Kelly Hoppen: What lesson has mattered most in your life?

The question

What lesson has mattered most in your life?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two fully readable publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Kelly Hoppen

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Living life to the full, not having regrets and not trying to plan your future too much. Just enjoy every minute.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 September 2024 source ↗

Others on this question

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Minnie Driver British and American actress

That your life is only in this very second.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 February 2023 source ↗

Pauline McLynn Irish character actress and author

Never be rigid in your thinking, be open.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 July 2023 source ↗

Simon Boas Aid worker; executive director of Jersey Overseas Aid

All our tombs will be unvisited in a few years - all our actions will mostly be unremembered - but the smile you gave the checkout lady or the kind words you gave to a stranger in the street could still be rippling forward. We all have that opportunity and it's a huge power.

Recorded Emma Barnett, BBC Radio 4, Today, as published by BBC News, 4 July 2024 source ↗

Sarah Hadland

You are good enough.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 December 2025 source ↗