1. I’m Looking Back On My Life – Here’s What I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self
Part of the “As Told to The Bolde” series. Have a story to share? Contact [email protected]
Meet Lisa, 52, from Pennsylvania, who, like many people, spent decades making choices she thought were right—only to wake up one day wishing she had done things differently. Here is her story:
“I’m 52, and my life is falling apart. Not in a dramatic, midlife crisis kind of way, but in the slow, creeping realization that I spent decades making the wrong choices—choices I can’t undo. My marriage had been over for years, but I kept pretending, hoping the resentment, the distance, and the silence would somehow fix itself. It didn’t. Now I’m dividing up furniture with a man I barely recognize, wondering how I let my life shrink down to this. My kids are grown, and while they love me, I can feel the way they’ve pulled away. And my career? The one I sacrificed so much for? Turns out, loyalty doesn’t mean much when a company decides you’re replaceable. They let me go six months ago, and I’m still fumbling to figure out who I am without the title I once clung to. If I could go back, I wouldn’t waste time sugarcoating. I’d tell my younger self: you don’t have as much time as you think.”
“I’d tell her not to marry the man who made her feel small just because she was afraid to be alone. I’d tell her to stop putting dreams on hold, stop people-pleasing, stop waiting for the “right” time to put herself first. I’d tell her to take the risk, to go on the damn trip, to say yes to the move. Because one day, she’ll wake up at 52 and realize that regrets don’t come all at once—they creep in slowly, in quiet moments, in empty rooms, in the feeling that life is slipping away. And most of all, I’d tell her this: Love yourself enough to not settle. For anything.”—Lisa Morgan, Pennsylvania.
Continue reading to learn about life in survival mode and how to heal.
2. Your Parents’ Approval Won’t Fix The Hole Inside You
Many people spend their entire lives chasing parental validation, believing that once they finally get it, they’ll feel whole. But for those who grew up with emotionally unavailable, critical, or distant parents, that approval may never come. And even if it does, it won’t magically heal years of feeling unseen. As noted in HuffPost, seeking parental approval can be a lifelong quest, but true fulfillment comes from self-acceptance.
The hard truth is that people have to give themselves the validation they crave. Parents are just people, flawed and often carrying their own wounds. Spending decades trying to earn their approval can leave someone feeling like they’re running on a treadmill—exhausted but getting nowhere. The real freedom comes from learning to love and accept oneself, regardless of whether a parent ever says, “I’m proud of you.”
3. If You Hate Your Job Now, You’ll Hate It Even More In 20 Years
People tell themselves they can tough it out. That they’ll tolerate a soul-sucking job for a little longer until something better comes along. But years pass, and they’re still stuck in the same miserable routine. The more time spent in an unfulfilling career, the harder it becomes to leave. According to Forbes, staying in an unfulfilling job can lead to long-term dissatisfaction.
What starts as a temporary compromise turns into a lifelong sentence. The problem isn’t just the job itself—it’s the slow erosion of passion, motivation, and joy. Every day spent in a job that drains the soul is a day that could have been spent building something better. The sooner people accept that they deserve more, the sooner they can start making changes that lead to a career that doesn’t make them dread Monday mornings.
4. Not Taking Risks Feels Safe Until You Realize You’ve Wasted Decades
Fear of failure keeps people in their comfort zones, but comfort zones are just another word for stagnation. Playing it safe might feel secure in the moment, but it leads to a life of “what ifs” and untapped potential. People who never take risks often look back and realize they spent their lives watching from the sidelines instead of actually living. As discussed by Entrepreneur, taking risks is crucial for personal and professional growth.
Regret doesn’t come from trying and failing—it comes from never trying at all. The biggest successes in life often come after a string of failures, but those failures are what pave the way for growth. The only way to guarantee failure is to never take the chance in the first place.
5. You’re Going To Lose People—Love Them While You Can
It’s easy to assume that loved ones will always be around, but life has a way of proving otherwise. Friendships fade, relationships end, and people pass away—often before anyone is ready to say goodbye. Too many people take the important people in their lives for granted, assuming there will always be more time.
One of the deepest regrets many people have is not expressing love and appreciation while they had the chance. They assume they’ll have time later, only to realize later never comes. The best thing anyone can do is make sure the people who matter know how much they’re valued—before it’s too late.
