Everything can be creative depending on how it’s viewed. People who deem themselves as “not creative” are placing self-restrictions that often hinder their true creative ability. The more we tell ourselves something, the more we start to believe it regardless of if the statement is true or not. Living a creative life is essential for a long-lasting life full of growth and opportunity.
Creative Life: Appreciating the Journey
Creativity has no destination. Creative efforts are constantly evolving, changing, and adapting. Nothing is stagnant in a creative mind; there cannot be self-inflicted limitations throughout the journey.
Someone who calls themselves a creative quickly finds out that creativity is never-ending. There may be times where creative thoughts come freely while other times may feel like nothing comes to mind without extra conscious effort. Living a creative life requires balance in everything. There must be time to recharge and take breaks while maintaining an optimal level of creative production.
Creativity comes and goes and often frustrates creative individuals more than they would like. Ideas and visions come when we don’t force them into our creative minds. Living a creative life is about finding a balance between times of high creativity and creative block.
Creativity and Productivity
Nobody can be creative and productive 24/7. Humans never have been and never will be robots. Creativity and productivity aren’t infinite. An individual’s energy is constantly being pulled in a thousand different directions. Even when someone wants to sit down and create something, their focus and energy might be elsewhere besides their creative endeavor.
Especially in Western cultures, people are expected to be productive all the time. Rest is viewed as “bad” even though it’s necessary for humans to rest and recharge on a regular basis. Even the most productive and successful individuals in the world have to find a balance between work and rest. The same goes for creativity and productivity.
Just because someone may exude high levels of creativity doesn’t necessarily mean they are always functioning at a high level of productivity and vice versa. A creative life will never be creative all the time and definitely won’t be productive 100% of the time. Life throws curveballs- both positive and negative- which may steer away even those with highest work ethics and levels of self-discipline humanly possible.
There is No Answer
Being creative doesn’t always lead to finished products or outcomes as initially expected; creativity may bring answers or may bring no answers at all. The fast-paced world we live in unfairly expects creatives to have all of the answers on a whim. However, true creatives know their efforts may or may not bring them the returns they want and/or expect. Life brings countless things outside of our control; we cannot have every answer at every time we want to have them.
Living a creative life isn’t about being creative 24/7 and having all of the answers. Instead, it’s about making the most of one’ creative abilities using the appropriate tangible and intangible resources readily available.
Creativity has no beginning or end point. A painter may start a particular painting only to realize their creativity can be used more efficiently in different capacities. At the same time, a creative entrepreneur may spend too much time worrying about starting a business that they miss a wide open opportunity to succeed. There is no “end goal” when someone lives a creative life. Creativity is all around us when we open our minds and realize the possibilities of our own energy and abilities.
Anyone can be creative. It doesn’t take someone to be an artist before being creative. Start by being creative now and thinking creatively without worrying about labels all the time. Living a creative life requires an appreciation of creativity all around- in nature, buildings, sneakers, sports, art, and just about anything else in life that can be changed or designed in countless ways.
Creating the life you want is only up to you. At the end of the day, people constantly let us down. Even the people we love the most let us down on occasion. However, the only person you have full control over is yourself. You cannot let yourself down if you choose not to. It’s as simple as that. Only you can create the life you want with the right decisions and a high level of independence.
Independence, Solitude, and Peace
Many people, especially adults claim they are independent, but clearly are dependent on someone else or something else. Countless adults around the world lie to themselves when they declare their independence. Yes, they might be independent from their parents or guardians, but are they truly an independent person?
Dependent individuals might depend on friends or family members to always be there at every earliest convenience possible. The closest people in your life won’t be around 24/7. An independent individual has more power than any dependent ever will. The ability to live and eventually thrive without dependence of another person can literally change someone’s life. Independence is one of the most crucial keys to success in any aspect of life.
Independence and solitude aren’t mutually exclusive. Solitude stems from independence; on the other hand, independence can function normally without any resemblance of solitude. One must become and remain independent to fully appreciate solitude to the highest degree. Solitude brings peace and tranquility.
In this noisy and busy world, solitude is no longer a luxury. Solitude is absolutely a necessity especially in fast-paced environments. People around the world will always be in a rush no matter the time or day. Solitude allows life to slow down; the mind can process thoughts clearer and be less distracted from the outside world.
Creating the Life You Want: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself
Creating the life you want and desire goes hand in hand with becoming the best version of yourself. You will never be “finished.” The best version of yourself is one that is constantly improving. Aiming to do better in every aspect possible. Seeking to correct mistakes with a drive to never stop learning, no matter whether formal education is part of your life or not. Learning doesn’t stop at school. Reading is one of the best ways to improve yourself. The best method to improve in life is through experience. No business school can show you how to run a small business. Experience is a teacher that theory can never replace.
The process of improvement is never-ending. One goal met or exceeded leads to another or multiple goals. Self-discipline and self-motivation are both essential to becoming the best version of yourself; evolving in life is a necessity to achieve even a minuscule amount of success. Creating the life you want often leads to countless hours of confusion, anger or sadness. Nothing will be easy. When you can look at your life from an overhead view, you will be able to appreciate all of the moments, good and bad, that have led you to where you are today. The journey never ends, but must be appreciated along the way.
