inspiration in everyday life essay

Essay on My Inspiration In Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Inspiration In Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

My inspiration.

Everyone has someone who inspires them in life. For me, it’s my mother. She is strong, kind, and works hard every day. Her love and support give me the power to face challenges.

Lessons from Mom

My mom has taught me to be honest and to always do my best. She shows me that with patience and hard work, I can reach my goals. Watching her overcome difficulties with a smile is truly motivating.

Dreams and Goals

Because of my mom, I dream big and set goals. She encourages me to study and learn new things. Her belief in me makes me believe in myself, and that’s why she is my inspiration.

250 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

My guiding star.

In life, everyone has a source of motivation that pushes them to do better. For me, that source is my mother. She is my inspiration, showing me the power of love, hard work, and kindness every day. Her life story is like a book filled with lessons that guide me.

Strength in Tough Times

My mother has faced many tough situations. When things get hard, she doesn’t give up. Instead, she finds a way to solve problems with a smile. Watching her has taught me to be strong and positive, even when things don’t go my way.

Love and Kindness

Her love for our family and others is endless. She cares for everyone, even people she doesn’t know well. This has taught me to be kind and to help others. I’ve learned that a small act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day.

Working Hard

My mother works very hard. She always says that if you want something, you need to work for it. She never waits for things to happen; she makes them happen. This has shown me the value of hard work and not to be afraid of trying new things.

My mother is the light that guides me. She has shown me how to face life with a brave heart, to be kind to everyone, and to work hard for my dreams. She is not just my mom; she’s my hero. I want to be like her as I grow up, spreading love and positivity wherever I go.

500 Words Essay on My Inspiration In Life

Who inspires me.

Everyone has someone who inspires them to be better, to reach higher, and to dream bigger. For me, that person is my grandmother. She is the light that guides me through my life’s journey. Her life story, the kindness she shows to everyone, and her never-give-up attitude are what make me want to become the best version of myself.

Grandmother’s Life Story

My grandmother grew up in a small village with very little. She didn’t have the chance to go to school for long because she had to work to help her family. But she loved to learn. She taught herself to read and write more by reading old newspapers and practicing every day. Even now, she tells me stories of those times and how important it is to keep learning, no matter what. When I think of her, I feel motivated to do well in school and to never stop being curious.

Kindness to Everyone

Another thing about my grandmother that inspires me is her kindness. She has a smile for everyone and always finds a way to help those in need. I’ve seen her give food to people who are hungry and offer warm clothes to those who are cold. She says, “Being kind costs nothing but means everything.” I try to live by these words and show kindness just like she does.

Never-Give-Up Attitude

Life has thrown many challenges at my grandmother. She has seen tough times, but she never lets them defeat her. She always finds a way to solve problems, and she never stops trying. When I face something hard in school or with friends, I remember her strength. It gives me the courage to keep going and not to quit, just like she never does.

Learning From Mistakes

My grandmother always says that mistakes are just another way to learn. She doesn’t get upset when something goes wrong. Instead, she looks for what can be learned from it. This has taught me not to be afraid of making mistakes. I know that when I mess up, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just a step in learning and getting better.

Looking to the Future

Thinking about my grandmother and all that she stands for helps me to dream about my future. I want to be someone who makes a difference, just like she does. I want to work hard, be kind, and face challenges with a brave heart. She has shown me that it’s possible to do all these things, even when life is tough.

In conclusion, my grandmother is my inspiration in life. Her story, her kindness, her strength, and her wisdom light up the path I want to follow. She may not be famous or have done world-changing things, but to me, she is a hero. She makes me believe that I can achieve my dreams and be a good person along the way. Whenever I think of her, I am filled with hope and a desire to reach for the stars, just like she has always done.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on My Idol Artist
• Essay on My Idol
• Essay on Neoliberalism

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Essays About Daily Life: Top 5 Essay Examples and 7 Prompts

Writing about daily routines and events can be tricky, to help you get started discover our guide with essays about daily life examples and prompts. 

Talking about what we do every day can be mundane. However, it also has many physical and mental health benefits, and writing about our everyday lives helps us gain new perspectives. The records we have in personal journals let us read back on the events that already happened to relive a memory or increase our understanding of our current situation. 

If you prefer to avoid journaling, you can start by producing an essay. Creating an essay about our daily activities helps us appreciate life more and to stop taking things for granted. You can also check out these essays about life .

5 Essay Examples

• 1. My Daily Life as a Student – Essay by Mili
• 2. Write an Essay on Your Daily Life by Darshan Kadu

3. Essay on Daily Life in Ancient Egypt by Anonymous on PapersOwl.Com

• 4. My Daily Life by Ken Subedi

1. How to Write About Your Daily Life

2. why write essays about everyday life, 3. my daily life before, during, and after the pandemic, 4. the daily life of a student, 5. daily life of different age groups, 6. social media and our daily lives, 7. daily life: work-life balance, 1. my daily life as a student – essay  by mili.

“I get refreshed with the morning walk or a little exercise and then prepare myself for the study with utmost sincerity. It is against my principle to put off today’s work for tomorrow or to have any private tutor.”

Mili shares her simple life in this essay by describing everyday activities every student does, such as brushing her teeth and exercising. She mentions her classes and recess at 2 PM, where she and her friends eat snacks, play games, and chat. As a student, Mili has a busy six-day schedule but visits theaters after washing her uniforms on Sundays. You might also be interested in these essays about reflection .

2. Write an Essay on Your Daily Life  by Darshan Kadu

“Life is too precious to be idled away in lethargic existence and in useless ventures. My daily routine is jam-packed with actions and activities and keeps me and my mind busy all the time. The adventures of daily life make it interesting and an exciting journey.”

On school days, Kadu’s daily routine includes jogging, getting ready for school, and having breakfast with the whole family. After school and attending meetings, he usually plays with friends in the field. Kadu also mentions how he spends his holidays. He believes that even though he has a daily routine, it’s exciting and full of adventure.

“Ancient Egyptian’s daily life revolves around the Nile and the rich soil around it… daily lives of people have changed a lot since then.”

This essay shows how religion helped the Ancient Egyptians run their daily lives. The author discusses changes in festivals and the treatment of gods and royalty. To make an effective comparison, they use three examples: the importance of family, the Nile, and slavery.

The writer mentions that the Nile was essential in Ancient Egypt because it provided food to the people. Modern Egyptians no longer depend on the Nile river and its rich soil. As for working, people used to be enslaved by the rich and were forced to farm. Now, while farming is a work option, slavery doesn’t happen anymore. Early marriage is also forgotten, but the importance of family is still the same for all Egyptians.

4. My Daily Life  by Ken Subedi

“Sometimes I feel that I am really becoming a machine to have a strict time table. But I also believe that if we do everything on time, success will kiss us and we can lead a qualitative life.”

Subedi believes that people spend the day depending on their roles. Because he’s a student, he talks about how a typical school day goes for him, noting how he follows a strict schedule to do his homework, play with friends, and prepare for the next day. 

Subedi mentions how Saturdays and holidays distract his daily routine and shares how he feels like a machine with the readers. However, he also says that he knows it’s necessary to have a successful life. You might also be interested in these essays about New Year .

5. Long Essay on Television In Our Daily Life by Prasanna

“There are channels that beam programs 24 hours a day. Whereas this may be a boon for the people who do not have much to do anyway, it becomes a source of great distraction for children for whom the priority should be their studies.”

Technology like television is essential today but can also be a distraction to many. Prasanna refers to television as the most common form of entertainment that provides information on what’s happening worldwide. However, some shows have mature or violent elements that have adverse effects, especially on children. Additionally, those who spend too much time watching television will miss the thrill and excitement of going out and meeting other people.

7 Prompts for Essays About Daily Life

Experts say that in writing about your everyday life, you have to live with it. In writing this instructional prompt, you must first introduce and define essays about daily life. Next, give a step-by-step process for writing this topic and explain each step to the readers. Then, discuss the dos and don’ts of writing this essay, especially the information the piece needs.

For example, creating a detailed essay is good, but sometimes including too much information is boring to read. In this case, you should only incorporate relevant and exciting experiences throughout your day. 

Besides clearing the mind, producing essays about daily life improves writing skills, boosts memory retention, and more. Discuss the other benefits of writing an essay about this topic and verify the importance of each. 

This prompt encourages readers to create essays about their daily activities. To help you, read our guide explaining persuasive writing .

The coronavirus pandemic greatly affected everyone’s daily routine. To effectively share your experience and how the virus impacted your everyday life, divide your essay into three parts: before, during, and after the pandemic. 

Recount how your day started and ended for each period. Add any surprising events that occurred, if there are any. Then, include your opinion on the drastic changes you endured during the pandemic. 

A student’s life consists of waking up early, preparing for school, doing homework, and studying for hours. This prompt is perfect for you, regardless of level, if you’re a student. For this prompt, introduce your program to the readers and discuss the daily activities that make your typical day. Include the time management techniques you use and how effective they are for you as a student.

Our schedule changes depending on what we try to accomplish. For example, children are free to play, teenagers are expected to attend school, and adults are supposed to work. For this prompt, focus on each age group’s varying timetable and objectives, then compare and contrast their lives. You can interview someone from each age group to have a reliable representative.

Social media significantly changed our perception of what our daily lives should look like if we want to thrive. Many try to follow an unrealistic schedule to be as prosperous as the ones we see on our feeds.

Gather factual data on the social media users and the frequency with which they visit their accounts on each platform. Analyze these statistics and identify the positive and negative effects of being on social media multiple times a day.

Many struggles with achieving an effective work-life balance. For this prompt, research the average person’s success rate in accomplishing a good routine that strengthens their work and personal relationships. After establishing the benefits of having a functional work-life balance, list how the readers can find balance and use these tips in their daily lives.  

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Eight brilliant student essays on what matters most in life.

Read winning essays from our spring 2019 student writing contest.

For the spring 2019 student writing contest, we invited students to read the YES! article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill. Like the author, students interviewed someone significantly older than them about the three things that matter most in life. Students then wrote about what they learned, and about how their interviewees’ answers compare to their own top priorities.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye. Plus, we share an essay from teacher Charles Sanderson, who also responded to the writing prompt.

Middle School Winner: Rory Leyva

High School Winner:  Praethong Klomsum

University Winner:  Emily Greenbaum

Powerful Voice Winner: Amanda Schwaben

Powerful Voice Winner: Antonia Mills

Powerful Voice Winner:  Isaac Ziemba

Powerful Voice Winner: Lily Hersch

“Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner: Jonas Buckner

From the Author: Response to Student Winners

Literary Gems

From A Teacher: Charles Sanderson

From the Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Middle School Winner

Village Home Education Resource Center, Portland, Ore.

The Lessons Of Mortality 

“As I’ve aged, things that are more personal to me have become somewhat less important. Perhaps I’ve become less self-centered with the awareness of mortality, how short one person’s life is.” This is how my 72-year-old grandma believes her values have changed over the course of her life. Even though I am only 12 years old, I know my life won’t last forever, and someday I, too, will reflect on my past decisions. We were all born to exist and eventually die, so we have evolved to value things in the context of mortality.

One of the ways I feel most alive is when I play roller derby. I started playing for the Rose City Rollers Juniors two years ago, and this year, I made the Rosebud All-Stars travel team. Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport. The physicality and intense training make me feel in control of and present in my body.

My roller derby team is like a second family to me. Adolescence is complicated. We understand each other in ways no one else can. I love my friends more than I love almost anything else. My family would have been higher on my list a few years ago, but as I’ve aged it has been important to make my own social connections.

Music led me to roller derby.  I started out jam skating at the roller rink. Jam skating is all about feeling the music. It integrates gymnastics, breakdancing, figure skating, and modern dance with R & B and hip hop music. When I was younger, I once lay down in the DJ booth at the roller rink and was lulled to sleep by the drawl of wheels rolling in rhythm and people talking about the things they came there to escape. Sometimes, I go up on the roof of my house at night to listen to music and feel the wind rustle my hair. These unique sensations make me feel safe like nothing else ever has.

My grandma tells me, “Being close with family and friends is the most important thing because I haven’t

always had that.” When my grandma was two years old, her father died. Her mother became depressed and moved around a lot, which made it hard for my grandma to make friends. Once my grandma went to college, she made lots of friends. She met my grandfather, Joaquin Leyva when she was working as a park ranger and he was a surfer. They bought two acres of land on the edge of a redwood forest and had a son and a daughter. My grandma created a stable family that was missing throughout her early life.

