5 Hard Truths About Life From Smart Adults

Each year you grow older, the things your parents said or did when you were younger make sense. As a little girl, my father always talked about how he had few friends. There was maybe one time I saw him with a group of friends. You drift apart from people. Religion becomes insignificant in some senses. Loneliness is a real thing, and it’s not the kind that you expect. You will always struggle, but that doesn’t mean you’re not going anywhere. And, the worst one… You can never truly go home…

Life is strange. Everyday is a struggle. The world changes, but some of the hard truths don’t. Reality bites, so before it truly does, here are some hard truths about life from smart parents/adults.

Now, this one should go without saying, but for many it’s still quite a new concept. When I was younger, I used to cry that my father didn’t believe in God (or the God I assumed to be true at the time). Being a young, impressional child, the southern church system brainwashed me into thinking that anyone who doesn’t believe in God will go to hell. That terrified me. How could I be parted from my dad? He was the most genuine, hard working person I had ever met and had so much love.

My dad sat me down one day. He said, it doesn’t matter if he believes or not, and it doesn’t matter if I believe or not. What matters is the person. Among his travels, he has met numerous people of different faiths. Everyday they faced struggles, just like we did. Their life was as crazy as everyone else’s. They all complained about the same things: wives, kids, and jobs. The world and the people in it may seem different, but it’s just the way we see things. Everything boils down to the same basic concepts.

Being open to so many different religions and cultures broadens your understanding of the world. It makes it easier to tackle each day. You learn new stories from travelers passing through your town or you through theirs. Religion should be a personal matter. The truth is…the moment you refuse to be around someone due to their religious beliefs is the moment you miss out on opportunities.

Everyone struggles in a different way. Some may struggle with depression, anxiety, finding a job, keeping a job, or even living in another country. Whatever it may be, it’s only temporary. You will face struggles everyday, but each time you face one learn how to overcome it. When life gets hard, it means you’re getting better.

I remember asking my parents one day how they were able to do what they did at such a young age. They said it wasn’t the struggle they focused on, it was the solution to the struggle. Figure out what you want and then ask, “Will this struggle I’m going through now help me get to where I want to go?” If the answer is no, drop it. If the answer is yes, find a way to get around it. Sometimes the best things in life are the things that cause you the most struggle.

Your friendship circle will shrink the moment you leave high school. People change, they have families, and priorities are different. It’s life. It’s inevitable. There are a few people that you’ll meet who will become true friends, but most of them only pretend. You’ll have many acquaintances, people you pretend to like to get through work or are forced to talk to due to your isolated life style. These friends will not help you get through life, but the true friends you do have will.

Make sure to always stay in contact with them. Weeks, even months, may go between your conversations, but at least let each other know that you’re there for each other and try to talk when you can. They will truly be there for you when you need them.

You can be surrounded by people all day at work and outside of work but still feel lonely. It’s easy to hang out with your supposed friends and feel like the loneliest person in the entire world. You’re there, but you’re not. It’s as if you’re a mannequin sitting on the sidelines watching events unfold before your eyes yet have no influence.

Loneliness is is being surrounded by people, yet no one sees nor hears you. Your voice is a fleeting whisper of air. No matter how hard you try to call out, it doesn’t matter. This is when you have to count on your true friends and family. Many, not all, people in the world care only for themselves. Don’t waste your time. It will only bring you down. Go and be with people who listen to you and care for you.

The moment you leave for college or move out is the moment you will never be able to truly go home. You’re an adult and have a life of your own. That childhood home will always be there, but it won’t ever be the same.

As a kid, you’ll most likely have fond memories of playing outside, having few worries, home cooked meals, and having your parents take care of you. Yes, there were curfews and numerous times you had to ask permission to hang out with friends or go to the movies.

When you go back, you’re not that little kid anymore. You’ve had a life outside of that home. You’ve probably even started a life with another person. Things will change, what matters is that you make your new life a good home. Your family will be there for you and that’s where home truly is. You could move across countries, but the moment you talk to your parents or a family member, there’s a sense of comfort that brings you just a touch of that childhood home you’ve missed for some time.

While we can’t go back home, we can make the best of what we have. We will have new homes that we will be able to make into a new comfort zone.

It’s easy to deny that these truths won’t happen to us, but they’re inevitable. The only thing we can do is accept them and learn how to grow. Your parents have been through all of these struggles before and are still fighting some of the battles. Talking to them can help you out more than you know. Heed the advice of your elders. While the times were different the basic struggles of life are still the same.