Adrian Volenik
For some, life is blue skies and rainbows. For others, it’s a tough pill to swallow. But some things are in common for everyone – we’re born, we experience ups and downs, and we die.
Of course, a lot of things happen in the meantime, right? And if you’ve had the following experiences in life, you’re gaining wisdom and maturity.
So, let’s begin and see what these important experiences are.
1) Heartbreaks
Breakups or falling out with friends feel like a gut punch, but it’s the universe’s crash course in human connections.
You learn about love, resilience, and the art of moving on, even if it feels like dragging yourself through emotional mud.
Heartbreaks can certainly be devastating, and it takes some time to pick yourself up. But they’re important. They prepare us for the real world, and we learn that nothing is set in stone.
I’ve been through several heartbreaks, and looking back at them now, they were expected, to be honest.
I was young and not really that smart. I needed a lesson in life, and I got it.
2) Loss
Losing someone or something important hits hard. It’s life’s way of saying, “Hey, appreciate what you have.”
Grieving teaches you about the fragility of life, the value of memories, and how to carry on with a piece of your heart missing.
Again, this can be devastating, and many people never fully recover. Sure, you can move on with your daily life, but you’re only living in the second gear.
That’s life for you.
So, if you’re taking your life and the people (and pets) in it for granted, you better think twice. They could be gone in a blink of an eye.
3) Failures
Failing at something sucks, no doubt. But those faceplants? They’re like your personal growth spurt. You learn resilience, adaptability, and the crucial skill of dusting yourself off and trying again.
Messing up is just a part of the human experience. Learning from those mistakes, however, is where the natural evolution happens. You’re upgrading your life software to a more resilient version.
I’ve had my share of failures, and some still feel quite fresh. But I hope I learned something from them and that I can apply this knowledge going forward.
Do you still think about any failures or setbacks?
4) Taking risks
Those who take risks often fail more. But they can also gain more. As someone who has taken many calculated risks, I really believe my life would be much, much worse if I didn’t take them.
Worst of all, I’d always think what if.
And life’s all about calculated gambles. Sometimes you soar, and sometimes you fall, but it’s all part of the adventure.
Life’s so much more boring without taking the leap of faith from time to time, without stepping out of your comfort zone.
And although there’s merit in living a down-to-earth life doing what you like doing and without rattling the cage, that’s not something for me.
5) Successes
Getting that win feels fantastic. But it’s not just about the victory dance; it’s about staying humble.
Success teaches you to celebrate but also to keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the next goal.
Each success is like a chapter in your life’s novel, and with each chapter, you’re leveling up in the game of wisdom.
You discover your strengths, learn how to pivot when things get janky, and pick up some battle scars that turn into badges of experience.
Success is not just an event; it’s a mindset, and it’s one of the many markers on your path to wisdom and maturity.
What are some successes that stand out as milestones in your own journey? Think about it for a moment before moving on.
6) Travel
Life would also be much worse if we couldn’t travel to different countries and immerse ourselves in local culture.
Ever been somewhere totally different? Traveling is like a crash course in diversity. You realize the world’s not just your corner; it’s a vast, beautifully varied tapestry.
I’m really grateful for the advent of cheap flights that gave me the possibility to explore the world.
Although it turns out that’s not so great for the whole global warming thing, I also don’t think the solution is to make people fly less.
Yes, trains are great for shorter distances, but airplanes are much better for anything longer. For obvious reasons.
All in all, if you’ve traveled and immersed yourself in different cultures, you definitely gained wisdom and maturity.
7) Career changes
The world is a much different place than it once was. In the not-so-distant past, you’d spend most, if not all, your lifetime in one or two workplaces or companies.
But now, people change jobs and even careers like socks.
It’s undeniable that both practices have their share of pros and cons. But I really think that switching up your professional game is like trying on different hats until you find the one that fits.
Each change is a chance to discover what truly lights your career fire. I mean, I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago. Or even 5 years ago.
My interests have changed, and I don’t want to do the same job now that I did when I was a different person with different interests.
And here’s another thing that opened up my eyes and made me do a 180:
8) Parenting
Dealing with tiny humans is a wild ride. It’s a crash course in patience, sacrifice, and juggling a million things at once. Also, baby giggles are basically magic.
But…
Your quality of life takes the backseat for many years, no matter how much you try to keep it in front.
I did expect it, though and I got a kid in my late 30s, so I had my chance to live life, you know?
But, yeah, parenting takes the life to a whole other level. There’s not just one person you can mess up, but another one who looks up to you, and that’s a sobering fact.
And because of this, I also started taking better care of myself. I want to be there for the ride for a long time.
9) Health challenges
Dealing with health stuff, be it your own or someone else’s, is like a reality check on mortality. It teaches you the importance of taking care of yourself and those around you.
Because I worked too much, my health started deteriorating quite fast. That’s why I’m now painfully aware of the need for a work-life balance.
Does that mean we’ll have less money than if I worked 12 hours per day? Yes. But it also means I’m there more for my family and for those precious moments that disappear as kids get older.
10) Moving
Most people hate moving but I love it. It’s just so exciting even if you’re moving to a different part of the city.
Yes, you need to change your address on a ton of documents, but it’s just a fact I don’t let get to me.
Having moved to a couple of different countries, you realize just how much stuff you accumulate in a short amount of time.
That’s why I look at changing your scenery like hitting the reset button: You adapt, get rid of a bunch of stuff, discover new things, and figure out what makes a place feel like home.
Plus, moving always uncovers that one box you swore you labeled properly.
11) Independence
Living alone and managing your finances is like getting a crash course in self-sufficiency. Adulting 101, right?
You realize you can handle your own business, and that’s a pretty empowering feeling.
I still remember moving out of my parent’s house 20 or so years ago. Life just felt so exciting. There were endless possibilities, and nothing was impossible.
Until things were impossible. Until I needed to figure out how to pay all the bills with my lousy wage.
That’s how you quickly get into debt because credit cards become your best friends, right?
Luckily, I didn’t have a mountain of student debt hanging over my head because that’s not how life works in Europe.
I can’t even imagine how that must feel.
Final thoughts
Change is the only constant, and embracing it is like learning to dance with life. Those who shimmy with change instead of resisting tend to come out on the other side with a smoother groove.
They also get more wisdom and maturity out of it, two things that are extremely important if you wanna be a responsible adult.