My grandma is motivated to maintain good health so she can be there for her family. I can relate because I have to be fit and strong for my team. Since she lost my grandfather to cancer, she realizes how lucky she is to have a functional body and no life-threatening illnesses. My grandma tries to eat well and exercise, but she still struggles with depression. Over time, she has learned that reaching out to others is essential to her emotional wellbeing.  

Caring for the earth is also a priority for my grandma I’ve been lucky to learn from my grandma. She’s taught me how to hunt for fossils in the desert and find shells on the beach. Although my grandma grew up with no access to the wilderness, she admired the green open areas of urban cemeteries. In college, she studied geology and hiked in the High Sierras. For years, she’s been an advocate for conserving wildlife habitat and open spaces.

Our priorities may seem different, but it all comes down to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and need to be loved. Like Nancy Hill says in the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” it can be hard to decipher what is important in life. I believe that the constant search for satisfaction and meaning is the only thing everyone has in common. We all want to know what matters, and we walk around this confusing world trying to find it. The lessons I’ve learned from my grandma about forging connections, caring for my body, and getting out in the world inspire me to live my life my way before it’s gone.

Rory Leyva is a seventh-grader from Portland, Oregon. Rory skates for the Rosebuds All-Stars roller derby team. She loves listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

High School Winner

Praethong Klomsum

  Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

Time Only Moves Forward

Sandra Hernandez gazed at the tiny house while her mother’s gentle hands caressed her shoulders. It wasn’t much, especially for a family of five. This was 1960, she was 17, and her family had just moved to Culver City.

Flash forward to 2019. Sandra sits in a rocking chair, knitting a blanket for her latest grandchild, in the same living room. Sandra remembers working hard to feed her eight children. She took many different jobs before settling behind the cash register at a Japanese restaurant called Magos. “It was a struggle, and my husband Augustine, was planning to join the military at that time, too.”

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author Nancy Hill states that one of the most important things is “…connecting with others in general, but in particular with those who have lived long lives.” Sandra feels similarly. It’s been hard for Sandra to keep in contact with her family, which leaves her downhearted some days. “It’s important to maintain that connection you have with your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

Despite her age, Sandra is a daring woman. Taking risks is important to her, and she’ll try anything—from skydiving to hiking. Sandra has some regrets from the past, but nowadays, she doesn’t wonder about the “would have, could have, should haves.” She just goes for it with a smile.

Sandra thought harder about her last important thing, the blue and green blanket now finished and covering

her lap. “I’ve definitely lived a longer life than most, and maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I hope I can see the day my great-grandchildren are born.” She’s laughing, but her eyes look beyond what’s in front of her. Maybe she is reminiscing about the day she held her son for the first time or thinking of her grandchildren becoming parents. I thank her for her time and she waves it off, offering me a styrofoam cup of lemonade before I head for the bus station.

The bus is sparsely filled. A voice in my head reminds me to finish my 10-page history research paper before spring break. I take a window seat and pull out my phone and earbuds. My playlist is already on shuffle, and I push away thoughts of that dreaded paper. Music has been a constant in my life—from singing my lungs out in kindergarten to Barbie’s “I Need To Know,” to jamming out to Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” in sixth grade, to BTS’s “Intro: Never Mind” comforting me when I’m at my lowest. Music is my magic shop, a place where I can trade away my fears for calm.

I’ve always been afraid of doing something wrong—not finishing my homework or getting a C when I can do better. When I was 8, I wanted to be like the big kids. As I got older, I realized that I had exchanged my childhood longing for the 48 pack of crayons for bigger problems, balancing grades, a social life, and mental stability—all at once. I’m going to get older whether I like it or not, so there’s no point forcing myself to grow up faster.  I’m learning to live in the moment.

The bus is approaching my apartment, where I know my comfy bed and a home-cooked meal from my mom are waiting. My mom is hard-working, confident, and very stubborn. I admire her strength of character. She always keeps me in line, even through my rebellious phases.

My best friend sends me a text—an update on how broken her laptop is. She is annoying. She says the stupidest things and loves to state the obvious. Despite this, she never fails to make me laugh until my cheeks feel numb. The rest of my friends are like that too—loud, talkative, and always brightening my day. Even friends I stopped talking to have a place in my heart. Recently, I’ve tried to reconnect with some of them. This interview was possible because a close friend from sixth grade offered to introduce me to Sandra, her grandmother.  

I’m decades younger than Sandra, so my view of what’s important isn’t as broad as hers, but we share similar values, with friends and family at the top. I have a feeling that when Sandra was my age, she used to love music, too. Maybe in a few decades, when I’m sitting in my rocking chair, drawing in my sketchbook, I’ll remember this article and think back fondly to the days when life was simple.

Praethong Klomsum is a tenth-grader at Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California.  Praethong has a strange affinity for rhyme games and is involved in her school’s dance team. She enjoys drawing and writing, hoping to impact people willing to listen to her thoughts and ideas.

University Winner

Emily Greenbaum

Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 

The Life-Long War

Every morning we open our eyes, ready for a new day. Some immediately turn to their phones and social media. Others work out or do yoga. For a certain person, a deep breath and the morning sun ground him. He hears the clink-clank of his wife cooking low sodium meat for breakfast—doctor’s orders! He sees that the other side of the bed is already made, the dogs are no longer in the room, and his clothes are set out nicely on the loveseat.

Today, though, this man wakes up to something different: faded cream walls and jello. This person, my hero, is Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James.

I pulled up my chair close to Roger’s vinyl recliner so I could hear him above the noise of the beeping dialysis machine. I noticed Roger would occasionally glance at his wife Susan with sparkly eyes when he would recall memories of the war or their grandkids. He looked at Susan like she walked on water.

Roger James served his country for thirty years. Now, he has enlisted in another type of war. He suffers from a rare blood cancer—the result of the wars he fought in. Roger has good and bad days. He says, “The good outweighs the bad, so I have to be grateful for what I have on those good days.”

When Roger retired, he never thought the effects of the war would reach him. The once shallow wrinkles upon his face become deeper, as he tells me, “It’s just cancer. Others are suffering from far worse. I know I’ll make it.”

Like Nancy Hill did in her article “Three Things that Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I asked Roger, “What are the three most important things to you?” James answered, “My wife Susan, my grandkids, and church.”

Roger and Susan served together in the Vietnam war. She was a nurse who treated his cuts and scrapes one day. I asked Roger why he chose Susan. He said, “Susan told me to look at her while she cleaned me up. ‘This may sting, but don’t be a baby.’ When I looked into her eyes, I felt like she was looking into my soul, and I didn’t want her to leave. She gave me this sense of home. Every day I wake up, she makes me feel the same way, and I fall in love with her all over again.”

Roger and Susan have two kids and four grandkids, with great-grandchildren on the way. He claims that his grandkids give him the youth that he feels slowly escaping from his body. This adoring grandfather is energized by coaching t-ball and playing evening card games with the grandkids.

The last thing on his list was church. His oldest daughter married a pastor. Together they founded a church. Roger said that the connection between his faith and family is important to him because it gave him a reason to want to live again. I learned from Roger that when you’re across the ocean, you tend to lose sight of why you are fighting. When Roger returned, he didn’t have the will to live. Most days were a struggle, adapting back into a society that lacked empathy for the injuries, pain, and psychological trauma carried by returning soldiers. Church changed that for Roger and gave him a sense of purpose.

When I began this project, my attitude was to just get the assignment done. I never thought I could view Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James as more than a role model, but he definitely changed my mind. It’s as if Roger magically lit a fire inside of me and showed me where one’s true passions should lie. I see our similarities and embrace our differences. We both value family and our own connections to home—his home being church and mine being where I can breathe the easiest.

Master Chief Petty Officer Roger James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me and that every once in a while, I should step back and stop to smell the roses. As we concluded the interview, amidst squeaky clogs and the stale smell of bleach and bedpans, I looked to Roger, his kind, tired eyes, and weathered skin, with a deeper sense of admiration, knowing that his values still run true, no matter what he faces.

Emily Greenbaum is a senior at Kent State University, graduating with a major in Conflict Management and minor in Geography. Emily hopes to use her major to facilitate better conversations, while she works in the Washington, D.C. area.  

Powerful Voice Winner

Amanda Schwaben

Wise Words From Winnie the Pooh

As I read through Nancy Hill’s article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I was comforted by the similar responses given by both children and older adults. The emphasis participants placed on family, social connections, and love was not only heartwarming but hopeful. While the messages in the article filled me with warmth, I felt a twinge of guilt building within me. As a twenty-one-year-old college student weeks from graduation, I honestly don’t think much about the most important things in life. But if I was asked, I would most likely say family, friendship, and love. As much as I hate to admit it, I often find myself obsessing over achieving a successful career and finding a way to “save the world.”

A few weeks ago, I was at my family home watching the new Winnie the Pooh movie Christopher Robin with my mom and younger sister. Well, I wasn’t really watching. I had my laptop in front of me, and I was aggressively typing up an assignment. Halfway through the movie, I realized I left my laptop charger in my car. I walked outside into the brisk March air. Instinctively, I looked up. The sky was perfectly clear, revealing a beautiful array of stars. When my twin sister and I were in high school, we would always take a moment to look up at the sparkling night sky before we came into the house after soccer practice.

I think that was the last time I stood in my driveway and gazed at the stars. I did not get the laptop charger from

my car; instead, I turned around and went back inside. I shut my laptop and watched the rest of the movie. My twin sister loves Winnie the Pooh. So much so that my parents got her a stuffed animal version of him for Christmas. While I thought he was adorable and a token of my childhood, I did not really understand her obsession. However, it was clear to me after watching the movie. Winnie the Pooh certainly had it figured out. He believed that the simple things in life were the most important: love, friendship, and having fun.

I thought about asking my mom right then what the three most important things were to her, but I decided not to. I just wanted to be in the moment. I didn’t want to be doing homework. It was a beautiful thing to just sit there and be present with my mom and sister.

I did ask her, though, a couple of weeks later. Her response was simple.  All she said was family, health, and happiness. When she told me this, I imagined Winnie the Pooh smiling. I think he would be proud of that answer.

I was not surprised by my mom’s reply. It suited her perfectly. I wonder if we relearn what is most important when we grow older—that the pressure to be successful subsides. Could it be that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world?

Amanda Schwaben is a graduating senior from Kent State University with a major in Applied Conflict Management. Amanda also has minors in Psychology and Interpersonal Communication. She hopes to further her education and focus on how museums not only preserve history but also promote peace.

Antonia Mills

Rachel Carson High School, Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Decoding The Butterfly

For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must first digest itself. The caterpillar, overwhelmed by accumulating tissue, splits its skin open to form its protective shell, the chrysalis, and later becomes the pretty butterfly we all know and love. There are approximately 20,000 species of butterflies, and just as every species is different, so is the life of every butterfly. No matter how long and hard a caterpillar has strived to become the colorful and vibrant butterfly that we marvel at on a warm spring day, it does not live a long life. A butterfly can live for a year, six months, two weeks, and even as little as twenty-four hours.

I have often wondered if butterflies live long enough to be blissful of blue skies. Do they take time to feast upon the sweet nectar they crave, midst their hustling life of pollinating pretty flowers? Do they ever take a lull in their itineraries, or are they always rushing towards completing their four-stage metamorphosis? Has anyone asked the butterfly, “Who are you?” instead of “What are you”? Or, How did you get here, on my windowsill?  How did you become ‘you’?

Humans are similar to butterflies. As a caterpillar

Suzanna Ruby/Getty Images

becomes a butterfly, a baby becomes an elder. As a butterfly soars through summer skies, an elder watches summer skies turn into cold winter nights and back toward summer skies yet again.  And as a butterfly flits slowly by the porch light, a passerby makes assumptions about the wrinkled, slow-moving elder, who is sturdier than he appears. These creatures are not seen for who they are—who they were—because people have “better things to do” or they are too busy to ask, “How are you”?

Our world can be a lonely place. Pressured by expectations, haunted by dreams, overpowered by weakness, and drowned out by lofty goals, we tend to forget ourselves—and others. Rather than hang onto the strands of our diminishing sanity, we might benefit from listening to our elders. Many elders have experienced setbacks in their young lives. Overcoming hardship and surviving to old age is wisdom that they carry.  We can learn from them—and can even make their day by taking the time to hear their stories.  

