The 16 Hardest Truths to Accept in Life According to Boomers
Life comprises experiences, emotions, and sometimes even hard reality. Regardless, a lot is said about wisdom and those who reach such a status of knowledge, and none does so better than the Baby Boomers. Boomers (from 1946 to 1964) have seen significant changes happen and learned some of life’s hardest lessons.
These are 16 hard-to-swallow truths Boomers tell from data, expert opinion, and personal stories. These truths are universally valid.
The Inevitability of Change
Change happens constantly, but it’s one of the hardest things for many people to accept. Most Boomers have lived through many cultural and technological changes.
Assume, for instance, the evolution of technology from rotary phones to smartphones. It also often means boomers have had to negotiate the learning curve associated with these advancements. It can be scary, but change is needed for growth and development.
Time Waits for No One
Another more complicated truth Boomers’ve come to accept is that time is fleeting. According to an AARP survey, 72 percent of Boomers wish they had more time to follow their passions while working. Once lost, time cannot be recovered, so we should manage to do what’s essential.
Life tends to fly faster than you think, so Boomers tell younger generations to cherish every moment. We should live in the present and make the most of every opportunity.
Relationships Require Effort
This is an ongoing work. Research from one of the most extended studies of adult life—the Harvard Study of Adult Development—shows that good relationships make us happier and healthier.
Boomers get it: not only does this take dedication, but it also requires a degree of compromise. Relationships are challenging; you must constantly remind yourself to tend to them.
Financial Stability Takes Time
Financial security isn’t built overnight. Many have had to go through hardships to turn a profit, so they know the value of saving and wisely investing.
Boomers usually tell younger generations not to be so quick to hop on instant gratification and instead think about their financial future. The point is how much you must balance short-term desire and long-term goals for economic success.
Health is Wealth
Health is often not paramount until later in life. According to the National Council on Aging, 95 percent of Boomers have at least one chronic condition, so keeping your lifestyle healthy is essential.
Boomers who want to live long and healthy lives view regular exercise, a healthy diet, and regular medical checks as protective measures. Their experiences demonstrate the value of being proactive in maintaining health.
Success is Personal
Often, Boomers remind us that success isn’t only defined by wealth or status. It is a call to chase dreams that are true to oneself.
Aging is Inevitable
Aging gracefully is a natural part of life, so we must accept it. Boomers have much to say about the importance of aging gracefully. An American Psychological Association study pointed out that people with positive attitudes toward aging live longer, healthier lives.
Take pleasure in your later days. It’s about not caring about wrinkles and seeing them as badges of experience and wisdom.
Not Everyone Will Like You
There is a universal desire for acceptance, but Boomers have learned not all will love you. A Psychology Today article recounts a common struggle to find universal approval, but it’s a struggle that can make us unnecessarily stressed.
Boomers advocate for people to be true to themselves rather than pleasing everyone else. Self-worth shouldn’t depend on what others think.
Happiness Comes from Within
Boomers tell us that to find happiness, you must look inside, not out. According to research, intrinsic goals—growth and the relationships you value—result in greater happiness in the long term than extrinsic ones—material wealth.
Boomers love to stress the highlights of self-awareness and self-acceptance as cogs of true happiness. It’s all about being OK with ourselves and loving the small things.
The Past Cannot Be Changed
It is not good to live in the past. Boomers often tell you they learned from previous experiences but want to avoid dwelling on regrets. A new study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology finds that letting go of past regrets is associated with higher levels of life satisfaction.
For Boomers, the lesson of forgiveness—of ourselves and others—is to help us move on. It’s about letting go of the past more than holding on to it and focusing on the present and the future.
Failure is Part of Success
Failure is painful, but it’s a step towards success. Boomers have suffered and learned that sometimes failure is a good thing. A study at the University of Scranton found that only 8 percent of people successfully achieve their New Year’s resolutions, a bleak sign that failure is ubiquitous.
Boomers urge that future generations see failing as an opportunity for growth and not necessarily as an end. They call on us to stay on course and try to understand and learn from our mistakes.
The Importance of Patience
A virtue that Boomers have learned is patience. Waiting in our fast-paced world can be a nightmare, but Boomers teach us to wait—and their waiting often results in better outcomes.
Studies show that delayed gratification is related to more tremendous life success. Boomers promote looking at the time horizon with patience, knowing that not all good things happen right now, easily or on demand. Trust in the process, even if it takes a while.
You Can’t Control Everything
Control is an illusion. Boomers also have learned that life’s unpredictability means that not everything can be accounted for and managed.
Boomers’ take on this is a call to let some things go… like what you can’t control and your age—and to focus instead on what you can control, like how you think and what you do. It’s a lesson in how life adapts itself.
True Friends are Rare
Large social circles are all good, but friendship is rare. There’s a focus on genuine, cherished connections meaningful to Boomers. According to a Mayo Clinic report, strong friendships help keep you emotionally and physically healthy.
Boomers nurture these rare friendships with care and appreciation. It’s finding quality over quantity in our social life.
Life is Unfair
Boomers have learned to live with life’s inequities. Fairness is a great idea, but we must realize that not everyone gets the same opportunity or outcome. A Pew Research Center study reveals that wealthy descendants have better access to resources than poor descendants.
Boomers say it is time to stop lamenting life’s unfairness and work to make a positive difference. So, it’s a question of equalizing while acknowledging what is.
You Are Responsible for Your Happiness
One’s happiness entirely rests with themselves, no one else. According to the Happiness Research Institute research, autonomy is a big part of happiness.
Boomers encourage you to take proactive steps to have a fulfilling life, self-reliance, and personal responsibility. It’s about finding happiness and taking charge of your destiny.
Life is a complex basket woven from experiences, emotions, and, sometimes, harsh realities. It’s often said that wisdom comes with age, and who better to impart such wisdom than the Baby Boomer generation? Boomers have witnessed monumental changes and learned some of life’s most challenging truths.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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