Navigating life isn’t a walk in the park. Anyone can act like they have everything together, but few actually have their priorities straight and have some things together. The most successful people in the world cannot truthfully say they have everything figured out at every waking moment.
Life is a journey that cannot be taken for granted. From personal experience, there are countless ups and downs. However, life is more about how you react to what happens to you rather than what actually happens in the first place.
Master Your Emotions
Emotions can make or break you when you find yourself navigating life. Emotions bring out the best and worst in people. Many individuals hold huge misconceptions about feelings and emotions. They are alike, but nowhere near the same thing. You can feel something and then experience a different emotion not related directly to that feeling.
Master your emotions comes when you learn to clear your mind. Most humans haven’t mastered the art of letting thoughts come and go. In the age of social media and overconsumption, nearly every person with internet access is over-bombarded with news, stories, opinions, and ads on a constant basis.
It’s easy to feel overstimulated or overwhelmed when consuming endless hours of any type of media today. Clearing the mind requires a commitment to let thoughts come and go naturally. It’s much easier said than done and can only be learned through experience. Nobody can clear your mind for you.
Having control over emotions sets someone up for future success in almost every aspect of life. Emotions tend to cloud judgement; both positive and negative emotions can poorly affect judgment and reasoning. Rationality comes when one learns how to master their emotions and by not letting natural emotions get the best of them in countless situations.
Navigating Life: Blazing Your Own Path
When someone says they are figuring things out, they often mean they don’t know what they want to do in life and what purpose they want to serve on Earth. Outside influence heavily affects everyone who has at least some sort of social interaction with others on a normal basis. Sometimes, individuals get so caught up with finding a path that they fail to create their own path throughout life.
Nobody can live your life for you. So why do people constantly do things to please others?
Fear, rejection, embarrassment, and failure all stop millions of people from doing what they truly want to do in their lifetime.
Navigating life comes with success and failure in countless ways. Blazing one’s own path is a necessity to living a life with purpose and fulfillment. Nobody should tell someone else how to live their life. However, others are constantly harping over their family and friends by giving unsolicited advice and strong suggestions regarding life paths. At the end of the day, you have to create your own path and do what you want when navigating through the challenges of life.
Working On Yourself
Anyone who wants to achieve some sort of long-lasting and/or worthwhile success must realize how important self-growth is to every aspect of life.
Working on yourself is necessary when navigating through life. Anyone looking to improve cannot neglect themselves and their mental health. Working on yourself is a necessary journey for self-growth, reflection, and constant improvement.
Navigating life and working on yourself cannot be neglected. Both are necessary for each other to occur. Working on yourself comes when you navigate through life; navigating life requires you to work on yourself and be a constant grower in every aspect possible.
Life changes every year especially as you get older. Experience is often said to be the best teacher. I look forward to continuing this tradition every year on my birthday. Check back next year for another edition of valuable lessons.
Enjoy the list of some of my favorite valuable lessons this year.
1. Be Your Own Best Friend
Life constantly changes as do the people in your life. Relationships begin, shift and end unexpectedly. However, the one person that you will always have is yourself. You have to be content with being on your own from time to time.
Too many people rely on others for nonstop support and/or entertainment. Solitude is something that successful people all over the world seem to master. Being your own best friend is an essential key to living a fulfilling and worthwhile life.
2. Your Habits Are a Reflection of You
What you do on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly routine makes you who you are. If you spend all night watching tv and eating snacks, you can’t be surprised when your fitness goals aren’t achieved. On the other hand, if you go to the gym regularly and eat healthy, it shouldn’t be a surprise that you are in better condition than you were last year.
Habits are a reflection of a person. They show others who you are as a human. Someone who talks all day with nothing to show for isn’t usually seen as a trustworthy person. Working on yourself shows that you are dedicated to improvement. Habits form people; who they are now and who they will become are directly correlated to their regular habits.
3. Stay True to Yourself
So many things in life will try to knock you down or change you for the worse. The world around us may be confusing or frustrating at times, but this shouldn’t change who we are.
Changing for yourself is one thing. However, you should never change for someone/something else because of external factors. Humans are meant to change but shouldn’t be forced to change. Be who you are and stay true to yourself.
4. Solitude is Necessary (Even for Extroverts)
Everyone needs solitude from time to time. The world is moving so fast and doesn’t slow down for anyone. That doesn’t mean we can’t slow down our own worlds. Solitude is necessary to stay sane especially when life feels crazier than usual.
Nobody wants to be bombarded with life’s hardships all the time. Solitude helps bring peace back into the personal life. Sometimes a break is much needed especially with no distractions or external factors to cloud the mind.
5. If It’s Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is
This is one of the most important valuable lessons that I learned many years ago, but it’s too good to keep off this list. There are frauds and scams all over the world, especially since the internet has taken off at the beginning of this century.