Nancy Hill, who wrote the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” was right: “We live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” I know a lot about my grandmother’s life, and it isn’t as serene as my own. My grandmother, Liza, who cooks every day, bakes bread on holidays for our neighbors, brings gifts to her doctor out of the kindness of her heart, and makes conversation with neighbors even though she is isn’t fluent in English—Russian is her first language—has struggled all her life. Her mother, Anna, a single parent, had tuberculosis, and even though she had an inviolable spirit, she was too frail to care for four children. She passed away when my grandmother was sixteen, so my grandmother and her siblings spent most of their childhood in an orphanage. My grandmother got married at nineteen to my grandfather, Pinhas. He was a man who loved her more than he loved himself and was a godsend to every person he met. Liza was—and still is—always quick to do what was best for others, even if that person treated her poorly. My grandmother has lived with physical pain all her life, yet she pushed herself to climb heights that she wasn’t ready for. Against all odds, she has lived to tell her story to people who are willing to listen. And I always am.

I asked my grandmother, “What are three things most important to you?” Her answer was one that I already expected: One, for everyone to live long healthy lives. Two, for you to graduate from college. Three, for you to always remember that I love you.

What may be basic to you means the world to my grandmother. She just wants what she never had the chance to experience: a healthy life, an education, and the chance to express love to the people she values. The three things that matter most to her may be so simple and ordinary to outsiders, but to her, it is so much more. And who could take that away?

Antonia Mills was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and attends Rachel Carson High School.  Antonia enjoys creative activities, including writing, painting, reading, and baking. She hopes to pursue culinary arts professionally in the future. One of her favorite quotes is, “When you start seeing your worth, you’ll find it harder to stay around people who don’t.” -Emily S.P.  

  Powerful Voice Winner

   Isaac Ziemba

Odyssey Multiage Program, Bainbridge Island, Wash. 

This Former State Trooper Has His Priorities Straight: Family, Climate Change, and Integrity

I have a personal connection to people who served in the military and first responders. My uncle is a first responder on the island I live on, and my dad retired from the Navy. That was what made a man named Glen Tyrell, a state trooper for 25 years, 2 months and 9 days, my first choice to interview about what three things matter in life. In the YES! Magazine article “The Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” I learned that old and young people have a great deal in common. I know that’s true because Glen and I care about a lot of the same things.

For Glen, family is at the top of his list of important things. “My wife was, and is, always there for me. My daughters mean the world to me, too, but Penny is my partner,” Glen said. I can understand why Glen’s wife is so important to him. She’s family. Family will always be there for you.

Glen loves his family, and so do I with all my heart. My dad especially means the world to me. He is my top supporter and tells me that if I need help, just “say the word.” When we are fishing or crabbing, sometimes I

think, what if these times were erased from my memory? I wouldn’t be able to describe the horrible feeling that would rush through my mind, and I’m sure that Glen would feel the same about his wife.

My uncle once told me that the world is always going to change over time. It’s what the world has turned out to be that worries me. Both Glen and I are extremely concerned about climate change and the effect that rising temperatures have on animals and their habitats. We’re driving them to extinction. Some people might say, “So what? Animals don’t pay taxes or do any of the things we do.” What we are doing to them is like the Black Death times 100.

Glen is also frustrated by how much plastic we use and where it ends up. He would be shocked that an explorer recently dived to the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean—seven miles!— and discovered a plastic bag and candy wrappers. Glen told me that, unfortunately, his generation did the damage and my generation is here to fix it. We need to take better care of Earth because if we don’t, we, as a species, will have failed.

Both Glen and I care deeply for our families and the earth, but for our third important value, I chose education and Glen chose integrity. My education is super important to me because without it, I would be a blank slate. I wouldn’t know how to figure out problems. I wouldn’t be able to tell right from wrong. I wouldn’t understand the Bill of Rights. I would be stuck. Everyone should be able to go to school, no matter where they’re from or who they are.  It makes me angry and sad to think that some people, especially girls, get shot because they are trying to go to school. I understand how lucky I am.

Integrity is sacred to Glen—I could tell by the serious tone of Glen’s voice when he told me that integrity was the code he lived by as a former state trooper. He knew that he had the power to change a person’s life, and he was committed to not abusing that power.  When Glen put someone under arrest—and my uncle says the same—his judgment and integrity were paramount. “Either you’re right or you’re wrong.” You can’t judge a person by what you think, you can only judge a person from what you know.”

I learned many things about Glen and what’s important in life, but there is one thing that stands out—something Glen always does and does well. Glen helps people. He did it as a state trooper, and he does it in our school, where he works on construction projects. Glen told me that he believes that our most powerful tools are writing and listening to others. I think those tools are important, too, but I also believe there are other tools to help solve many of our problems and create a better future: to be compassionate, to create caring relationships, and to help others. Just like Glen Tyrell does each and every day.

Isaac Ziemba is in seventh grade at the Odyssey Multiage Program on a small island called Bainbridge near Seattle, Washington. Isaac’s favorite subject in school is history because he has always been interested in how the past affects the future. In his spare time, you can find Isaac hunting for crab with his Dad, looking for artifacts around his house with his metal detector, and having fun with his younger cousin, Conner.     

Lily Hersch

 The Crest Academy, Salida, Colo.

The Phone Call

Dear Grandpa,

In my short span of life—12 years so far—you’ve taught me a lot of important life lessons that I’ll always have with me. Some of the values I talk about in this writing I’ve learned from you.

Dedicated to my Gramps.

In the YES! Magazine article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age,” author and photographer Nancy Hill asked people to name the three things that mattered most to them. After reading the essay prompt for the article, I immediately knew who I wanted to interview: my grandpa Gil.      

My grandpa was born on January 25, 1942. He lived in a minuscule tenement in The Bronx with his mother,

father, and brother. His father wasn’t around much, and, when he was, he was reticent and would snap occasionally, revealing his constrained mental pain. My grandpa says this happened because my great grandfather did not have a father figure in his life. His mother was a classy, sharp lady who was the head secretary at a local police district station. My grandpa and his brother Larry did not care for each other. Gramps said he was very close to his mother, and Larry wasn’t. Perhaps Larry was envious for what he didn’t have.

Decades after little to no communication with his brother, my grandpa decided to spontaneously visit him in Florida, where he resided with his wife. Larry was taken aback at the sudden reappearance of his brother and told him to leave. Since then, the two brothers have not been in contact. My grandpa doesn’t even know if Larry is alive.         

My grandpa is now a retired lawyer, married to my wonderful grandma, and living in a pretty house with an ugly dog named BoBo.

So, what’s important to you, Gramps?

He paused a second, then replied, “Family, kindness, and empathy.”

“Family, because it’s my family. It’s important to stay connected with your family. My brother, father, and I never connected in the way I wished, and sometimes I contemplated what could’ve happened.  But you can’t change the past. So, that’s why family’s important to me.”

Family will always be on my “Top Three Most Important Things” list, too. I can’t imagine not having my older brother, Zeke, or my grandma in my life. I wonder how other kids feel about their families? How do kids trapped and separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border feel?  What about orphans? Too many questions, too few answers.

“Kindness, because growing up and not seeing a lot of kindness made me realize how important it is to have that in the world. Kindness makes the world go round.”

What is kindness? Helping my brother, Eli, who has Down syndrome, get ready in the morning? Telling people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear? Maybe, for now, I’ll put wisdom, not kindness, on my list.

“Empathy, because of all the killings and shootings [in this country.] We also need to care for people—people who are not living in as good circumstances as I have. Donald Trump and other people I’ve met have no empathy. Empathy is very important.”

Empathy is something I’ve felt my whole life. It’ll always be important to me like it is important to my grandpa. My grandpa shows his empathy when he works with disabled children. Once he took a disabled child to a Christina Aguilera concert because that child was too young to go by himself. The moments I feel the most empathy are when Eli gets those looks from people. Seeing Eli wonder why people stare at him like he’s a freak makes me sad, and annoyed that they have the audacity to stare.

After this 2 minute and 36-second phone call, my grandpa has helped me define what’s most important to me at this time in my life: family, wisdom, and empathy. Although these things are important now, I realize they can change and most likely will.

When I’m an old woman, I envision myself scrambling through a stack of storage boxes and finding this paper. Perhaps after reading words from my 12-year-old self, I’ll ask myself “What’s important to me?”

Lily Hersch is a sixth-grader at Crest Academy in Salida, Colorado. Lily is an avid indoorsman, finding joy in competitive spelling, art, and of course, writing. She does not like Swiss cheese.

  “Tell It Like It Is” Interview Winner

Jonas Buckner

KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory, Gaston, N.C.

Lessons My Nana Taught Me

I walked into the house. In the other room, I heard my cousin screaming at his game. There were a lot of Pioneer Woman dishes everywhere. The room had the television on max volume. The fan in the other room was on. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to learn something powerful.

I was in my Nana’s house, and when I walked in, she said, “Hey Monkey Butt.”

I said, “Hey Nana.”

Before the interview, I was talking to her about what I was gonna interview her on. Also, I had asked her why I might have wanted to interview her, and she responded with, “Because you love me, and I love you too.”

Now, it was time to start the interview. The first

question I asked was the main and most important question ever: “What three things matter most to you and you only?”

She thought of it very thoughtfully and responded with, “My grandchildren, my children, and my health.”

Then, I said, “OK, can you please tell me more about your health?”

She responded with, “My health is bad right now. I have heart problems, blood sugar, and that’s about it.” When she said it, she looked at me and smiled because she loved me and was happy I chose her to interview.

I replied with, “K um, why is it important to you?”

She smiled and said, “Why is it…Why is my health important? Well, because I want to live a long time and see my grandchildren grow up.”

I was scared when she said that, but she still smiled. I was so happy, and then I said, “Has your health always been important to you.”

She responded with “Nah.”

Then, I asked, “Do you happen to have a story to help me understand your reasoning?”

She said, “No, not really.”

Now we were getting into the next set of questions. I said, “Remember how you said that your grandchildren matter to you? Can you please tell me why they matter to you?”

Then, she responded with, “So I can spend time with them, play with them, and everything.”

Next, I asked the same question I did before: “Have you always loved your grandchildren?” 

She responded with, “Yes, they have always been important to me.”

Then, the next two questions I asked she had no response to at all. She was very happy until I asked, “Why do your children matter most to you?”

She had a frown on and responded, “My daughter Tammy died a long time ago.”

Then, at this point, the other questions were answered the same as the other ones. When I left to go home I was thinking about how her answers were similar to mine. She said health, and I care about my health a lot, and I didn’t say, but I wanted to. She also didn’t have answers for the last two questions on each thing, and I was like that too.

The lesson I learned was that no matter what, always keep pushing because even though my aunt or my Nana’s daughter died, she kept on pushing and loving everyone. I also learned that everything should matter to us. Once again, I chose to interview my Nana because she matters to me, and I know when she was younger she had a lot of things happen to her, so I wanted to know what she would say. The point I’m trying to make is that be grateful for what you have and what you have done in life.

Jonas Buckner is a sixth-grader at KIPP: Gaston College Preparatory in Gaston, North Carolina. Jonas’ favorite activities are drawing, writing, math, piano, and playing AltSpace VR. He found his passion for writing in fourth grade when he wrote a quick autobiography. Jonas hopes to become a horror writer someday.

From The Author: Responses to Student Winners

Dear Emily, Isaac, Antonia, Rory, Praethong, Amanda, Lily, and Jonas,

Your thought-provoking essays sent my head spinning. The more I read, the more impressed I was with the depth of thought, beauty of expression, and originality. It left me wondering just how to capture all of my reactions in a single letter. After multiple false starts, I’ve landed on this: I will stick to the theme of three most important things.

The three things I found most inspirational about your essays:

You listened.

You connected.

We live in troubled times. Tensions mount between countries, cultures, genders, religious beliefs, and generations. If we fail to find a way to understand each other, to see similarities between us, the future will be fraught with increased hostility.

You all took critical steps toward connecting with someone who might not value the same things you do by asking a person who is generations older than you what matters to them. Then, you listened to their answers. You saw connections between what is important to them and what is important to you. Many of you noted similarities, others wondered if your own list of the three most important things would change as you go through life. You all saw the validity of the responses you received and looked for reasons why your interviewees have come to value what they have.

It is through these things—asking, listening, and connecting—that we can begin to bridge the differences in experiences and beliefs that are currently dividing us.

Individual observations

Each one of you made observations that all of us, regardless of age or experience, would do well to keep in mind. I chose one quote from each person and trust those reading your essays will discover more valuable insights.

“Our priorities may seem different, but they come back to basic human needs. We all desire a purpose, strive to be happy, and work to make a positive impact.” 

“You can’t judge a person by what you think , you can only judge a person by what you know .”

Emily (referencing your interviewee, who is battling cancer):

“Master Chief Petty Officer James has shown me how to appreciate what I have around me.”

