I Believe

Brenda L. 9th - Dublin, CA
I believe that as long as what you do in life brings you true happiness and satisfaction you are already being successful.  Happiness isn't just found in relationships or jobs, but also in the ways we interact with the environment around us. Even if you feel like you don't have a clear goal or dream, just living and finding happiness in the smallest things can measure your success. Not everyone has a dream or clear finishing flag, and that's okay because as long as you live and  enjoy every minute of your time in this world, you have already excelled at life.

Your self love and happiness should not rely on what others want from you and what they expect from you. If you spent your whole life just wanting to please others you will never make everyone happy and in the end you won't be happy with your own achievements if you never wanted them in the first place.  No one but you knows what you are really going through and it's easy for others to judge and that's just human nature. When it starts to get out of hand is when you are truly affected by how others see you and try to change yourself and your aspirations just to ease the conscience of society and the people around you.

Whenever I'm worried or stressed about something I always remember that one day I am going to die. It could be today or tomorrow and if I do not live my life how I want then what is the point? A hundred years from now probably no one is going to remember you and just because something happened to you, the world is not going to stop spinning just because of that. Sometimes it's hard not to compare your own progress to someone else's and be disappointed in yourself or not excelling unlike the other person, but you have to remember that everyone has a different path in life.

​It's important to be patient and loving to yourself. Success is not measured by anyone but you and how you choose to obtain it. It's not always about the end goal, but the process that took you there and the life experiences you gained from it. At the end of the day the people who love and respect you will be happy with whatever you choose to do in your life as long as you're not harming anyone and you are happy and satisfied. The people who harshly criticize you or have a negative impact on your life are toxic people that you should distance yourself from.