Life can be what you make it.

Quote: "I have many lives to live, and I have already spent too much time on this one."

This quote has stuck with me since I heard the exact context in college English Class when we were studying specific poets, authors. At that moment in college, I could relate to this quote because I believed in it and could see myself living a few different lives if I wanted to. But maybe that was all just an idea in my head and not reality. Now I realize the extent to which I might not actually believe in this quote at all...I now see that this quote is also a challenging one in the sense that there is more to the picture.  I am often drawn to the idea of "re-inventing" myself or finding new hobbies, new passions, new outlets for my curiosity and sense of self. But as much as people try new things or surround themselves with different people, some things always stay the same. There are good things about change and there are good things about kicking bad habits, and finding positive people to be around. In the end, sometimes the very thing that can make you self-destruct is perhaps yourself. Once we have gotten a good foundation to lean on and to learn from, much of life is in our own hands...and in our own grasp. The idea that life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you handle it...can be said. But the reality is...Everyone wants different things out of life, and the ideal picture of life for someone looks completely different from someone else's ideal dream. What one person thinks is the most horrible thing in the world, someone else might think of it in a completely different way.

Hindsight is 20/20...but would we be the people we are if we have not made the mistakes that got us where we are. Some mistakes are how we learn about ourselves and how we learn about the world around us. Those mistakes, misfortunes, and wrong turns are highly valuable in the end. A little bit of life experience can go a long way. Our society has come a long way from the old days where people were expected to go down a straight and narrow path without many choices along the way. Now there are many different career paths to choose if you want to work, many times to start a relationship with who you choose, and many different times to see your "life-plan" come together. And the good thing is, there is no deadline and there is no reason why your "dream" or "goals" cannot change over and over again. The funny thing is...while you think you are searching, improving, and reaching your destination...the whole time you are LIVING. Everything you do does not have to scream excitement and fireworks do not have to go off about every little thing. During the journey, things that give you comfort, happiness, and peace are all things worthwhile. When you can sit down and really be glad with who you are and what you are doing...and how you treat others...and think what you have given back...and what you have gained from your friendships, relationships, family...that is when you realize that you might not have anything to run from and you do not have anything that you have to prove. Relish the simple moments that bring about all the clarity in the world. When we look at the big picture, we realize that the little details that people worry about and fret over are not always that important. Life is beautiful. The more you learn about others, the more you appreciate people's differences. So instead of running from yourself and thinking you always have to keep things fresh or new, don't forget what is right in front of you. Bring in the new things, but don't forget to remember what has gotten you here and what will get you to an even brighter future. You have one life to live, so live it well.