Life Advice from the Wise Ones
As we get older, life seems to only get harder—so much so that sometimes we wish we could just be kids again. But while we might think our elders have everything figured out, chances are, they're still learning, too. Just like us, they're still navigating life one step at a time. What they do have, however, is wisdom and plenty of life lessons. So, here are 20 pieces of advice from elders over 50 that may motivate and reinspire you.
1. Stop Panicking
Growing up is hard; you're faced with more challenges, worries, and responsibilities, and gone are the days when you can run outside freely without a care in the world. But whether you're stressed about work, school, relationships, a presentation, or something else, just let things happen. Years down the line, these will become trivial, and you'll realize you had nothing to worry about.
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2. Do What You Want to Do
Want to switch careers? Travel across the world? Learn a new language? Do it. Whatever you have in mind, go for it. Don't let your fears and doubts hold you back because that negativity will only weigh you down. If you have a passion for something, your worst enemy is hesitation.
3. Be Bold & Confident
When you're young, you care too much about what others think of you. That's normal—we all do. We're always afraid of looking foolish, or saying the wrong thing, or being the person that everyone hates. But truthfully, who cares? Be yourself. Be loud; be bold; be confident. Go dance on the street. Sing out loud. You are uniquely you, so showcase that. Those who judge aren't worth your time, anyway.
4. Nothing Lasts Forever
No matter if it's good or bad, nothing lasts forever. Embarrassed yourself in your job interview? By the end of the week, you'll probably have flushed the memory and moved on. Witnessed something beautiful, like the sunset after a long hike? Embrace that view. Since time is so transient, it's all the more important to relish all the good and bad.
5. Live with No Regrets
Down the road, you'll probably come across times when you're kicking yourself for something you did or didn't do. Maybe it's something serious, like cheating on a test. Or maybe it's something small, like not confessing to your crush. Whatever it is, make amends, learn from your mistakes, and don't leave anything behind.
6. Money Isn't as Important as You Think
Money, of course, makes the world go round. Even though we'd rather not admit it, all our lives we're taught to get the education we need to secure the career we want, and to learn to sustain ourselves with our income. But as you grow older, you'll realize that all the money in the world won't bring back the years you've lost, the people you've grieved, the healthy body you once had. After all, money can make your life easier, but you can't buy happiness.
7. Cherish the People in Your Life
The circle of people you trust the most are the ones you've spent years forming memories and relationships with. They're indispensable, invaluable. Make sure you let them know how much you appreciate and cherish them every day, because there will come a time when you won't be able to anymore.
8. Don't Take Tomorrow for Granted
Have you heard of the saying, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift"? Well, it's true. Tomorrow is a mystery—and it's also one you shouldn't take for granted. Life is extremely unpredictable, and it's a lesson that you might learn the hard way. Treat every day like a blessing and a new start.
9. Slow Down
We can all relate to the feeling of hoping the hours in a day pass by quicker. Maybe we're stuck at work, in lectures, in traffic, in line at the grocery store, and our bodies are just itching to get out of there. Or maybe we're scared we don't have enough time, so we're constantly pressuring ourselves to get things done quicker. Get a job, get married, build a family. But what's the rush for? Slow down. Take things in stride. Things will fall into place—just let life unfold.
10. Enjoy Every Moment
For all the long hours in the day, life is terribly short. It's almost like a blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of journey. Every moment we experience or conversation we have eventually becomes a memory, and you'll come to a point in the future where the things you did today become something you miss, something you want to go back to. Keep this in mind: the "good old days" are happening right now, so enjoy every moment.
11. Aging is Difficult
There's beauty in getting older, but aging is difficult—it's not meant to be easy. It's not just the wrinkles and muscle pains and aches; it's also not knowing how your health will hold up or who else you might lose in life. It's finding yourself feeling lonely and coming to the realization that you can't turn back time and do things over.
12. Don't Rush Love—Wait for the Right Person
We often feel pressured by societal standards to marry and start a family young. For some, they might end up "settling" with a person they don't truly love, only to split up later in life. It's important to remember that love can't be rushed. Go out, meet new people, be wild. The right person will eventually find us.
13. Keep Your Sense of Humor
Life isn't all rainbows and sunshine; as with everything, there will always be ups and downs. But through it all, don't forget to keep your sense of humor and to not take things so seriously. After all, what is there to life if you're not at least having fun?
14. Don't Let Your Insecurities Control You
You might be used to pointing out all your flaws, focusing on all the things that make you imperfect. It might be your hair, your skin, your features, your body. But you're so much more beautiful than you think, and we're all our own worst critics. There will come a day when you'll look back at your younger self and regret that you treated that version of yourself so harshly.
15. Think of Your Life as One Big Movie
You are the main character in your life. The things you do, the people you meet, and all your successes and hiccups are part of the script and production called "life." It's the film you'll watch back in odd moments when you're nostalgic and sentimental, and it's one that will play again before you pass. Thinking about your life as one big movie might help you to stop magnifying minor worries and inconveniences and instead focus on the impactful milestones—the people and the things that have made you, you.
16. Talk to Strangers
We know—sometimes it's hard to strike up conversations with someone you don't know. This is even more of a challenge for introverts. But the more you get yourself out there and socialize, the more people you'll meet and more of the world you'll see. You never know how many more avenues and opportunities you could open by just talking to a random person.
17. Don't Be Afraid of Failing
We often let our fear of failure consume us to the point that we don't even want to try. We don't want to confess to the person we like because they may not feel the same; we don't want to apply to a job we really want because we might get rejected; we don't want to learn a new skill because we might not be good at it. The list goes on. But holding yourself back will cause many regrets. You'll look back one day and wonder, "Why was I so afraid for?"
18. Be Patient
Sometimes life doesn't unfold the way you want. Scratch that—it seems like life never unfolds the way you want. Maybe you never got into the program or the career you wanted. Maybe you haven't found the right person yet, even though everyone else seems to have. But things will come when it's time. You just have to stay patient.
19. Don't Put Things Off
What things are you putting off on your list? It could be something as simple as calling your mom or a friend to catch up, or something as big as traveling alone for the first time overseas. But the more you continue pushing things to do "in the future," the more it may never happen. Life, as we all know, is unpredictable. So, call the people you love. Go on the trip. Life is too short to be putting things off.
20. As Long as You're Alive—It's Never Too Late
It's never too late to do or start something. As long as you're still living and breathing, every day is a new beginning, filled with endless opportunities. Whether you want to write a book or move halfway across the world, the world is your oyster, so go and leave an indent.
