I remember in middle school, eighth grade to be exact, I first watched the movie "We Bought a Zoo." It was a movie that contained a scene that I would never forget and that I would learn to live by.

This scene, in particular, contained a line that I still think of very often.

"You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery and I promise you, something great will come of it." - Benjamine Mee, "We Bought a Zoo"

The first time these words came through the speakers of my classroom and entered my being, I thought: Wow, what if we actually lived by this? What if we just lived?

We are human. It can be so easy to get wrapped up in our own fears and insecurities, and that prevents us from doing the things we really want to do.

Our fears prevent us from living.

We are so lucky to live in a world where we can do so much. The only thing preventing us from taking steps and taking risks are ourselves. The things we fear, the doubts we have, the insecurities we think of way too much; they are all just bricks building up a wall to protect ourselves, but from what? To protect us from living?

It is natural to be afraid. Whether you are afraid to ask the cute barista you have been crushing on for his number or to move to a big city with nothing but a few dollars and dreams; It is okay to worry. However, if we constantly live in worry we live in regret.

I think this is why this one particular line has always had such a huge impact on me. The words are just so true.

All we need is 20 seconds of courage and no matter what the outcome of the situation, the feeling of doing it will be greater than the regret of what could have been.

I am known by most to be a rather spontaneous person, but that doesn't mean that I am always a brave person. I am insecure and I can't tell you how nervous I get in certain situations, but when these situations approach, I think of this movie and this line. I'm definitely not saying that it always helps and I always do whatever it may be that I am afraid to do, but I am saying that knowing the truth of it is something to think about.

I will never do everything that I want. Sometimes, my fears and insecurities will win. Sometimes, I will or prevent my own self from doing amazing things or I will never allow myself to witness the amazing things that could come from certain situations. But I will always know that all it takes is 20 seconds.

We can live. We can beat our fears and we can be courageous.

The next time you want to jump from a plane, do it. The next time you want to tell someone how you feel, do it. The next time you want to dance in the rain or take a random road trip, do it.

Take 20 seconds to do something you have never done before. Take 20 seconds to remember how to live.