You'd be surprised don't know how to do what the majority of us consider basic survival skills. For example, before the age of 10, I knew how to cook basic meals and knew how to scrub a bathroom until it shone. I've done my mother proud since then. (Yes, I might also fear her judgment if I don't maintain good habits, lol).
After Redditor Currynrice asked the online community, "What is a useful skill everyone should know?" people chimed in with their suggestions. Take note: You might learn something.
"When I was in high school..."
When I was in high school and failed to get a summer job, my dad made me cook every meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for the family, every day, for the whole summer, as "punishment". On top of that, I wasn't allowed to ever repeat a dish. Worked my way through a whole cookbook, and then some.
It ended up being inadvertently the most valuable "lesson" he ever taught me. Being able to cook a wide variety of really good meals is a constant source of simple joy in my life... not to mention, it's a massive advantage in the dating scene.
"Learn to identify..."
Learn to identify scam messages:
No, your computer is not infected with flashing multicolor ViRuSeS.
No, hot singles are not waiting to meet you.
No, you didn't win a contest you didn't enter.
No, Nigerian Princes are not sharing their fortunes.
No, the IRS is not calling you to ask for your personal info or for gift cards.
"A lot of people..."
How to listen. A lot of people currently tend to lack the ability to actually listen. It's not about shouting points at each other, it's about shutting up and actually listening to what the other person is saying.
"First aid..."
Giphy
First aid and CPR should be a school requirement with certification before kids turn 15.
"Seriously, too many people..."
How to write an email. Seriously, too many people go out into the wide world with no idea how to write a professional-level email. Writing one the same way you text won't cut it when you are looking for a job.
"How to break out..."
How to break out of someone's grip. I've taught my wife, my daughter, many of my female friends, and back in the day when I was a daycare teacher, all of my students. We had someone try to kidnap one of our older kids once, and that was it, that very day I taught all of the kids and drilled it with them over the next couple of weeks. Even had a Grandmother come in to pick up her Granddaughter and ask for me specifically so that she could thank me for showing her granddaughter how to do that.
Thing to remember, do not try to pull against their fingers, you can hold your body weight by your fingers (think of hanging from the monkey bars by your fingers). Instead pull towards their thumb. The thumb is weak in comparison to the fingers. Also scream "Fire!!", Not help. People react faster to "Fire!!" Then they do for "Help!!" I hope this helps. Many basic self-defense classes will go over this and more. Remember You don't need to be an MMA fighter to get yourself out of a bad situation.
"Everyone should be able..."
Basic car care. Everyone should be able to change their own oil and rotate their tires, at a minimum. Both are super simple and require only a few tools but can save you a lot of money.
"Basic butchering..."
Basic butchering (vegans are exempt). Filleting fish, breaking down poultry things like that. You never know when you will be able to buy whole chicken but not boneless skinless chicken tenders.
It seems..."
How to study correctly. It seems like a small thing but the majority of my school life I didn't have to study at all and I did well anyway. But later on it gets so much harder just to retain information. Learning to study good and well is a skill everyone should learn.
"This skill alone..."
How to negotiate. This skill alone has improved my and my family's life manyfold.
"Anyone can be a boss..."
How to lead effectively. Anyone can be a boss but it takes a special frame of mind to be a good leader.
"The ability to shut up..."
The ability to shut up sometimes and acknowledging that some things might be your fault.
"You can make..."
Sewing. It's extremely useful. You can make/ patch up your own clothes, learn to tie different knots, etc. My mother owns an online embroidery business so one of the first things she started to teach me was how to sew.
This is her business website btw, if you need personalized clothes or masks or something:
"I have fond memories..."
Cooking. My dad would cook everyday for us growing up. I have fond memories as a kid standing by the stove watching him whip up amazing home cooked meals for us. Knowing how to cook full meals as a teenager impressed a lot of girls and their parents. Knowing how to cook good food as an adult provides me with a really high quality of health. Healthy cooking is something everyone needs to know how to do!
"Not only would it prevent..."
How to fight.
Not only would it prevent you from being bullied, but it will prevent you from being a bully. People vastly underestimate how regular fight training - jiu jitsu, boxing, wrestling, and Muay Thai - makes actual physical confrontations relatively distasteful. (Side benefit - getting your ass kicked is a healthy dose of humility that every human should experience at least once.)
"So many people..."
How to see things differently. So many people especially here on Reddit are so caught up in their own views or opinions that they only think how to prove their own views correct, and absolutely refuse to try and view things from a different perspective because they want to be right. Mention anything here on reddit regarding Trump in a non-critical point of view and you will get hammered by downvotes for simply mentioning the orange man in a positive light.
Speaking of which the upvote/downvote system doesnt help this either as it will just domino because of peoples self confirmation/confirmation bias as soon as they see 0 or negative points beside a post or comment.
Being able to actually sit down with someone you disagree with and have a respectable discussion rather than an argument is what actually makes changes happen. Some people still dont get that getting angry or demonizing someone for their views on a subject only pushes them further into where their opinion lies rather than pulling them away from it, after all if you are demonizing them for having different views than your own, why would they want to join sides with you?
