Life's rough journey can be challenging; wise decisions pave the way for opportunities
In a collection of hard-won wisdom, octogenarians have distilled 13 "Brutal Life Lessons" that have profoundly changed how they approach life, work, and relationships. These lessons, shared by Mike Tussey, underscore the importance of persistence, ethical behavior, and patience for long-term rewards.
The first lesson, "The Easy Road Will Destroy You," emphasizes that choosing the easy way may seem tempting but often leads to failure or loss. Success, according to these lessons, requires commitment, sacrifice, and vision. Once committed, one must give it their all without cheating themselves.
Another crucial lesson is "No Work Is Beneath You." Success requires starting from the bottom and learning basics with humility, building a reputation for strong ethics, attitude, and team spirit.
"Be Patient and Persistent" is another key lesson. Success seldom happens overnight, and setbacks such as missing promotions are opportunities to learn and build resilience while maintaining good attitude and ethics.
These lessons challenge common youthful misconceptions by underscoring the importance of persistent effort, ethical behavior, and patience for long-term rewards. They teach that success and fulfillment require embracing challenges, humility, ethical persistence, and an understanding of life’s inherent difficulties.
Other overarching themes from these lessons include the acceptance that life is unpredictable and unfair (luck plays a role), the importance of compassion and connection before it’s too late, and the understanding that one may be overlooked by society as they age.
Mike Tussey, whose career includes a stint in law enforcement, teaching and coaching, and writing books, has retired and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune. His life lessons also include the importance of self-growth, good communication, and treating others positively and supportively. He advises against making emotional decisions and advocates for taking risks to win, provided they are based on facts.
In summary, the 13 brutal life lessons from octogenarians teach that success and fulfillment require embracing challenges, humility, ethical persistence, and an understanding of life’s inherent difficulties, profoundly shaping their life choices and attitudes. These lessons serve as a testament to the value of hard work, patience, ethics, persistence, and perspective over shortcuts and easy choices.
[1] Source: Tussey, M. (2021). "13 Brutal Life Lessons Learned by Octogenarians." Retrieved from www.nkytribune.com/13-brutal-life-lessons-learned-by-octogenarians/
[3] Source: AARP. (2019). "The Surprising Secrets of the World's Happiest Retirees." Retrieved from www.aarp.org/life/leisure-travel/info-2019/happiest-retirees-secrets.html
[5] Source: National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). "Healthy Aging: A Guide for Older Adults." Retrieved from www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging-guide-older-adults
- In the collection of life lessons, octogenarians stress the significance of ongoing personal growth and self-development, suggesting that one should constantly strive to better themselves to achieve success and fulfillment in both their professional lives and personal relationships.
- Furthermore, these life lessons underline the importance of career development, highlighting the need to start from the bottom, learn with humility, build a strong ethical reputation, and persist through setbacks for long-term success.
