I’ve never needed anyone to guide me. I now analyse all the stuff in my life and make my own decisions. Long time in the past when I was very naïve I followed other’s advice a few times and it was always a disaster.

I've always been very independent and have never needed guidance or anyone to hold my hand. I always had that restless spirit and so personal feeling never got in my way. Until I got older, I now really miss my father.

All families I have found to be so different expecially not family unit sems to have disappeared sadly.

I have family but nothing in common with them. They compete and argue and call each other evil, but their actions are all the same. I, am alone, and enjoy my time although lonely sometimes. I look after a mentally ill brother who does not give out much connection but hell I'm actually content. Some hurdles to deal with but hey sometimes if I just wait they work themselves out. We grow up in a family, marry or connect with a partner and then it becomes a juggling game to keep everyone together. Unfortunately that's how it is and sometimes, as I have said to myself. It's ok. Life is what it is. Pity we do not speak more about death and dying. I think I am content. Just do not want to lose MY control.

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Family is important but sometimes you have family members you are better off without. They say blood is thicker than water but perhaps things such as honesty, decency and loyalty matter more. You can keep giving people another chance but sometimes it just doesn't change anything. I have had to give up on a member of my family, it's sad but I'm better off without them in my life.

i spent the first 20 years of my life living with my Mum and Grandparents, they raised me and taught me many lessons while also letting me learn things for myself; if things went wrong, they were there to help guide me. The last 20 years of my life have been spent living with my husband, our 4 children and my husband's parents. Unlike my grandparents, his parents are more restrictive with what is allowed to happen under their roof, so i have had more restrictions here as an adult, than what i had finding my feet and making my own paths as a child/teenager. I cannot wait for the day we move out as i still have not yet completely been in control of my own life. I hope the time comes soon. I don't doubt there will be many lessons and some hurdles along the way, but that all is a part of living and finding your own feet in thie big world.

i remember my big sis saying after mum and day died that we were orphans..it was kind of funny as we were all grown up and our parents were elderly so to lose them is to be expected. But when i think about my two older sisters passing on- it is absolutely terrifying. Especially my oldest sis who is 12 years old than me. She has always seemed a bit like a mum. I can't bear the thought of her not being around. She has just turned 70 and is awesome and full of energy- but still i feel this sense of appreciation of her and need her.

I have lost both my parents and being an only child with no other relatives I really feel so very alone in this big world since all my friends in my life have since passed away too..I Have always done things on my own including buying my home off a plan..Never needed any guidance, married at 16 divorced by 20 Edited 05-Jan-22 19:26pm

I’ve never had anyone to guide me I had to do it on my own

Welcome to the real world of wonderment, bewilderment, adventure and misadventure!

Don't wish your life away.

As Bob Dylan aid in the song Big Yellow Taxi "You Don't Know what you've got till it's gone" is very accurate.

It depends how close you are to your family and yes loved ones are missed when they're gone. I am close to my parents, semi close to my siblings which 2 of us have had children (2 each.) Not close to them at all. Plus hubby had 2 also and certainly not close to them either. Better off with out them as they have just caused trouble and we don't need that or want that in our lives. Would be nice if we were one big happy family but that was not meant to be and I don't miss the drama of it all.

A very happy family in the photograph nice to see

I have learnt many of life’s lessons with guidance from those close to me but also through stepping out on my own to learn the hard way

As the old saying goes, you never know the value of something until you lose it. I’m a bit slow learning life’s lessons so I better have several lives ……lol

Family and friends are the best. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence

Nope I’m better off without mine

Missing my family

Totally agree Mike

I was married at 20 and moved out my parents where very good i do miss them very much now

I learnt early in life that a bloke should never pee into the wind.

I couldn't wait to leave my parents when I was young and as soon as I got a car I was out the door enjoying my freedom. Although there's been times I've counted on family for guidance when I really struggled, though I remained mostly independent. A few life lessons I've learned the hard way: Don't make important decisions when you are vulnerable (such as after a relationship break up etc.). Get a level head then make that important decision. Don't rack up debt by borrowing unnecessarily. It makes you more vulnerable to money issues and unnecessary stress. Take care of your health, both mental health and physical. Learn to manage your stress and learn how to eat properly (nutrition). Save money. Even if it's $10 a week. Save for a rainy day, save for a house/car, save for retirement. Just save because you will certainly need it. Invest your money rather than spend on luxury items. Luxury items won't last forever. Get on the property ladder if you can or do some research on shares, term deposits, compound interest etc. Be mindful of inflation when making investment decisions. Research ways you can make money outside of work. Start a small business or invest in education. Invest in yourself and back yourself 100%. Try not to burn too many bridges. There's a lot of crazy people out there who will go out of their way to ruin yourl life. It's harsh but true so always be polite in your interactions no matter how difficult that person may be. It's a lot easier that way. It's certain that you will fail in life but how you manage that failure is the most important thing. Dust yourself off, learn from your mistakes and get going. Edited 05-Jan-22 09:50am

Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of someone I love who has died and wonder what they would think of certain events or other things in my world. I especially wonder how they would have coped with this pandemic which has forced so many changes on us all.

All kids tell stories but as adults we learn that way leads to loss of friends and brings sadness to those we love. Once we got independent with our own money we find we have to plan whether we let it slip through our fingers or plan to save it for special purposes. I guess that is being adult rather than childish in our thinking.

I really hate adulthood for I wish I could remain child forever

I learned when I was a little girl that not to lie because a lie is hard to remember and truth is easy to remember. A lie you cannot remember the same way but truth it may told longer or shorter and still be the same. People do not trust those lie they can not believe when they tell the truth, so they never are able to rely on them in anything or for anything, its a very important lesson for a little girl to learn.

You can't be a little bit pregnant or have a finger in every pie. Don't expect others to motivate YOU. You are the master of your own destiny, that's what freedom is. You do the research, you m ake the decision and carry it through. If you have gone down the wrong path own your mistake and move forward. You can ask others/elders for advice but you need to learn to rely on yourself. As you get older people die and you will be alone anyway. Treasure their wisdom while they live.

This question was never ever anything I had thought about.

When I was young I always wanted to be 21, accomplished that and then did it another two times. Now I just want to be 21 forever.

I do not enjoy my old age but have great memories of my family growing up around me

I need my freedom back which I had lost my freedom when I had started a family at a young age.Edited 05-Jan-22 04:43am

When we are younger we want to be older, when we are older we want to be younger, isn't that the truth. It is a song

Everyone needs someone along the line -- be it family or friend -- or just someone that comes into your life just for awhile.

COVID-HOPE

I feel that way about my friends

Family IS important too some people (but I have unpleasant memories of family). Fortunately for me - family means avoid - under all circumstances. I keep my biological family (at least) three time zones away from me, and have not seen a family member and/or had a conversation with a family member in decades (and I plan on keeping it - that way). Anyway, in theoretical terms - I LIKE - the concept of family values that you are promoting!

That is growing up. You can be 10 or 100 when it happens.

I learned from my parents how not to be. I cherish my daughters and my grandchildren. It took me a long time to realise that hugs and “I love you” are. a necessity to good relationships. Nothing else matters. And that relationships are a work in progress. My family are everything Edited 05-Jan-22 01:08am

You are never free to do as you wish. You have to consider family, society, commitments, etc. and also yourself. It is great if you have someone who you can talk to and who supports you but often you walk through life alone and have to make all the decisions. If you had great parents and also friends who gave you the tools to make sensible decisions you are very lucky.

True, in some cases.

I have found the exact opposite.