My Mission in Life…Maya Angelou

It always makes me sad when I encounter people who go through life trying to survive the day-to-day troubles of life. Of course it’s important to eat, sleep, have shelter, and pay a few bills, but I feel like so many people miss out on the beauty of life. It sounds cliche, but it is the simple things in life that add moments of joy to counteract the many moments of pain that so many people have.

Spending time with family is a great joy to me. To see my family members smiling and enjoying each other’s company is well worth the squabbles that we have from time to time. Sharing a Skype call with a faraway college friend, or a cup of coffee with a local friend is just so calming and relaxing. Life is far too stressful to not even try to enjoy the good moments that it offers up from time to time.

Doing things that you love (hi there writing, how are you?), eating things that make you feel good, laughing at all the jokes, and enjoying the natural and man-made beauty all around you is part of what makes life so wonderful to live. Giving back to others and showing compassion is yet another way to give someone else the opportunity to have a moment of happiness and peace. Paying it forward just makes everyone’s day just a little bit better.

No matter what your current situation in life is, make a point to enjoy something once a day. It might be as simple as five minutes of silence when you manage to be alone, or your favorite sitcom on television, or the last piece of cake in the fridge. If we all look hard enough, even a smile from a stranger can help you feel better. The mindset you have in life colors the world around you.