Have you ever looked back on your younger years and wondered what the heck you were thinking? Well, now that we’re all older and (hopefully) wiser, we’ve got a much better idea of what we need in life – and what we definitely don’t. So, we couldn’t help but compile a list of responses that will make us say, “Why did I ever think I needed that?” Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to chuckle at our collective grown-up wisdom.
Good Friends
“Acquaintances. I value deep connections and would rather stick with my small group of fellow weirdos than hang out with folks I barely know and make small talk for a night.”
“Same. I don’t really care to have friends at all. I’m over the superficial talking and caring about what others think, so I’m a lot pickier about who I give my time to.”
No Point
“If it doesn’t bring peace, profit, or purpose, then I don’t give it my time, energy, or attention.”
“The more adult way of saying ‘if you don’t live with me, feed me or finance me…’”
“I needed to read that; thank you!”
Working to Live
“Passion in my career – I work to afford the life I love outside of work, such as travels and social life. I no longer feel like loving my career is required. I’m still content with what I do, though.”
“This! I love not trying to climb up the ladder anymore or chasing that ‘dream.’ I’m here to make money to support my family and enjoy life. Nothing more, nothing less.
I also love my job and my company. I have zero intention of leaving, and they also don’t pressure me to do more and more and climb higher.”
Others’ Opinions
“The validation of others. The older I get, the less I care about what others might think about the decisions I make for myself.”
“Masking. I don’t hide my autism anymore. I don’t care if anyone feels weirded out about my coping mechanisms, I won’t attend certain events if I feel like it’ll drain my energy too much. Some things just aren’t worth a 2-day recharge of my social battery.”
Gender Imbalance
“Men.”
“I was betting this would be at the top of the list.”
“Not just men, but their audacity as well.”
“Throw them in the bin, ALL OF ‘EM.”
Close Circles
“Friends. I’m so sick of staying in touch with people, constantly keeping up with their lives, and having obligations toward them. I cut off all my friends last year but kept a large group of friendly acquaintances which I’m so happy for. It lets me enjoy all the fun and happiness without any draining responsibilities and expectations.”
Bad Beauty
“Being pretty. I’m at an age where the best I can do is to look fine, like a normal middle-aged woman, which is to say I am invisible to a significant portion of society. Thank goodness I have family and friends who love me whether I’m pretty or not.”
Awful Alcohol
“Alcohol, I guess.”
“This!! I’ve started drinking mocktails and nonalcoholic beer bc I actually like the taste. And people are shocked. ‘What’s the point of drinking beer without alcohol?’ they ask.”
Parental Opinions
“Judgment from my parents. Honestly, they need to realize I’m an adult. I love them, but I could do without the judgment and opinions on how I live my life and if I cuss. It’s ridiculous their expectations of me.”
Do They Like Me?
“People not liking me. I don’t really care anymore.”
“Yes! It was like a switch flipped when I turned 30, and I have cared less and less each year since then. It’s great.”
“Me too. It’s wonderful!”
Sleep It Off
“A good night’s sleep. When I was younger, I could get by with only a few hours, but now if I don’t get at least 7 hours of good sleep, it will really make my day a struggle.”
“Word. My boyfriend and I just got a new and amazing bed. Many friends and family said, ‘Wow, wouldn’t you rather go on vacation with that money?’ ABSOLUTELY NOT! Gimme the sleep!”
All So Quiet
“Noise. I like stillness, quiet, and peace. I don’t need or want any unnecessary noise in my life.”
All Night Long
“Drinking and partying. I’m 26 and over it.”
“Yep! 27 and stopped drinking at 23/24 because I always had ‘hangxiety’ and nothing good ever came of drinking in my experience. I’ll have a cocktail here or there (like when I get married this fall) but nothing crazy. We have friends who drink literally every day, and I can’t fathom that.”
Bye to Love
“Romantic relationship – I don’t want to be in an intimate relationship anymore.”
Feeling Comfortable
“Uncomfortable shoes/clothes.”
“100% this. I remember forcing my feet into these incredibly painful (but very beautiful) shoes (esp. during summer) and coming home with blisters, barely walking. these days sneakers and sandals are the way to roll.”
Too Much Noise
“Going to loud, crowded places – especially if you have to stand and walk around a lot. I’m talking about packed malls, concerts, festivals, amusement parks, etc. There is a level of crowds I can tolerate for a while (and I may make exceptions for something I really want to do), but overall I just can’t be bothered to be around all that. It’s just exhausting.”
Multiple Problems
“Unnecessary drama, validation, and gossipy situations. Spanx or uncomfortable underwear. People pleasing and the sort of things that feel like the end of the world when you’re younger but really are just a tiny blip and a waste of time when you look back at it.”
Waste of Space
“Stuff in general. When I was younger, I loved buying clothes and knickknacks and accumulating and collecting ‘things’; now, I don’t buy things often, and when I do, it’s an everyday item.
I got mighty excited splurging on some fancy floss sticks and a new tube of mascara, and the gratification of that purchase was way better than all the crap I bought before.”
For Myself
“Having the ideal body type. As a teenager, I wanted to eliminate all the unwanted body fat. Now I eat healthily and work out so that I can be strong, agile, and feel well for my physically demanding job and my life in general, and also in hopes that I won’t see myself in a cardiac cath lab in a few decades. I still have ‘unwanted’ body fat despite doing everything right for the most part, but who cares? The way I see it is if I eat right and exercise enough and still have unwanted body fat, that means it’s not meant to be unwanted.”
Necessary Surgery
“Apparently, my gallbladder. It was literally dying inside of me and killing me at the same time. I really don’t miss it.”
“It’s amazing what you can live without, isn’t it? How is your recovery coming along?”
“Pretty good. I was out of work for three weeks. I’m back to my normal diet, but I’ve cut down on certain foods. I’ve been going back to the gym a few times since last month, and I will start increasing that.”
Terrible TV
“Cable TV. People waste so much of their lives in front of one.”
“AND THEY PAY FOR IT!?!”
16 ANNOYING PHRASES THAT MAKE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY HATE YOU!
We wanted to know the most irksome things someone can say that turns you off! These online users didn’t hold back!
16 ANNOYING PHRASES THAT MAKE PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY HATE YOU!
OBSOLETE MILLENNIALS: 14 SKILLS THEY LEARNED IN THE 90S THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN TODAY’S WORLD
A lot has changed since the turn of the century – just ask this nostalgic lot!
OBSOLETE MILLENNIALS: 14 SKILLS THEY LEARNED IN THE 90S THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN TODAY’S WORLD
THE FALL FROM GRACE: 12 PROFESSIONS THAT WERE ONCE REVERED, NOW A TOTAL JOKE
These 12 professions that are now obsolete show how much the times have changed.
THE FALL FROM GRACE: 12 PROFESSIONS THAT WERE ONCE REVERED, NOW A TOTAL JOKE
FROM ‘OKAY BOOMER’ TO ‘UGH BOOMER’: 10 HABITS THAT IRRITATE MILLENNIALS
Each generation has its quirks. Most label it as an “old person thing” when asked why grandpa or grandma does something unusual. The defense from the other side is that “it was the way things were back in our day.”
FROM ‘OKAY BOOMER’ TO ‘UGH BOOMER’: 10 HABITS THAT IRRITATE MILLENNIALS