"For what it's worth: it's never too late, or in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

If there's anything I've learned from my measly two years of adulthood, it's that the world is too beautiful and life is too short to let anyone or anything dictate who you are/who you become. If you find yourself dissatisfied with your life, it is up to you and you only to make the changes necessary to optimize your happiness. Don't let the fear of the opinions of others hold you back from achieving what it is that you truly want from yourself. You owe no one an explanation for the decisions you make in your life, because it is indeed your life.

It took me 20 years to learn that the biggest thing holding me back from achieving my dreams was my fear of what other people thought of me. Once I realized this and decided to live a more carefree lifestyle, I became ten times happier with my life. I began to make decisions based off of my own judgment rather than everyone else's judgments. I focused on what made me happy instead of trying to make everyone around me happy. I took my life into my own hands and pursued my dreams and aspirations regardless of what others thought about them. The choices I made began to be made out of selfishness.

Selfishness is a vital part of life. As children, we are taught that selfishness is a demeaning quality, but when it comes to your life and your happiness, I believe that you should be selfish. You should be allowed to say no. You should owe no explanation for your actions. You should possess the right to do, say, and/or feel however you please. You should not live in fear of people's perception of you. This doesn't mean becoming a cold-hearted, self-centered person, but rather, putting yourself before others when it comes to happiness. Be selfish. Be courageous. Be bold. Be an inspiration to yourself. Above all, be you.

Life is tough, but it becomes a hell of a lot simpler when you set aside the opinions of others and begin to live according to what makes you happy. If you find something that makes you happy, pursue it, and let it ignite a fire within you. If you find someone who makes you happy, tell them, and let them love and cherish your soul. If you find a place that makes you happy, go there, and embrace all the beauty it has to offer. If you find another version of yourself that makes you happier than who you currently are, be that person, and make no apologies for being yourself. Do not let anyone other than yourself govern how you choose to live your life...they have a life of their own.