JOIN
OUR EMAIL LIST!
SIGN UP

People Explain Which Things They Quit As A Kid That They Wish They Had Continued

File:NUK swimming pool.png - Wikimedia Commons

It's the job of good parents to push their children to try new things. Now, sometimes hey don't always like that new thing, either because it's incredibly boring or because it's cutting into our Saturday morning cartoon time. It's not like there's some easy way for me to record the new episode of Power Rangers, mom! I don't want to go to little league practice...

Maybe they want you to try new things because that's the optimum time to try new things. As a child you're limitless, capable of falling off a house and getting right back up. Of course now is the time to give that new hobby or activity a go.

Until you stop.

Reddit user, u/Boogerman83, wanted to hear about what you gave up when they asked:

What is something you quit as a kid and now wish you continued?

Wait, How Old Is Twitch?

frustrated bart simpson GIF Giphy

I used to stream in the early days of twitch and got around 20-30 viewers, always wondered where I would be if I didn't stop.

Astolfie

Damn 20-30 viewers is actually really good. I know there are a lot of good streamers out there who typically have none, and I always look up to them for grinding it out.

thisisfelix_

Imagine If You Never Stopped

Collecting coins.

Nowadays I'm back to it though, but I wish I had accumulated them through the years.

LegateVesanus

Get That Elementary School Hustle

Trying to make as much money as possible. I quit doing it for my sanity when I became an adult.

Now I have no money and no sanity.

freebilly95

I think balance is the most important thing. I know people who work themselves to death and never have time to spend their hard earned cash. I try to work hard, but I set limits so that I keep mentally and financially healthy.

KenB314

Maybe Do A Little More Research Next Time, Mom...

Swimming. My mom took me out as soon as I was puberty aged (because she doesn't know how tampons work and honestly she's a lil afraid of them) but I miss being in the water

angelakailing

Useful In So Many Areas Of Life

Piano. I'm competent at other instruments, but I wish I had kept up with it. So versatile.

krapde

Definitely this. And all because my mom was such hard a-- disciplinarian about it. I really liked it at first and was really good, and eventually it basically became a punishment. YOU WILL COME DIRECTLY HOME FROM SCHOOL AND YOU WILL PLAY THAT DAMN PIANO AND BY THE TIME I GET HOME IF THAT SONG ISN'T PERFECT YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT THE SLEEPOVER SATURDAY.

There were nights that I'd be sitting there in tears, shaking, terrified because a song I was assigned was too difficult and my mom would be there screaming in my ear what a lazy embarrassment I was. In my early teens I was given the choice to keep going or not and it was the easiest decision I ever made. Thanks for ruining a healthy hobby and the life time of anxiety mom!

Ryguy55

Put One Word After The Other

homer simpson episode 6 GIF Giphy

I used to write stories constantly. I got discouraged when a family member I looked up to told me they were silly and no one would ever buy them. When I was a kid all I wanted to be was an author. Now I'm 40 and have had writer's block for decades.

TK_Sleepytime

Connecting To Your Youth The Only Way You Know How

Track and field. I found out later in life that I love running.

Verano_Zombie

It's annoying that most track meets are geared towards youth. Not everyone finds road racing enjoyable/suitable to their body type/cost effective. Fortunately there are a lot of meets open to older athletes. You just have to be okay doing it for your own purposes. Doesn't matter how the other athletes, much older and much younger, are performing in your heat. You're doing this for you.

runlots

Under The Sheets, By Flashlight, Until Mom Came In

Reading books. I would get so absorbed into them and I was doing well in school due to it. I regret stopping it

Zedfourkay

I had the same thing. Once I was forced to read, it was less fun. But I just told myself one day that I'm gonna read for 10 minutes before bed each night and also installed an app called "Streaks" to remind myself and track that I read. Almost two years in, I've only missed maybe 10-15 days of reading.

The first hurdle though is getting back into it. Try reading a book you loved as a kid—it'll be a nice, easy read and will bring you right back.

ryanb2010

Just Pick Up A Pencil Every Day

Drawing

Zisei

Came to post the same thing. I had a gift and let it rust.

LarryFong

It's So Easy, Right? So. Much. Running. Everywhere.

Staying in shape.

S3DTinyTurnips

Luckily this is one you can start any day. You'll see results in just weeks of you keep at it

TonDonberry

Yes you are correct. I did restart my intermittent fasting Monday. I previously lost 50 pounds on it, then covid hit and I was in a Fd up place....gained 30 back in like 3 months.

Back on track, tired of being miserable because of alcohol and food. Last night I went to bed sober, for the first time in years. That was hard as f-ck. But I am on my way. Thanks for the encouragement.

S3DTinyTurnips

Head Held High Because No One Can Keep You Down

homer simpson beach GIF Giphy

Being confident.

As a child, I had my head held high and cannot be bullied by anyone because I was so comfortable and acceptable of myself.

Current me is so marred with teenage emotional scars and issues that I can barely see my younger self in me anymore.

still_a_weeb_dweeb

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

People Describe The Most Traumatizing Thing They Ever Experienced As A Child

Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay

Life is hard. It's a miracle to make it through with some semblance of sanity. We are all plagued by grief and trauma. More and more people of all backgrounds are opening up about personal trauma and its origins. Finally! For far too long we've been too silent on this topic. And with so many people unable to afford mental health care, the outcomes can be damaging.

All of our childhoods have ups and downs and memories that can play out like nightmares. We carry that, or it follows us and the first step in recovery is talking about it. So who feels strong enough to speak?

Redditor u/nthn_thms wanted to see who was willing to share about things they'd probably rather forget, by asking:

What's the most traumatizing thing you experienced as a child?
Keep reading... Show less
childhood

People Divulge The Real Reason Why They're Still Single

Image by klimkin from Pixabay

Being single can be fun. In fact, in this time of COVID, being single can save lives. But the heart is a fickle creature.

