Woman In Her 80s Shares 6 'Hard Truths' For Younger People To Make Their Lives Better
With age comes wisdom.
fizkes / Shutterstock Socialite and groundbreaking public figure Nikki Haskell made a name for herself as the producer and host of her own TV show.
She’s been hailed as “The Queen of New York Nightlife,” and now that she’s in her 80s, she’s reinvented herself again on TikTok, offering advice to people of all ages.
The 80-something-year-old shared 6 ‘hard truths’ for younger people to improve their lives.
1. Stop feeling sorry for yourself
“Don’t waste time feeling sorry for yourself,” Haskell exclaimed. “People move on and so should you.”
Transitions are never easy, yet the way we approach them can change how we see ourselves. Instead of getting stuck in the past or projecting into the future, we should live in the present and work to appreciate where we are now, even if it’s hard.
Photo: Cat Box / Shutterstock
Throwing a pity party might feel good initially, but the longer we sit in our despair, the harder it is to come out of it. There’s truth to the adage that the only constant is change. So, as Haskell said, the more we minimize feeling sorry for ourselves, the better off we’ll be.
2. Always welcome new challenges
“If you’re not willing to take risks, then you’ll never succeed,” Haskell said.
In keeping with the idea that the only constant is change, trying new things is one way to keep yourself mentally agile and spiritually stable.
Getting out of our comfort zone shows us that we’re able to do hard things and succeed, even when it feels like we’re on unsteady ground. Maintaining a routine is valuable for our mental health, yet we need to push the boundaries of what we think we’re capable of doing.
You never know when you’ll uncover your newest passion, just by trying something new.
3. Stay happy
“Even if it doesn’t feel like it, talk yourself into it,” she said. “Just keep saying, ‘I’m having a great time and I’m happy.’”
Haskell made an argument for the “fake it ‘til you make it” approach to mental health. There are definite benefits to leaning into our happiness, even if we’re not fully happy.
Wallowing in our lower emotions keeps us feeling low. By paying attention to the small, accessible things that bring us joy on a daily basis, we can help ourselves feel happier.
Practice happiness like it’s a muscle to keep in shape. Enjoy that first sip of coffee. Marvel at the sunset. Focus on what you love, and your mood might just lift.
4. Don’t waste energy on things you can’t control
Another part of staying in the present moment is letting go of our need to control every outcome. The truth is, that we can’t control anyone else but ourselves, and most of the time, all we can control is how we react to things around us.
Instead of getting angry or frustrated by the world’s inconveniences, breathing deeply and moving through the hard times with grace will help us feel better in the long run.
5. Always seek out knowledge
“It’s your most powerful weapon,” Haskell advised.
Expanding our minds and skill sets keeps us young, in that learning new things exercises the brain’s neuroplasticity.
6. Invest in yourself
“Always invest in yourself. Always invest in your dreams and your projects and things that are important to you,” Haskell advised.
By paying attention to what we’re passionate about, we can build up our sense of self-worth and confidence. Loving ourselves fully comes through taking small steps to care about our lives and our futures. If we invest in what we love, we’ll become better versions of ourselves.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture analysis and all things to do with the entertainment industry.