Every job you have should prepare you for the next one somewhere else, even if you choose to stay where you are.

You are always one decision away from a totally different life. And that decision should be first and foremost to choose future over past. Your next step over the last one. Choose your ideal world and start building.

The only way to break through the noise, to create something, is to fully and wholeheartedly believe in yourself. Believe in yourself to the extent that you can detach from the criticism, detach from the façade of perfect lives on social media, and the expectations you’re immersed in.

What an amazing thing it is to be alive, doing this activity right now, in the miracle of existence, and of this moment. What a breathtaking thing, if only we don’t take it for granted, and fully appreciate the fleeting joyful beauty of this moment.

Taking risks is not just about going for a job or applying to a college. It’s about acting on what you know and accepting what you don’t know. It’s about being open to people and to ideas.

The Japanese have a term, “mono no aware” that speaks to the impermanence, ephemeral nature to all things. It’s so sweet, tinged with some sadness, because everything we care about is beautiful and fleeting. This fleetingness only makes things more precious.

“How much more meaningful what are stories BF, at our funeral, people talked less about her accomplishments and more about our encouragement?”

It’s all just a story, isn’t it? It’s a narrative in our heads, that we replay, over and over, until it beat us down into submission. The thoughts are not true. There’s no objective panel of judges in the sky who have judged us unworthy. We just made up the story, and we pick out evidence to match the narrative.

“This is the secret of happiness that, even if we don’t realize, dogs teach us daily”.

You are not responsible for saving anyone. You are not responsible for convincing them to improve. It’s not your work to exist for people and give your life to them.