Lily (quoting your grandfather):

“Kindness makes the world go round.”

“Everything should matter to us.”

Praethong (quoting your interviewee, Sandra, on the importance of family):

“It’s important to always maintain that connection you have with each other, your family, not just next-door neighbors you talk to once a month.”

“I wonder if maybe we relearn what is most important when we grow older. That the pressure to be successful subsides and that valuing family, health, and happiness is what ends up saving the world.”

“Listen to what others have to say. Listen to the people who have already experienced hardship. You will learn from them and you can even make their day by giving them a chance to voice their thoughts.”

I end this letter to you with the hope that you never stop asking others what is most important to them and that you to continue to take time to reflect on what matters most to you…and why. May you never stop asking, listening, and connecting with others, especially those who may seem to be unlike you. Keep writing, and keep sharing your thoughts and observations with others, for your ideas are awe-inspiring.

I also want to thank the more than 1,000 students who submitted essays. Together, by sharing what’s important to us with others, especially those who may believe or act differently, we can fill the world with joy, peace, beauty, and love.

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

Whether it is a painting on a milky canvas with watercolors or pasting photos onto a scrapbook with her granddaughters, it is always a piece of artwork to her. She values the things in life that keep her in the moment, while still exploring things she may not have initially thought would bring her joy.

—Ondine Grant-Krasno, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif.

“Ganas”… It means “desire” in Spanish. My ganas is fueled by my family’s belief in me. I cannot and will not fail them. 

—Adan Rios, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I hope when I grow up I can have the love for my kids like my grandma has for her kids. She makes being a mother even more of a beautiful thing than it already is.

—Ashley Shaw, Columbus City Prep School for Girls, Grove City, Ohio

You become a collage of little pieces of your friends and family. They also encourage you to be the best you can be. They lift you up onto the seat of your bike, they give you the first push, and they don’t hesitate to remind you that everything will be alright when you fall off and scrape your knee.

— Cecilia Stanton, Bellafonte Area Middle School, Bellafonte, Pa.

Without good friends, I wouldn’t know what I would do to endure the brutal machine of public education.

—Kenneth Jenkins, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.

My dog, as ridiculous as it may seem, is a beautiful example of what we all should aspire to be. We should live in the moment, not stress, and make it our goal to lift someone’s spirits, even just a little.

—Kate Garland, Immaculate Heart Middle School, Los Angeles, Calif. 

I strongly hope that every child can spare more time to accompany their elderly parents when they are struggling, and moving forward, and give them more care and patience. so as to truly achieve the goal of “you accompany me to grow up, and I will accompany you to grow old.”

—Taiyi Li, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

I have three cats, and they are my brothers and sisters. We share a special bond that I think would not be possible if they were human. Since they do not speak English, we have to find other ways to connect, and I think that those other ways can be more powerful than language.

—Maya Dombroskie, Delta Program Middle School, Boulsburg, Pa.

We are made to love and be loved. To have joy and be relational. As a member of the loneliest generation in possibly all of history, I feel keenly aware of the need for relationships and authentic connection. That is why I decided to talk to my grandmother.

—Luke Steinkamp, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

After interviewing my grandma and writing my paper, I realized that as we grow older, the things that are important to us don’t change, what changes is why those things are important to us.

—Emily Giffer, Our Lady Star of the Sea, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

The media works to marginalize elders, often isolating them and their stories, and the wealth of knowledge that comes with their additional years of lived experiences. It also undermines the depth of children’s curiosity and capacity to learn and understand. When the worlds of elders and children collide, a classroom opens.

—Cristina Reitano, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.

My values, although similar to my dad, only looked the same in the sense that a shadow is similar to the object it was cast on.

—Timofey Lisenskiy, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, Calif.

I can release my anger through writing without having to take it out on someone. I can escape and be a different person; it feels good not to be myself for a while. I can make up my own characters, so I can be someone different every day, and I think that’s pretty cool.

—Jasua Carillo, Wellness, Business, and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

Notice how all the important things in his life are people: the people who he loves and who love him back. This is because “people are more important than things like money or possessions, and families are treasures,” says grandpa Pat. And I couldn’t agree more.

—Brody Hartley, Garrison Middle School, Walla Walla, Wash.  

Curiosity for other people’s stories could be what is needed to save the world.

—Noah Smith, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Peace to me is a calm lake without a ripple in sight. It’s a starry night with a gentle breeze that pillows upon your face. It’s the absence of arguments, fighting, or war. It’s when egos stop working against each other and finally begin working with each other. Peace is free from fear, anxiety, and depression. To me, peace is an important ingredient in the recipe of life.

—JP Bogan, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

From A Teacher

Charles Sanderson

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore. 

The Birthday Gift

I’ve known Jodelle for years, watching her grow from a quiet and timid twelve-year-old to a young woman who just returned from India, where she played Kabaddi, a kind of rugby meets Red Rover.

One of my core beliefs as an educator is to show up for the things that matter to kids, so I go to their games, watch their plays, and eat the strawberry jam they make for the county fair. On this occasion, I met Jodelle at a robotics competition to watch her little sister Abby compete. Think Nerd Paradise: more hats made from traffic cones than Golden State Warrior ball caps, more unicorn capes than Nike swooshes, more fanny packs with Legos than clutches with eyeliner.

We started chatting as the crowd chanted and waved six-foot flags for teams like Mystic Biscuits, Shrek, and everyone’s nemesis The Mean Machine. Apparently, when it’s time for lunch at a robotics competition, they don’t mess around. The once-packed gym was left to Jodelle and me, and we kept talking and talking. I eventually asked her about the three things that matter to her most.

She told me about her mom, her sister, and her addiction—to horses. I’ve read enough of her writing to know that horses were her drug of choice and her mom and sister were her support network.

I learned about her desire to become a teacher and how hours at the barn with her horse, Heart, recharge her when she’s exhausted. At one point, our rambling conversation turned to a topic I’ve known far too well—her father.

Later that evening, I received an email from Jodelle, and she had a lot to say. One line really struck me: “In so many movies, I have seen a dad wanting to protect his daughter from the world, but I’ve only understood the scene cognitively. Yesterday, I felt it.”

Long ago, I decided that I would never be a dad. I had seen movies with fathers and daughters, and for me, those movies might as well have been Star Wars, ET, or Alien—worlds filled with creatures I’d never know. However, over the years, I’ve attended Jodelle’s parent-teacher conferences, gone to her graduation, and driven hours to watch her ride Heart at horse shows. Simply, I showed up. I listened. I supported.

Jodelle shared a series of dad poems, as well. I had read the first two poems in their original form when Jodelle was my student. The revised versions revealed new graphic details of her past. The third poem, however, was something entirely different.

She called the poems my early birthday present. When I read the lines “You are my father figure/Who I look up to/Without being looked down on,” I froze for an instant and had to reread the lines. After fifty years of consciously deciding not to be a dad, I was seen as one—and it felt incredible. Jodelle’s poem and recognition were two of the best presents I’ve ever received.

I  know that I was the language arts teacher that Jodelle needed at the time, but her poem revealed things I never knew I taught her: “My father figure/ Who taught me/ That listening is for observing the world/ That listening is for learning/Not obeying/Writing is for connecting/Healing with others.”

Teaching is often a thankless job, one that frequently brings more stress and anxiety than joy and hope. Stress erodes my patience. Anxiety curtails my ability to enter each interaction with every student with the grace they deserve. However, my time with Jodelle reminds me of the importance of leaning in and listening.

In the article “Three Things That Matter Most in Youth and Old Age” by Nancy Hill, she illuminates how we “live among such remarkable people, yet few know their stories.” For the last twenty years, I’ve had the privilege to work with countless of these “remarkable people,” and I’ve done my best to listen, and, in so doing, I hope my students will realize what I’ve known for a long time; their voices matter and deserve to be heard, but the voices of their tias and abuelitos and babushkas are equally important. When we take the time to listen, I believe we do more than affirm the humanity of others; we affirm our own as well.

Charles Sanderson has grounded his nineteen-year teaching career in a philosophy he describes as “Mirror, Window, Bridge.” Charles seeks to ensure all students see themselves, see others, and begin to learn the skills to build bridges of empathy, affinity, and understanding between communities and cultures that may seem vastly different. He proudly teaches at the Wellness, Business and Sports School in Woodburn, Oregon, a school and community that brings him joy and hope on a daily basis.

From   The Author: Response to Charles Sanderson

Dear Charles Sanderson,

Thank you for submitting an essay of your own in addition to encouraging your students to participate in YES! Magazine’s essay contest.

Your essay focused not on what is important to you, but rather on what is important to one of your students. You took what mattered to her to heart, acting upon it by going beyond the school day and creating a connection that has helped fill a huge gap in her life. Your efforts will affect her far beyond her years in school. It is clear that your involvement with this student is far from the only time you have gone beyond the classroom, and while you are not seeking personal acknowledgment, I cannot help but applaud you.

In an ideal world, every teacher, every adult, would show the same interest in our children and adolescents that you do. By taking the time to listen to what is important to our youth, we can help them grow into compassionate, caring adults, capable of making our world a better place.

Your concerted efforts to guide our youth to success not only as students but also as human beings is commendable. May others be inspired by your insights, concerns, and actions. You define excellence in teaching.

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The internet can be a dark and, quite often, violent place for women — many of whom are subjected to trolling, harassment, and threats on a daily basis. But it can also be a truly wonderful place, one that provides free access to news, educational resources, entertainment, communication, and wealth of incredible writing — including these empowering essays by women you can read online right now . Written by Cecile Richards, Lindy West, Lady Gaga, and more, these essays are filled with inspiration and wisdom to guide you through your day.

For female readers, the online world can sometimes feel like a minefield, one that is littered with destructive words meant to tear women down or shut them up. But for famous authors and writers, beloved celebrities, and popular athletes, it can also serve as the perfect platform to share their empowering stories, which often include plenty of inspirational anecdotes and practical advice that makes the whole mess of the internet worth it.

Whether you’re looking for a bit of guidance in your own life, or hoping to inspire your friends with some sage advice from more experienced women, here are nine empowering essays you can read for free online right now .

"The Most Daring Women Don’t Always Make Headlines" by Cecile Richards

"Today, women across this country are doing her proud. The earth is shifting under the force of millions of women standing up for themselves, for each other, for their daughters and their mothers and sisters," writes the former president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards in her inspiring piece about women and activism for Harper's Bazaar . "Women are no longer asking for permission. They’re just diving in and taking risks. They know we can’t afford to sit this one out."

Read the full essay here .

"Rebranding Motherhood" by Diksha Basu

"If anything, so far being a mother feels quite delightfully self-indulgent. I have a daughter in whom I can constantly look for and find little bits of myself or, better yet, improved bits of myself," writes Windfall author Dikashu Basu in a moving essay for The New York Times about redefining motherhood. "Recently a construction worker called out to me on the street in Lower Manhattan and I got my angry anti-catcalling face ready to respond but he very respectfully said, 'You have a beautiful daughter, ma’am.' My vanity now has two bodies within which to reside — the sacrifice looks more like narcissism from certain angles."

Read the full essay here.

"This Is Survival" by Aly Raisman

In a heartbreaking but incredibly powerful essay for The Players' Tribune , American gymnast Aly Raisman opens up about her experience with sexual abuse, and offers some words of encouragement to anyone else who has gone through the same thing. "I am not a victim. I am a survivor. The abuse does not define me, or anyone else who has been abused. This does not define the millions of those who’ve suffered sexual abuse," the two-time Olympian writes. "They are not victims, either. They are survivors. They are strong, they are brave, they are changing things so the next generation never has to go through what they did."

"What I Learned at War" by Tammy Duckworth

Senator Tammy Duckworth has often spoken out about her time serving in the U.S. army, including in this persuasive essay about the price of war and what it can teach us that she wrote for Politico. "That day, I lost both of my legs, but I was given a second chance at life," she writes, recounting her experience fighting in the Iraq War. "It’s a feeling that has helped to drive me in my second chance at service—no one should be left behind, and every American deserves another chance."

"The 'Perfect Body' Is a Lie. I Believed It For a Long Time and Let It Shrink My Life" by Lindy West

If you have read Lindy West's memoir Shrill , you know that she has a lot of incredibly insightful things to say fat acceptance and body positivity. In an essay for The Guardian, she shares some of them, saying "The 'perfect body' is a lie. I believed in it for a long time, and I let it shape my life, and shrink it – my real life, populated by my real body. Don’t let fiction tell you what to do. In the omnidirectional orgy gardens of Vlaxnoid, no one cares about your arm flab."

