30 People Over The Age Of Fifty Share Insightful Life Advice That Will Be Beneficial To The Younger Generation

At 63, one guy looks back and realizes the “life advice” he’s heard over the years was never about big speeches. It was about the small, stubborn choices that kept showing up, year after year, in real life.

In this batch of hard-earned wisdom, people talk about refusing pressure to have kids, spotting the relationship that makes them shrink, and choosing hobbies that actually feel good instead of turning every day into a productivity contest. Then the story gets even more specific: the same runner who started in his twenties keeps it simple, 3 to 4 miles, a few times a week, and he pairs that with free weights so he can still shovel snow, move furniture, and toss a ball around with the kids without wiping himself out.

It’s the kind of advice that sounds obvious until you see how it played out on a normal calendar.

The question has been asked

h-gotfred

1. "You might not want kids or be able to have kids, and that's okay. Never let anyone tell you you're making a mistake or will have regrets if you choose not to have a baby."

insertsomethingwittyhere

2. "The right person will bring out the best version of yourself. If you find yourself shrinking around them, compromising your values, or trying to be someone you’re not, it’s not the right person."

RakishLass

3. Think about it

Stop thinking your life is about being the most productive person you can be. Find interesting hobbies that make you feel good and are good for you. Your soul deserves to experience some of your own dreams; don't waste all of your time working towards the dreams of your company's owners.Boxing_day_maddness

4. Let go

PublicEnemaNumberOne

5. "Everybody f***s up; it's what you do after that matters."

SwampAss_Man

6. Travelling

pinniped1

7. "I’d say invest in your health by regularly exercising."

My wife got me into running when we were in our twenties, and it has been a big part of our lives ever since (I’m 63). Nothing crazy, no marathons; we don’t time ourselves or follow a strict training plan. We just pick a route, go at our own pace, and have fun. We still go 3-4 miles, 3-4 times per week.I also started working out at the gym 3 times a week with free weights in my 30s and have been doing it ever since. I’m no Schwarzenegger, believe me, but I can still work around the house, move furniture, shovel snow, and have fun tossing a ball around with the kids without injuring or exhausting myself.Between aerobic fitness and the weights, I’ve been able to stay remarkably healthy my entire adult life, knock on wood. It’s also been great for my mental health and managing stress.You don’t have to go nuts and set unreasonably strict requirements for exercise goals or diets that a normal person can’t possibly maintain—just do the best you can, make exercising a few times per week a habit, eat a reasonable diet (avoid fried foods, eat fruit and veggies, lay off the sweets), and 40 years later you’ll really thank yourself, believe me!lanky_planky

8. "*Every* skill takes determined practice to master."

I see my young friends and relatives try and give up on so many things because "they weren't very good at it." If you keep doing that, you'll never be very good at anything.EarhornJones

9. Looking back

koreth

10. It's the best teacher

gefmayhem

11. Keep learning

ibiacmbyww

12. "Marriage and relationships should be fun and happy. Life is hard, and things get tough. Find someone who makes the tough times easier, not harder."

Inevitable-Mine6466

13. "Not everything that you disagree with deserves an argument. Pick your battles and let trivial things slide."

hail2theKingbabee

And if you’re wondering about boundaries with your partner’s budget pressure, check out the AITA fight over refusing to downsize a pet collection.

14. "Reading for pleasure."

invalidpassword

15. "The habits you get into during your 20s and 30s are going to be damn near impossible to change. Make those habits good ones."

anonymousmetoo

16. True words

I heard a saying once that has proven to be very true: when you're young, you constantly worry about what everyone else thinks of you. When you're an adult, you stop worrying about what everyone else thinks of you. And when you're old, you finally realize that nobody else was thinking about you all along.AnDroid5539

17. Mental health

arkofjoy

18. Work hard

kalysti

19. Key points

96tearsand96eyes

20. "Inheritance is not a retirement plan."

CafeTerraceAtNoon

21. "Nobody else ever thinks about the things you did that you think were embarrassing or cringeworthy. You are not important to them. The only one who remembers those moments is you, and you shouldn’t let them define you to yourself."

Rune_Council

22. Change is constant

Whatever-ItsFine

23. "Take care of your body. Exercise, keep your weight reasonable, and keep the 'bad habits' in moderation. It really does make a difference later in life."

quarterinchseams

24. Important

Wear sunscreen! When I look at my 50-year-old upper chest (frequently exposed to the sun in my youth) compared to my 50-year-old belly (which has always been clothed and covered because I have never liked two-piece swimsuits), I can't believe the difference.HootieRocker59

25. Nice one

If there was abuse in your childhood of any kind and no one helped, get help now. If you can’t afford therapy, use online resources; they’re not the best, but still helpful. Don’t have your own children until you’re sure you won’t repeat the cycle.JonesinforJonesey

26. "If you die, your employer will have your job posted before you are buried. Remember that when making work/life choices."

Justin9314

27. "Comparison is the thief of joy. Stop comparing your looks, whether you're successful, or your happiness to anybody else's."

punsarefun

28. No competition

orangeonesum

29. "Unless you don't mind hearing EEEEEEEEEEEE like all the time, day and night, use hearing protection in loud situations. Tinnitus is a b***h."

revnhoj

30. Be careful

lylisdad

That’s why when the runner mentions his wife getting him into running, it hits harder than generic “stay healthy” talk.

And right after that, the advice about not having kids if you don’t want them lands differently, because this guy’s life includes the kids he can still play with.

Meanwhile, the “stop thinking your life is about being the most productive person” line clashes with how many people measure their worth, especially when work steals all the time.

Then “everybody f***s up, it’s what you do after that matters” ties it together, because he’s basically saying the habit is the point, not perfection.

This post tells you not to allow your doubts or anxieties to stop you from trying whatever activity you desire. You can overcome your worries, so you should give yourself permission to go through anything.

Fears are nothing more than physical sensations brought on by our thoughts. We have power over our lives, and one of the keys to living your best life is to be open to learning and growth.

Share this post with your loved ones if you've been positively impacted.

The best part is he didn’t need a perfect plan, he just needed a routine he could live with.

Still torn between career and family expectations, read the Reddit debate on choosing a work event over a cherished reunion.