Think to yourself while reading this; when was the last time you can pin point something you did that was genuinely, whole-heartedly, unexpectedly fun? That made you laugh until you cried or smile until your face went numb? When did you go out and try something new that you always wrote off because you assumed you wouldn’t like it at all? When did you say no to something just because it wasn’t necessarily the “norm” for you or the group of people you usually hangout with? Does something come to mind?

Now, if you can pin point something, think about it long and hard. What was it that made that memory so great? Where were you? Who were you with? What happened? I hope you’re smiling right now just thinking about it.

However, if you can’t say that you have a moment that sticks out against the rest, think a little bit harder. Why not? What stopped you? What’s stopping you now from finding that something?

What would your life be like if you stopped saying “no” to new experiences? What would you do that you’ve never done, or never even thought of doing before?

These are the kinds of questions I have been asking myself over the past year. Being a senior in college, it hit me like a brick one day that, soon enough, I’m going to be thrown out into the “real world.” When I move onto the next chapter of my life I will be taking all my college memories right along with me. The memories that I will be bringing with me will be a mix of the good, bad, and ugly. However, I want to make sure that the good significantly outweighs the bad and ugly, and I am the only person who has control over that. Your memories and what you experience in your lifetime is the single thing that no one can ever take away from you. The memories that make up your life are a part of who you are, so fill your life with ones that make you who you want to be.

Never stop reaching for whatever it is that will make your life great, whatever that might mean to you. Try new things, or try old things for a second time. Don’t sell yourself short; embrace whatever gets thrown your way. Sometimes, when you just let go of any preconceived ideas and take a chance on something totally random, you might just fall in love with something new. Surround yourself with experiences that might not be who you are right now, but that might become a part of who you were always meant to be.