"Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." -Mother Teresa
Freshly moved in to an apartment and paying bills for the first time, I find myself somewhere in between being a teen and being a full-blown adult. Through the stress of maintaining my own place and trying to balance funds on top, it's very easy to be pulled down mentally. So many of us go through life exhausted and unfulfilled, living paycheck to paycheck.
You're not in high school anymore. You're not with your friends, you're not with your folks, maybe you're crammed in a dorm with someone you hate, or maybe you're working the graveyard shift at the gas station praying for the hours to pass faster. The cold truth is that it doesn't get easier. This is just the beginning of your employment history, and we're much too young to try counting down to retirement.
Truth is, our generation is just at a very awkward stage of life. Between the accusations of entitlement issues to rising unemployment, we've been deserted by many dreams and had many doors closed in our faces. In the news, on social media, and all around us the world is consumed by murder and chaos.
A few days ago, a customer said to me: "Keep smiling. You'll make all our days a little brighter." I haven't been able to get it out of my head. Human beings are very egocentric at heart. We worry about our well-being and prioritize ourselves above all others. As working adults, it's our responsibility to keep our heads held high and our voices heard. No matter what you've been told, this world is in desperate need of good vibes.
Consider it your moral duty, from this day forward, to make everyone's day a little better. Most of our economic problems stem from the loss of unity in our America. Only we can improve ourselves by thinking positively within. Instead of letting the troubles we have bog us down, we need to focus more on uniting our generation and creating a better future. Surround yourself with people that love and build you up, and ditch the ones that put you down. At this especially new and exciting point in our young lives, it's essential to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I promise, there is one.
Changing your mindset isn't something that happens overnight. It takes months and years of personal growth and self-esteem, but you'll get there. If no one has said it before, I'm telling you now that you can make a difference in this world. Unique and beautifully made, you have what it takes to break the cycle. Focus on loving yourself today to improve your tomorrow.
