What do people most regret not doing in their 20s?
人们最后悔20多岁时没做什么？

 

获得326.4k好评的回答@Steve Fox：

I am now 63 years old. I’m one of those people who did a lot of things that I should have in my 20s that others failed to do. There are a few things I wished I did and didn’t do. I have a son who is 24 and I make sure he is informed of my thoughts on this. Some of my recommendations:
我现在63岁，我也是做了很多别人在20多岁该做却没做的事的人。有几件事是我希望曾经做了或没做的。我儿子24岁了，我确定他会知道我对这件事的想法，下面就是我的几条建议：

1.Get an education in a marketable skill! I can’t stress this enough! It will determine most aspects of the rest of your life. When you’re young and have few obligations is the time to do this.
1.学习社会需要的技能！我要特别强调这一点！这将决定你余生的众多方面。年轻时没有太多束缚，正是学习的时机。

2.Learn to save and invest your money. Learn all about mutual funds, bonds, stocks and everything else.
2.学会省钱和投资。学习所有关于互惠基金、债券、股票等的东西。

3.Don’t encumber yourself. Avoid buying high ticket items; cars, houses, furniture! Be free enough to move around to different jobs or financially free enough to not panic if you don’t have a job.
3.不要负债。避免买价格太高的东西：车、房子、家具！要能自由跳槽或财务自由，才能在失业时不慌乱。

4.Take time off, travel, enjoy life. I had a lot of old timers back then when I was in my 20s and 30s and traveling around telling me I was doing the right thing because they waited until they retired and now didn’t have the health or stamina to do many of the things they wanted to do.
4.抽出时间旅行、享受生活。我二三十岁四处旅行时有很多前辈说我做得对，因为他们一直等到退休都没能出去，现在没有那个身体条件和精力去做很多曾经想做的事了。

5.Don’t get married early. My thoughts are for a man, mid 30s is a good time to get married. You have had time to get an education, build a career and have some adventure.
5.不要早结婚。我的想法是说给男人的，30岁中期是结婚的好时候。你有时间去接受教育、成就事业、还能去冒险。

6.Be wise when choosing a mate. This person will have the most effect in your life. She should have the same level of skills, income and responsibility as you and has also worked hard to make achievements.
6.选择另一半要明智。这个人对你的生活影响最大。她应该和你有相同水平的能力、收入和责任感，也要有上进心。

7.Be aware of the three ways to learn about dealing with challenges in your life: 1. Think about actions and the consequences. 2. Observe what other people have done and the consequences they face as a result. Learn from the mistakes of others. 3. Just go ahead and do something stupid. Pain is the great teacher! Try to lean by #1, if not then #2. Avoid #3!
7.知道你要学会的处理生活中挑战的3种方法：1）考虑行为和后果。2）观察别人做过什么以及他们所面对的后果，并以此为鉴。3）行动起来，做点蠢事。痛苦是最好的老师！努力从#1中学，不行就从#2中学，避免#3！

8.Avoid being idealistic. The world is not fair and there is evil in it. There are some people who are privileged and many who are not. Accept reality and learn to work with it.
8.避免理想化。世界并不公平，也有邪恶。有些人享有特权而很多人都没有。接受现实，学会应对。

9.Something young men need to know about is the damage divorce can do to them. Divorce is one of the main causes of bankruptcy and midlife male suicide. Statistics show that the serious problems children are likely to develop in a fatherless household is many times greater than from a household with both parents or even just the father; suicide, homelessness, drugs, pregnancy, crime, school drop out, etc.
9.年轻人需要知道离婚会给他们带来什么危害。离婚是导致破产和中年男性自杀的一个主要因素。数据显示没有父亲的家庭里的孩子比父母都有或甚至只有父亲的家庭的孩子问题多很多倍：自杀、流浪、吸毒、未婚先孕、犯罪、辍学等等。

10.Don’t stay in a job where you aren’t advancing in pay, position or knowledge. Every job should be a stepping stone to the next one.
10.不要停留在一份不能加薪、升职或学到东西的工作上。每份工作都应该是下一份工作的垫脚石。

11.Stay away from drugs and alcohol and people that use them to excess.
11.远离毒品和酒，还有利用毒品和酒纵欲的人。

12.Stay away from “fringe” groups. Like radical religious or political groups.
12.远离“边缘”群体。像极端宗教组织或政治团体。

13.Take care of yourself - eat right and exercise!
13.照顾好自己——好好吃饭，还要锻炼！

14.Don’t ignore the education advise in the first topic!
14.不要忽视第一条中的教育建议。

 

（翻译：菲菲）