What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned so far this year?

That's awful - you must feel so hurt. My only thought is that if you do this regularly your mum may feel burnt out and helpless. So it may not be that you don't matter, only that she is feeling overwhelmed by your emotions

My biggest life lesson this year: be more selfish, stop being a people pleaser

That my mum is selfish. If i was drowning she would only care about her stubbed toe.

Sorry to hear this. My Dad died in January of similar circumstances. They put him on a DNAR and a syringe driver but the hospital still wouldn't break the news to us he only had a few weeks left, and of course the nurses weren't going to do this as it wasn't their job. I'm stills angry about how useless they were with communication. I know things can change quickly, but it was obvious to all of us around him, yet nobody would say.

I guess what I have learnt this year is that most people's workplaces are shit shows, and not because of the staff, but just the general organisation. If you want anything to get resolved at any pace, complain. It is the only way to get anything done. I hate looking like a 'Karen', but I don't care anymore. I don't physically have the time to fuck about.

I've learnt a lot already this year due to what has happened, but my brain is yet to make sense of it. It has been a year of change indeed.

I can manage my finances better than I believed I could.

Friends can unexpectedly let you down and the loss of friendship is so very sad.

Work is just work. There are no medals.

I need a holiday. Haven’t had one for 4 years and I am craving switching off and relaxing in a way I can’t do with simply time off work. I need to go away and not notice the car needs cleaning, the beds need changing, the washing needs hanging out etc. A total switch off.

That the mobile phone is wasting our lives away. I’ve seriously reduced my use of it, leaving it out of sight for most of the day and only looking at it a couple of times a day.

My focus and concentration have improved enormously, I’ve found again my love for reading and I’m much happier.

To be extra kind to myself while living through grief.

On a lighter note, bare root standard roses are utterly glorious and I should buy more for my garden.

That despite being extremely privileged, fortunate in life, want for very little and be surrounded by wonderful things and people, I can still get viciously jealous of others

OMG…!!! This hit like a rock !! You are down there are very present for you! You are up. Boom they disappear

As a regular blood donor I just wanted to say how nice it is to hear that you were helped by a donation 😊

That you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Sometimes, even when people have opportunities presented to them on a plate, they still can’t be bothered to help themselves and run with the ball.

That roofers just like to come and look at roofs but they don't like coming back to fix 'em.

I also learned that nature is not always a beautiful utopia but a battleground with all the plants fighting for resources and all the creatures trying to survive being brutally murdered and eaten.
This was after watching baby blue tits being predated by magpies.

After watching a close friend retire from the NHS ward where she had worked for 30 years and die 2 months later, with not one person from her team attending her funeral....I realised that we really are just numbers.

I have learned that, even in my 70s, exciting new possibilities exist and that the future can be on full of adventures!

Do it darling.
No job should be making you ill.
There are other jobs out there.

I’ve reacted to many of these posts, but I want to send thanks and support to every one of you. These lessons are simple and in many ways almost obvious. But why does it take us so long to get there?

That it's actually ok to do what I need to and look after myself

Appreciate the fact that I am already living my dream life. I'm always planning my next stage and never appreciate the present. We're blessed with abundance and I need to revel in it daily instead of playing the capitalist game of always needing something more.

Also, the friends that support you when you are down will hate when your life gets better.

After 20 years in the same role, helping people, giving time, supporting others and helping people progress, I learned something.

Some people are happy to take your time, knowledge, energy and support while it benefits them.

The moment it doesn’t, they’re gone.

Lesson learned.

Help people, but stop overinvesting in those who only show up when they need something.

Edited to summarise: some people are using, selfish twats 🤣🤣

I'm glad you are surrounded by love.

I let my guard down for once. I went from the person everyone leaned on to asking for help. They vanished.

My guard is well and truly back up and wont ever come back down again.

How much people are prepared to lie to their friends in order to cover up bad behaviour.

That’s mine too, hope you’re ok

That nobody is coming from outside to rescue you. There is no outside.