Although this lesson is often tied to money, it can be applied to other aspects of life as well. For example, if a friend only hits you up for their benefit, then they probably aren’t a friend in the first place. Anything that seems too good to be true should be approached with caution before finally deciding if it’s legitimate or genuine.
6. Moderation is Key
Moderation is key to virtually everything in life. Obviously anything that could be detrimental to overall health should be limited- drugs/alcohol, social media, etc. However, even “good” things should be consumed in moderation as well. Too much of anything doesn’t help in the long run.
Living a life of moderation comes with times that break the moderation. Humans aren’t mean to be robotic. Sometimes we drink too much and feel it the next day. Sometimes we spend too much time scrolling on social media. Humans aren’t meant to be perfect. Even moderation requires moderation.
7. Never Expect Anything in Return
Doing a good deed shouldn’t come with an expectation of receiving something in return. Just because you gave a homeless guy $5 doesn’t mean something good will immediately come your way.
Good deeds lose value when they are done with the hope of getting something in return. When you do something beneficial to someone else, it should be left at that. Someone might or might not do something to your benefit that same day or shortly after. However, that thought shouldn’t cross the mind when doing something beneficial for someone else. Karma is real, but shouldn’t be on our minds 24/7.
8. Friends Change Constantly
Friends come and go like the seasons around us. Sometimes there is a falling out while others have two people grow apart. Just because someone isn’t your friend anymore doesn’t mean they hate you or you should hate them. Relationships of any kind don’t last forever. Friendships should be cherished for what they are presently.
Every friend comes into our lives for a reason. Sometimes we may never know that exact reason. However, friends make life better. A good friend brings joy and happiness. A great friend is irreplaceable and can never be replicated. Never take friends for granted; they all serve a purpose in our lives.
9. Watch What You Consume
Obviously you should watch what you eat and drink, but it doesn’t stop there. The shows you watch, the music you listen to, and the social media posts you look at all have an impact on your mind. Even if something is consumed as part of “rest,” it can still have a detrimental effect.
Limiting negative and ignorant comments, posts, and media as a whole has helped me stay grounded. Although it is inevitable that someone will be rude or disrespectful online, it’s essential to limit consumption of negative content of any form as much as possible.
10. Always Remain Humble
Life can be very humbling at times. We come across situations that make us feel bad about ourselves. However, these times don’t last forever. No matter how good life gets, it’s important to always remain humble. Things can change dramatically and even overnight.
There are too many stories of people literally losing everything they have. Staying humble keeps us grounded; never too high and never too low. No peak is tall enough to look past the valleys.
11. Nobody Ever Has Everything Figured Out
No matter how well someone appears to be living, they still have insecurities, confusing or frustrating relationships, and secrets that nobody knows about. Nobody ever has everything figured out. Even the most successful people in the world are still figuring things out one day at a time.
Life isn’t meant to be perfect. It can’t be planned out to perfection. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. Life goes on. Nothing will ever be fully “figured out.”
12. Rest is Essential
This may an obvious one to most, but some don’t realize how important rest is during any type of journey. Sure, someone can work nonstop. However, the quality of work will decrease drastically without rest and they will end up working harder and longer than they should have.
Nobody can work 24/7. Hustle culture can be toxic and portrays false images to the masses. Rest is necessary for any type of journey requiring time, energy, and effort. Rest is essential for many reasons. The most important reason is that humans need rest to be the best version of themselves.
13. Your Work Doesn’t Define You
Even if you love your job and/or the work you do, there is much more to define you as a person. One thing I hate about American culture is how much work is forced onto people. When Americans first meet, one of the first questions typically asked is what do you do?
People rarely answer the question by talking about their interests and hobbies outside of work. Being a lawyer or a doctor doesn’t define someone. A person has much more to tell their story than only through their occupation. One of the most important valuable lessons on this list is that work shouldn’t define who you are no matter how successful someone becomes or how much they like their work.
The world can seem negative enough on a regular basis. The news constantly shows negative news stories everyday. With enough negativity to last a lifetime, most people don’t want to hear or see any more negativity in their lives. Everyone has their own issues. It’s okay to be down as emotions are natural.
Negativity loves company. The negativity you put out into the world will only multiply. Exude positivity or at least stay neutral when the world around you seems nothing but negative.
15. Positivity Can Be Toxic
Now, this one may seem contradictory given the last lesson. However, it’s impossible to be positive 24/7/365. When positivity is forced upon others, it can become toxic. Positivity should come from conscious effort, not through force or power. Bad things are inevitable in life. Nobody should have to be positive all the time.
It’s natural to feel negative from time to time. Negativity and positivity are two states in life. One isn’t better than the other. Without one, the other cannot exist. Positivity is usually a good thing, but can be toxic when it gets forced onto people.
16. Nobody Can Do the Work For You
This one should be obvious, but it’s still important nonetheless.
Nobody can make it happen except you. Some people may help or set you up for success, but they can’t do the work for you. Even people who cheat their way in life learn this lesson. Nobody who cares for you will do the work for you. The only way to be successful and improve in life is by doing the work for yourself.