6. Stop Making Excuses For That Relationship—It Won’t Get Better
People stuck in bad relationships always have a reason to stay. “They’ll change,” “Things will get better,” “It’s not that bad.” But deep down, they know the truth: the relationship isn’t working. They just don’t want to admit it because leaving is scary, and starting over feels overwhelming.
The reality is that most relationships don’t miraculously improve. If a partner has shown who they are, believe them. Waiting around for them to become the person someone wishes they were is a losing game. The longer someone stays, the harder it is to leave—but staying too long in the wrong relationship only guarantees more heartbreak.
7. Your Health Isn’t Invincible—Take Care Of It Before It’s Too Late
When people are young, they think they’re invincible. They eat poorly, neglect exercise, and push their bodies to the limit because they assume they’ll always bounce back. But bad habits catch up, and by the time the damage is done, it’s much harder to undo.
Health isn’t something people can ignore until they need it. Taking care of it early means avoiding years of unnecessary pain, illness, and regret. No one wishes they had partied harder or worked more when they’re older—but many wish they had taken their well-being seriously before it was too late.
8. The Friends You Neglect Now? They Won’t Always Be There
Friendships require effort. It’s easy to assume that close friends will always be there, even if someone stops reaching out, cancels plans, or gets too caught up in their own life. But relationships that aren’t nurtured eventually fade.
People grow apart not because of fights or drama, but because of neglect. If someone stops prioritizing their friendships, their friends will eventually stop prioritizing them too. And when they look around one day and realize they have no close connections left, it won’t be a mystery why.
9. No One Is Coming To Save You—You Have To Save Yourself
It’s easy to wait for the perfect mentor, the right opportunity, or some external force to swoop in and change everything. But waiting for a savior is just another way of avoiding responsibility. No one is going to magically fix everything—people have to do it themselves.
The most successful, fulfilled people aren’t the ones who got lucky breaks—they’re the ones who took action, even when it was hard. They built their own opportunities instead of waiting for someone else to hand them one. The sooner people accept that they are responsible for their own happiness, success, and well-being, the sooner they can actually start changing their lives.
10. Worrying About What People Think Of You Is A Waste Of Time
For years, people hold themselves back because they’re afraid of what others will think. They don’t take risks, don’t put themselves out there, and don’t pursue what they really want because they’re worried about judgment.
The reality? Most people aren’t thinking about you at all. They’re too wrapped up in their own insecurities and struggles to care. And the ones who do judge? Their opinions don’t actually affect your life. Living for other people’s approval is a prison. The second you stop caring what others think, life becomes a whole lot lighter.
11. The ‘Someday’ You Keep Talking About Will Never Happen If You Don’t Make It Happen
Everyone has dreams they say they’ll get to “someday.” Whether it’s traveling, starting a business, or writing a book, it always feels like something that can wait. But “someday” has a way of turning into never.
Years pass, life gets in the way, and those dreams slowly fade. The only way to make “someday” happen is to start taking steps now—no matter how small. If you don’t, you’ll wake up one day and realize time ran out before you ever really started.
12. The Things You’re Afraid Of Doing Are Probably The Things You Need Most
Fear is a strange thing—it disguises itself as logic, convincing you that certain things aren’t worth the risk. But often, the things that scare you the most are the things that will help you grow the most.
People avoid the tough conversations, the bold moves, and the uncomfortable changes because they’re afraid of what might happen. But fear is rarely a sign to stop—it’s a sign to pay attention. The things that make your heart race and your stomach drop? Those are usually the things that lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
13. If You Never Learn To Be Happy Alone, You’ll Never Be Happy With Someone Else
People chase relationships, thinking that love will finally make them feel whole. But relationships don’t fix loneliness or insecurity—they magnify them. If you don’t learn how to be content on your own, no relationship will ever feel like enough.
The healthiest relationships come from two people who are already fulfilled on their own. If you’re constantly looking for someone to complete you, you’ll always be disappointed. Love should add to your happiness, not be the thing that creates it.
14. You’re Stronger Than You Think—But You’ll Never Know Until You Test Yourself
Most people don’t realize how capable they are because they never push themselves far enough to find out. They assume they can’t handle certain things, so they never try. But strength isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build.
Every challenge, every hardship, every uncomfortable situation is an opportunity to prove to yourself that you can handle more than you thought. The only way to discover your true resilience is to put yourself in situations that require it. And when you do? You’ll realize you were always stronger than you gave yourself credit for.
