How we look at the world at 25 is vastly different from how we view life at 13.

And as we age, we are forced to come to terms with difficult things.

So Redditoru/BluebirdIll6390asked, “What’s thehardest pill to swallowin your early twenties?”

Two people dining on a flight with a meal that includes salmon, vegetables, water, and soda. A world map is displayed on a screen in the background

“You have to become the driving force making the next steps of your life happen.

Theres a pretty clear, direct pipeline from childhood to university.

After that, it’s all open.

Four healthcare professionals in scrubs, with one writing on a clipboard. Faces are not shown

Youre young, but the days are long, and the years are short.

Dont wait to start living.”

u/shroom_in_bloom

3.

People raising their beer mugs for a toast over a table with burgers and fries on wooden trays

“Some careers don’t start till you’re in your 30s.”

“My dad told me that the older I got, the smarter he would seem.

It turns out he was right all along.”

Close-up of a grilled sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and deli meat being held by two hands. Lettuce and ham slices are in the background

KR Johnson

5.

“True friends are hard to find.

They’re not the friends you party with.

Person running on a treadmill in a gym with exercise bikes visible in the background

The true friends who will love you for who you are.

u/Mirraco323

7.

“Your parents are getting older and won’t be here forever.”

A person vacuuming a patterned rug in a living room setting with part of a red chair and a plant visible in the background

u/themagicbong

9.

No one is protecting you from yourself anymore.”

“This is likely the best your body will ever feel.

Person with a red backpack looks at a serene lake with mountains in the background

Put in the work now, and your body will thank you.

I’m talking about flexibility work, strength work, skin and teeth.”

u/myic90

11.

A person working on a laptop during a video conference call with multiple participants in an office setting

“Being an adult isn’t nearly as exciting as I thought.

While I love my autonomy, I don’t love my bills or responsibilities.

The fact is, every stage of life has its pros and cons.

A bustling city street at sunset with pedestrians crossing as traffic waits. Buildings on either side frame the glowing sun in the background

Nothing is ever perfect, but that’s okay.”

“Remember how, as a kid, a year took forever?

Like the week after Christmas, had this crushing reality that it would be forever before it happened again?

Person relaxing on a couch with hands behind their head, eyes closed, and a book on their lap. A coffee table with a mug and papers is in the foreground

Now, remember how fast this last year went?

That’s your life.

You’ll be 30, wondering what happened to time.

It just keeps getting faster.

Don’t take a stab at speed through, even in the bad times.

Don’t live for the weekend, don’t put things aside for ‘another time.’

u/MentalSewage

13.

“Your comfort zone quickly becomes a prison if you indulge in it.

you oughta push your boundaries and only fall back into your comfort zone when you absolutely need it.

Staying in your comfort zone will breed anxiety when you leave it.

You have to put yourself into uncomfortable situations to build up resilience for the future.”

“That feeling of being a kid who is just figuring shit out never actually ends.”

u/Former-Finish4653

15.

“Realizing that adulting is a full-time job with no time off.”

“At the end of the day, you are on your own.

You have to figure it all out.

u/adunk9

17.

Time to go to work every day until you’re ready to retire.

Hope you enjoyed your school years!”

u/HazelGhost

19.

“My parents were right: A boring life is a happy life.”

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.