This is probably not the first time you have heard this, but success does not come easy. Almost every little thing you try to accomplish has some sort of obstacle in the way. There seems to always be that driving force that constantly gets in the way, tries to bring you down, wants to see you fail. Reaching for the stars is what we all aspire to do, but the entire world is in the way. Sometimes it is going to seem hopeless, sometimes you’re going to look for a reason to carry on and not find one, sometimes the best words you can imagine saying are: “I quit." I’m here to tell you that thinking all those things is ok. I can’t promise that the end goal is going to come fast, to come easy, or come without sacrifice, but I can promise you that if you continue to carry on, you’ll appreciate it in the long run.

Quitting is not a long-term solution. Maybe at some point you have to draw the line. Maybe you're tired of the physical or mental abuse someone or something is putting you through. Maybe you're tired of being constantly anxious or paranoid. Maybe you're fed up with the anger you feel when it isn’t working. Maybe you're tired of crying yourself to sleep every night and having no will to come out of bed in the morning. I can tell you right now that life’s greatest lessons are learned through pain. You would have to be the luckiest person on earth to achieve something of great success without having to push and go over your limits. When you want to quit, just remember why you started. Remember the moment you wanted to make that dream a reality. You had no idea what it would actually take and the toll it would have on you, but you did not even consider giving it up-- you wanted that dream to become a reality.

You could possibly be going through the hardest thing you have ever done, and it looks like success is so far away; the stars just might be way out of your arms' reach. You need to find your light, your hope, your reason to go on. I found my light recently, and it has motivated me in ways I could have never imagined. The moment you realize that all the things you are going through-- the outside struggles, the constant hurricane in your head, the pain you feel-- everything is going to be ok. No matter what happens, stick with it. Would you rather be remembered as the person who saw it through and fought through all the adversity? Or the one who gave up? It's ok if you don’t have that reason to carry on, you may not find it for a while. One day you’ll find it, and that moment will influence you in so many ways.

Even though they are so far away, continue to reach for the stars, everything is going to be ok.