"So many tasks revolve..."
Writing is so important, especially when you get into the working world. I find a lot of my training of new workers (customer service) is just getting them to write an acceptable professional email. So many tasks revolve around clear written communication.
"Getting angry..."
How to rationalize things that happen so you don't get angry. This helps in all aspects of life. Getting angry is always the worst thing to do in most situations even when it's the normal response.
"No."
How to accept the answer "no" and be resilient. "No" can send you a different direction but perhaps gain more valuable experience and a better outcome. It can also plain out suck. Bounce back.
"Close your mouth."
Basic manners. Close your mouth when chewing. Blow your nose, don't snort and sniff endlessly. Open doors for people, look behind you so as not to slam doors in faces. Wait for people to exit the elevate/subway, giving them room.... Basic stuff. Be generally polite.
"Learning to look..."
Learning to look at all news stories with a critical eye.
Narratives are on all sides, we need to all learn to develop our own opinions and not blindly listen to others.
"Your brain is biased..."
Critical thinking. Your brain is biased and trying to trick you. Question it always.
"A very simple thing..."
Meditation. A very simple thing but will change your whole life for good. Just 5 minutes with you and your thoughts in a quiet place with simple but deep breathings. Did this for 5 minutes a day for a month and boom, no depression no loneliness.
"Even in a small space..."
Gardening. Even in a small space, a small container, you can grow something.
"How to take things apart..."
Learn some mechanical stuff. How to take things apart and put them back together.
"If you drive..."
If you drive, basic auto maintenance. Just being able to change a battery or a tire can make a huge difference.
While autos have become increasingly hard to maintain there are still plenty of things you can do yourself.
"Probably..."
Touch typing. Probably one of the most useful day to day skills i know and is invaluable for work. Should be one of the basic skills they teach you at school.
"It's easy to learn..."
Learning another language. sign language included. It's easy to learn, can be great if you need communication with someone deaf or mute, and can be put on a resume for being fluent in another language, especially for retail jobs.
"At least one person..."
How to sew. Who do you want on your side long term in the apocalypse? At least one person who can mend and make clothes. I'm not very good at this but I'm learning. And you don't need to be super super good at it. Just good enough at it that you're not exposing yourself to the elements.
Also being able to fix clothes is convenient and being able to make clothes is fun.
"If you ever forgot your keys..."
Lockpicking. If you ever forgot your keys this is probably the best alternative.
It's legal, but only if you lock pick locks YOU own.
"This will get you anywhere."
Being polite and showing respect and gratitude.
This will get you anywhere.
"How to deal..."
How to deal with emotional pain in a healthy way. Pain is inevitable.
"Establish..."
Establish who is really benefitting from what you're supposed to do. I think this is why people are supposed to hate the objectivists. Everything you're supposed to believe is bad for you.
"How to tell when you are..."
How to tell when you are on a downward spiral, what you can do to stop it going downward, and how to help step yourself back up to being okay; and most importantly, how to forgive yourself for spiraling down.
If you can start learning early warning signs; cravings, self-talk, and such, you can learn to catch it earlier and it's not as much work to get back to okay.
Side note: it's okay to not be okay. Definitely. But working towards okay is easier if you can catch earlier your signs and movement towards a downward spiral. You're doing great!!
"When I was around 12..."
When I was a kid, I was that fat guy with the glasses, so things where not always easy back then.
When I was around 12 years old, I got invited to a Kyokushin karate lesson and stuck with it for 15 years. It wasn't about learning to fight others. It was about overcoming your fears, limits, and not giving up when things get hard. I gained confidence and character from these lessons.
This still affects my life on a daily basis in a very positive way and I am still grateful for everything I've learned during this time. I believe it will make any human being a stronger (I mean mentally) person, and help you overcome every day obstacles in life.
"Most of the time..."
Time management. I live by my planner but I still leave room for flexibility. Most of the time I come across people who either are way too rigid or have no sense of responsibility with keeping a schedule at all. Too often people wait until the last second and I just can't imagine how someone does that multiple times and not lose their mind. Learn to multitask, prioritize and be conscientious and adulting is less intimidating.
"Learn how to..."
How to cook basic things. Roast a chicken, make a lasagna, things like that. Learn how to season well. Learn how to prep efficiently. There's are small things to know that can make anyone confident in the kitchen.
"Hopefully..."
Basic first aid and CPR. Hopefully, this is a skill that you never actually need to use, but if it is needed, you could literally save a life.
"I've repaired..."
Sewing. Not even necessarily how to use a sewing machine, at least just hand sewing. I've repaired so many clothing items, backpacks, blankets and even furniture. I just can't stress how useful it is.
"You would be surprised..."
Basic money management. You would be surprised how many people have no clue on how to manage their budgets.
Bonus points if you understand compound interest.
"Especially if you happen..."
