I come across a lot of people who simply live their whole lives pleasing others. Not that it is a bad thing all the time, but rather the habit of pleasing others constantly, takes your independence away. We are a society that is too dependent on what other people think about us. We care more about what someone else thought about what we said, or how we looked than what we think about ourselves. I see so many people who simply live out their parents dreams, in hopes that satisfying someone else's wishes will somehow end up satisfying themselves. I see others who struggle with love, because they have this false impression that if someone doesn't like them, then something must be wrong with them. So they spend their whole lifetime changing themselves so that someone out there will find them attractive instead of giving time to find their own voice. The way I look at it, you should never change yourself to appease someone else. Nor should you ever look in books for instructions on how to live your life. By doing so you will only end up following someone else's road. Look only inside yourself. You must trust your own voice, think with your own mind, follow your own heart, and believe in your own dreams. Only you know what you need or what is good for you. You can only survive and succeed when you are true to yourself and not to the opinions of others. Do not look at life through the eyes of someone else; do not end up second-guessing your own thoughts and feelings in the false belief that others are automatically wiser than you are. Trust your self, listen to your heart, chart your own course, be your own North Star and be the one of a kind person that you are... to sum it all up.. We have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner peace. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
~Dr. Moorehead "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away..."