks hard.
#59
Being correct and being right are not always the same thing.
#60
Play harder. Enjoy your life. Work does not deserve your love.
#61
If you constantly get upset over someone who refuses to change, you also refuse to change.
#62
Your emotions are real and they matter, but -you- are the choices you make.
#63
Nobody knows you when you’re down and out.
#64
Prettier people have easier lives in almost every conceivable way.
#65
That joining the military after high school is the fastest way to start climbing up out of poverty.
#67
Religion can lead good people to do horrible things.
#68
Wear a helmet.
If there are helmets made for what your going to do , there is a very good reason.
So use that knowledge to your advantage and wear one.
Use things and love people - not the other way around.