Lessons people learned too late
A friend confided that she regretted having helped a neighbor financially. The neighbor was ungrateful for what she had done to her family. She said, “Sometimes in life it’s the character of people that stops you to lend a helping hand. It’s not that you expect them to repay you but what about respect and gratefulness from their side? It’s frustrating to learn that some people are just ungrateful. Next time I will not help anymore to avoid frustration.”
Life is full of experiences wherein lots of lessons can be learned. Emil Anton in the “alux.com website,” cites some lessons that people learned too late:
Everything is temporary. As one wise man said, “Nothing lasts forever. This too shall pass.” We think we still have plenty of years ahead of us.
Depending on your age, you’re not even thinking that far ahead, but even you yourself is temporary. Even the person you met, everything you build is temporary, your relationships are temporary, nothing lasts forever.
Life isn’t fair. You were expecting something else. Sorry to disappoint you with the truth. The promotion will probably go to someone who’s been smooth talking the boss, despite the fact that you’re qualified and work harder. We do not live in a perfect world and it wouldn’t care much for you as an individual. The world doesn’t owe you anything. So stop licking your “wound.” The world will keep on turning without you.
Family matters more than friends. Friends are amazing, but family is something special. While friends will walk alongside with you in the trenches, none of them would really risk themselves for you. Family is the only one who would really be willing to put you above them. Talk to your parents while you still have them with you. Talk to your siblings and do not let that relationship cool down. Spend time with your kids, because they need you more than they need anything.
The sacrifices you make today will pay dividends in the future. Many of those who are in the last quarter of their lives look back at the poor choices they’ve made, especially the time that they wasted. It’s always easier to see where you could’ve done better when you look back to the past. As one mother said, “If only I could unwind the hands of time…”
Sacrificing your health for success or wealth isn’t worth it. We have a tendency to always want more and very few people know when to stop.
Nobody wants to sacrifice their own health in the pursuit of money or success, but very few are willing to make the adjustments necessary in order to protect yourself over the potential gain. With old age, you’ll back and think yourself as a fool for not paying more attention to the one thing which could give you more time with those you love.
Even the longest night was followed by a morning. No matter how hard it is right now, how dark everything seems, there come a day when you will feel better.