"Bring It On" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

The first Muslim American to medal in the Olympics, fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad opened up about what it is like to compete in an sport where so few people look like her. "One day, during a fifteen-hour flight to a training camp in Beijing, I arrived at a moment where I said enough is enough — I’d spent years fighting for every win, every opportunity, every ounce of respect on my path to becoming an Olympian, and I was no longer going to allow other people to affect how I perceived myself or restrict what I was capable of," she writes in Lenny Letter. "When people stared me down at a tournament, I didn’t know if it was a race thing or a religious thing or that they weren’t ready for change, but I finally realized: Why was that burden on me to figure out? I didn’t have the time to acquire their baggage or analyze why anyone wanted to make me feel inferior. I had a job to do on that team, and that job was winning a medal."

"Why It's So Important That CEOs Like Me Speak Out Against Trump" by Reshma Saujani

In an essay about corporate responsibility in the age of Trump by Reshma Saujani, the Girls Who Code founder and CEO reminds readers that individuals have a lot of power to enact change. "But if every American has the power to sway a CEO," she argues in a piece for Teen Vogue, "then every American quite literally has a chance to sway public opinion, to shape the way we talk and think and act on our values system — to change the way we treat our fellow Americans and those who come here seeking a better life for their families."

"Ava DuVernay on How to 'Pivot Towards Positivity' in Trying Times" by Ava DuVernay

There are few creatives as wise, or as giving when it comes to advice, as A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay. "These days I’m a lot less competitive, a lot less concerned about what other people do. I’m much more focused on the things that make me happy," she writes in an inspirational essay for InStyle. "I believe that good comes when you put out good, and so I just try to emanate joyful vibes. Why not? I’m not going to spend my day hating on someone else. I’ve got so many better and more joy-filled things to do."

"Portrait of a Lady" by Lady Gaga

In her 2016 essay on being a woman in the modern world, Lady Gaga opens up and offers a truly refreshing and inspiring perspective. "Being a lady today means being a fighter. It means being a survivor," she writes. "It means letting yourself be vulnerable and acknowledging your shame or that you're sad or you're angry. It takes great strength to do that."

Goals and Ambitions

Last Updated: January 23, 2024

My Inspiration in Life | Discover What Inspires You In Life

What’s my inspiration in life? Is that a question you’ve been asking yourself recently? This guide to finding what inspires you in life should help! Check it out.

Danny Newman

Hopefully my inspiration in life motivational guide will help out in your search to find inspiration!

I feel inspired at the moment.

I’m hopeful, happy, and full of motivation. A lovely sense of purpose and progress courses through my veins.

I say it’s ‘lovely’ because it makes a welcome change to how I sometimes walk through life! Honestly, if melancholy and rumination were Olympic sports, I’d be in contention for a medal!

But, aside from the occasional bad day, I feel lucky that the general backdrop to my life feels positive right now.

It’s also made me a) wonder what inspires me and b) ask the question “what is inspiration?” More to the point, how do you find out what inspires you in life so you can cultivate, nurture, and harness its positive influence?

If you’ve been wondering similar thing, keep reading to learn about the current source of my inspiration in life, and, hopefully, some ideas for discovering some inspiration of your own!

[Last Updated: March 2021]

What is Inspiration? My Inspiration in My Life & What Inspiration Means to Me

More than anything else, I want to make the most of my life.

In a way, that is my ultimate life inspiration.

It’s why I’m travelling now, instead of sitting in an office. It’s why I’ve chosen life on the road, away from the comfort and security of friends and family, to do something a bit different.

It’s why I’m working hours on end trying to grow this blog and make passive income from it.

I want to free up time, push myself, and focus on projects and ventures that bring me joy.

Yet, ultimately, I guess my inspiration in life is related to fear as well.

I’m scared of being on my death bed one day and feeling like I still have life left to live. The thought of squandering what little time I have on this planet inspires me to do cool stuff.

I see this as my macro-level inspiration. That’s what inspiration means to me and where I get my inspiration from.

“It works like a compass point, channelling me down certain paths- away from the safe and predictable and into unfamiliar territory that’s aligned with my goals.”

On the subject of goals, check out these 100 life goals to help find your aim in life!

At a micro, day to day, level, though, I get inspiration from all manner of sources.

I listen to podcasts from inspirational people. I read inspiring books by inspiring authors, about interesting and inspiring topics. Sometimes I just look around me and find inspiration in the world outside.

Each source of inspiration feeds into my ‘why’ and reminds me how I want to live.

Finding inspiration has a host of positive outcomes to look forward to. Within them is the meaning of inspiration. Keep reading for a list of inspiration advantages.

The Importance of Finding Inspirations in Life

Why is inspiration so valuable? Here are some of the key benefits being inspired seems to provide.

Heads up, you might also like this post about how to stop thinking about the past !

1. Positivity & Hope

It’s hard to feel inspired and negative at the same time.

“There’s just something intrinsically positive about it. Getting a dose of inspiration can lift you out of a place of negativity and into one of hope.”

To be inspired is to be stimulated. It pokes and prods and invigorates you into charting a course. Inspiration is energy! You can’t help but feel better about life.

2. Creativity

Inspiration goes hand in hand with creativity.

And creativity is central to doing things differently. For me, creativity is about having new ideas, thinking outside the box, and living in a novel way.

It often takes a moment of inspiration to get there.

3. Hard Work

Nothing in life that’s worth doing is ever easy.

Everything from attaining fitness goals to career goals takes hard work to get there.

Sticking it out through thick and thin is tough.

Inspiration can spark and sustain the drive you’ll need to get through.

Having ‘drive’ allows you to keep your foot on the pedal, over time. You navigate the good and the bad and commit to a certain outcome without getting derailed by difficulty.

4. Direction

The meaning of inspiration can be revealing.

It can shine a spotlight on hitherto unrecognised aspirations. Being inspired catalyses action and slingshots you towards newfound purpose.

That’s no small thing! Meaning and purpose are vital to a sense of fulfilment and wellbeing.

Ultimately, inspiration leads to far better results.

It’s like walking through life with a jetpack on your back. You’re stoked to get going and exceed in one way or another.

There’s no limit to what you can do when you’re truly inspired to take action.

6. Antidote to Apathy

Apathy is toxic.

You walk around in a constant funk.

“Nothing stimulates, excites, frustrates or instils any sense of urgency whatsoever. I see apathy as the enemy. ”

It’s a one stop shop to mediocrity and a subpar life.

Being inspired renders apathy obsolete. You could market inspiration as an instant apathy-killer. A bit like how it’s an antidote to negativity, it’s a cure-all for feelings of indifference too.

7. Incredible Life

All told, inspiration makes for an incredible life.

You’re energized, hopeful, and engaged; you’re instilled with a sense of purpose that drives action and overcomes obstacles.

Inspiration is anathema to ordinariness.

And to that end, it’s worth going to the greatest depths to find it.

Inspiration can be found in any number of places. Here are some of the places I’ve found inspiration in my life.

Sources of Life Inspiration: How to Discover What Inspires You In Life

Inspiration is a funny thing. This world is full of inspiring things; sometimes it jumps out at you unexpectedly. Other times, though, you have to work hard to forge it from nothing.

Want to discover what inspires you? Looking for ways to spark inspiration?

Hopefully, the following ‘source of inspiration’ list will help you identity what gives you inspiration in life.

Heads up, you might also like this post about 30 Things to Do Before You’re 30 !

1. Thought Exercises (Powerful Examples of How to Get Inspired)

Thought exercises can be a remarkably powerful way to spark feelings of inspiration.

There’s one in particular that I think about a lot. It goes something like this:

Imagine being on your deathbed at the end of a long life. You’re lying there, preparing to die, when a magical being approaches.

They tell you they’re going to turn the egg-timer of your life on its head, such that you’ll live it over again from scratch, in exactly the same way, from start to finish. From birth to death, you’ll live the same life again. This process will repeat again and again for the rest of time.

What feelings are evoked from the idea of living your current life over and over again?

If it’s positive, and you can’t wait to get back into it, then that’s a good sign! You’re obviously doing something right. But if it feels like a punishment, then it’s a clear warning sign.

You’re obviously living a life you’re unhappy with.

This realisation can be a powerful catalyst for change. It can inspire you to take action and do things differently.

2. What Is My Inspiration? Death…

It’s all too easy to pretend we’re going to live forever.

Why else would we settle for a mediocre life?

The thought that I could die tomorrow, or be diagnosed with a terminal illness, is one of my greatest motivators. I want to at least try and make the most of my time.

Don’t get me wrong, I know it isn’t always this black and white.

Life can be truly unfair and deal people an almightily bad hand. Your current circumstances may only be down to force of circumstance.

Even so, if there’s any wiggle room for improvement, then I think it’s worth exploring.

When I think of wasted time I think of going through the motions. Time goes so damn fast! It’s a limited resource. I want to milk it for all its worth.

Struggling for inspiration? Stop and really consider that you might die soon. If that doesn’t work, then think about someone you care for dying!

“Don’t wait for an actual major life event to shake you from apathy. Instead, imagine something catastrophic happening. Use it for inspiration to make changes in the present. ”

3. Fear (What Gets Me Inspired!)

This one is big for me.

Like I said earlier, I think a lot of my life inspiration comes from a simple fear of missing out.

I’m scared of leaving money on the table! I want to live differently. I want to push myself to have extraordinary experiences. I want to be the best version of myself I can possible be.

The fear of failing in this pursuit inspires me to try even harder.

What are you scared of? How can you use it to fuel your journey and enhance your life?

Finding space to sit and reflect can be an important means of finding inspiration and discovering its meaning in your life.

4. Deciding Your ‘Why’ (How to Get Inspired & Be An Inspiration to Others)

Your ‘why’ is a key player in feeling inspired and maintaining drive.

It’s not what you do. It’s not how you do it. It’s why you do what you do.

I could say that mine is living the fullest life possible. That’s what drives me to certain actions and guides my decision-making.

In this way, having a ‘why’ serves as an invaluable north star.

It’s your ‘raison d’etre’. It’s the reason you get out of bed in the morning; the thing that drives and motivates you forward.

Pinpointing your ‘why’ is a direct method of cultivating inspiration.

It’s a central ingredient to feeling truly inspired for the long term.

5. Taking Action (A Key to Being Inspired)

Inspiration is nothing without action.

It might feel nice.

But by failing to act upon inspiration, you do yourself a major disservice. Nothing objective changes.

Ironically, I’ve found taking action can spark inspiration too. It is cause and effect of inspiration rolled into one.

Struggling to feel inspired? Do something that resembles progress. Growth stimulates a feeling of inspiration like nothing else.

Go for a run. Go to the gym. Learn a new dish to cook your family. Start a journal. Create a business plan for an idea you’ve had. Heck, it might just mean doing the dishes, or mowing the lawn!

I can relate to the power of this approach.

At the end of last year I came out of a long term relationship. I was devastated and lost literally all motivation. I didn’t want to do anything at all. Everything seemed totally pointless.

I watched a YouTube video on heartbreak (pretty tragic, right!?). In it, this guy talked about the power of taking action and feeling a sense of progress.

I decided to buy a new domain name and get started planning a new blog.

I designed a logo, made it on the computer, and set about the task of establishing a new website. That was the origin of What’s Danny Doing!

It wasn’t smooth sailing. There were major ups and downs. But it was a useful distraction, which led to further action, and additional positive decision-making.

Now I’m here, 8 months later, feeling more inspired than ever before.

It’s hard not to feel inspired when you find yourself in places like this!

6. Time and Isolation (One Inspiration Idea That Isn’t Always Easy)

When was the last time you sat down by yourself, in silence?

…Being asleep doesn’t count!

I reckon spending time alone and with no external stimulation is key to a healthy mind. It definitely seems key to self-awareness. After all, it’s in these moments that you learn about yourself.

You get to see where your mind goes. You can hone in on how you’re truly feeling.

Life is full of distractions that make it hard to do this.

We need space to think. We need time and silence to be creative and come up with ideas.

I find that spending time alone, in stillness, with nobody else around, and simply ‘being’, can be enough to stimulate self-discovery and true inspiration.

7. How Do People Get Inspired? They Use the Internet and Social Media!

Okay, those are the deep and meaningful sources of inspiration behind us!

On to some more tangible ways to find it.

The first? Social media.

I’m actually not a big fan of social media. I think it’s a massive time drain, which works against my desire to make the most of my days.

However, it’s obviously an incredible tool for connecting people around the world.

