Ever look back on a moment or even several times in your life where if you had learned how to do a single thing, big or small, things would have been easier to deal with? I have realized that lately, within the past year. For example, when I was in high school, I did not know how to tell if someone was using me or not, but then I learned how to tell and I am a lot better at knowing if someone is trying to walk over me. It can still happen from time to time, like it does to everyone, but not as much.

Another example is becoming more independent. Back when I was in college from 2010-2015, I did not know how to use public transit or know how to get there since I don't drive and didn't think I would be able to do it. As a result, I would sit at home every day all day and be miserable and wishing I could move back to college so I can be independent and away from my family. In fact, I would start a countdown. For me, I moved in early every year since I was an Orientation Leader so my summers were 15 weeks and three days.

For me, someone sitting at home all day with nothing to do and constantly hearing nagging from family members made those summer vacations long and boring. I would start counting down the days, day by day, week by week, until it was finally time to move back. I know that probably drove people crazy, understandably so. I wouldn't announce it all the time, but in the few times I did, people probably didn't understand why I was so miserable. Then I graduated and I felt miserable since I knew I wasn't going back the following fall. And that's when I decided it was time for me to just go out on my own and learn public transit. I started going downtown using the subway and the surrounding areas by bus.

I bought a bus and subway pass to store cash in it so I can use it when I want to or need to and even walk to a couple T stations that are super close to my house. Now, I am not as miserable. I still don't have full independence, I still live at home and still get nagged at, but at least I don't have to sit at home and wish I could just leave. I still wish to move out very soon, but at least I am not extremely miserable. I can get out and meet people and even go job hunting or look at grad schools on my own. And the fact that I work now as well for most of the year helps too with only 6 weeks of summer vacation instead of 15. Now that I look back on it, I wish I had learned the public transit system way earlier so it could have made things much easier for me sooner. There are plenty of other examples but those are some of the biggest. What experiences or things have you learned that made things easier for you that you wish you had learned sooner? Just curious.