1. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” – Ferris Bueller, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Don’t forget to step back and be thankful for where you are and where you’re going. Always remember to live in the moment, because it won’t last forever.
2. “We can experience nothing but the present moment, live in no other second of time, and to understand this is as close as we can get to eternal life.” – P.D. James, The Children of Men
We get one shot. Today. This moment. This is it. After it’s gone, there are no do-overs. How do you want to spend it?
3. “You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching.” -William W. Purkey
The thing we all need to understand about life is that it’s ours. It doesn’t belong to our family, our friends, our bosses, or our teachers, so why would we let anyone’s words or judgments tear us down? Do you. Express yourself shamelessly. Live for yourself.
4. “And tho’ \ We are not now that strength which in old days \ Moved Earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; \ One equal temper of heroic hearts, \ Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will \ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” -Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses
We’ve all been at a point in our lives where we feel like we won’t overcome the obstacles life throws at us, whether it be struggling to put words on a page, or feeling like you’re not good enough. When these feelings strike, remember that we all have the courage to keep moving, keep fighting, and always believe that you’re stronger than you think.
5. “It’s an imperfect world, but it’s the only one we got.” -Tony Stark, Iron Man
We all have a place and a purpose in this imperfect world. And even if we’re all living on Mars in 20 years, we only get one shot at this life, so we should make the most of it.
6. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Bernard M. Baruch
People and things come and go, but you’re stuck with yourself for the rest of your life, so you might as well be stuck with someone you like. Do what you want, say what you mean. Make no apologies, take no shit.
7. “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” – Bob Marley
‘Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.
8. “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sometimes, we have to accept that life is messy and can’t be controlled. So, when we find ourselves in situations that we can’t change, for better or worse, all that’s left is to have patience and wait for the storm to pass over.
9. “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela
So fall, and fall hard. Then get back up, dust yourself off, and trust yourself enough to fall again.
10. “You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated.” -Maya Angelou
And from the words of the legendary Dr. Angelou: the losses and difficulties in life are what teach us to grow and flourish. The moment we decide not to learn from mistakes and hardships is the moment we truly have lost ourselves.