17. Success Requires Risk
Any sort of success requires some type of risk. Even if that risk is minimal and the consequences aren’t severe, it’s still a gamble that could go either way.
Nobody achieves success by playing it safe nonstop. Taking a calculated risk and taking a mindless risk are two completely different things. Success requires gambles from time to time. The most successful individuals don’t achieve their goals by sitting around waiting for opportunities to come their way.
18. Forgiving Is Necessary
Sometimes you have to forgive people who don’t deserve your forgiveness in the first place. Forgiving isn’t always for the person or people who committed the wrongdoing. Forgiveness often does more for your inner peace than it does for the other party.
Forgiving is necessary because it becomes easier to let go of hate and resentment. It isn’t healthy to hold onto hateful thoughts all the time. Sometimes you have to forgive others for your sake.
19. Sometimes You Have to Be Selfish
Now this isn’t about being selfish on a constant basis. Sometimes you have to choose yourself and be selfish to get what you want in life. If you go through life being unselfish all the time, you will get taken advantage of and fooled on multiple occasions. Valuable lessons like this one are often hard to learn especially for people who don’t want to be viewed as selfish.
Selfish acts don’t make someone selfish instantly. Selfish acts on a repeated basis with no regard for others makes someone selfish. Choosing to spend time on your own rather than going out with friends may be selfish, but is necessary at times. You have to do what’s best for yourself and sometimes that requires uncomfortable, selfish acts.
20. Remember Why You Started
Starting any type of worthwhile journey will inevitably come with obstacles and hardships. Remembering why you started in the first place helps you power through when you feel like giving up.
It may sound cliche, but having a strong “why” is more important that the “who,” or “what.” Keep your reason for starting in mind to stay balanced and remain grounded especially during times of struggle.
21. Learning Doesn’t Stop When School Ends
After high school and college for some, most people stop their formal education. Valuable lessons are all around when the mind is open to learning new things. Just because school ends, doesn’t mean learning has to come to a screeching halt as well. The world today provides countless outlets to learn everyday; there’s no excuse to stop learning when one is done with school.
People who don’t read are missing out on an essential way to learn and expand the mind. Reading is fundamental because it is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to learn in today’s age. Free books are readily available in libraries all over the world. Those individuals who stop learning when school comes to an end will find their mental states declining rapidly.
22. Your Time Will Come
If everyone achieved everything they wanted exactly when they wanted to, then life would be pretty boring and even meaningless. The journey is better than the destination. People who grow up with a silver spoon in their mouth often have a hard time adjusting to the real world because they live in a clouded environment. Everything won’t go your way all the time; the process of reaching a goal teaches more than achieving the goal itself ever will.
Your time will come. Patience is essential especially when you start feeling impatient. Those that keep their head down and stay determined will get what they want out of life.
23. Your Best Will Look Different Everyday
As humans, it’s natural to have ups and downs on this journey called life. Nobody is perfect, no matter how hard they try to be. Someone’s best may be 85% of their full potential today and only 50% tomorrow.
Countless factors play into what someone’s best looks like. Anyone can improve, but it’s impossible to keep robotic levels of production everyday.
24. Everyday is a Blessing
Everyday alive is a blessing. Sometimes we get so caught up in routines that we take daily privileges and blessing for granted. Even bad or down days can still be appreciated. One of the most valuable lessons in life is realizing the fact that time is the most valuable currency in the world as it can never be replaced.
Some people wish they could live a different life or make more money or become famous. However, nothing can be achieved if daily happenings are taken for granted. Everyday is a blessing because life is too short to take any moment for granted.
25. Happiness Comes from Within
One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my twenty five years of life is the fact that happiness comes internally. Nothing can buy long-lasting happiness. Nobody can make you happy. Nowhere can give you the happiness you have been looking for.
You are the only person in the world who can bring yourself happiness. Being happy is a choice that nobody else can make except yourself.
Life works in weird ways. Sometimes we understand why things happen but we often don’t know why most events, occurrences, and experiences really take place. Everything happens for a reason.
Some people have a harder time accepting the uncertainty of life. Some take longer to realize how little in life is within their direct control.
New Beginnings Come From Dead Ends
Dead endings lead to new beginnings unexpectedly. New experiences come all the time but every one isn’t appreciated the same. Life happens. Shit happens. A lot against our favor occur randomly and often without reason.
All dead ends aren’t meant to be negative. Some dead ends bring positivity unexpectedly and bring blessings in disguise in the near or distant future. New beginnings happen for a reason. That new friend, relationship, or move to a new state all become important and life-changing over time.
Any experience must be looked with a third-person view to fully understand or appreciate the magnitude of the event in one’s life.
Something new often brings opportunities that once may have seemed unthinkable or impossible in the past. Life works in weird ways. That job you didn’t like may lead to a new role that fits in your life much better. A dead end doesn’t have to stop there. The important and sometimes life-changing dead ends lead to new paths that weren’t visible before.
