Feel free to share any life experiences or anecdotes.
Don’t go to college. Run away to a country that doesn’t have a US military base and live a simple, happy, peaceful life.
Because those countries are happily accepting uneducated immigrants, right?
Usually…
Any examples? I’ve lived in 10 countries so far and am about to move to the 11th end of this month. Neither of them had a US military presence (Liberia did have a massive UN presence though), and all of them required an academic record to grant a residence permit.
I believe Georgia (the country) was the only one that didn’t, but that’s because of a special agreement they have with the EU.
How did you like Georgia? I keep beong obsessed by it (because music).
I loved it there, and meant to move back at some point. Amazing people, food, and landscape.
Unfortunately from a few friends I still have there (both locals and foreigners) I heard that after Russia invaded Ukraine, they are swamped with refugees from both countries(escaping the war or the draft), pushing hospitality to its limits, prices have more than quadrupled, and there are a lot of tensions thanks to some pro-Russian political powers (no doubt backed by Putin).
So for now I’ll stay put in Asia, but still didn’t give up on it entirely…
Other people will never complete you, but they’re nice to have around. So focus and work on yourself, but stay empathetic.
And don’t try to complete somebody else, no matter how meaningful it feels in the moment to do so.
Find a skill based hobby that you love and practice it every week. Stuff like a sport, musical instrument, art, etc. The hobby itself will be rewarding but there is no substitute for having decades of experience under your belt for these kind of activities.
Also, don’t have children.
Almost no one knows how to do the job they are hired for. You’ll have a trainer at almost every job. Apply for things you don’t think you are qualified for. Most people figure it out as they go.
“Only break one law at a time.” None of us are perfect; That will help keep you out of life-changing trouble.
This is the most pragmatic advice I’ve read that I think might actually be heeded by a young adult.
Practise good dental hygiene.
Stop drinking, you’ll save so much money and get ripped with barely any effort 💪💪
Whatever you do, don’t buy expensive electronics, especially on credit. They will be outdated before you know it.
Do not marry the first girl you fuck (or the first boy, either way, mixed ways too, anytype anyway).
Go live with him/her, share an apartment (do not buy together) for months, live together for some time.
Possibly, break up and meet more people, rinse and repeat until you understand:
- what you WANT in the other person
- what you EXPECT from the other person
And more important even, learn to understand the other person for what he/she is and not what you think he/she is.
My old boss once told me: “when you think you want to marry them… First live with them two years… And when you’re sure… Wait two more years.”
Until they leave you and find someone else who is ready to commit.
Sometimes if you expect the worst; you make the worst. Get out of your own way.
why do you see marriage as the only acceptable form of commitment? just curious. in my opinion it takes more commitment to stay without legal ties involved.
You talk about commitment but OP didn’t.
If you’re in a good relationship but they leave because they couldn’t wait 4 years to get married, then you fucking dodged a bullet. Jesus fucking christ.
Someone willing to put up with your shit and commit to you is a bullet to be dodged? Mmmk…
I was with my wife for 10 years before I proposed. We have the best relationship of anyone we know. I know plenty of people who married after a couple of years and are fucking miserable.
So you only count anecdotal evidence that ensures your paranoia about people and apply it to every situation. K.
Paranoia wtf? I’ve formed my opinions from my life experiences, are you trying to tell me you’ve done peer reviewed research to decide what makes a good relationship?
If you’re in the US or generally any country that’s becoming authoritarian, get a passport. You never know how bad it may get.
Get accostumed to eat your veggies, once you hit you 30s your intestine starts revolting if you don’t give it healthy food
Understand how sun cream factors work and always wear it.
Get one good cooking knife and learn how to hone and sharpen it. You have to sharpen it often and almost immediately. Learn how to cut vegetables. Start with onions because they are cheap and versatile.
Keep a freewriting journal.
If you’re a guy take a moment to look into what women go through in their lives with guys. It’s not complicated or mysterious, it’s just that a significant portion of guys never heard about it. It’ll automatically make you a better man and you’ll have a better time too :)
Don’t drink and drive.
Always keep a first aid kit with you.
Actually know how to use your first aid kit.
It should be in a drawer or bag with a conspicuous Red Cross on it. If a stranger can’t figure out where the first aid kit is, you fucked up.
— Invest at least 10% of your income into the S&P or Large Growth fund – Roth IRA or 401k if you’re still in a low tax bracket (12% here in the states). Raise the contribution percentage as you raise your income. It may not seem like a lot now but 40+ years of compounding interest goes a long way.
— A gambler on a good day will just about break even. The quickest way to do that is simply not to play. Remember when the game is rigged against you, you don’t have to play. The house always wins.
That said, play your own game. If you look at someone else’s and try to play like them you’ll mess up your own. Play your own game in life.
Don’t assume you have to get on the relationship escalator of “dating - exclusive - engaged - married”. There are other kinds of relationships, including no romantic/sexual relationships at all. Don’t stick with someone who’s not making you happy out of inertia or a sense of obligation.
Be social. Don’t burn yourself out socializing every night of the week, but if people are inviting you to be a part of their life make a good effort to show up. Video games or YouTube or whatever will always be there. Friends won’t. (This assumes the social stuff they’re inviting you to isn’t , like, insane. Skip on someone inviting you to do heroin or whatever.)
Pay attention to your spending. Some people like a dedicated program for budgeting, or their bank provides something. I’m a particular kind of nerd so I used Google sheets. Whatever you use, adding up what you’re actually spending every month can be illuminating. I don’t expect anyone to discover “if I stop getting avocado toast I can afford a house”, but knowing where your money is going is an important prerequisite for controlling it.
Don’t fall into lifestyle inflation. Like, a friend of mine started making good money and his budget grew. He was spending $1000/month on food because he’d just gotten used to dining out and such. His paycheck was bigger but he wasn’t saving any more. Another guy I used to work with told me his family “struggled too” despite a $500k family income. They had a big house, new cars, expensive memberships, extravagant vacations, designer clothes. You can just not do a lot of that and be happy, too.