And being alone can really suck in times of turmoil. None of us are perfect and it feels like that's all anyone is looking for... perfect.

Now that doesn't mean that all of us are making it difficult to partner up. Sure, some people are too picky and mean-spirited, but some of the rest of us are crazy and too much to handle. So one has to be sure.

The truth is, being single is confusing, no matter how much we try to match. So let's try to understand...

Redditor u/Mcxyn wanted to discuss some truths about love and our own issues, by asking:

Why are you single?
Keep reading... Show less
being single

Chefs Divulge The Most Important Tips That Amateur Cooks Need To Know

Tiard Schulz/Unsplash

Whether you're an at home parent, a college student just leaving the nest, or a Food Network junkie, there are a few basic tips that everyone should know.

Chef's gave us some of their top tips for amateurs and beginner at home cooks that will really make a difference. They are trained professionals with years of experience in the kitchen, so they definitely know what we're all missing.

If you're looking to improve some of your cooking skills and techniques, but you're still learning how to boil water correctly, this list is for you.

Redditor BigBadWolf44 wanted in on the secrets and asked:

"Chefs of Reddit, what's one rule of cooking amateurs need to know?"

Let's learn from the masters!


What a common mistake!

"A lot of the time when people add salt to a dish because they think it tastes flat, what it really needs is an acid like lemon juice or vinegar."

- Vexvertigo

"Instructions unclear I drugged my dinner party guests and now they're high on acid."

- itsyoboi_human

"Yes! Or tomatoes. They're pretty acidic too and go with so many things. Our dinners are so much better once the garden tomatoes are ripe. Or if a dish is too acidic, oil/butter or a little sugar can help add balance to it."

- darkhorse85

"Like tomato and eggs. Every Chinese mom makes those slightly differently and I haven't had a tomato egg dish I didn't like yet."

- random314

"There's a book called 'Salt Fat Acid Heat' that comes highly recommended to amateur cooks."

- Osolemia

"Reading even just the first chapter about salt made a lot of food I cooked immediately better, because I finally understood salt wasn't just that thing that sat on the dinner table that you applied after the meal was cooked."

- VaultBoy42

"Salt is important for sweets. A batch of cookies without that little hint of salt doesn't taste quite right."

- Osolemia

Unfortunately, this tip might not be accessible to everyone. Many people who contracted COVID can no longer use their sense of smell the way they used to.

"Have a friend that lost his smell from COVID, and now he only recognizes if food is salty, sweet, sour or bitter."

- AlphaLaufert99

"Just wait until he gets his sense of smell back and a ton of foods smell like ammonia or literal garbage now. Yeah, that's fun... It's been 7 months for f*cks sake just let me enjoy peanut butter again!!!!!!!!!"

- MirzaAbdullahKhan

You can't take back what you've already put in.

"You can always add, but you cannot take away."

- El_Duende666

"I find people's problems usually are they're too scared to add rather than they add too much."

- FreeReflection25

"I see you also grew up white in the mid-west."

- Snatch_Pastry

Safety first!

"Not really a cooking tip, but a law of the kitchen: A falling knife has no handle."

- wooddog

"I'm always so proud of my reflexes for not kicking in when I fumble a knife."

"If I drop anything else, my stupid hands are all over themselves trying to catch it (and often failing). But with a knife the hardwired automatic reaction is jump back immediately. Fingers out of the way, feet out of the way, everything out of the way. Good lookin out, cerebellum!"

- sonyka

"Speaking of KICKING in. On first full time cooking job I had a knife spin and fall off the counter. My (stupid) reflex was to put my foot under it like a damn hacky sack to keep it from hitting the ground. Went through the shoe, somehow between my toes, into the sole somehow without cutting me. Lessons learned: (1) let it fall; (2) never set a knife down close to the edge or with the handle sticking out; (3) hacky sack is not nearly as cool as it could be."

- AdjNounNumbers

"Similarly, NEVER put out a grease or oil fire with water. Smother with a lid or dump baking soda in there (do not use flour, as it can combust in the air making things worse)."

- Metallic_Substance

How else will you know it tastes good?

"Taste the food."

- OAKRAIDER64

"Also don't be afraid to poke and prod at it. I feel like people think the process is sacred and you can't shape/flip/feel/touch things while you cook them. The more you are hands on, the more control you have."

"No, this does not include situations where you are trying to sear something. Ever try flipping a chicken thigh early? That's how you rip a chunk out of it and leave it glued to the pan until it's burnt."

- Kryzm

Here's one just for laughs.

"When you grab a pair of tongs, click them a few times to make sure they are tongs."

- Kolshdaddy

"People really overlook this one. You've gotta tong the tongs a minimum of 3 times to make sure they tong, or else it can ruin the whole dish."

- BigTimeBobbyB

If you're looking to get into cooking or to improve you technique, pay attention to these few tips.

Salt generously, add an acid to brighten things up, and don't forget to taste your food!

If all else fails, you can always order take out.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

cooking

People Describe The Most Inappropriate Thing They Ever Did As A Kid

Victoria_Borodinova/Pixaba

As part of the learning process, children often do embarrassing things before they learn a little more about the world and all the different implications therein. While the inappropriate moment is usually minor and ends in laugher some instances are truly mortifying.

One such instance involved a little sister who was around 6 at the time. It was the 90s and at the height of the youth-focused PSAs (think the frying egg representing your brain). One type was a safety PSA about stranger danger. The speaker would remind the children that if a stranger tried to take you anywhere to yell “Stop, you're not my mommy/daddy" to raise the alarm.

Keep reading... Show less