It's so easy nowadays to get caught up in a process, to find yourself running through the same everyday procedure. It's almost as if we become immersed or lost in the world we live in. Sounds familiar right? Maybe you’re a college student, rushing to get to class. Maybe you’re headed to work and stuck in busy traffic. Wherever you might find yourself today, you need to read this.

Have you ever truly stopped to acknowledge that you're alive and breathing? It’s a simple thing really. Nonetheless, it's so often forgotten and easily taken for granted. It’s time to challenge that way of thinking.

Because You Are Alive.

Your life in and of itself holds so much beauty, importance, and opportunity. And that's amazing.

Maybe you’ve forgotten all the tools you already have that make you so gifted. Today, let me remind you. You have a heartbeat that keeps you going. A brain, capable of amazing knowledge. Hands, that allow you the power to reach out and to help. Eyes, to see the beauty in landscapes of the world all around you. A mouth to speak life into all you do. And so much more.

Do you believe you are utilizing the gifts you’ve been given in life? Are you truly doing all you can to fulfill your purpose? Or are you just giving the bare minimum?

Let those words sink in. The bare minimum. Average. Just getting by.

These are not things I want to be, and these things are not meant for you either.

So let us be anything but these things.

Let us be people of relentless, undying passion.

To show exuberant willpower and determination in all that we do.

Why? Because you are so unbelievablycapable of reaching your full potential. It is out there and it's ready for you. So what inspires you? What truly motivates you? Search for it. And once you find it, live it out each day and never stop. Know that your personal willpower is your biggest tool in life. Hold onto that, and don't let a single second of it go to waste.

Today is the day. It is officially time to stop the flow of average. To end the cycle of being robots in life, and slaves to the game of routine. It is time we take ownership of our lives and of our own potential. That we fully embrace our struggles. That we realize how much stronger we become in what we go through, and the wisdom gained from our experiences. Know that life is not about the past. It's about moving forward. It's about recognizing the beauty of each and every day and always finding something to be thankful for. It's a continuous shift into a positive mindset.

These words embody what i strive for and what I want my mindset to hold:

I vow to always notice the beauty of the world around me.

To slow down and hold the door for a stranger.

To give a compliment to a friend.

To listen more than I speak.

To be a light to everyone I meet.

To be selfless, to be present, to live in the moment.

Maybe your mantra is a little different or maybe it's the same. Either way, this life is yours for the taking. Don’t waste another day going through the motions. Be ambitious. Be bold. Live out every day with intent. Be observant. Make a promise to yourself to always notice the little things, because all these moments are what make this thing called life so. dang. beautiful.