I have a long family history of drug abuse & alcoholism which has deeply affected my life / family. Luckily I don’t struggle with these issues. Over the years I’ve learned I can’t fix or force the people in my life to be better. I am only responsible for myself – & only I am capable of making myself happy.
JESS C.
When I was taking jazz lessons in Boston, I was complaining to my teacher that I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be and he said something like, “You will never be as good as you want to be so you should only be doing this if you enjoy the process”. The process of practicing and growing. I feel like that applies to much of life. Another useful lesson I got from my college classical trumpet teacher was, “You should be excited to discover your weaknesses. Because identifying them is what allows you to get past them”.
SHAWN, NYC
Everyone feels insecure, out of place, or uneasy – more often than you’d think. Usually it’s those that appear most confident that harbor the most insecurity. You aren’t alone in feeling this way, no matter how often.
SARAH S.
We all tend to hear that life is short so we should make the most of it. What’s interesting is that you don’t really connect these words of wisdom with personal emotion or even translate them with action until something significant teaches us personally.
I’ve recently had a loved one become diagnosed with cancer and it’s my first time navigating some seriously heavy and aggressive emotions. In this process I’ve been able to truly reflect on “words of wisdom” from our elders.
There really is no bullshit to words of wisdom, so in my reflection I’d say, “stay positive”; “wake up each day & appreciate life”; “enjoy the ride” “Don’t have any regrets” and be “happy”.
Anonymous
You won’t master the rest of your life in one day. Just master that day.
Anonymous
Backseat Wisdom 