15 minutes.

So I decided to take the Ralph Waldo Emerson 30 Day Writing Challenge. Here's the first prompt and my thoughts...

Gwen Bell – 15 Minutes to Live
We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other. Our age yields no great and perfect persons. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You just discovered you have fifteen minutes to live.
1. Set a timer for fifteen minutes.
2. Write the story that has to be written.

Although I am only a mere 22 years of age, I can say that I have acquired some very valuable lessons and experiences that have shaped how I see myself, the world, and others. I know that the only person that can allow you to have the life you desire is YOU. There is no point in blaming anyone because it isn’t their fault your life is going whichever way it is. YOU are the only one who can claim responsibility to the individual opportunity you have to create whatever it is you wish and hope to. Even when you are in the most hopeless and rock-bottom state you forsee possible, you can change your life around if you take action. If you know what you want, do something about it, right now! No, not in 20 minutes after your modern family episode is over, or tomorrow, but NOW NOW NOW! There is truth in the words that there is no time like the present. Count all of your blessings because we are all ridiculously blessed, no matter our circumstance. We often forget how blessed we are because we are focusing on what we don’t have and what we wish we had. Stop. Look around you. Appreciate what’s in front of you because it isn’t be chance that you are surrounded by the people around you and the people you were destined to share your genes with… your family. Take chances while you’re alive! Pour your heart out, don’t keep it all in until you feel as if a grizzly bear is sitting on top of your chest. Life is short. Don’t overthink things about yourself or others. People don’t pay as much attention to you as you think they do. There are more good people in the world than you realize. Stop selling yourself short. By the time you decide to get out of bed and start putting action and effort towards your dreams, your life will be over and your time will run out. Time waits for no man. Time never stops for anyone or anything… ever. Regret is a sneaky little sucker and it hurts oh so bad. So life the life you want, no matter the insecure thoughts swimming through your busy brain. Stop complaining about the reasons why you can’t do something and just DO it (Nike is genious). DO what you want today. Sometimes (and for me most times) you have to go after what you want. So go start living your life now and realize you are capable of doing anything you want. The sky’s the limit!