I believe.... I can fly??? In a thing called love??? In life after love?? Sorry, the first things that popped into my head were lyrics to songs about believing. Don't stop believin'?? I saw her face now I'm a believer???
Ok, I'm done.
There are many sentiments that I try to live my life around. I am inspired every day by people, places, and ideas. But if I search my soul, two beliefs stand out that I feel are the core of who I really am.
1. Life is too short to be anything less than 100% happy.
In my job and in my life, I often find myself connecting with people who are looking for a change. Something in their lives doesn't quite fit, but they can't always pinpoint what that might be. Sadly, I find that too many people accept the status quo just "because." They settle on a job, a location, or a life partner simply because the timing worked out. But why?? If you're not happy with your situation now, you certainly won't be happy with it 5 years from now. It's an easy scale to measure. If there is something in your life that is making you less happy than more happy, for Pete's sake CHANGE IT!
The one thing that binds us all together as humans is that we all have ONE life to live. Just one. That's it, that's all. Don't settle for anything less than being happy in this one short life. And happiness certainly doesn't need to come from professional or financial success. I am certainly no millionaire, but I happen to love what I do for a living. I would rather get paid very little to do something I love than dread getting up and going to work in the morning just so I could buy nice things. But that's just me :)
As I know too well, things happen that make us less than happy, caused by factors that are out of our control. And that's okay. But you can choose to move forward and work toward helping yourself get back on the plus side, or you can choose to accept that you'll never be as happy again. But really, is that any way to life this one life you are given?
2. "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Plato
Have you ever met someone who just REALLY got under your skin? Almost as if they were put on this Earth for the sole purpose of torturing you? No, never?? Yeah, me either.... Ummmm.
Ok, I'm lying. There are some people who have given me a horrible first impression, and I have dreaded meeting them again simply based on that impression alone. But I'm here to admit that 9 times out of 10, my negative first impressions are wrong. This is why I believe you can't always judge someone based on the character they portray. I try to reserve judgment until I've delved a little deeper into who they are as a person, where they come from, and what factors may have influenced their life. And just because I may not "click" with that person does not make them any less of a human deserving of kindness and compassion. Just as most of the people who do not know me can't understand the struggles I have faced, isn't it possible that Joe Schmoe who acts like a butthead in line at Kroger may be battling through his own form of heartache at this very moment?
Point is: Be nice to people, even if you aren't positive they deserve it. If nothing else, I promise you'll sleep better at night.
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