Figuring Out Who You Are
When failure comes your way, it seems almost impossible to think that unfortunate experience happened for a reason. In early adulthood, most people are still trying to figure out who they are (a lot of adults go their whole life with identity issues). There’s nothing to be ashamed of if you don’t have everything figured out right now. The reality is that the majority of the world will never have everything figured out at all times.
Identity is one of the most complicated aspects of life. Someone in high school may think they know who they are, but once they go to college and/or start working full-time, they might not have a clue of who they want to be or who they are at the moment.
An individual’s identity may change numerous times over the course of their life. New relationships, new perspectives and world views, and new hobbies/interests all play a major factor in how and when a person might change.
It may be frustrating and/or demoralizing to realize you don’t know who you truly are. However, like virtually anything in life, change is inevitable. Doing your best everyday (one day’s best won’t always look the same as the next’s) is essential to living a meaningful life. Not having everything figured out about yourself won’t ever make you a failure. Keep going everyday and hold yourself accountable. People often learn more about themselves when they least expect to.
Life’s Reason Rarely Makes Sense
For the majority of the time, life doesn’t make much sense. One day may seem to be going great and the other doesn’t go exactly in our favor. Life’s events often occur randomly without any rhyme or reason. The people we meet may come unexpectedly or coincidentally.
New beginnings come without making much sense. After countless hours of hard work, determination, and obstacles, some sort of success may come on a random day when it’s least expected.
Life doesn’t have a reason to make sense. When someone starts to accept uncertainty, anything that seems to happen without a reason will not be as frustrating or confusing. Life’s reason is there is often no reason for countless experiences and moments.
Life doesn’t have a reason to make sense. When someone starts to accept uncertainty, anything that seems to happen without a reason will not be as frustrating or confusing. Life’s reason is there is often no reason for countless experiences and moments.
Being content with uncertainty allows us to view life more objectively. So much is outside of our direct control in life. Be honest with yourself and understand that everyone feels the discomfort of life’s uncertainty. Life works out when nothing is forced and when someone accepts nothing but genuine and natural experiences and interactions.
Moving On and Expecting More: A Reason For Hope
Finally, you have to expect more out of life. This includes all the good and bad times. Every peak is followed by a valley; good times won’t last forever and the bad won’t stick around endlessly. Change is the greatest constant in life. As we get older, we learn more about life and how the world around us works. We don’t get caught up in as many things because we learn what truly matters to us through experience.
By expecting more, we know that change is on the way. Fortunate and unfortunate circumstances come with or without reason. An abundance mindset is necessary to enjoy life to its fullest. It helps keep us grounded through the best and worst of times.
One quote to stay grounded is by remembering the the well-known saying:
Sneakers bring about endless emotions and feelings. The most serious sneaker enthusiasts know how memories are attached to certain sneakers. Some sneakers bring unforgettable memories that will be a positive part of our lives forever.
Memories bring a rush of emotions and feelings. In regards to sneakers, someone may feel confident and rejuvenated when they think of their first pair of Jordans. Others feel optimistic after buying a pair in celebration of a significant life event. Whatever the case may be, sneakers have memories attached to them and bring positive feelings to countless people around the world.
Creating Sneaker Memories
Like most memories, the best are created organically. Something forced doesn’t feel the same as something that comes naturally. Genuine experiences are unmatched and often priceless. Anyone can have an experience but to truly be in the moment makes the memory ten times better in foresight.
From personal experience, the best sneaker memories come randomly and typically unexpectedly. For example, I received an invoice for the Nike Off-White Blazer ‘Grim Reaper’ when I was riding the bus back to campus a few years ago. Getting that simple yet powerful email made my day instantly.
Some other notable memories regarding sneakers are when I waited for my first pair of Yeezys and waiting all night for the Travis Scott Jordan 4s. Before sneaker stores ended most first come first serve releases, sneaker enthusiasts around the U.S. became quite familiar with their local sneaker shops. Release days saw countless regulars; some hyped releases brought numerous out-of-towners.
The best sneaker memories are rarely manufactured. Instead they come genuinely and naturally. Any worthwhile memory should not feel forced, faked, or fraudulent.
Diversity and Variations
Everyone has a different taste in every aspect of life. In terms of sneakers, countless people have their own unique styles and preferences. These differences bring different sneaker memories as well.
One person might remember a particular New Balance release to go exceptionally well and another views the same release as terribly executed in all aspects.
Some sneakerheads flock to Jordans and the nostalgia behind the classics while others look for new age technology in their kicks.
Buying a retro pair of sneakers compared to a brand new, never before seen model are two completely different experiences.
Two people can experience the same event and have widely varying memories from the same exact moment in life. Sneakers are extremely subjective, so there will always be a great variation between the sneaker memories of countless sneakers enthusiasts all around the world.
Creative Sneaker Memories: Memorable Moments
Sneaker memories don’t always have to be about buying a new pair. Memories often come from stories about a particular pair. Camping out on release days, getting raffle wins, coming across a steal price unexpectedly, or visiting a unique sneaker boutique are all perfect examples of sneaker memories outside of directly purchasing a new pair of sneakers.
