What’s the biggest lesson you’ve had to learn this year?

[Pearl222]

For me, it’s not to give so much of myself to someone who can’t reciprocate my energy

[Anonymous]

The effects of Inflation.

My retirement plan has essentially doubled in value over the past 4 years which is a good thing... but. I never concerned myself with my retirement timeline up till recently because I always viewed it as years down the road and I was putting away 15% of my income in it so I knew I was doing things right. But recent changes in my life has me looking closer at it. While I've always been a saver and live below my means, I've also always not been a highly paid individual. Still my goal was always been to have a million dollars by the time I'm 60. And I've always been and am still on pace to achieve that. But what I never took into account when I was younger was INFLATION. Yeah, 1 million would have been enough 25 years ago. But now I estimate I'll need closer to 1.5 million when i want to retire. It's not the end of the world. I know I've still done a good job, as the avg. person doesn't retire with more than 200k. And I've already got 3 times that. But I've never wanted to depend on social security and while I still got time to compound and reach my new goal of 1.5 million in my 401k to reach it i may have to incur more risk now to do it. Which is not something you should be doing at my age. The whole point is to take the risk when you're young because you have time. If it doesn't work out as planned I may have to retire later than planned.

[Zack-Bann]

Mine has to be:
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you STILL lose.
Everyone who tired didn’t succeed
But everyone who succeeded, tried.


So as long as you know you did everything you could. And held nothing back. The outcome, no longer matters


In victory and in defeat you should walk with your head held high

[Pearl222]

Very well said Zack!

[Screenwriter]

To evaluate the quality of my relationships with friends who complain about all my bad points...

Had a harsh experience with one who said she wanted a break from me and sent me a scorching evaluation of my terrible bad habits. But knows I've never meant any of the awful things I've done to wound anyone.

Well, guess I have to let her go. Saddens me, but I don't need that kind of useless criticism... Guess we're. a bad fit...

And to be patient with myself when I'm not doing as well as I think I should be...

[Flower7]

I hate when people collect a laundry list of complaints and then suddenly dump them on someone all at once. It’s better for things to be addressed little by little, close to the time that they first happen. Otherwise, it just feels like an attack.

You’re definitely making the right decision by removing that person from your life. It’s not good to have someone around who harbors that level of resentment toward you. Who knows when that will pour out of her again. Sounds like an explosion waiting to happen.

Best to start the new year with leaving this toxic situation behind.

[Screenwriter]

@Flower7 She came from a highly critical and unpleasant father and has never felt SHE was enough or did enough. And holds onto every little everything said to her that she evaluates as a wrong. Too difficult to deal with. She recounts stuff I did that I have no memory of doing or saying as if all were high slights against her. So, yes, I have to give that up. Known her for 20 + years! Very sad.

[Simslover92]

I think it's quite the same thing as you said. It’s not to give so much of myself to someone who can’t reciprocate my energy and feelings. I spent so much time this year thinking things would change with this person, only to realize that it never would and I needed to release myself from the situation which I did.

[Pearl222]

So proud of you for taking that step, I know how hard it can be but it’s harder pouring into an empty/broken vessel. Letting go has kind of been a theme this year; but it’s often what leads to new beginnings. So onwards and upwards 😊

[Simslover92]

Thank you. It sure has been very hard to let go but like you said it's harder pouring into an empty/broken vessel. To new beginnings! May we both find what we truly deserve soon! 😊

[Pearl222]

Amen, sister!

[HermanL]

That must have been hard, but the reward must be somewhere else. All that energy and love pour out. Maybe an empty jar can't fill another. No shame, I am right here, learning to fix my own. But all is good, you may have accepted to change a little to, and that will be better for the future. Loveyou sisters H.

[Summeroflove]

That’s a really good lesson to learn. You have to learn that yeah, a lot of people just genuinely aren’t going to match your energy or out the same effort into you. That can be family members, friends, and romantic partners. It’s not worth it…. It’s not worth draining yourself on someone who doesn’t deserve it and missing out on someone who does.

I get people aren’t perfect. People have bad days. But some people genuinely lack empathy and the ability to make genuine connections.

[ohsheeT]

Good question but I dont understand your answer because i would think that would just come naturally my biggest lesson is one I all ready know. And I just need to stop.

The older saying is the more you give the more they will take so it's time for me to stop giving because they can't be that dumb thinking I will just keep on giving so today it stops thank you for waking me up

[AviatorTom]

I learned that 2025 is a very unique number, a perfect square, equal to 45 squared. It will be another 91 years until that happens again.