You can also come across some truly inspiring people. Used in the right way, you can discover amazing individuals and ideas that trigger positive change in your life.

Some influencers do it right. They seem genuinely passionate about inspiring people and bettering lives. Tom Bilyeu, Tim Ferriss, Marie Forleo and David Goggins are four examples I recommend checking out.

Ask yourself who inspires you and follow them on the internet/social media!

Indeed, the internet’s one of my primary sources of inspiration.

It’s an absolute treasure trove of it. You have instant access to some of the world’s most inspiring people ever! You can literally bring these individuals into your life, by virtue of the web.

I listen to podcasts and watch interview-type videos of this nature (on YouTube) every day.

It’s almost unbelievable to think that the greatest and most inspirational people of our generation (and history) are at our fingertips.

I recommend mining this resource for all it’s worth in the hunt for inspiration.

8. Quotes (a Big Source of Inspiration for Me)

I love a good quote !

It’s amazing how much power can come from a few well-chosen words.

Inspirational quotes are some of my favourites. The internet is full of them. If you’re short on inspiration, just run a quick google search and you’ll be inundated!

I’ve found it personally useful to commit some to memory.

Here are a few of my top quotes for inspiration:

• “Live life such that the fear of death can never enter your heart” – Tecumseh
• “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” – Anais Nin
• “Throw yourself into the river of life and let the questions disappear” – Buddha
• “I will not die an unlived life” – Dawna Markova

I find having a quote or two to draw upon can make a big difference when inspiration is in short supply.

Check out this post for sunset captions and quotes you might like… Check out this post for inspirational captions you might like…

Sometimes a simple quote, or something you see in your environment, is enough to find inspiration in your life.

9. Books, Videos & Films (Endless Inspiring Things to be Found Here!)

You find inspirational books, videos, and movies everywhere you look.

They can be truly awesome sources of inspiration and motivation. The movie ‘Rocky’, for example, is probably high on the list for lots of people!

I’m a little cautious of relying exclusively on these sources though.

They can provide a short, sharp burst of inspiration. But it’s often short-lived. I read or watch it, and feel pumped up to make some positive change.

Then, within hours, I’ve forgotten about it!

That said, one or two of these sources have had a lasting effect on me. One book of this nature that I read recently was called ‘ Can’t Hurt Me’ , by David Goggins. If you’re looking for an inspirational read, then I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Click here to check it out.

10. Friends and Family (People of Inspiration)

Sometimes you don’t need to look too far for inspiration.

Friends and family can hold all the answers you need.

Look around you to see what they’re doing. Where are they excelling where you aren’t? What can you learn from them? How can you gain from their example?

I actually find it easy to get disheartened when I feel like I’m somehow ‘doing worse’ than my peers.

I try to pinch myself and take the positives instead. Love is inspiration! Use it as fuel for the fire and see how you can emulate the success of high-achieving friends and family.

11. Nature (Where I Go When I Need to Be Inspired)

There’s inspiration to be found in nature as well.

Try and get out into the great outdoors every now and again.

I find natural beauty inherently inspiring. Mountains, forests, grassy plains, rivers, lakes and oceans…It doesn’t matter.

Something about these places sparks creativity and reflection. The natural world can be so profoundly beautiful that it’s difficult not to feel inspired by it.

Nature also provides a reprieve from the fuss and hubbub of ordinary life. It’s simple, quiet, and wholesome. That break from the norm, and step back from stress, can be enough to help rediscover passion and motivation.

Inspiration means very little if you never act upon it. My inspiration in life often snowballs. Feel it, act upon it, and before long you experience ever greater levels.

Found a Source of Inspiration? Here’s How to Act on Inspiration

Finally, having struck upon inspiration, let’s turn to what to do with it.

Remember, inspiration is a powerful thing! But without action it’s almost worthless.

Don’t let it go to waste. Here are just a few of the ways you could use inspiration to your advantage by doing something with it.

1. Draw Up a Bucket List

Take that inspiration and draw up a long list of things you have to do before you die.

Think about every single area of life.

Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Who do you want to meet? What do you want to achieve?

Write them all down and commit to ticking them all off. Having a bucket list is great way of realizing your priorities and highlighting changes you must make in your life. It’s the ideal way to channel your inspiration.

Here’s my personal bucket list , if you want to take a look!

2. Goal Set

Next up, goal-setting.

This is similar to writing down your bucket list.

However, there’s something more realistic about setting goals. Bucket lists are about dreams that’ll happen at some point in time. They’re more about experiences and encounters than making progress.

Goals are about objectives and forming actionable steps to make them happen.

Channel your inspiration into establishing a set of goals for yourself. Treat it as a business plan for life. As yourself these questions:

• What do you want to do?
• When do you want to do it by?
• How will you do it?

They could be travel goals. They could be career goals. They could be personal goals, relationships goals, or fitness goals. It doesn’t matter! Just sit down and write them all out.

Goals help you turn vague, ambiguous thoughts and aspirations into concrete plans.

These goal-setting games should help.

3. Start Small

With your goals in place, now it’s time to make them happen.

Don’t rush in, all guns blazing. It’s tempting to try and do everything at once.

Pace yourself instead! Take small, measured steps towards your overall aims. Inspiration can be fickle. It can turn on a dime and disappear overnight.

Trying to do too much at once can lead to overwhelm, which is sure to stifle your drive. Start slow and let your momentum snowball.

Deciding to act upon your inspiration will ensure you live an incredible life!

Sometimes you just have to decide to make something happen.

Think about anything you’ve ever done in your life.

It all started with a decision.

Being truly decisive means cutting off all other options. You burn your bridges and commit to a course of action. There’s no going back. You’ve cast your dice and you’re on the move.

Use the inspiration as rocket fuel to catapult yourself into a decision. Then don’t turn back.

5. Challenge Yourself & Persevere

Inspiration should always be put to good use.

The best return on investment is generally on tasks that will challenge you somehow.

On the other side of suffering lies greatness. But accessing it is sure to have trials along the way. Inspiration will help you chart the course and stick it out.

Cultivate inspiration, bolster your willpower, and do something incredible.

6. Memorize Favourite Inspiration

Feeling inspired is a learning opportunity too.

It’s a chance to reflect on why you feel that way suddenly.

Take stock of the situation. What exactly is it that inspired you? Moreover, what is your newfound inspiration compelling you to do?

Understanding what inspired you means you have a better chance of feeling that way in future. You can put yourself in the same situation, or around the same stimulus, once again. It might have been a solitary thought, film, quote, or conversation.

Whatever the case, write it down to refer back to in future.

Similarly, realizing what you feel inspired to do highlights your priorities. You might discover something new about yourself.

What Is Your Inspiration In Life?

Inspiration is one of the greatest feelings out there. It’s one of hope, excitement, and motivation.

Everyone stands to gain by finding inspiration in their life. It inevitably leads to a more enjoyable, vibrant experience.

My inspiration in life is tied up in my desire to live as fully as possible. Hopefully, this post has highlighted some of the key sources of inspiration from which to find your own ‘why’- that North Star to lead you to an awesome life.

I’d love to get your thoughts. Where do you find inspiration in your life? Did I miss anything out? Let me know in the comments.

And please subscribe to the newsletter too! I’ll send through more posts like this to help inspire and motivate you to live the best life possible.

4 thoughts on “My Inspiration in Life | Discover What Inspires You In Life”

Thanks for this topic. It isnpired me to ask the same question to myself and friends

Hey Lila! That’s awesome! Really glad you liked the post 🙂

Power of google I ended up in this blog, Too late in life and I learned what inspire means I start looking for answer. Sometimes simple things in life are too complex to understand.

Inspiration as an act or person gives other a path to follow , thats what i always thought hearing the word, I was so wrong… What I learned is resonated in your blog and I couldnt stop reading each line.

You surely nowhere close looking like me but each and every line and your life philosophy seems like it’s me written down everything .. lol Thanks Pal, great stuff .. So where’s danny these days and whatdanny doing 🙂

Hey Rohit! Thank you for such a lovely comment. I’m really glad you liked the post and related to my thoughts on inspiration. I’m currently travelling in Ireland! I hope you’re well wherever you are in the world 🙂 Best wishes, Danny

Comments are closed.

Essays on Inspiration

Faq about inspiration.

100 Powerful Motivational Quotes to Help You Rise Above

100 motivational and inspiratinal quotes about life and success to help you conquer life’s challenges.

Every member of the human race knows that life can present difficult challenges, often taking all the fun out of our day to day lives. To overcome these obstacles there are a lot of good strategies you can employ, and very often the answer lies within. 

One great way to dig deep and overcome your difficulties is to get motivated! You may need motivation for work, home life, or simply to gain the extra positive energy necessary to develop success and get through the week. 

Enjoy the inspirational quotes below, and remember that the only limit to achieving our desires is one of imagination! Create your own happy life by filling it with purpose, and you can achieve excellence and fulfill your own dreams and your own life plan on your terms.

Motivational Quotes: Information to Inspire Your Life

There Is No Greater Thing You Can Do With Your Life And Your Work Than Follow Your Passions – In A Way That Serves The World And You. RICHARD BRANSON (more Richard Branson quotes)

Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it. ROALD DAHL

If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one. DOLLY PARTON

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. HELEN KELLER

Life is a series of baby steps along the way and if you add up these tiny little steps you take toward your goal, whatever it is, whether it’s giving up something, a terrible addiction or trying to work your way through an illness. HODA KOTB

Be  thankful  for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. OPRAH WINFREY (more Oprah Winfrey quotes)

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone. REBA MCENTIRE

Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking: “What’s in it for me?” BRIAN TRACY

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams. OPRAH WINFREY

As soon as something stops being fun, I think it’s time to move on. Life is too short to be unhappy. Waking up stressed and miserable is not a good way to live. RICHARD BRANSON

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘”What are you doing for others?””

Martin luther king, jr. (more martin luther king, jr. quotes), “i’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why i succeed.”, michael jordan, “nothing can dim the light that shines from within.”, maya angelou, “it’s not what we have in life but who we have in our life that matters.”, margaret laurence, “embrace the glorious mess that you are.”, elizabeth gilbert, “sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”, “when one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”, helen keller, “life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how i react to it.”, charles swindoll, “don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”, robert louis stevenson, “without passion, you don’t have energy. without energy, you have nothing.”, warren buffett (more warren buffett quotes), “it takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. if you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”, warren buffett, “remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”, dale carnegie, work for that feeling that you have accomplished something…don’t waste your time on this earth without making a mark., “life is not fair, get used to it”, “the only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”, ralph waldo emerson, “live for each second without hesitation.”, we define ourselves far too often by our past failures. that’s not you. you are this person right now. you’re the person who has learned from those failures., “you don’t need to be better than anyone else, you just need to be better than you used to be.”, success quotes to inspire and help you overcome roadblocks.

For some, there is only one motivation that they need, and that’s providing for their family. For others (like Elon Musk, for example) motivation can be harder to come by – especially if your goal is to move the human race forward and onto Mars!. 

Everyone feels like quitting at some point, and no one has all the answers. And even though it can be tempting to get under the blanket and shut out the world sometimes, quitting won’t make the challenges go away. If you give zero effort, you’ll have exactly the same number of chances at getting what you want.

Use these motivational quotes for work, for your personal life, and for anything that requires that extra boost of motivation.

When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favour. ELON MUSK (more Elon Musk quotes)

Talent is god-given. Be humble. Fame is Man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. JOHN WOODEN

Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose. WAYNE DYER

The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty. WINSTON CHURCHILL (more Winston Churchill quotes)

If you can tune into your purpose and really align with it, setting goals so that your vision is an expression of that purpose, then life flows much more easily. JACK CANFIELD

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. NAPOLEON HILL (more Napoleon Hill quotes)

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. TONY ROBBINS (more Tony Robbins quotes)

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. HENRY DAVID THOREAU

By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands – your own. MARK VICTOR HANSEN

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. JOHN LENNON

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. CHARLES BUXTON

You cannot afford to live in potential for the rest of your life; at some point, you have to unleash the potential and make your move. ERIC THOMAS

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. CALVIN COOLIDGE

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. PAULO COELHO

Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine. ROY T. BENNETT

The best way to gain self- confidence is to do what you are afraid to do. SWATI SHARMA

You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind. DALE CARNEGIE

I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. JIMMY DEAN

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’! AUDREY HEPBURN

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. HENRY FORD

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. GEORGE ADDAIR

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE

If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you. LES BROWN

Someone else’s success does not equal a failure for you. JOE ROGAN

Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts. WINSTON S. CHURCHILL

Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value. ALBERT EINSTEIN

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. STEVE JOBS

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. ALICE WALKER

You have to see failure as the beginning and the middle, but never entertain it as an end. JESSICA HERRIN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF STELLA & DOT

Inspirational Quotes About Persevering Through Difficulty: From Albert Einstein to Babe Ruth

It may be just an opinion, but a so-called “minimum wage work ethic” will not get you want you want (or deserve!). Use the following handpicked motivational quotes to inspire you to not give up, but rather, to come through the other side and emerge as a winner!

