When I first ventured out on my own, I thought I was fully prepared for the challenges of adulthood. I assumed that simply being older would equip me with the wisdom needed to navigate whatever life threw my way. I believed I had a grasp on what “the real world” entailed.
However, the reality is that many of us weren’t equipped with the necessary life skills to truly thrive as adults. For a variety of reasons, I left home with minimal knowledge about how to effectively manage everyday responsibilities.
This isn’t about assigning blame. Perhaps our parents faced their own challenges. Maybe circumstances distracted them from teaching us vital skills. Or maybe we were just too headstrong to absorb the lessons we needed.
Regardless of the reasons for our lack of preparation, what truly matters is how we choose to address our gaps in knowledge moving forward.
Throughout my 20s, I stumbled through life, unsure of even the most basic tasks. I didn’t realize I had to file taxes annually, had no idea how to purchase a home or a vehicle, and I couldn’t even drive. My housekeeping skills were lacking, and cooking felt like an uphill battle. Financial management? That was a foreign concept. What even is a budget?
The first step to gaining these essential skills is recognizing that we are, in fact, missing them. For the initial years after leaving home, I was oblivious to how much I didn’t know.
As time passed, and I faced multiple hurdles, it became increasingly evident that my understanding of “adulting” was severely limited. When I added children into the mix, the realization hit hard: I really knew very little.
The pivotal moment came when I acknowledged my ignorance. This awareness opened the door to learning.
I often hear people say they can’t cook because they were never taught. In today’s information age, that excuse no longer holds water. With just a click, we can access countless resources—tutorials, videos, podcasts, and articles on any topic imaginable.
Over the past decade, I’ve learned to cook, preserve food, garden, perform basic sewing, and navigate buying a car and a house. Some of this knowledge came from asking questions, but much of it was self-taught through online videos guiding me step-by-step.
Traditionally, these skills would have been passed down from grandparents or parents, but that’s not the case for many of us today. While there’s a sense of loss in that shift, I’m grateful for the opportunities technology provides us to learn practically anything, as long as we’re willing.
We can choose to blame others for our lack of knowledge, but as adults, we hold the power to shape our future. If you’re eager to learn something new or achieve a goal, it’s up to you to push forward and acquire the knowledge yourself. Blaming others won’t fill in the gaps left by our upbringing.
I’ve transformed from a young woman who knew little about life to a 34-year-old who enjoys cooking, files her own taxes, and continues to explore YouTube and online tutorials for new skills. I’ve realized that my capacity to learn is limitless, and I intend to keep expanding my knowledge—who knows, maybe at 80 years old, I’ll still be watching videos to learn something new.
So I ask you, what have you convinced yourself is too late to learn because you weren’t taught? It’s time to shift your mindset from “I can’t” to “Watch me do it.”
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In summary, many of us enter adulthood without essential skills, but through self-awareness and the wealth of resources available today, we can overcome those gaps. Embrace the journey of learning and growth, and remember: it’s never too late to acquire new skills.
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