Gen X imparts valuable advice they wish they'd known as a youngster: 'Too much partying, not enough traveling'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 30, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Shoulda, coulda, woulda… These three little words invoke a visceral response from many regretful elders. Although not every Gen Xer or Boomer looks at their life through the rearview mirror, sometimes our age and wisdom bring clarity to parts of our youth. While sage wisdom may not manifest as a regret, imagine if it was possible to travel back in time in a 1989 Dolorien–what would you tell your younger self? 

Perhaps you'd go to that Grateful Dead concert or perhaps you wouldn't get married so young. Maybe you should have gone to Europe with your buddies for your 22nd birthday and maybe you'd focus on your retirement plan a little sooner. We aren't young rascals anymore, which is why Gen X knows exactly what we 'shoulda, coulda, and woulda' done in our younger years that might have made aging a little more graceful. 

Scroll onward to read other people's valuable advice, proving that age brings timeless nuggets of truth through experience.

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    Cheezburger Image 9915907328
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    People above 30, what is something you regret doing/not doing when you were younger?
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    anthonystank . 7 hr. ago TEETH Wish I'd Brushed and flossed more regularly, gone to the dentist every six months; etc.
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    Roundcouchcorner 6 hr. ago To much partying not enough traveling 11 Reply Share CoffeeExtraCream 7 hr. ago I worked from when I was 15, worked in college, worked straight out of college. I wish I took time for myself to have fun and do something, anything else than working.
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    BreezinOnBy 7 hr. ago Standing up for myself. I lived way too long trying to make others happy and letting them manipulate me My family used this to their fullest advantage I stopped it now but wish I had the backbone 20 years ago
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    Jashuawashua • 7 hr. ago TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. If you are young and having back issues or any other chronic or not problem you HAVE to take care of this before it spirals out of control. you may think you're tough and push through it now or that they will go away but these types of problems can slowly get worse and worse and creep up on you.
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    teaisjustsadwater 7 hr. ago . edited 4 hr. ago Staying in shape. It is so much harder later in life to keep up. lose weight and all the rest.
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    TraditionPast4295 6 hr. ago My friends and I talked about doing a 2-3 week Europe trip back in our 20s. "Oh maybe next year". Eventually jobs, bills and families put all that to rest.
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    DeepDown2332. 6 hr. ago This is a little complicated, but I wish I had been able to come to terms with not caring what people think of me when I was younger. It did wonders for my confidence.
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    shinyowll 7 hr. ago Not keeping in touch with old friends. Thought we'd reconnect easily, but everyone drifted apart and got busy with their own lives. 2.8k Reply Share Ottr 7 hr. ago super hard even when you try
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    Fine_Singer 7603 7 hr. ago . edited 4 hr. ago I regret doing what my parents expected of me instead of what I wanted to do.
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    2FeetandaBeat 7 hr. ago Education seriously, travelled more, cut off toxic people sooner, invested in my future and didn't blow money on dumb
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    tea_ninja 6 hr. ago I regret thinking that nice things were not for people like me. The number of experiences, travel, career opportunities I turned down is crazy. All because I didn't think I was good enough to deserve them.
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    Dwyde Schrude . 7 hr. ago Not realizing how quickly needing to be an adult creeps up on you. I remember being 17 and thinking 30 was so far away. Now I'm closing in on 40 and wishing I had done more to prep for being an adult.
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    Office_Prisoner . 7 hr. ago I wish I hadn't treated life like it was a rehearsal. I didn't do drugs or drink dangerously or do anything exciting enough to be worth the risk, but I lost friends and family by just being selfish. I shouldn't have been so impulsive or assumed there would always be "second chances"
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    celiacsunshine. 6 hr. ago Worked an awful, dead end job for way too long. 257 Reply Share a_bounced_czech. 2 hr. ago Agreed. I spent 10 years at a job that was soul crushing, not just for me but everyone that worked there. I left pre- pandemic and have been so much happier. Everyone I talk to that I used to work with also talks about "the weight" that lifted when they quit.
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    chinchenping 7 hr. ago not taking school seriously, not learning to play an instrument, not chosing a sport and sticking to it. 539 Reply Share Pleasant-Pattern-566 6 hr. ago To be fair, I did all of that and it got me nowhere in life. I can understand wanting that different experience though.
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    sneakysmokey56.6 hr. ago. edited 5 hr. ago Started smoking cigarettes. Did it for about 30 years although I've quit now. Don't do it kids!
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    fin425 7 hr. ago Quit drinking. Alcohol and it's really bad for you. Wasn't an alcoholic, just got really bad hangovers and anxiety after drinking. Haven't had a sip in 51 weeks.
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    ooruin 7 hr. ago Not being unapologetically myself 364 Reply Share Justarandomname11 5 hr. ago g00dbyemOonmen⚫ 5 hr. ago Only way to find inner peace.
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    Casaiir 7 hr. ago edited 5 hr. ago I had as much fun as I could when I was in my teens and twenties. Do I regret spending money I didn't have doing things I shouldn't have because it set me back financially 10 years? no, yes, not really. Would I rather do those things in my 60s-70s when I could afford it? No.
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    Corn619 7 hr. ago Getting married so young. I'm getting divorced now, but I wish I had more single time in my twenties.
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    Casswigirl11 6 hr. ago Here I am mid 30s wishing I had gotten married earlier. Life got so much better after getting married. We have a really good relationship.
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    Thick-Kaleidoscope88 7 hr. ago 100 sit ups every day 157 Reply Share ... sonbarington 6 hr. ago Are you one punch man now?
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    Sensitive-Crab-2750 6 hr. ago I wish I had treated myself with respect, and taken my mental health seriously. I'm doing that now and it's making a big difference.
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    12whistle 5 hr. ago Asking more girls out, being more fearless and taking more chances. 64 Reply Share xTraxis 2 hr. ago Do you have a solution for this? I am entirely full of fear when it comes to approaching women and asking them out, but it's absolutely going to be a regret of my 20s in a few years.
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    nycmonkey 7 hr. ago This is the right question. Your regrets are usually due to not doing something you could've controlled. The answer to your question is put yourself out there and go do it, whatever it is.
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millennial elder millennial boomer childhood wisdom relatable nostalgia nostalgic lol gen x baby boomers genx funny gen x memes
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