Benedictine University's business building's auditorium- that's where it happened. That's where I received the finest advice I've ever been given. The auditorium was crowded with anxious teens awaiting the names of winners for their individual competitions to be called. It was the weekend of MIST (Muslim Inter-Scholastic Tournament). Before the trophies and medals could be awarded, there was a speech by journalist Noor Tagouri. If I took away anything that weekend, it would be Tagouri's words.
To begin the speech, Tagouri introduced herself. A video of her own personal introduction was played via her YouTube channel. At first, I assumed her speech was going to reflect the theme MIST had set:The Race Against Time. But, instead Tagouri shared stories of her personal life and the ways she found herself and how she became the woman she is today. If you're unfamiliar with Noor Tagouri, she's the type of person who you can't help but smile at when you're walking across the street. She has a very genuine look to her and she's unashamed of who she is, she walks as well as talks with utter confidence.
As Tagouri was explaining her childhood and how she felt as if she was the odd one out in her community because everyone around her was so alike, I wondered how she gained the confidence that shone through her on stage. Then, she said ten words: ten words that have changed the way I now view every situation I encounter.
"What people say about you is none of your business," Noor Tagouri.
It took me a while to grasp this concept. I didn't understand what she meant, I pondered why someone who has their name in my mouth should be none of my concern. Nonetheless, I tried out the concept and totally disregarded anyone who had no meaning in my life. Now, I don't worry about small and unimportant things like rumors or even what's going on in people's lives around me. Trust me, it feels great.
We don't realize the amount of time we spend talking or even worrying about irrelevant people in our lives. We spend so much of this time discussing others solely because we want to talk, and gossip is usually the go-to topic for conversations. But, once you realize that none of it should really affect you, then you can focus on more important things and people: like family, close friends, education, career, health, etc.
