10 Life-Changing Lessons from Those Aged 50 and Beyond

Are you curious about the wisdom that comes with age? Do you wonder what life lessons you might learn from those who have walked the path before you?

We’ll delve into a thread where Redditors aged 50+ share their insights on life. We also incorporate findings from various psychological and health studies to provide a well-rounded perspective.

Here are ten key takeaways that could enrich your life and positively impact your outlook.

1. The Importance of Fun In Relationships

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One Redditor emphasizes the importance of joy in relationships, saying, “Marriage/relationships should be fun, and happy. Life is hard, things get tough. Find someone that makes the tough times easier, not harder.”

This aligns with the MORE Life Experience Model, which argues that people higher in a sense of mastery, openness, reflectivity, emotion regulation, and empathy are more likely to have wisdom ¹.

2. Choosing Your Battles Wisely

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Another piece of advice is about the art of disagreement. The Redditor advises, “Not everything that you disagree with deserves an argument. Pick your battles and let trivial things slide.”

This reflects the cognitive and reflective elements of wisdom, which go beyond descriptive knowledge and entail a deeper interpretive understanding ².

3. Work-Life Balance

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A poignant reminder about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of work-life balance comes from this quote: “If you die, your employer will have your job posted before you are buried. Remember that on when making work/life choices.”

This is supported by a study published in the “Journal of Vocational Behavior,” which found that poor work-life balance can lead to job dissatisfaction and can negatively impact mental health ³.

4. The Art of Conversation

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One Redditor emphasizes the importance of genuine interest in others during conversations, stating, “Take a genuine interest in what other people have to say, ask them follow-up questions about their passions in life.

Don’t just talk about yourself, or wait for your turn to talk. That’s how you have a conversation, and build a relationship.” This is a reflection of the empathy and emotional regulation aspects of the MORE Life Experience Model ¹.

5. Protecting Your Hearing

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A practical piece of advice about health comes from a Redditor who warns about the dangers of loud noises: “Unless you don’t mind hearing EEEEEEEEEEEE like all the time day and night, use hearing protection in loud situations.

Tinnitus is a b*#ch.” This is supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which states that prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss ².

6. Learning from Mistakes

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A Redditor shares a valuable lesson about mistakes and resilience: “Everybody f*&%s up, it’s what you do after that matters.”

This aligns with the American Psychological Association’s assertion that resilience, or the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a key component of mental health.

7. The Power of Honesty

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Finally, a Redditor shares a profound insight about honesty: “Honesty is the most powerful tool you can use to define yourself. Admit your mistake, frankly and honestly. The truth always comes out in the end no matter how big or small and it doesn’t get better with age. You can give back something you steal, you can help those you hurt but once they brand you a liar, its all you will ever be.”

8. The Value of ‘Mental Income’ and Socioeconomic Considerations

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Another Redditor shares a lesson about the importance of mental peace over material wealth: “Don’t forget mental income. Sure you may be $20,000 a year behind your neighbors, but NOT bringing your work home with you every night and sleeping soundly is worth A LOT more.”

This perspective is particularly important when considering the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on mental health. Research has shown that people in poverty, with low incomes, and of low SES experience disasters differently, which can have a negative impact on their mental health.

9. The Power of Resilience

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A Redditor shares two valuable lessons instilled by their grandfather: “Failure is not an end state unless it is where you choose to stop.

Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” This aligns with the American Psychological Association’s assertion that resilience, or the ability to bounce back from adversity, is a key component of mental health.

10. The Importance of Sun Protection

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A simple yet crucial piece of advice about health and skincare comes from this quote: “Wear sunscreen.” This is supported by The Skin Cancer Foundation, which emphasizes the importance of using sunscreen to protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Regular use of sunscreen can reduce the risk of skin cancer.

These insights remind us of the importance of mental peace, resilience, and taking care of our health.

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Original Article Source: Reddit

Martha A. Lavallie
Martha A. Lavallie
Author & Editor | + posts

Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.