What’s a mistake that taught you something important?

Marrying young without really knowing myself. Not saying it was wrong .. my wife is wonderful and I don't regret her. But I went straight from college to a job to marriage without ever figuring out who I actually was outside of family expectations. Taught me that you can be doing everything 'right' by everyone else's standards and still feel like you're running on someone else's script. Now I'm more intentional about what I actually want versus what I was just supposed to want..

Joining the military and going all-in with it. They’re not family. Be wary of anything who’s not family but expects the family treatment. Will probably end up mostly one-sided and abusive.

Don't give advice unless asked.

Ignoring red flags because I wanted the good parts to be true

patience