I like criticism. It makes you strong. LEBRON JAMES

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. ALBERT EINSTEIN

Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about. WINSTON CHURCHILL

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. THOMAS EDISON

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. ARISTOTLE ONASSIS

It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. VINCE LOMBARDI

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. HENRY FORD

If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced. VINCENT VAN GOGH

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. CONFUCIUS

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny. C.S. LEWIS

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

It always seems impossible until it’s done. NELSON MANDELA

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. NELSON MANDELA

Hard times don’t create heroes. It is during the hard times when the ‘hero’ within us is revealed. BOB RILEY

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. MAHATMA GANDHI

You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ See the positive in negative events. JOEL OSTEEN

Every problem is a gift –- without problems we would not grow. TONY ROBBINS

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. MARK TWAIN (more Mark Twain quotes)

Believe you can and you’re halfway there. THEODORE ROOSEVELT

It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens. That’s how change occurs. JILLIAN MICHAELS

The man who says he can, and the man who says he can’t are both correct. CONFUCIUS

Never give up. You only get one life. Go for it! RICHARD E. GRANT

You just can’t beat the person who never gives up. BABE RUTH

If you can’t, you must. If you must, you can. TONY ROBBINS

It is never too late to be what you might have been. GEORGE ELIOT

You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. RICHARD BRANSON

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. ROBERT F. KENNEDY

Motivational Quotes for Women – From Eleanor Roosevelt to Lady Gaga

We all look forward to strong, successful and independent women. But have you ever wondered how they managed to become strong and successful? 

Here are some motivational quotes about success for you to achieve your ambitious goals from some of the most impressive women throughout history.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. MAYA ANGELOU (more Maya Angelou quotes)

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. MARGARET MEAD (more Margaret Mead quotes)

Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this. CELINE DION

Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as you can. HILLARY CLINTON

Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. HARRIET BEECHER STOWE

I’ve always been famous, it’s just no one knew it yet. LADY GAGA (more Lady Gaga quotes)

Any actress who appears in public without being well-groomed is digging her own grave. JOAN CRAWFORD

Fame is not the glory! Virtue is the goal, and fame only a messenger, to bring more to the fold. VANNA BONTA

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. HELEN KELLER

My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent. RUTH BADER GINSBERG

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and enjoying it for everything that it is. MANDY HALE

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success. MARTHA STEWART

If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different, be just. ANITA RODDICK

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. AMELIA EARHART

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. MAYA ANGELOU

Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me. ARIANNA HUFFINGTON

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but learning to dance in the rain. VIVIAN GREENE

Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got to keep going. CHANTAL SUTHERLAND

We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. BARBARA DE ANGELIS

I may be kindly, I am ordinarily gentle, but in my line of business I am obliged to will terribly what I will at all. CATHERINE THE GREAT

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform. DIANE MARIECHILD

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult. CHARLOTTE WHITTON

I want to do is because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others. AMELIA EARHART

Some women choose to follow men, and some choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore. LADY GAGA

Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country. MARGARET THATCHER (more Margaret Thatcher quotes)

Motivational Quotes for Business 

Starting a business is tough, but if you want to change the world and make money while you’re at it, you might need some inspirational quotes and motivational quotes to get you going. You can not only plan to be a success, you can plan to succeed beyond your wildest dreams! Who knows – you could be the next Steve Jobs! Let these quotes for business inspire you, remind you of why you started in the first place, and get you out of your comfort zone.

Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. GEORGE HERBERT

You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. ZIG ZIGLAR

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure. HELLEN KELLER

Play by the rules, but be ferocious. PHIL KNIGHT

Every problem is a gift—without problems we would not grow. ANTHONY ROBBINS

You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong. WARREN BUFFETT

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. HENRY DAVID THOREAU

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ANAÏS NIN

Don’t settle for what life gives you; make life better and build something. ASHTON KUTCHER

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover. MARK TWAIN

Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you. GEORGE WHITEFIELD

When you know what you want, and want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to get it. JIM ROHN

Fortune always favours the brave, and never helps a man who does not help himself. P. T. BARNUM

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. THOMAS A. EDISON

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. DALE CARNEGIE

When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there. ZIG ZIGLAR

Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance , learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. PELE

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. HELEN KELLER

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. WINSTON CHURCHILL

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. STEPHEN COVEY

The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same. COLIN R. DAVIS

Opportunities don’t happen. You create them. CHRIS GROSSER

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. HERMAN MELVILLE

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. MICHAEL JORDAN

Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming. RICHARD BRANSON

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure. COLIN POWELL

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. VIDAL SASSOON

There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them. SETH GODIN

Motivational Quotes for College Students – Quotes About Life in School and Beyond

Being a college student is stressful. After all, preparing for the real world is not an easy job! We can all use a little bit of help getting through, so check out these motivational quotes about life to keep you resilient.

A winner is a dreamer who never gives up. NELSON MANDELA

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. OG MANDINO

It never gets easier. You just get better. JORDAN HOECHLIN

The true success is the person who invented himself. AL GOLDSTEIN

All progress takes place outside the comfort zone. MICHAEL JOHN BOBAK

Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you. RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. W. CLEMENT STONE

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune, but great minds rise above them. WASHINGTON IRVING

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. THEODORE N. VAIL

With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world. Dalai Lama

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. CHRISTIAN D. LARSON

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. WALT DISNEY

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. CONFUCIUS

Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better. JIM ROHN

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. MARK TWAIN

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. JOSHUA MARINE

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now. DENIS WAITLEY

College is the reward for surviving high school. JUDD APATOW

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today. MALCOLM X

Every year, many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you. JOHN GREEN

Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest when you haven’t planted. DAVID BLY

College inspired me to think differently. It’s like no other time in your life. LARA OLEYNIK

Motivational Quotes from Celebrities

Everyone looks for a little wisdom and inspiration now and then, even celebrities. Here are some of the top motivational quotes from celebrities to push you forward on your journey to success. Allow these inspirational quotes to fill your mind with clarity and purpose, straight from Hollywood.

You never really learn much from hearing yourself speak. GEORGE CLOONEY

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. LUCILLE BALL

Don’t give it five minutes if you’re not going to give it five years. MEGHAN MARKLE​

Every day is not a success. Every year is not a success. You have to celebrate the good. REESE WITHERSPOON

Success is most often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. COCO CHANEL

I refuse to accept other people’s ideas of happiness for me. As if there’s a ‘one size fits all’ standard for happiness. KANYE WEST

Life is being on the wire, everything else is just waiting. KARL WALLENDA

Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing. DENIS WAITLEY

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default. J.K. ROWLING

When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important. ELLEN DEGENERES  

Stick around. Don’t lose your heart, just keep going, keep at it. MARK RUFFALO

I’d rather be called a boy and play with paper airplanes than be called a man and play with a girl’s heart. NIALL HORAN

I don’t like to share my personal life… it wouldn’t be personal if I shared it. GEORGE CLOONEY

The image is one thing and the human being is another. It’s very hard to live up to an image, put it that way. ELVIS PRESLEY

I’ve always been famous, it’s just no one knew it yet. LADY GAGA

Your imperfections make you beautiful, they make you who you are. So just be yourself , love yourself for who you are and just keep going. DEMI LOVATO

No matter how talented you are, not everybody is going to like you. But that’s life, just stay strong. JUSTIN BIEBER

Don’t feel stupid if you don’t like what everyone else pretends to love. EMMA WATSON

If you can do what you do best and be happy, you are further along in life than most people. LEONARDO DICAPRIO

Ignore the naysayers. Really the only option is, head down and focus on the job. CHRIS PINE

I’ve learned it’s important not to limit yourself. You can do whatever you really love to do, no matter what it is. RYAN GOSLING

I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself. EMMA STONE

I’m a big believer in accepting yourself and not really worrying about it. JENNIFER LAWRENCE

I don’t do things for the response or the controversy. I just live my life. RIHANNA

Motivational Quotes for Entrepreneurs

Planting a sapling and starting your own business are similar in terms of growth. First, you need to invest money and time. Then, gently taking care of your new project, you must build with no expectations in return. During the entrepreneurial journey, you may require constant motivation. 

Here is a collection of motivational quotes for entrepreneurs to help you keep the fires burning bright. Hopefully, these inspirational quotes will help you so that you never lose the passion you need to succeed.

I never dreamed about success. I worked for it. ESTÉE LAUDER

Don’t let others convince you that the idea is good when your gut tells you it’s bad. KEVIN ROSE, CO-FOUNDED DIGG

Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life is too short to think small. TIM FERRISS

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. G.K. CHESTERTON

I don’t know the word ‘quit.’ Either I never did, or I have abolished it. SUSAN BUTCHER

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. THEODORE ROOSEVELT

If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time. STEVE JOBS

Almost everything worthwhile carries with it some sort of risk, whether it’s starting a new business, whether it’s leaving home, whether it’s getting married, or whether it’s flying into space. CHRIS HADFIELD

Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. WILL RODGERS

The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere. BARACK OBAMA

Winners never quit and quitters never win. VINCE LOMBARDI

The first man gets the oyster, the second man gets the shell. ANDREW CARNEGIE

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. WALT DISNEY

Success depends on employees. For me knowing and connecting with my employees is very important. DIVINE NDHLUKULA, FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DDNS SECURITY OPERATIONS LTD

Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. JAMIE PAOLINETTI

Do not focus on numbers. Focus on doing what you do best. It’s about building a community who want to visit your site every day because you create value and offer expertise. CASSEY HO, FOUNDER OF BLOGILATES.COM

In the age of transparency, honesty, and generosity, even in the form of an apology, generate goodwill. ALEXANDER ASSEILY, FOUNDER OF JAWBONE

If you know too much before the start, then you will get overwhelmed. Come up with an original idea, and don’t copy because there will be no passion. You need that otherworldly passion. Just start. JENI BRITTON BAUER

Don’t try to do everything by yourself, but try to connect with people and resources. Having that discipline and perseverance is really important. CHIEU CAO

It’s necessary to find a mentor who can invest time to know your personal capabilities and business model. NIGEL DAVIES, FOUNDER OF CLAROMENTIS

Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world. Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow. So, set yourself manageable targets. JAS BAGNIEWSKI, CO-FOUNDER OF EVE SLEEP

You have to get good at ceding control and not taking things personally. Even seasoned entrepreneurs have struggled with that. I think it’s about not taking failures personally and also not taking successes personally. LEILA JANAH, FOUNDER OF SAMASOURCE AND LXMI

Your ability to attract, evaluate, and forge strong working relationships with co-founders, early employees, and investors often mean the difference between failure and success. CLARA SHIH, CO-FOUNDER OF HEARSAY SYSTEMS

My advice is to focus on the importance of forging a long-term relationship, whether with colleagues, partners, or customers. It is often easy to get caught up in short-term decisions. SHEILA LIRIO MARCELO, FOUNDER OF CARE.COM

If you’re starting something on your own, you better have a passion for it, because this is hard work. SALLIE KRAWCHECK, CO-FOUNDER OF ELLEVEST

Be nicer to your customers than your competitors. RICHARD REED, CO-FOUNDER OF INNOCENT DRINKS

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Matt Valentine is a father, husband, and a self-published author. He writes weekly on his blog, Buddhaimonia.com , about everything from spirituality to self-mastery.

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Writing Skills  - Writing and the Pursuit of Inspiration

Writing skills  -, writing and the pursuit of inspiration, writing skills writing and the pursuit of inspiration.

Writing Skills: Writing and the Pursuit of Inspiration

Lesson 1: writing and the pursuit of inspiration, writing and the pursuit of inspiration.

So you want to write, but you don’t feel inspired. Does that mean you should give up before you even start? Of course not! 

Inspiration is more than just a sudden burst of good ideas. It’s a state of mind where ideas and possibilities seem to flow with ease, and you’re unafraid of trying something new. It’s the ideal head space that writers love to be in. But getting into that head space often requires time and effort.

Watch the video below to learn more about pursuing inspiration.

