There are moments that mark your life, moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same again, and time is divided into two parts, before this and after this, now sometimes you can feel such a moment coming, that’s the test, or so I tell myself at times like these: strong people keep moving forward anyway, no matter what they’re gonna find.

Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose their jobs, get in car accidents and sometimes die. When we’re young and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to imagine. The smartest, and oftentimes hardest thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions. Sometimes we may want to lock ourselves in a room, drown ourselves in substances, say “fuck the world” and binge drink/party, or maybe even create self-mutilation. We have to remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse. And to remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.

Don’t base your career choice on other people’s ideas, goals and recommendations.  Don’t pick a major because it’s popular, or statistically creates graduates who make the most money. The right career choice is based on one key point: Finding hard work you love doing. As long as you remain true to yourself, and follow your own interests and values, you can find success through passion. Perhaps more importantly, you won’t wake up several years later working in a career field you despise, wondering “How the hell am I going to do this for the next 30 years?” So if you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re on to something big. Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.

Procrastination is the best way to bury your potential. Do you want your goals to never come true? Sure, procrastinate on them. I’ve never in my life seen a happy procrastinator. Everyone I know who procrastinates usually holds a heavy heart, because deep down they want to achieve their goals. Deep down they know they are meant to live their dreams. So stop procrastinating. Start by first identifying what you’re passionate about, then go from there.  As long as you’re doing what you love, you can never go wrong.

The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing. Growing happens when what you know changes how you live. Truth is.. some people just don’t grow, they fear change or won’t put in the work necessary to grow out of the current life they are living. People dream about nice cars and a big house, but that’s it, all they’re doing is dreaming. If you’re waiting for the perfect conditions, ideas or plans to get started, you’ll never achieve anything. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Change is often resisted when it is needed the most. If you’re chasing you’re dreams, you’re just not moving fast enough.

Most of your high school friends won’t be a part of your college life.  Most of your college friends won’t be a part of your 20-something professional life.  Most of your 20-something friends won’t be there when your spouse and you bring your second child into the world.  But some friends will stick.  And it’s these friends – the ones who transcend time with you – who matter.

If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It’s pretty simple.

You can’t be everything to everyone.  No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks differently.  So concentrate on doing what you know in your heart is right.  What others think and say about you isn’t all that important.  What is important is how you feel about yourself.

The root of your happiness comes from your relationship with yourself.  Sure, friends, situations and material things can affect your mood, but in the long run nothing matters more than how you feel about who you are on the inside. Have some confidence, have some self-esteem.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  You can’t change what happened, but you can change how you react to it. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

Knowledge comes from experience.  You can discuss a task a hundred times, but these discussions will only give you a philosophical understanding.  You must experience a task firsthand to truly know it.

Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation.  Invest your energy in the things you can control.

Not for everyone.  Right now, someone on Earth is planning something for tomorrow without realizing they’re going to die today.  This is sad but true.  So spend your time wisely today and pause long enough to appreciate it.

The day you stop learning is the day you stop living. Welcome new information, think about it and use it to advance yourself.