Here are some of their eye-opening responses:
1.
“I thought I was born to be a mother, and that’s all I wanted growing up.
Then, in my 20s, I found out that I couldn’t have kids.
While I was devastated, a flip in me switched.
Learning that I couldn’t have kids really made me questionwhyI wanted kids in the first place.
That’s when I realized maybe it shouldn’t take five years to answer such a question.
So that did it for me.
It was a blessing in disguise, honestly.”
“It’s okay to not fully agree with every stance on one side of the political aisle.
Anonymous
3.
“I used to think there was something wrong with being single, so I stayed in unhealthy relationships.
I love the freedom of being alone and living my life how I want to.
I don’t think I’ll ever have another relationship again.”
“I’ve found myself getting more judgmental as I’ve gotten older.
Or, to put it more accurately, I’ve become less of an apologist.
Whatisn’tas likely is that I’ll conclude neither of us is ultimately ‘more right’ than the other.
Sometimes things are just wrong; sometimes things can’t be reconciled.
Not everyone has the luxury of freely seeking information or safely speaking up.
Those of us who do have that good fortune need to be brave enough to use it.”
sarahbird
5.“Christmas.
Now, as a senior citizen and an agnostic atheist, I basically ignore Christmas.
I haven’t bought a Christmas gift for someone in probably over 20 years.
I also don’t want anyone to buy me presents.
That’s the best gift anyone can give me.”
“I grew up in the church.
maggiem45481cd39
7.
Equality is more important than power and control.”
I never liked the conservative ideology and grew up thinking that conservative people were the bad guys.
ricardo8522
9.
“Mental health in general.
I applaud the bravery and kindness of younger generations in their efforts to change these toxic beliefs and practices.
Keep up the amazing work!”
Heidi, 48, Oklahoma
11. emocrab35
12.
“That being anintrovertand liking being alone was a negative thing.
“The role of the police.
Now, I recognize them as a tool of the carceral state to uphold the rich over the poor.
Cops exist to protect the property of rich people, and they aren’t even good at that.
I’m fully pro-defunding the police now.”
The list goes on there is so much that has happened and more in my lifetime.
I’m not suggesting that everything is all rainbows and unicorns, but progress is inevitable.”
markh63
15.
“As a teenager, I would argue anyone to the ground about how abortion was murder without exception.
Education really is everything.
Salina, 39, Maryland
16.
“I was raised conservative.
The struggle and inability to escape poverty and low-income circumstances is a real thing.”
“‘Poor people are poor because they make bad decisions.’
That was a belief hammered into me.
Poverty is complex and there are too many systems that perpetuate it.
That’s a continuous life process, but it’s an intentional effort that will enhance your life.”
Anonymous, 23, Michigan
Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity
