"So often we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to enjoy the journey."

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time, said by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Have you ever been so focused on reaching a goal and getting a certain to point in your life that you forget to stop and appreciate how you're getting there? If you're trying to lose weight, appreciate all that you're doing for your body and all that your body is doing for you in the process. Don't worry so much about your progress, or about how long it's taking to reach the goal. Don't worry at all. Don't give yourself to much grief for missing that one day at the gym. If you're doing it, you're winning. That's all that matters.

It's been really hard for me to stop and smell the flowers lately. I have been so caught up in all these small issues in my life that I haven't been appreciating the things around me. In the past three or four weeks, I've spent an enormous amount of money ridding my apartment of a pest problem, dealt with purchasing a new car, and driving back and forth to take care of some other personal issues. On top of that, we've had midterms. We are all going through our own, personal issues all the time. This is why I'm reminding those of you who feel like giving up to, literally, look at the bright side.

I'm very familiar with the feeling of failing at something and focusing on that failure constantly. But, let me tell you, for every failure that's occurred in your life, there have been hundreds of successes, even small ones. Did you get a grade you didn't want on an exam recently? Look at the bright side: you know what you need to work on and you now know you need to work harder. That one test, in the scheme of the school year, isn't going to make or break you.

It seems as though when it rains, it pours. It seems like it's just one thing after another. If you're feeling this way, remember that when it rains, there is growth. This isn't only true for plants. You make a mistake, you learn from it. When you are put through a hard situation, you learn from it. As humans, we are constantly growing and learning. That's what sets us apart from other species on Earth: we have aspirations and goals, all having to do with surviving and having a high self-esteem. As psychology says, we want to be correct and accurate, but how can we feel that way if we are constantly looking at our failures?

That quote is my favorite, not only because it's beautifully said and said by a wonderful person, but because it is so helpful if you're feeling down. In about a month, I am getting a tattoo of a sunflower on my shoulder as a reminder to myself to always face the sun.Take a moment to look around you and realize what you have and what you're providing others with, the positive things, not the negative. Your family loves you, it's beautiful outside, and there's more to life then worrying about other peoples' opinions about you. Love yourself first.