Distraction-free interactions and experiences typically produce some of the best memories of our lives. We don’t remember that shock drop we saw while texting on our phone as well as going to a sneaker store with no distractions or limits.
Anyone can create a memory right now. However, to live through something worthwhile, impactful, and unforgettable only comes when an individual is truly living in the moment.
The most memorable moments come when we least expect them. Some surprise us in the best way possible. Living in the moment with a clear head allows us to look back and fully appreciate the positive experience.
Sneaker Sensations
Until you get your first pair of kicks that were love at first sight, it’s virtually impossible to understand the power of that new sneaker feeling. You walk different when you have some fresh pairs in your wardrobe.
Nothing can replicate the feeling of opening a fresh shoe box containing some highly anticipated sneakers. Sneaker appreciation goes far beyond the physical. Stories behind sneakers and brand purpose must be factored into the appreciation of some fresh kicks.
As more sneakers are produced, more sneaker memories are sure to come soon after. Enthusiasts all over appreciate sneakers because the love for sneakers is adaptable and always fresh. Sneakers will continue to bring millions of people around the world together for the foreseeable future.
Nobody can make the change for you. Nobody will hold your hand forever. At the end of the day, nobody can live your life for you. Creating the life you want is all about self-determination and having some sort of ambition.
Life is confusing to say the least. Many people go through life lying to themselves to please others or doing what “they are supposed to do.” Too many humans live a miserable life because they are too afraid to chase their true goals and dreams. One life is plenty of time to do what you want to do.
Me Time
Sometimes you have to be selfish in life. Being unselfish goes a long way in many regards, but can be a hinderance in certain situations. Acting in one’s best interest isn’t always being selfish. However, many people will call out others who place themselves first.
Time for yourself isn’t being overly selfish. If someone goes around constantly looking to please others, they will never be pleased themselves. People pleasers continually lie to themselves.
Choosing time for yourself doesn’t mean you have to neglect other priorities and wants. “Me time” can be anything from reading a book on a quiet night or watching a movie by yourself. Whatever it may be, there must be time for oneself to be comfortable on their own.
Go Getter
A real go getter is someone who looks to get shit done regardless of the circumstances. Anyone can say they are hustling, but actions will always speak louder than words. Results show who actually puts in work and who says they do that so called work.
Individual work is key to any type of long-lasting success. A go getter is an individual who is creating the life they want on a daily basis. They know results will not come overnight, but instead over many nights.
Nobody is born with determination or resilience-you have to want something enough to do whatever it takes under numerous circumstances.
Creating the life you desire is about putting mind over matter. Your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy; only you can decide how it will affect your life.
Creating the Life You Want: Stay in Your Lane
Everyone in the world is unique for countless reasons. Why fit in with the pack when you can create your own path?
Individualism is currently at its peak. The creative world appreciates distinctive styles now more than ever. Anyone creating something worthwhile should learn from the best but never copy them directly. Too many “designers” jack ideas from one another and add their own spin. Where’s the real creativity in that?
The path less traveled is definitely more lonely and uncertain but nobody can ever take that journey away from you. Creating something of your own creates a unique feeling that can never be replicated. Originality will never go out of style.
Life is a journey. Everyone’s looks different for countless reasons. Enjoy the ride and be present.
Does anybody ever have life figured out? How do people act like they have everything figured out when they clearly don’t? It’s okay to still be figuring out life no matter how young or old you are.
One of the most humbling facts of life is that everyone doesn’t really know what the hell they are doing on Earth. Some may find purpose in life or have some things figured out, but nobody ever has everything figured out. The journey of life is all about figuring out life along the way and appreciating the worthwhile experiences and people who come into our lives.
Figuring Out Complex Relationships
Humans are complex beings, so why do we expect our interactions and experiences with one another to be simple?
The human brain is too powerful to allow its body to live simply. Emotions, feelings, and thoughts all add to the complexities of daily life. When you add in other people, things are bound to get complicated and messy.
Even relationship experts don’t have perfect relationships. Why should we beat ourselves up over a failed friendship or romantic relationship?
We are learning along the way; so is everyone we meet in life. People unintentionally hurt others. Sometimes we hurt people without even realizing until a later time in our lives.
Everyone comes into our life for a reason. Their duration of making an impact on our lives is undetermined. Most don’t stick around for very long at all. Some stay around for seasons. Others, who mean the most, are around for generations.
Instead of looking at failed friendships and relationships, we can view them as lessons that had to occur. The hate towards that ex will get you nowhere in life. Neither will that grudge with your ex-best friend. Forgive yourself and move on. New people are coming into your life, usually when you least expect it. Appreciate the genuine ones in your life, but always be prepared to meet more people no matter the current circumstances.
Friends, Family, and a Sense of Belonging
As social beings, humans aren’t meant to be socially isolated. While some people thrive in the presence of others and high levels of stimulations, others prefer less stimulation and are often more comfortable on their own.
