Words I Live By

What words motivate me to do better, be better, and achieve greatness? Well, I've never actually had a quote that has specifically inspired me. There are a lot of great quotes out there but none that have moved me...

Until about 3 months ago. While in Rome, the realization hit me that my study abroad experience was quickly coming to an end. This amazing, incredible experience that I had been planning for a year was over in a blink of an eye. I became sad, really sad.

Then one day, my roommate Jo found this really intriguing book. When she opened it up, she read the first line to me. It was a quote by Mark Twain, and as she read it, I felt incredibly moved. It said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mr. Samuel Clemens himself.

Mark Twain was right.

You really do only live once. Why not make the most of it? That's how I am choosing to live the rest of my life.

The world is mine!
(At the top of Mt. Vesuvius)

I generally consider myself a pretty selfless person, or at least I try to be. However, I think there are certain times in life where you have to be selfish. For me, traveling and experiencing the world is one way I will always be selfish. Traveling makes me truly happy, and I refuse to let my life become boring. I love adventure, excitement, new opportunities, and the chance to grow.