Hunting inspiration down

Inspiration isn’t always easy to find . For starters, it can be tricky to get in that inspired state of mind. You also can’t wait for random bursts of ideas if you want to write on a consistent basis. Otherwise, you may spend hours staring at a blank page, afraid to make a move.

The solution is to hunt inspiration down yourself . Whether it’s a business email, an essay for school, or that novel you’ve always had in the back of your head, follow the words of author Louis L’Amour: “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

So start writing ! Write whether you have an idea already in mind or just a vague feeling that you want to explore. Get down every thought and possibility that comes to mind, then ask questions to develop them further. Follow every creative impulse that comes your way.

Write now, edit later

Follow the principle of write now, edit later. That means you don’t worry about mistakes or saying too much or not having every detail ready at this point. Instead, concentrate on getting your writing brain active and finding the heart of your message.

Remember that your first draft does not have to be amazing . In fact, it’s the place to try any idea you want. Try to ignore the fear of writing something bad or boring, because it doesn't matter at this stage. You can dive into the editing process later when the first draft is done, and you have a better understanding of what you want to say.

The habits of pursuit

The more you pursue inspiration, the more often you’ll find it , even when you’re not writing. If you ever get stuck , get up and do something easy, like going for a walk. This will give your writing brain a chance to think over the problem in the background, which could lead to new perspectives and ideas.

Another great way to pursue inspiration is to establish a writing routine . Whether it’s writing 500 words a day, writing early in the morning, or scribbling on a legal pad, use whatever method helps your words flow. If you stay consistent, you should hopefully notice results in time. 

When you make writing a regular part of your life, your chances of finding inspiration will increase . Much like how exercising regularly will get you physically fit, writing on a consistent basis will train your brain to seek out inspiration, and to crash through the fear of a blank page.

Writing is hard work

No matter how much you love it, writing is still hard work. It’ll take time and effort to make something worthwhile, and you may sit there wondering what to do next for a while.

But don’t give up . Keep pushing, keep experimenting, and keep writing, and go after inspiration with all your might.

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Essays on Everyday Life

50 samples on this topic

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The current study examined how much people think and what emotional experience they have about their behavior when they perform habitual actions or actions, behaviors which are not habitual for them. As it was supposed, results of the study demonstrated that when a person performs habitual actions one`s thoughts are less likely to correspond to one`s actions. On the contrary, when a person performs some novelty actions in less stable or variable context this person is more likely to think about one`s actions or, in other words, thoughts and actions correspond to each other.

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50 positive life quotes to inspire, and lift your spirit each day

" Life's a climb. But the view is great ." There are times when things seemingly go to plan, and there are other moments when nothing works out.

During those instances, you might feel lost. But words of encouragement can help. Certain quotes can inspire and remind you to live life to the fullest and persevere through whatever challenges come your way.

If you're looking for more, here is a list of quotes about life throughout the decades:

50 quotes about life

• "You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated." – Maya Angelou , "And Still I Rise"
• "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." –  Robert Frost
• "Life is a long lesson in humility." – J.M. Barrie , "The Little Minister"
• "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." – Oscar Wilde
• "The most important thing is to enjoy your life–to be happy–it's all that matters." – Audrey Hepburn
• "To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone." – Reba McEntire
• "We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." – Joseph Campbell
• "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "Love the life you live. Live the life you love." – Bob Marley
• "I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy." – Marie Curie
• "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." –  Friedrich Nietzsche
• "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." – Mae West
• "The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it." – Henry Ford
• "In order to write about life first you must live it." – Ernest Hemingway
• "Life has no limitations, except the ones you make." – Les Brown
• "It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver." – Betty White
• "Live for each second without hesitation." – Elton John
• "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." – E. E. Cummings
• "Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart." – Roy Bennett
• "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure." – Mark Twain
• "I believe that if you'll just stand up and go, life will open up for you. Something just motivates you to keep moving." – Tina Turner
• "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." – Thomas Edison
• "I have very strong feelings about how you lead your life. You always look ahead, you never look back." – Ann Richards
• "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." – Albert Einstein
• "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." – Anais Nin
• "You do not find the happy life. You make it." – Camilla Eyring Kimball
• "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." – Jackie Robinson
• "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." – Eleanor Roosevelt
• "The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams." – Oprah Winfrey
• "If you own this story you get to write the ending." – Brené Brown
• "Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once." – Lillian Dickinson
• "Life is about making an impact, not making an income." – Kevin Kruse
• "There are no regrets in life, just lessons." – Jennifer Aniston
• "Accept no one's definition of your life, define yourself." – Harvey Fierstein
• "The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes." – Frank Lloyd Wright
• "If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of." – Bruce Lee
• "Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts." – Nikki Giovanni
• "Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced." – Soren Kierkegaard
• "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." – Steve Jobs
• "If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow." – Beyoncé
• "If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living." – Gail Sheehy
• "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." – Booker T. Washington
• "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." – Annette Funicello
• "The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything." – Frank Sinatra
• "I think I've discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it." – Charles Schulz
• "Life is very interesting... in the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths." – Drew Barrymore
• "Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." – Joshua J. Marine
• "Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in." – Katherine Mansfield
• "The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway." – Henry Boye
• "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." – George Bernard Shaw

Inspirational quotes: 50 motivational motivational words to brighten your day.

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From " What is the rarest blood type? " to " Who was the oldest Golden Girl? " to " What state has the lowest population? " – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our  Just Curious section  to see what else we can answer.

Communication and Its Importance in Everyday Life Essay

The concept of communication is primarily about exchanging various types of information between the subjects of communication. Even at the origins of sociality, the formation of community, and interaction, like communication, played a significant role. In the modern world, technologies and, consequently, the technological development of communications have begun to play an important role. The achievement of people’s understanding of one another is in many ways a condition for the development of both society and an individual.

A person’s need for communication is determined by natural life and constant presence in society, whether a family, a team of employees, a school, or a student class. If a person were deprived of an opportunity to communicate from birth, one would never grow up as a social person, civilized and culturally developed. Simply put, communication is the interaction of people in the process of their joint activities. It is the exchange of ideas, opinions, thoughts, feelings, the exchange of information (Flanagin, 2017). Without communications, no organizational group of people can exist.

The most critical components of communication are verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal communication is the transmission of information through spoken words and is necessary to convey information content. Non-verbal communication is a form of communication, including gestures, facial expressions, poses, eye contact, touch (Bambaeeroo, & Shokrpour, 2017). Verbal communication is the universal means of communication since when transmitting information using speech, the message’s meaning is least lost. As for non-verbal communication, the most popular non-verbal communication tools are gestures and facial expressions. Verbal communication is not always able to convey the emotional component of information, and this ability differs in different “sound” languages (Bambaeeroo & Shokrpour, 2017). Additional ways of non-verbal communication are poses, as well as touching. Such gestures can also tell much about person’s thoughts and attitude to what is happening.

Communication in itself is one of the main attributes of human activity. All means are essential: both verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Each means expresses its “share” of information, and the ability to read different “codes” helps assess the situation as a whole. Extra-verbal communication, in particular, becomes necessary when verbal mutual understanding is impossible. For example, if the interlocutors speak different languages or one of them is deaf and dumb. It is noted that a person perceives the most significant part of the information through non-verbal communication, and the least – with the help of spoken speech.

The factor of understanding plays an essential role in the conditions of interpersonal communication. In psychology, understanding is considered, first of all, as the ability to comprehend the meaning or meaning of something and a result achieved due to this. Barriers to misunderstanding arose when the information that the communicator was trying to convey was misunderstood for some reason. Misunderstanding can be caused by too quiet or too fast speech, cultural characteristics, features of a particular language. Misunderstanding can also be caused by the emotional experiences of the communication participants when one takes out negative emotions on the other. Thus, the developed skills of verbal and non-verbal communication play a huge role in a person’s life. Effective and pleasant communication is possible only if there is understanding and respect of the interlocutor.

Bambaeeroo, F., & Shokrpour, N. (2017). The impact of the teachers’ non-verbal communication on success in teaching. Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism , 5 (2), 51.

Flanagin, A. J. (2017). Online social influence and the convergence of mass and interpersonal communication. Human Communication Research , 43 (4), 450-463. Web.

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Science Essay

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Have you got to write an essay about science in everyday life?

Every student is assigned an essay about science at some point in their academic life. 

Whether it's for a class or standardized tests, writing a science essay can seem daunting to many students.

But don't worry!

In this blog, we have gathered several essay samples that you can read. Check out these examples and get inspired to write your own essay on the topic!

Moreover, we'll give you tips on writing an essay about science in everyday life. We'll cover everything from brainstorming to editing so that you can ace that next essay with ease.

So let's get started!

• 1. Essays About Science In Everyday Life
• 2. Tips for Writing An Essay About Science

Essays About Science In Everyday Life

The following essays provide a snapshot of the different ways science can be explored in everyday life.

Each essay offers its own unique perspective on the role of science in the world around us.

Read through these essays and get a feel for the range of possibilities that are available when exploring science in your everyday life. 

So read on!

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Blessings of Science Essay Sample

Want to read essays on scientific topics? Check out thes e science essay examples t o put your curiosity to rest.

After you've read these sample essays, try writing your own essay on a similar topic!

Continue reading to check out some tips that will help you write your essay!

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Tips for Writing An Essay About Science

You have read the sample essays and seen how they establish their point. The next step is to write an essay of your own.  

Here are some tips that will help you write a great essay about science in everyday life:

Brainstorm Ideas for a Topic

The first step in writing an essay is to choose a specific topic. Here are some questions that’ll help you brainstorm a topic. Or you can use them as prompts that you can consider for your essay:

• What are some examples of science in everyday life?
• What are some applications of science in daily life?
• Science plays an important role in modern life.
• Science is the greatest blessing for the modern man.
• How has science affected human life?
• How has modern science changed the way we live?
• How has science made life easier?
• What is the importance of science in your daily life?

In your essay, you can examine scientific discoveries that are essential for modern living. 

Topics may include telecommunications, medical breakthroughs, and other areas that impact people's lives. Check out this list of science essay topics if you need more ideas.

Here’s a video containing a list of examples of how science is involved in our daily lives. Check it out to get some ideas:

So, find an interesting topic for your essay before moving on.

Make an Essay Outline

Once you know what you will write about, start by making an essay outline . Making an essay outline is an important step for any writer. It organizes your thoughts and serves as a key reference point during the writing and editing process.

To create an effective essay outline, you should… 

• Start by thinking of a thesis statement . A thesis statement is the central idea or main point of your essay.
• Secondly, think of the main ideas or points you want to discuss. Once these are established, add supporting details, evidence, and examples for each point.
• Finally, make sure all your points have a logical flow.

An effectively planned essay outline will result in a high-quality essay! So take your time when making an outline.

Define Your Argument Clearly

When writing an essay about science in everyday life, it is important to establish the main point or argument of your essay very early on.

Your thesis statement should be expressed clearly and concisely in the introduction of your essay. 

This will set the tone for the rest of your paper and help readers understand what your essay is about.

The main points of your body paragraphs should support your main thesis. Make sure that these points are presented logically and are connected to each other. 

In short, be clear and coherent throughout your essay.

Illustrate With Examples

When writing your essay, look for examples from everyday life to illustrate your main points. 

Using specific examples will also help readers understand the importance of your argument in a practical context. 

Luckily, we live in an age of science. You will find ample inspiration for your essay around you. There are countless scientific inventions and tools you use every day, such as motor cars. 

Additionally, personal anecdotes can be especially effective in making your argument more engaging and convincing. You should also include scientific research or statistics to strengthen your argument further.

Edit Your Essay Carefully

Finally, take time to review and edit your essay. Check for grammar, punctuation, and other common errors . 

Also, make sure that your argument is logical and consistent with the evidence you provide.

Going through your essay one last time will ensure that you are satisfied with the finished product. You may also get help from an experienced essay writer to edit your essay.

To conclude,

By reading these examples and following these tips, you can easily write an essay about science in everyday life. So get started and write your best essay today!

Do you still require further help in writing your essay? 

No problem! 

At MyPerfectWords.com , we provide expert science essay writing service . We will craft an essay that is unique to your topic and tailored to your specific needs. 

So, if you're struggling to write an effective science essay, contact our legit essay writing service . 

Our science essay writer will help you create an outstanding essay in no time. We guarantee you'll be satisfied with the results. You can also utilize the assistance of our essay bot if you’re looking for quick essay generation.

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Betty is a freelance writer and researcher. She has a Masters in literature and enjoys providing writing services to her clients. Betty is an avid reader and loves learning new things. She has provided writing services to clients from all academic levels and related academic fields.

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