[Flower7]

Interesting.

[aaron13547]

Gosh I dont know how to pick just one...

I've always felt so different then everyone else in this world. This year I learned im not. I learned i only thought I was. We all are the same at our core. Being alone made me feel connected to everyone in a way I can't explain. I learned the value in being alone, and it made me whole. I thought i was whole before but somehow i feel like more... I thought this would make me need no one... its made me want everyone... Im still tryin to figure it out... lol lesson in progress maybe still

But like you said I have different learned some boundaries also... 😉

[aaron13547]

Definitely*

[Pearl222]

Haha, I’m glad to be of help Aaron 😊 indeed we are all connected beyond our capacity of understanding.

[Gobbyjobby52]

Distance from your parents becomes quite important if you can't hold your adult frame around them while you live with them. Spiritual or not when you focus on them you leak focus and energy into pleasing them and resonating with them which can hold you back from becoming more intendent and being on your mission. I have to be bit wary and self contained around my mum as she'll act compassionate and nice and then she starts taking control and deciding what I should do when whenever i reciprocate back - even if it doesn't affect her. Not that i have to avoid the both of them but I've learned that i have to be as brief as i can and be polite without giving into either, the package deal is when i talk to my dad that's when my mum can start stepping in.

[Bitter_Sweet94]

Letting go isn’t failure.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop forcing what drains you.

This year taught me that peace grows the moment you choose yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable.

[sage2021]

That even if someone tells you that they will always be there for me, that they can turn on me for no reason and our relationship ends.

Don't trust anyone!!

[mysteriousNicholas]

@pearl222 Sometimes time just flies.

I mean it really just flies, when the going's good.

[mysteriousNicholas]

@pearl222 and that the gnostic texts are very fascinating - just like when I discovered them years ago 📚📖

[whiskeyontherocks]

I learned the whole No one will reciprocate back in 2017 that’s a hard one and I pretty much shut out everyone that treated me like a Tool.
Beginning of 2025 I’ve just lost interest in my physical goals and just focused on relaxing I’m learning how hard it is to get back into a routine / program after taking time off. Even harder when your significant other doesn’t want you to be physically active because it makes them uncomfortable.

[melanieeeB]

That i'm getting old and that I'm no longer in my early 20's lol

[melanieeeB]

Oh and that I am good with languages! I started learning Spanish and I'm doing pretty good! I understand most things in a conversation, i just can't talk myself yet

[Lionman95]

For me it was to realise that people around me care more about me than I expected them to be.

[AgentG111]

That's an excellent statement/ quote!

110% True!

[Alex-Snow]

I try not to read the news everyday because it is depressing what is going on in our country.

[LifeHitMeandRan]

For me it is that I need to give up on finding love and just be content being single. I'm so damn tired of all the games it takes to even get the first date.

[Anonymous]

To be patient and learn to be happy for others who can do things i can't

[NathanDavis]

more like reaffirmed... lessons already learned

to relearn is almost as important as to learn something in the first place... lol

[loveslongnails]

That no matter how many facts or truths you present a Trumper, you'll never change their mind or get them to admit their Mango Mussilini has been grifting them for years.

[Bricealan]

@pearl222 Get vaccinations when it is suggested to me

[HighValue]

I hate most of society and the people in it.

[Nikki1989]

Advancements in chord progressions.

[ABC1x1x]

Selling drugs and robbing corporations is way better than working 50 hours a week for a company that would fill your position the second you died from high blood pressure from their bullshit.

[exitseven]

I do not have the energy that I had when I was younger.

[damaster]

Not everybody is meant to go with you in the next chapter/ season of your life & not everyone is meant to be your friend. Bad company corrupts good character

[linka_pat307]

Prioritise those who cherish you and love yourself everyday

[Massageman]

Very close to yours: don't depend on others as much as I would like to.

[Nonamez]

We live in the moment NOW , not yesterday or tomorrow

[Anonymous]

Not realising earlier that this damn toxic forum had taken over a large part of my life.

[Awesomesauce2005]

Don't give a woman love because she won't give it back 😢

[beenherebefore]

Good things take time.

[Anonymous]

Nothing new, just a confirmation of things I already knew, long time before this year.

[Ophelia6]

Take one day at a time.

[jshm2]

Never trust an Israeli or American.

[AngryCarl2]

Don't listen to advice.

[Jmmmfi4]

I need to stop quitting jobs over nothing

[Anonymous]

What kind of energy is that?

[Anonymous]

I can't lie.

[Anonymous]

Never trust family