Mottos. Catch phrases. Words to live by. There are plenty of these that make their way into our hearts and minds every day, and sometimes, a few of them stick. We tweet them, display them in poster form on our walls or even make them our Instagram captions.
Mottos are unique to each of us, holding special places in our hearts with meanings only fully understood by the individual. One can find a motto in many place: in the words of a loved one, in the pages of a beloved novel, quoted from a television show or heard in a favorite song.
I found my life motto in a Miranda Lambert song. “I guess if you don’t jump, you’ll never know if you can fly.” These lyrics, from her (in my opinion, extremely underrated) song “New Strings,” have been my inspiration and driving factor for six years now. Hell, if I ever were to get a tattoo (no, Mom, I’m not getting a tattoo), these would be the words I’d want permanently inked onto my skin for the rest of my life.
These words signify the necessity of being fearless and taking chances—a life skill that becomes increasingly important the older we get and the more opportunities life presents to us.
“I guess if you don’t jump you’ll never know if you can fly.” I first heard these words when I was fourteen years old. I was finishing grade school, readying myself to move onto high school. This was the first major transition moment of my life. The first time I really had to jump and see if I could fly. High school was new territory. To leave the comfort of a school I’d attended for nine years and enter the new world of high school was truly taking a leap of faith at that age. Miranda’s words were always in my mind, encouraging me, guiding me, becoming my own.
These words were there throughout high school, too. As I made new friends, joined new clubs, got my first part-time job, and was presented with many leadership opportunities, this motto helped me to be brave, jump and see all that I’m capable of.
Two years ago, “I guess if you don’t jump you’ll never know if you can fly” encouraged me to take the leap to go to college in Washington, D.C. It’s taught me to take advantage of every chance college gives – making new friends, joining Greek life, joining various clubs, taking on leadership positions, studying abroad. This motto helped shape me into who I am today.
This one line from “New Strings” is a line to live by. I listen to this song when I need encouragement, when I need inspiration, just waiting for those thirteen words that mean so much to me.
I’m even listening to it as I write this piece. I repeat these words over and over in my head when I need motivation. I scribble them in my notebook while preparing for an exam. I’m so thankful for this motto and the inspiring influence it’s had on my life. I know it’ll continue to encourage me to jump to see how high I can fly in the future. “I guess if you don’t jump you’ll never know if you can fly.”
Thanks, Miranda Lambert, for sharing these words that have given my life so much meaning.
