Day 21

"To be great is to be misunderstood" - Ralph Waldo Emerson


This quote reminds me to be myself and follow my own path. It is tempting to want to keep up with the Joneses, the Kardashians, and whoever else. However, sometimes that is just not possible given where we need to be in life, rather than where we feel like we should be.

Doing what is right for myself means taking a step back and learning about myself through acceptance.

Day 20

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails" - Bertha Calloway

When life hits us with a storm, we decide how to react to it. Sometimes we are not fully aware that we are making a decision, but I know it helps me to stop and think of what is in my control and what I can let go. There are way too many things we already worry about, why not drop some of the things we cannot change for the time being?

Day 19

"A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else"  - George Savile

For me, one of the things I struggle with most is waiting. Society has primed us to expect convenience and instant gratification. And I am not using society as an excuse for my impatience, but I will say there are many differences between the United States (especially the Northeast) and other countries. While I was studying abroad in Granada, Spain, I was shocked to see how important relaxation is. Siestas are celebrated and incorporated into the day, as businesses shut down from 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. In Spain, I had to learn to practice patience, mostly because I had never had to do so before. It was also much harder to be an anxious, stressed out person when I had taken time to relax. This helped me become a much more easygoing, happy person who did not get frustrated with untimely people or situations. Even though I live in the United States and it may be harder to intrinsically be patient, it is a habit that should be practiced. 

Day 18

"Ask yourself: 'Can I give more?'. The answer is usually: 'Yes'." - Paul Tergat, Kenyan professional marathoner

In honor of the upcoming Pittsburgh Marathon (I will be running the 5K on Saturday and the marathon relay of 6.1 miles on Sunday), I decided a motivational running quote would be fitting for today. I love running because it is a challenge. It's a mental challenge more than anything for me, because my feet can be in pain, but I will just push myself farther because I know what I'm capable of. And I think that's how runners become winners.

Disclaimer: Listen to your body. Don't ignore an injury.

Day 17

"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" 

My mom used to tell this to me all the time. Now I get to give credit where credit is due.

Sometimes it takes more control to bite my tongue and not say something than to speak. I know how momentarily satisfying it would be to let that insult or bit of gossip roll off my tongue. However, I think that gaining some willpower to control what I say (and don't say) would not allow me to speak negatively, and therefore make me a more pleasant person. Now the next time someone says something insulting, whether they meant it or not, it is up to me how I react to them. If I need a break to think about what to say, I will breathe deeply and repeat "silence is golden".

Thanks, mums! :)

Day 16

"Happiness consists in activity; such as the constitution of our nature; it is a running stream, and not a stagnant pool" - Anonymous

 Sometimes I get lazy. I get comfortable in how my life is, and I do not see any need to make any changes. If it's not broken, why fix it? But I know deep down inside that some of the best changes come from the greatest challenges. As a catalyst, they provide me with a sense of motivation and urgency to act towards obtaining happiness. I am reminded everyday that if I want happiness, I need to act to make that happen.

Day 15

"It's not my job to make sure you do what's right. It's my job to make sure I do what's right, regardless of what you do." -Taken from a friend

I think one of the most important lessons I have learned this year is that I need to first focus on doing what is right for myself in order to be a more positive example.  It does not matter what other people do, if I want to see change, I have to make it happen myself. Lead by example. That's why I think it is so vital to not get worried if others are doing the right or wrong things, even if it is a major source of frustration. That starts with assessing if it is in my control or not. Letting go of what I cannot control is one of the hardest things to do, but it saves me anxiety and makes me happier in the end.