Basic kitchen skills. You don't have to be a great cook, but knowing basic cooking practices (knife skills, roasting something in the oven, sautéing, etc.) is invaluable. Especially if you happen to develop any sort of dietary restrictions later on (whether from allergies, weight issues, other health problems, or by choice) where being able to make even the most simple meal in the kitchen might be a lifesaver.
"Learning to budget..."
Time management.
If you find yourself not having enough time, it's either you (a) are wasting time on things that aren't important in the long run, or (b) you are biting off more than you can chew by accepting too many responsibilities.
Time is a lot like money; you don't realize you're running out until it's usually too late. Learning to budget your time like you (hopefully) do your money goes a long way in making sure you have time to do what you need to do, as well as removing things that aren't important from your schedule.
"Where I live..."
Learn how to drive. Even if you can't afford/don't need a car then you have your license and that can't be taken away from you (unless you mess up bad enough).
So many people I know can't drive and it's a huge inconvenience and it means they're dependent on other people. Where I live doesn't have good public transport links so driving is basically essential here.
You never know when you may need to drive a car so it's best to just know how and to get your license.
Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "
- People Explain What The Smartest Person They Know Does For A ... ›
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- People Explain Which Lessons They Learned Too Late In Life - George Takei ›
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For many childhood memories are overrun by living nightmares.
Yes, children are resilient, but that doesn't mean that the things we see as babes don't follow us forever.
The horrors of the world are no stranger to the young.
Redditor -2sweetcaramel- wanted to see who was willing to share about the worst things we've seen as kids, so they asked:
"What’s the creepiest thing you saw as a kid?"
Serious Danger
"Me and my best friend would explore the drainage tunnels under the Vegas area where we grew up. These were miles long and it was always really cool down there so it was a good way to escape the heat of our scorching hot summers. We went into this one that goes under the Fiesta casino and found a camp with a bunch of homeless people."
"Mind you we are like 11 years old lol. And we just kept going like it was nothing. It wasn’t scary then but when I look back at it we could have been in some serious danger. Our parents had no idea we did this or where we were and we had no cellphones. We could have been kidnapped and never have been found."
oofboof2020
Waiting for Food
"I was at a portillos once when I was 12 and I was waiting with my little brother at a booth while my parents got our food. This guy was standing with his tray kind of watching me then after a couple of minutes he started to walk over really fast not breaking eye contact with me."
"He was 2 feet from the table and my dad came out of nowhere and scared the s**t out of him. He looked so surprised and just said he wanted to see if I’d get scared or not. He left his tray full of food near the door and left. My folks reported him but we never went to that location again since we found a better one closer to home."
nowhereboy1964
Captain Hobo to the Rescue
"When I was a pretty young teen, my friends and I were horsing around in San Francisco and started hanging out to smoke with some homeless guys. Another homeless dude came up and began aggressively trying to shake us down for anything (money, smokes, a ride, drugs- all of it) and wouldn’t take no for an answer."
"We got in over our heads and could tell this guy was now riling the other 2 guys up and they were acting like they wanted to jump us. Some grandfather-looking old homeless man appeared out of nowhere and yelled at us to get the f**k out of here- nice kids like us don’t belong down here at this hour!!"
"Captain Hobo saved our lives that night. My parents sincerely thought we were at a mall all day lol."
FartAttack911
Survival
tsunami GIF
Giphy
"I was 7 and survived the 2004 tsunami in Thailand. Witnessed the wave rise way above the already massive palm trees (approx. 40ft?) and my family and I watched/heard the wave crash into the ground from a rooftop."
faithfulpoo
These Tsunami stories are just tragic.
On the Sand
Scared The Launch GIF by CTV
Giphy
"We were a group of kids who went to swim in a local lake. And there was a dead body on the beach with their hands raised and their legs bent unnaturally that local police just took out of the same lake. I've never put my foot in these waters again."
oyloff
Be Clever
"I was walking to school and I was about 5 or 6 years old and some guy pulled up beside me in his car and asked if I would get in. He also offered me sweets to do so. I said no. The creepy bit was when he calmly said ‘clever boy’ to me, then drove off. I’ve never even told my parents or anyone else about this as it would most likely freak them out."
OstneyPiz
Bad Jokes
"Dad's side of the family pranked me by burying a fake body on our back property and had me dig it up to find valuables. Was only allowed to use a lantern for light. They stuffed old clothes with chicken bones. Sheetrock mud where the head was... Random fake jewelry as the treasures... I was like maybe 10 or 11.. I remember digging up the boot first and started gagging because it became real at that point."
Alegan239
YOU
Who Are You Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
Giphy
"Woke up to find my little brother staring at me in the dark, asking, Are you really you?"
PrettyLola2004
Siblings can really be a bunch of creepers.
No one should talk to others in the dark though.
Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
Giphy
What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
Giphy
Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
sleepy kitten GIF
Giphy
Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
Angry Tom And Jerry GIF by Boomerang Official
Giphy
Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
Giphy
"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
Unimpressed Uh Huh GIF by Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Giphy
"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace
Giphy
"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
Giphy
"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.