Figuring out life is all about figuring out who we are as a person and to find some sort of sense of belonging in this world. Friends and family can help figure things out, but they cannot do any of the uncomfortable work for us.
Some friends are part of family. At the same time, some family members are distant strangers who have little to no immediate impact on our lives. Blood never has and never will make someone family. If someone says, “but they are family,” they are often part of the problem at hand. Family doesn’t intentionally hurt the people they care about.
Friends can either bring us a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment in life or leave us scratching our heads asking who is really a friend and who is jumping along for a short ride?
People who fade away from each other easily probably didn’t have a strong friendship in the first place. Many people associate with others who have similar interests and hobbies. However, the best of friends often have many differences but still put them aside and hold each other accountable.
“Yes men” bring their “friends” down in the long run. Everybody wants to hear exactly what they want; very few are okay with having friends who call them out for their wrongs and hold them accountable.
A sense of belonging will never come from another person. We have to find the balance between being with others and enjoying our own company. The people who are around today might not be around in a few years or a decade from now.
Figuring Out Life: Work and Sense of Purpose
In American culture, countless identities are tied to work and what is directly produced. People have lives outside of work, but often introduce themselves to others by first stating what they do for work. Nobody would have much of a personality if they didn’t have interests, hobbies, and passion outside of work.
A job will never define someone’s purpose in life. However, many Americans tie their work to their identity and are left clueless when they leave their current or “dream” job.
Figuring out one’s sense of purpose is one of the hardest parts of “figuring out life.”
Work can have a positive or negative connotation depending on how an individual views the subject. Work can be meaningful and fulfilling, but it should never consume someone and be their life. Instead, it is a part of life that can easily change with the blink of an eye.
Sense of purpose relates to what a person can do for the world and how they do it, not what they produce as a result of their work.
Enjoy the Journey
At the end of the day, nobody truly has everything all figured out. You probably won’t have it all figured out in a decade or two from now. Even when life comes to an end, most people would agree they never had everything all together.
Figuring out life is about enjoying the journey that comes with the countless ups and downs. Waiting for the perfect situation will leave you waiting your whole life. Start doing what you want to now and don’t look back.
Life will get figured out along the way. Live in the moment and live without regret.
Money, fame, time and attention are always considered to be extremely valuable. People often believe monetary value determines how valuable someone is in this world. However, no materialistic item will ever be more valuable than something we can never get back after it’s gone. The most valuable asset in the world?
Time
Nobody can buy more or get it back after it has passed. Nothing can completely stop it in its tracks. It cannot be returned for equal or lesser value.
Time is Money
There is nothing more valuable in life. Money cannot buy more time, but it can always buy more money. Our ancestors were not pressed about constantly checking the clock or even had a chance to read a clock. They made sure to focus on things they enjoyed and focused on spending their days doing something fulfilling. Now, there are millions of distractions that attempt to draw us away from always being mindful of how we spend our time.
Time isn’t money because of hourly wages, but instead by the fact that it cannot be replicated unlike monetary earnings. There is an unlimited amount of cash- both physically and virtually in the world. Some people and some countries have more or less than others; at the end of the day, authorities can simply print more when necessary. Nothing can ever print more time for us to use and enjoy. Money is infinite while time has finite limits.
Multitasking
Some people think they can multiply time by multitasking. Although it can be beneficial in some cases, the process of multitasking often comes with inadvertent results. The mind is only capable of performing at its peak when focused on a sole task at hand. Multitasking may lead to quicker results in a shorter period, but the quality of work or performance may suffer.
Time only allows us to do one important thing at once. We cannot sleep while driving or work while resting or even exercise while partying. If someone calls themselves a great multitasker that means they are okay at doing a lot of different things simultaneously. There is a reason time is the most valuable asset in the world- it requires our undivided attention to make the most of it.
No Overtime
Everyone has the same twenty-four hours everyday. No matter how hard we try, we cannot change the scope of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Father Time prevails victorious over every mortal force. We are not immortal; time is one of the only aspects of the world that proves to be eternal. Humans have to make the most of their life on Earth and never take a passing moment for granted. Nothing can slow down or completely stop the future from becoming the present.
Although time cannot be warped, humans can use different tactics to alter the perception of time. Doing something exciting and enjoyable seems to speed up time while partaking in a boring or monotonous activity appears to slow it down. The ultimate goal is to find the balance between “speeding up” or “slowing down”; it is essential to always be aware of how we are using our days.
There is no such thing as overtime. Money and fame come and go but time proves to be more valuable than any materialistic item or monetary value. Human life is priceless due to the fact that it contains memories and experiences that money cannot buy on its own. Humans must understand how powerful the illusion of time truly is. Anyone can use this asset to their advantage once they first grasp its full potential and power.
Life often works in weird ways. Theories and studies cannot teach valuable lessons that solely come from experience. Sometimes you have to go through certain situations to know more about the future.
Nothing can replace the past. Lessons come and go but the best seem to stick around forever. The mentioned lessons are some that have stuck with me the most in my young life so far.
