Older Adults, Share With Us The Things You Took For Granted In The Past That You Wish You Had Appreciated More

As we age, it's not uncommon to reflect on the past and think about our younger selves and what we didn't appreciate back then. (I'm only 27, but I sure do miss when my lower back didn't hurt.) So, if you're an older adult, I'm curious to know: what are the things you took for granted when you were younger that you wish you had savored more?

Maybe you wish you had appreciated spending more time with your parents. You didn't realize it fully then, but as you got older, so did they.

Maybe you wish you hadn't taken for granted your mobility — being able to go wherever and whenever you wanted without worrying about aching limbs, losing energy quickly, or accessibility.

Or maybe you wish you appreciated the simplicity of life before smartphones, tablets, and social media more: having more third spaces, not being accessible by phone 24/7, spending more time outside of the house whenever you were bored, and more.

Whatever the case, if you're an older adult, I want to know what you now realize you took for granted when you were younger. If you want a chance to be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post, share your story with us in the comments, or you can anonymously submit it using this form!