The people featured in this article are famous for their ideas and intelligence. They would serve as good role models for anyone. These difference-makers have unique backgrounds and talents, and they all have insightful advice that will help us on our journeys, both those we take individually and those we take together.
Put simply, try to focus on the good things that are going on around you and in your life. Enjoy the little things, especially during the summer. Take a walk around your neighborhood with your family after dinner or ride a bike with a friend. Focus on what you want to do, rather than what you want to have.
Passion is essential in life. Apathy, the antithesis of passion, is a dangerous quality that results in stagnation. Get excited about something and run with it. Do something you’ve always wanted to do. Take a calligraphy class, train for a race, or learn how to code.
Some of the best things in life are hard to put into words, like scenic views, people, moments, and feelings. That’s why the best things can be better left unspoken — so you can truly learn to treasure a memory without feeling the need to satisfy someone's curiosity, tainting the memory in the process of struggling for words to describe the ineffable.
This is important to remember, especially as we college students apply for positions in organizations on campus, for internships, and for jobs. It’s scary, but we'll have to face challenges to make progress. If you’ve been putting something off because it seems like too much work, I hope this can be the push you need towards doing it.
Everyone has something to give to others or to the Earth. Plant a tree, play Free Rice while you watch Netflix to donate rice to undernourished people, or simply give your smile to others. Radiate love in any way you can.
Nothing productive comes from beating ourselves up over our mistakes. It’s a waste of time to keep looking back at our slip-ups. Focus instead on what you did right and the opportunity you have to excel tomorrow.
That's pretty incredible when you think about it. This idea signifies that each of us has something to offer others. People are knowledgeable about different things because knowledge is easier to retain if it relates to a person's interests. For example, if you love history and someone you are talking to doesn't know a particular fact about a war, it doesn't mean he or she is unintelligent. We don't all know the same things, and that's a good thing because we are meant to learn from each other, and the people we can learn the most from are often those who are interested in realms of study outside our own.
This quote expands on what Bill Nye said. Each person around us has strengths and talents. We need to figure out what they are and start loving people for them. Everyone deserves love. Why not be the person to show it and give it to those around you?
Get out there and explore. Do something on your bucket list before summer ends: Plan a road trip, visit your dream city, skydive, or go to a music festival. Be present in these moments. Put down your phone or camera for a few minutes and experience life as it is in the current moment.
I think each of these ideas has the ability to change your life if you let it. Pick the quote that stood out to you the most and paint it on a canvas to hang in your room, or think about how you can make small adjustments to daily life to live by it.
