STWW: Do Better

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In the spirit of the New Year, I thought I'd share a quote that I think is a great mantra: 

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better" - Maya Angelou.

It's a short but powerful reminder to always do the right thing - the best thing, as far as you know. It's not easy but it is important and ultimately rewarding to rise above any situation and do what you feel is right.  We should try to find ways to make ourselves (and others) happier. We should strive to do the best we can, even when we don't want to. Speaking from personal experiences, doing the right thing always pays off, maybe not immediately but eventually.

Another side of this quote is giving people the benefit of the doubt. When someone does something hurtful, low or just plain rude, before you react, realize that maybe they're having a rough day and just (unfairly) taking it out on you. Or maybe they don't know better - they're doing the best they know and since you know better, you should do better. This doesn't mean you should let people walk all over you but, before you jump to annoyance or anger, maybe take a step back and think of them as victims of circumstance rather than rudeness being a part of who they are.

Do you think you'll keep this in mind as you go about this year? What's your favourite quote that helps you rise above hard situations? Let's start 2015 with a bang, Happy New Year everyone!

5 Things I've Learned About Life

 In 4 days, I'll be turning 22. 22! I realize it's still very young but I feel as though 22 means I'm an adult and no longer under the forgiving umbrella of age. That's deep.

I decided for this week I'd throw out my scheduled beauty related posts for something about me and related to what I've learnt in my 22 years. So without further ado:

1. There will always be someone better than you. While this is a depressing thought, it's certainly humbling. There will always be someone smarter, prettier, taller, richer, etc than you. But that's okay - do the best you can do given your means and circumstances. While life makes others prettier or taller or smarter than you, you can work harder than anyone else, you can be nicer than anyone else. Just do what you can to be who you want to be and the rest will fall into place. Which brings me to my next lesson...

2. Don't worry about the things you can't control. There really isn't any point in wishing you could change the things you can't. What has to happen will happen and while you can (and should) try your best, there will always be things you can't do anything about. No amount of guilt will change the past and no amount of worrying will change the future.

3. It's okay to be sad. This has been a common theme lately but I can't stress it enough. I've had hours and days and months of being sad - it comes randomly, in waves and it can't always be explained. A close friend of mine died in a tragic accident over a year ago and I was sad every night for months. But sometimes I'll get sad just because it's dark outside! Sometimes I'm just in a funk and that's okay. As long as you realize how blessed and loved you, it's okay to not always be happy all the time.

4. Life goes on. Whatever you're going through may seem like the end of the world at the time but it never is. Breakups, failed tests, lost friendships - they're all a part of life. Look around you, life goes on. The drama I cried over in high school seems so trivial now. Had I realized when I was younger that everything will always be okay in the end (it really and truly will), I would have been a much happier teen!

5. Be humble, be grateful, be kind. Be humble to know that everything you have is a result of someone's (or your) hard work and isn't something you deserve just because. Be grateful for everyday you spend in good health and with loved ones. Be kind to everyone around you and strive to be the bigger person at all times. Being kind (and still strong) will always be the right decision.

If you have any tips or life lessons, please let me know below! Let's all help each other out for a happier, kinder world.