As exhilarating as it can feel to be young, it's easy to also feel lost and unsure. Let's face it, without life experience, it’s pretty darn hard to know what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do. Mistakes are good teachers, but seldom fun to go through.
A netizen asked people 30 and older “What advice can you give to people in their early 20s or younger?” and folks from across the internet gave their best suggestions. So get comfortable as you scroll through and take note if you are on the younger side. Upvote your favorites and share some wisdom if you happen to be thirty or older.
#21
Please put your own health at one of the highest priorities. Both physical and mental. Things get much harder the older you get. Your health will help you if you take care of it for many things.
If it means deciding on taking breaks from things that's OK.
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64points
#22
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. When you do own up to them, learn from them and move on.
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64points
#23
Appreciate your body and imperfections! Don’t waste your 20s feeling insecure about things you cannot change. You will likely look back one day and wish you had the body you have now so enjoy it. Wear what you want. If insecurity creeps in, think about what you DO like about yourself every day. Remember there will be people out there who LOVE the things about you that you don’t like so much.
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64points
#25
Don’t get married yet. You have no idea who you actually are and what’s really important to you in your early 20s.
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56points
#26
Save for retirement. Nobody else is going to help you in the US.
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55points
#27
DO NOT SETTLE! You are young. You may feel societal, familial, or relationship pressures to settle. Whether that be settling in a relationship with someone you are afraid to leave, or settling in a career that you don't like because it will appease your family etc... don't do it. You will regret it later on down the road. Enjoy life, be free/ be your authentic self.
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54points
#28
You can’t control what other people say or do. You can only control your own actions and words. Stop trying to change others and focus on ensuring what you say and do reflects who you are. Likewise, nobody else can control your words or actions. Be accountable for yourself, and don’t let someone else have control over what you say or do.
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52points
#29
Love people. Hold onto the people who matter to you, learn to forgive (with the caveat that you keep a soft eye out for manipulators), and know that no one is perfect. But they’re worth keeping around. Hold on tight, for as long as you can.
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50points
#30
If you think you might have a addiction take care of it now. The whole "you hurt the people closest to you" isn't a cliche and if you have a conscious it'll be hard to live with. It's better to get it taken care of sooner than later.
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48points
