There Is A Song For Every Mood

Taylor Swift is the perfect example of my philosophy.  She writes her songs about her life, and in particular her newest album is filled with songs about what she wishes she had said in that moment.  This is the title song from her album Speak Now.  This is also the song in the background of my video on the Home page




Lyrics | Taylor Swift lyrics - Speak Now lyrics

The Past Is Not The Present

Judging people is the last thing you want to do as a person.  You yourself have been judged countless times whether you know of it or not. Every time a person meets someone new they judge them.  Whether it is based off of their looks, attitude, or their past.  Just because you know what they used to be like, that has no place to determine how they are now.  People can change and you may regret the stereotype you place on people. 

Though Sarah and Ben have different socioeconomic backgrounds, they made a suitable match. (Grisham)

A stereotype you give someone can change the way you get to know each other.  Who knows maybe this person was your soul mate and you just blew them off.  Life is full of so many decisions about your own life that we do not stop to think about other peoples lives as well. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

Looking At The Past Should Be A Good Thing

Reflection.  It can be good or bad.  It depends on the events you are looking back on.  Are you proud of what happened or do you wish it turned out differently?

 My stomach did a slow roll.  I knew we'd come to the place in the story I feared the most.  I began to breathe very fast. (Kidd 251)

Lyrics | Taylor Swift lyrics - Back to December lyrics

You should always be able to be happy when you look back on the past.  Even if it is sad there is always a silver lining.  There should be nothing you want to change about the past because you are happy with the present. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

Be There When It Matters

If you are a parent or just a supporter you should know that being there for a milestone is great.  You experience everything they do and you will have that memory to share with them forever.  Sometimes, however, you need to be there for the bad.  You need to be the shoulder they cry on, the rock that anchors them, or the person who stops them from doing the unthinkable. 

Ever since I can remember I've been caught in her ups and downs and all it leads to is this: me sitting in a dented car with a mother convinced she's about to drive herself off a cliff. (Dorris 15)

Fear naught.  I will save you tomorrow.  From yourself I will save you. (Miller 143)

Lyrics | The Fray lyrics - How To Save A Life lyrics


Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

When You Say Something Mean It

Sometimes people tell you one thing and then do another.  This never works in your own favor because you were counting on a certain thing to happen and then BAM it doesn't.  I am sure you know the feeling.  You know how let down you get and how you lose some trust for that person.  Try to live your life saying what you mean.  Try not to disappoint anyone, and never feel the feeling of regret because you did something you should not have.  Even if what you have to say is just to reinforce a fact then do it.  Do not be afraid.

In my only life, she was my mom, and I was her son.
I told her, 'It's OK if you fall in love again.'
She said, 'I won't fall in love again.'
I told her, 'I want you to'
She kissed me and said, 'I'll never fall in love again.'
I told her, 'You don't have to make it up so I won't worry.' (Foer)

Make people feel like you are someone whose opinion they value.  If you live like this then you will not regret the actions that you take because you know there will always be people to support you.  You will always have people on your side.  You know that you will be able to go into the future confident and not worried about the mistakes you may have made in the past. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

One Can Never Have Enough Music

So here is another excellent song.  It is in no way better or worse than "Live Like You Were Dying", but the message is very similar.  If you do not want to watch the whole video please go to 2:20, it is the best part. 

If Today Was Your Last Day Lyrics at elw

Lyrics | Nickelback lyrics - If Today Was Your Last Day lyrics

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

Become Your Own Einstein

Watching TV you always come across infomercials trying to sell you stuff or ideas.  This is one I found unique and really beneficial*.

Do you ever feel like the newest toy on the market came from your brain?  Do you think you have the next million dollar idea?  Do not keep those thoughts in your head.  Share them with others, make a journal chalk full of every idea you think of.  If you get to the point where someone else has the same idea as you don't you always feel so mad that you didn't put yourself out there first.  You have endless amounts of opportunities so why not take them. 

A man should lean to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mid from within, more that the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.  In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thought: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. ("Self")

So ask yourself this: Is that going to be you?

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

*This is not a real infomercial. Please do not search for this anywhere but here.

You Just Cannot Beat It, Everyone Dies

So unless any of you are God, which I know you are not, you will die.  It is a fact and just the way life works.  People spend their whole lives trying to escape death or just to prolong the coming.  However it will happen.  Just like the book Everyone Poops, everyone dies.

The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron and maid,
The speechless babe, and the grayheaded man--
Shall one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those who in their turn shall follow them.  ("Thanatopsis")

It is the circle of life and a person can never spend their time running from the eventually fate they will face.  After death who cares what you did wrong in your life, live your life like it is your last day and experience every possible feeling you can.  Never regret what you did not do for you might find that your life was spent wasted.  Wasted on meaningless activities that you will not remember or did not leave a good impact on the people around you.  If you leave life with regrets, that is like not existing, being "...Dead to the World, to Heaven and to Hope! In [you] didst thou exist -- and, in my death, see by this image, which is thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself" (Poe).  Regrets often lead to an unhappy life and that brings bad decisions along with it.  All of the time you spend trying to escape death makes you dead to those around you.  Then you have nothing more to live for.  What good is life if you waste it. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

A Song To Describe Life

At some point in your life you will get to the point where you are going to die.  When you get there do you want to look back and be happy or wish you had done more?  Think about that as you listen to this song. 




Lyrics | Tim Mcgraw lyrics - Live Like You Were Dying lyrics

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

Is Hiding The Truth A Good Thing To Do

Unless you feel the situation absolutely requires that you keep a secret you should always say what is on your mind. Even though there may be a fear of being judged as a human being you should have values that you are willing to stand up for a support.  Ironically using your words does not have to be the only way that you support your cause.  A silent supporter can almost be even better. 

Every member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought. (Hawthorne) 

Sometimes the things you regret are what you say. Sometimes it is what you do not.  Remember that life is filled with choices and you can never turn back the clock. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

Living With No Imperfection

In a person's lifetime perfection is something that is often pursued for.  Think about this: can a person really ever be perfect?  No one is God besides God and Jesus so is perfection something that society should expect us to be.  If every person is striving to be perfect they will never reach that goal and will constantly be thinking about what they could have done differently to be perfect. 

Of course there are always those who we look up to who hold high expectations for themselves.  Benjamin Franklin is a good example of one of those people.  In his autobiography he reflects of the prospect of "...arriving at moral perfection.  [He] wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time [he] would concur all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. ... [he] had undertaken a task or more difficulty that [he] had imagined" (Franklin).

Although I do not know exactly what Franklin went through during his time, I embarked upon a similar journey in my English class when we made a virtue chart very similar to his.  I found it difficult to keep up with all of my virtues and berated myself every time I made a mistake.   Living with all of these negative thoughts of how you can improve yourself is never the way to go. 

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid

My Personal Philosophy:

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

This is not word for word, but it allows slight room for interpretation so that you can make this a philosophy you can apply to your life.

Do Not Dwell On The Past Or Future, Instead Live Each Day Like It Is Your Last And Never Regret What Is Said Or Unsaid