In our fast-paced lives, it is quite easy to forget some important things that would make our days exponentially better. I think it is profoundly important to remind ourselves every day of the little things that make Life worth it in spite of all the heartbreak, tears, arguments, disappointments, and pain. Because I believe this so fervently, I decided to write a list of 5 things to remember every day to remind myself and others of the truly important things in life.

1. Tell the people you love, you love them.

While I was growing up, I didn't feel comfortable saying those three words so casually, even if it was to the people I loved. I didn't realize the mistake I was making each time I let a moment go by without telling the people in my life I loved them until I lost someone very close to me and regretted not saying it enough. You can never say "I love you" too often; life is extremely short and we lose loved ones in the blink of an eye. It's better to have said "I love you" a million times than none.

2. Congratulate yourself on both the little things and the big things.

I admit that I rarely congratulate myself on my achievements or recognize them, in fact I usually criticize myself far more than I should because I strive for perfection that doesn't exist. However, I do acknowledge that we should all make a habit of congratulating ourselves, and recognize our hard work. In life, it is incredibly too easy to focus on our failures and defeats--we should all make an effort to acknowledge both the small and large victories.

3. Think of yourself first every once in a while.

It's acceptable to be selfish every now and them, it is completely okay to think of ourselves first sometimes. If we do everything for others, we'll be left with nothing for ourselves, consequently nothing for others. Similarly, the opposite is bad too. We cannot do everything for ourselves either. We should strive to achieve a balance between selflessness and selfishness.

4. It's okay to cry.

Life isn't easy for anyone; it will kick you in the a** no matter where you're from, how much money you have, what you look like, or what you believe in. Crying is just one of life's many symptoms. It isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign that your heart has been so strong that it needs to let a little of the pain out in order to continue being strong. Crying can go a long way, sometimes it's the only thing that will help. Crying is okay. Tell yourself this every time you get the urge to cry.

5. Love yourself.

If nothing else, love yourself, appreciate yourself, put yourself first. Life is fleeting, just like many of the the people that pass through our lives; the only two reliable things in life are change and ourselves. So let's love ourselves above all else, so that we can give our love fully to those that surround us.

I don't claim to know everything at sixteen, not nearly, but there are some things I do know, some things I have learned. These five things are part of the many things I have learned since I realized the importance of cherishing life.