Group of Men and Women Aged 60-90 All Have Similar Answer When Asked to Give Advice to Their Younger Selves
When a group of people aged 60 to 90 was asked a simple yet profound question—“If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?”—their answers were strikingly similar.
It wasn’t about money, career success, or even health. Instead, nearly all of them shared one common message: “Don’t waste time worrying about what others think. Live your life fully.”
At first, the responses varied. Some spoke about love, others about regret, and a few about missed opportunities. But as the conversation went on, a pattern emerged. They all wished they had spent less time fearing judgment, less time doubting themselves, and more time embracing life unapologetically.
One woman, 82-year-old Margaret, reflected on her years spent conforming to expectations. “I spent so much of my younger years trying to please others—choosing a career my parents approved of, marrying the man who seemed ‘right’ rather than the one I truly loved. Looking back, I wish I had been braver. I wish I had done what made me happy instead of worrying about what people would say.”
Elliot, 74, laughed as he admitted, “I used to obsess over small embarrassments—things I said in meetings, how I looked in pictures, whether someone liked me or not. Now? I can’t even remember half of those moments. I wish I had realized sooner that nobody is thinking about you as much as you think they are.”
For 90-year-old Walter, the lesson was about taking risks. “I played it safe too often. I turned down job offers that scared me. I stayed in my comfort zone. I thought I had all the time in the world to try new things, but time moves fast. If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self to go for it—whatever ‘it’ is.”
Some spoke about relationships, urging younger generations to express love openly and not hold grudges. “I lost touch with friends because of silly misunderstandings,” said Eleanor, 68. “Now I wish I had picked up the phone more often. People don’t stay around forever.”
The most powerful moment came from 87-year-old James, who sat quietly before speaking. “I spent years trying to be someone I wasn’t—afraid of judgment, afraid of failing. But the truth is, people forget. They forget the mistakes you made, the awkward moments, the failures. The only person who holds onto them is you. Let them go. Be yourself.”
As the conversation wrapped up, the message was clear: Life is short. The opinions of others don’t matter nearly as much as we think they do. Do what makes you happy, take risks, love deeply, and don’t let fear of judgment hold you back.
It’s advice younger generations would do well to take—before they, too, look back and wish they had lived more freely.
