life through a lens

If life is ultimately out of our control,

why not be optimistic about it?

I think you should stop holding yourself back from doing things

because you’re scared,

but actually do them because you’re scared.

Why be afraid to lose something you already have?

Stop worrying about what you’ll do when it’s gone,

and ask yourself what you’ll do while it’s there.

Have those dreams, have those goals,

love those people, and quit listening to people

who use realism as perfume to dress up their own insecurities.

You will only be your best self when you stop thinking about yourself so much.

That doesn’t mean shift your view to what others think.

It means be kind to strangers.

Love with enough courage

to keep loving.

Give people grace, and forgive them often.

If you can do all this, to and for others,

you can do it for yourself too.

Why be small in a world that’s so big?

Why let the things that hurt you have that much power?

Stop calling things impossible.

Stop dreaming and wanting less.

Pick yourself up off the floor you’ve gotten so comfortable laying on.

Get up, and go live.

Live with hope, confidence, and love.

Live knowing you only get to do it once,

and grief is far better than regret.