from the vault: on belief
I believe life is long
As you may have learned from my last post, this Substack is actually not my first blog… I have been writing & publishing since 2017! But it felt right to start fresh.
From time to time, I will treat you all to sprinkles of my past writing “from the vault”. I hope it helps highlight more of my personal journey and ways I have grown as a writer.
On Belief
Published 12/22/23
I started this blog almost 7 years ago. It is crazy to think about all the things that have changed in this time, however in going back and reading my first-ever post, “On ignorance”, I was struck by how much I am the same. While I have learned and grown exponentially during this time (including how to parallel park and make a fantastic scrambled egg), my core values and beliefs about the world have mostly held true.
Here is a list of my beliefs, which are, in their collective whole, who I am and who I always will be:
I believe in picking up pennies on the sidewalk because you never know when you might need a bit of extra luck.
I believe life is long. Many people use “life is short!” as rationale for making a decision or to satisfy a need or desire. And while I agree that life is precious and you should do what makes your heart happy, assuming life is short puts a tremendous pressure on getting it right. After all, if life is short, this might be your only shot. This thought can be paralyzing and create undue indecision. So, I believe life is long: you have time to change your mind, start over and try as many different things as you like until you get it right.
I believe in paying it forward because the good you do in the world always has a way of coming back around. Similarly, I believe in the kindness of strangers.
I believe in looking someone in the eye when saying thank you.
I believe what you see depends on what you look for. When you employ a “glass half full” approach to life, you see love where others see hate. You see possibilities where others see problems, opportunities where others see obstacles, and excitement where others see fear. This does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the ills and evils of the world, but when we choose to use our powers of curiosity and optimism, we see everything differently. When you focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, it doesn’t mean you don’t observe the current darkness and depth, but you see a way through it and trust that things will work out.
I believe in doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
I believe that life is not a race. There is no prize for getting to a milestone first and the only thing you are racing towards is a grave. Take breaks, savor each moment, and let the events of your life unfold according to your own unique timeline.
I believe long walks to nowhere in particular are good for the soul and that every sunrise is a miracle.
I believe there is nothing in this world as healing as a hug from your mom. I cherish every one of them and dread a time when a physical embrace is no longer possible.
I believe being vulnerable is brave and authenticity moves mountains. In a world that constantly tells you who you need to be, it takes great courage to be yourself. When you act in ways that betray who you truly are, you deprive the world of the gift that is you.
I believe growth often feels uncomfortable.
I believe life is not about finding oneself, it’s about creating oneself. We are all powerful creators and every day we have the opportunity to craft whatever reality we desire; we just have to first believe it is possible. The hardest decisions in life often come from leaving something pretty good for something incredible that isn’t real yet, it is only real in our minds and the only thing preventing us from having it is our fear that everything won’t work out. It will.
I believe time is the most valuable currency. Money you can get back, time you cannot. Aim to be rich in experience, not possessions.
I believe life is beautiful, but it is also painful and that the purpose is to make our shared human experience more manageable so that we all make it through. If you don’t know where to start, start by loving yourself. Learn to love others and don’t stop – I believe love is a lot like happiness in that it does not decrease by being shared.
I believe children contain more wisdom than we give them credit for and are great teachers.
I believe in asking for what you want because the worst thing that can be said is no, which simply stands for “next opportunity”.
I believe you never lose when you bet on yourself.
I did not come up with these beliefs all on my own, but rather they are a reflection of the wisdom of those around me, the content I consume, and the lessons that have been revealed to me. To all my teachers past and future- Thank you.
walk boldly,
Caroline