It is so easy to lose sight of what is truly important in life. Do you ever catch yourself complaining about the workload in that hard class you enrolled in or about the guy that never texted you back?

It is in our nature to always find something to complain about. It seems we are never satisfied—like our happiness is temporary.

Keep in mind, I am definitely not saying your complaints are not valid—guys I am in an International Business class and it feels like I may drown in the amount of material we are required to know for an exam. An individual’s feelings should always be validated.

The message I am trying to get across is, take a step back and evaluate your complaints—look at the bigger picture. There are people in this world that don’t have the luxury of attending The University of Texas at Austin, lack loving and supportive parents and there are many that struggle with the simple act of providing themselves with three meals a day.

Under stress from staying on top of my classes, finishing up graduate school applications and prepping for life after college, I find myself forgetting to appreciate the little things in life. Ironically enough, the little things tend to be the most fulfilling. Some of these little things are, your roommate writing you a note to wish you good luck on your exam, blasting music in your car and jamming out to “Sorry Not Sorry” by Demi Lovato—shoutout to my girl Megan--having genuine conversation with perhaps a new group of people, sitting outside on a cool Sunday morning and enjoying the weather with some of your closest friends, sharing a meal with someone you love, or maybe just lighting some candles in your room while you catch up on some journal entries.

Life is beautiful and it flies by, so just hit pause every once in a while and remind yourself to acknowledge how lucky you are and how much life has to offer. Sure, life has its lows but without them, would we truly be experiencing life to the fullest? After all, our hardships are what allow us to grow and gain new perspectives.