Throughout your life you'll have billions of conversations. Within those conversations you learn lessons, about life, love, sometimes even yourself. Not everything in those conversations stick with you, but when they do, you know they're important.

This list is a compilation of things that people have said to me that stuck. This list doesn't even come close to all the things that people have said that changed me, shaped me into who I am today, and showed me what the world is really like. I want to show you that even the simplest of words, or sentences that mean nothing to you, can mean the world to someone else. So here it is; simple letters that form into words that form into life.

1. "I love you"

This is probably the most common of all the quotes on this list. People say it every day, some mean it and some don't, but in the end, both are important. Having someone tell me and mean it changed me, it made me compassionate, and kind. I didn't just hear those words, but I felt them. My family and friends tell me they love me all the time, it's wonderful to know someone cares, but there are different kinds of love.

Love for a family member, love for a friend, or love for a romantic partner. I love you has so much meaning behind it, each time meaning something different. Loving and being loved is a marvelous thing. On the other hand, having someone tell you they love you and not mean it, that is heart breaking. It also changed me, it made me strong, I learned that the only person who I need the love of is me.

2. "Don't be afraid of your emotions"

Love, hate, sadness, anger, all of these feelings are just a part of life. Holding them in hurts you. Once upon a time I held in all of my anger for months. This changed me, it gave me an underlying anger and sadness with everything I did. I developed road rage, my friends and family didn't know who I was anymore. So once again, don't be afraid of your emotions. Feelings are important, let them out.

3. "It is not your duty to save people or try and make them a better person."

Helping is in my blood. I go out of my way to help others and sometimes even compromise myself and my needs. I have to remind myself that not every problem has to be my problem, help when you can, if you can. Sometimes, people can't be changed and that is okay too.

4. "Fall in love- with terrible strength."

This was from a letter my junior year English teacher gave to me. I never thought much of it until the following year when I did fall in love. It was beautiful and magical, like my own little movie. I felt a love I had never experienced before, this person, my love, understood me like no other. Having someone see you in a way that no one ever had before, giving them a piece of your heart, bearing your soul to them, it's an experience everyone should have.

In the end, my love ended with a broken heart, a broken soul, and a broken person, but today I wouldn't be me without this special love. I hope one day I will find love again, I hope it's beautiful and magical, I hope it is kind and compassionate. If it ends in heartbreak once again, so be it; my soul will change and find love once again.

5. "All you need to understand music is to open your ears and open your heart"

I don't really know why this quote has stuck with me all this time. I heard it during a preconcert lecture that I had gone to for the Tennessee Symphony. As a musician music is a huge part of my life. So many of my friends don't like instrumental music because it has no lyrics so it's hard for them to understand. If you are one of those people, put on some instrumental music, turn out the lights, lay in bed, and just listen; open your ears and open your heart to the music. I promise, you'll understand what it is saying.

6. "Whatever you do and wherever you go; do it with all your heart."

This one is my favorite of all. I have been told many variations of this quote throughout my life and every time it resonated with me. Whenever I do anything I think about this, it taught me to give everything I do 110%. I earned everything I have because I tried.

I hope these quotes resonate with you. I challenge you to sit down and write a list of all the important things people have said to you. Think to yourself; "has this impacted my life, how have I changed because of this?" I promise you'll learn a lot about yourself.