The Future Can Never Be Fully Planned For
It is impossible to fully plan out the future no matter how much time or energy is put in. There is only so much we can plan for in a world full of everlasting change. Being okay with the unknown is essential in almost every aspect of life.
Overthinking Leads to Undesirable Outcomes
Thinking too much rarely solves the problems or issues we find ourselves worrying about. Spending unnecessary time thinking about the what-ifs takes time away from valuable action and planning.
Success Rarely Comes From a Straight Path
Any worthwhile form of success often does not come along a straight and narrow path. Ups and downs as well as turns and obstacles are common on any journey towards achieving something substantial. An uncomplicated path does not typically offer much longevity.
Life Always Throws Curveballs
Things do not go exactly as envisioned and planned throughout most of one’s life. There will always be unforeseen events and circumstances that force someone to adapt sooner than later. Curveballs can lead to situations that are essential to experience.
Heartbreak Comes in Many Forms
In almost every type of media and entertainment outlet, heartbreak coincides with romance. However, heartbreak is not limited just to romantic aspects. Friends and family break hearts and sports teams constantly do the same.
Nobody Wins Without Adversity
Before any type of worthwhile or long-lasting success comes failure. Some of the best in virtually every profession have failed countless times before rising to the top of their respected field. Adversity builds character that becomes essential to become a winner of any type.
Everything Can Go Right and Things Still Might Fail
Sometimes things don’t work in our favor for many reasons. Failure can for many reasons outside of our control. Undesirable outcomes sometimes happen for no explainable reason.
Watch Who You Call a Friend
Friends can make or break your social life. With the rise of social media, it seems like our social circles increase exponentially just by knowing more people. However, online “friends” do not come close to the magnitude of real friendships. True friends never make you question their loyalty.
Take Time for Yourself
We live in a world that constantly praises hyper-productivity and constant work. It is necessary to avoid burn out when possible. Whether it is reading a book, watching a show or game, or spending time with quality people, there are plenty of ways for someone to take time for themselves to relieve stress and anxiety.
The Best Things in Life Can’t Be Bought
Love, happiness, joy, and peace are just a few intangible things in life that cannot be bought. Money can definitely make life easier, but it cannot buy happiness outright. Intangible aspects of life are far more valuable than any materialistic good in the world.
Focus on the People Who Support You
In a world that can seem cold and selfish, it is essential to focus on the people in life who support you and do so openly. Support is necessary to get through any sort of adversity in life. Any amount of support should not be taken for granted.
Keep the Family Close
Friends come and go, but family is forever. Family is not limited to blood, but instead it is defined by loyalty and undeniable support for an extended period of time. A valuable lesson to never forget is that a healthy life requires a healthy family.
Don’t Be Afraid of Change
One of the few constants in life is change. Sometimes change can be for the better or for the worse, but it will always be present. Why resist change that is bound to happen?
Success is Subjective
There are no set measures for success in life. Like many preconceived notions, success is not solely calculated by monetary value. Success may be subjectively based on umerous aspects like health, happiness, relationships, and overall well-being.
Life Isn’t Fair
If life was fair everyone would have equal opportunities to achieve everything they want to. There’s no reason to dwell on unfairness especially since there is little we can do to change the unfair aspects. It is better to focus on the good and push through when life treats us unfairly.
Distance and Silence Reveal True Colors
One of the most insightful lessons I have learned rather recently is the fact that distance and silence often reveal one’s true colors. It is easy to tell the well-being of a relationship when someone is around on a regular basis. Distance and silence shows who is loyal and trustworthy over time.
Comparison Kills Joy
To compare yourself to others often leads to self-doubt and less overall self-confidence. Everyone’s life is different with different circumstances. The only person to compare to is previous versions of yourself.
Money is Far from Everything
One of the most valuable lessons in my life so far is to never forget how money does not mean everything. Money will never buy happiness. Issues still persist and new ones will arise no matter how much money someone possesses.
Alone Time is Essential
Everyone needs alone time for numerous reasons. Introverts, like myself, typically need it more often than others. Alone time can be extremely beneficial to recharge and learn new things about yourself as well.
Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Any type of worthwhile and/or long-lasting growth does not occur in the comfort zone. Uncomfortable situations and circumstances lead to improvement in numerous aspects of life. It is essential to get out of the comfort zone to reach new heights and learn valuable lessons.
An Active Mind Needs an Active Body
A healthy human needs to keep both the mind and body active as much as possible. One cannot stay stagnant while the other gets all the attention. All aspects of the body need some sort of exercise.
Never Force Anything
What is meant to be in life will find its way to you. There’s no reason to force anything that does not come naturally. Stay open to new experiences that can shape your future significantly.
Be Forgiving
To forgive does not mean to forget. Sometimes we have to forgive the people closest to us more than we would like. Be forgiving as nobody is a perfect human being.
Appreciate Your Journey
Life can be exciting, frustrating, amazing, and sometimes even confusing. The journey teaches indispensable lessons that help guide us through life. It is essential to take time to appreciate your individual journey as life goes on.
