People over 40 on here - what is the number one thing that young people should NOT take for granted

It is crazy that running is something that can easily disappear as you get older

By retirement, I dont mean being an idler or a beach bum, I am just talking about stopping being a wage slave. For example, here is my rough plan if I reach my goals and stop working in 4 to 5 yrstime:

- I will make sure I sleep 8 to 10 hrs

- spend more time with family and friends (most important aspect!)

- I will take projects that I have always wanted to undertake (e.g. write a collection of short stories, write songs, spend several months on a running camp in Ethiopia, spend several weeks/months on meditation retreats, learn how to surf, start a podcast, ....)

- Maybe go back to Ethiopia and teach at the university part time for free

I think finding purpose in working ( which is more or less tied to making money and keep the economy running) is what we have been brain washed to believe in. Human beings inherently do not have an instinctive drive to spend their most valuable years working (unlike worker bees) and try to fit in the most rewarding aspects of life for evenings and weekends.

dirtydude wrote:

Hooking up with young hot college girls. Enjoy it while you can

Yep after 35, women under under 24 are no longer an option sadly.

Also, you can be in great shape do everything right and a joint or tendon will simply fail on you, permanently.

ahaha

bartholomew_maxwell wrote:

Your ability to get sexually aroused. It is important to have as much sex as you can when you're younger because ED will get you in your 40's.

Bart that's probably just because you're fat.

You ever notice in homemade prn, it's always the fat guys who need to wear a ring to stay hard?

This comment connects all the threads. I think those young people who like to save, grow up into adults who like to work. So their retirement is set, but they don't know what their life would be without the structure of work. They delay gratification along the way, in order to save for a goal they realize is no longer important to them once they arrive - early retirement. For lots of people, death rapidly follows retirement. And I think we could set up a society where people aren't encouraged to become like this.

FREEDOM!

I think instead of thinking about "early retirement" one must appreciate the value of financial independence. That's what you're really working towards. You may choose to continue to work. But you work without any stress of your work going away, or an unexpected expense.

What we saw in the past few months is work just disappear for 10-20% of the population. My guess is with continued automation, work will continue to disappear in certain sectors at an increasing rate. Being financially independent eliminates the impact of this risk.

Play more video games, level up your character and get better equipment for the next game. Long term we only have about 17 hours per day before mental fatigue really limits your ability in most games. Put the time in!

Don't go outside, never speak to anyone.

I just turned 55. Last December I lost the love of my life she was only 44. Live your life. Enjoy your life and all those in your life. Never take anyone or anything for granted. None of us are guaranteed a tomorrow

I'm sorry for your loss.

Everyone here needs to think about what THEY want, keeping in mind that at any moment, it can all change forever.

UsedToBeKnowItAll wrote:

I would say communication skills. All people don't focus on them enough. But if you learn them when you're young and practice them throughout life, they will help everything. Help your relationships, your job, your friendships, dealing with difficult family members or people you encounter. It will make you happier too, because you'll be understood better, and you'll understand people a lot better.

I suck at communicating and never thought it mattered. But in the past 5 years, I've been working on them and the differences are remarkable.

Excellent advice!

In your 20s, take risks, move around to different cities and even countries, take different jobs, date and fock and fall in love responsibly, instead of settling down and accumulating stuff. I am not against driving nice cars and living in nice houses or marriage, but these things can also drag you down. Life is short. When you look back, you will remember those events in your life where you took the risk not those where you took it safe.

bartholomew_maxwell wrote:

But hell there's not much fun in living into your 80's, 90's anyway...we're talking decades of living life when most of your close friends have already died....where you have no clue what the young generation is talking about...etc...just imagine trying to explain social media to your 80+ yr old relatives, showing them how to use a smartphone, etc....that is what you'll be like, completely clueless about the new technologies....It'll be weird just living decades being much older than everyone else with such a dwindling peer group.

How do you know all this? You can't be in your 80s and 90s, as it goes against what you just said.

Don't take your ability to RUN for granted ...

I'm a couple years away from being 60 and I'm in great shape - haven't had the flu in over 20 years (knock on wood), can still run 65mi/wk with ave. pace @ 7:30 per mile, sex drive is like a 14-year-old, and I only require 6 hours of sleep per day ... Why is this possible? Because, now, I don't take any of this for granted as I did in my 20s and 30s. Dedicate your lives to good health!

Shorter Than, Frank wrote:

Don't take your ability to RUN for granted ...

I'm a couple years away from being 60 and I'm in great shape - haven't had the flu in over 20 years (knock on wood), can still run 65mi/wk with ave. pace @ 7:30 per mile, sex drive is like a 14-year-old, and I only require 6 hours of sleep per day ... Why is this possible? Because, now, I don't take any of this for granted as I did in my 20s and 30s. Dedicate your lives to good health!

I will pay you to teach me your ways. Not just of saying young but how to keep the libido high.

Bet it's carnivore diet.

Shorter Than, Frank wrote:

Don't take your ability to RUN for granted ...

I'm a couple years away from being 60 and I'm in great shape - haven't had the flu in over 20 years (knock on wood), can still run 65mi/wk with ave. pace @ 7:30 per mile, sex drive is like a 14-year-old, and I only require 6 hours of sleep per day ... Why is this possible? Because, now, I don't take any of this for granted as I did in my 20s and 30s. Dedicate your lives to good health!

How did you maintain good health?