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35 Real-Life “Santa Doesn’t Exist” Truths

Life serves up its fair share of letdowns, big and small. But that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. In fact, life can be pretty darn amazing. It’s just that we have to face the fact that pain, failure, and dashed hopes are part and parcel of being human. Learning how to handle them becomes a must.

A user named u/Just_Surround_2108 recently stirred things up on the r/AskReddit board by asking folks to spill the beans on their biggest adult disappointments. It’s like finding out Santa Claus isn’t real all over again. As you scroll through the thread, you’ll discover people sharing their unfiltered views on everything from work and relationships to beyond. Read some of the answers below.

#1

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Sometimes there is no justice.

#2

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Finding out that “reaching retirement” is about hitting a financial number and not reaching an age.

#3

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Recycling is, for the most part, a scam by corporations to move the physical and emotional weight of dealing with the harm their packaging causes off them and on to you.

#4

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For me it was realizing the high school mindset in people never ends see it in 60 yr olds in Facebook now

#5

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When you finish eating your dinner and there is no magical person to wash the dishes and you have to wash them yourself.

#6

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When both your parents die. I am in my mid 50’s and had my mom pass on Mother’s Day ‘22. My Dad then was living with us from then, and eventually reached in-home hospice status with a sudden stage IV cancer diagnosis. He died in January of this year, and then I got laid off from my tech job and was unemployed for 10 months. Nothing takes the wonderment and positive outlook from the world than having to empty out your childhood home solo and throw everything you grew up with into a big dumpster and are left to wonder what our lives really mean.

#7

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Bullies don’t always get their comeuppance. In fact, sometimes they achieve great things. Even the presidency.

#8

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Finding out people without empathy exist. And they are hard to pin down – even after many years of exposure to them.

#9

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That going to college and getting a 9-5 wasn’t going to be the fun, creative, latte-filled experience rom coms would have you believe.

#10

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Finally owning a house, then realising you now have to go through the effort and expense of maintaining it. It’s great you’ve got a house for 100k, now enjoy saving and spending at least half that to stop it crumbling, leaking or falling down over the next decades.

#11

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Being a hard worker and good at your job doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be rewarded for it.

#12

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The money doesn’t trickle down. It never did

#13

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When I was a kid I thought adults had everything figured out and couldn’t wait to grow up so I could be like them. HAH.

#14

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Christmas Bonuses almost NEVER exist. Worse fantasy than the clause…

#15

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Finding out the truth about Mother Teresa

#16

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That time period when your relationship switches and your parent looks to you for answers and advice, instead them being the one with all the answers.

#17

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$500 isn’t a lot of money

#18

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That some friends were never really your friend.

#19

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The average salary does not go up equivalent to the inflation rate.

#20

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Working full time and being too drained to chase your actual dream

#21

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If you’re intelligent, you have to be quiet because of people who are stupid.

#22

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Learning that two people can love each other more than anything in this world and still not be a good fit for a long term relationship. True and pure Love isn’t always enough

#23

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Finding out that your parents are people, too, with weaknesses or flaws that you were blind to when you were young.

#24

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Finding out that someone you have looked up to and admired your entire life is actually a horrible person.

#25

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When you buy an 8-piece tupperware set, 4 of the pieces are lids.

#26

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I thought I’d grow up, move out, find my footing in the grown up world and basically switch into cruise mode. Now I’m in my 40s and st is confusing as fk.

#27

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HR is NOT on your side.

#28

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Finding out that in the US it’s not really democrat vs republican, it’s the rich elites versus the rest of us.

#29

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You never actually feel like the adult

#30

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Realizing organized religion is a bunch of nonsense

#31

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One dumb mistake and it could all be over.

#32

A bachelor’s degree is not a coupon redeemable for one (1) full-time job in your field of choice after graduation.

#33

Realizing you’ll probably never have the, “aha,” moment that tells you what you want to do with your life and you’d better just pick the least depressing choice.

#34

That the world doesn’t stop when someone you love and need dies.

#35

The b******t of health insurance

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Saumya Ratan

Saumya is an explorer of all things beautiful, quirky, and heartwarming. With her knack for art, design, photography, fun trivia, and internet humor, she takes you on a journey through the lighter side of pop culture.