Today's Article
“The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The beauty of life is to give.”
— Happier Lives
On Persistence — Susan Sontag
“It never occurred to me that I couldn’t live the life I wanted to lead. It never occurred to me that I could be stopped…
I had this very simple view: that the reason people who start out with ideals or aspirations don’t do what they dream of doing when they’re young is because they quit.
I thought, well, I won’t quit.”
What a powerful reminder from Sontag: many people don’t fail because they’re incapable — they simply stop. They surrender their ideals too early. Her words challenge us to persist, even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, even when we’re uncertain. Just don’t quit.
As Jim Rohn put it, “The real value of setting goals is not in their achievement, but in who you become in the process.”
The pursuit shapes you — and that’s the deeper reward.
On Identity — James Clear, Atomic Habits
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”
Let that sink in.
Think of it this way: every vote a citizen casts helps shape the leadership of their country — at least, that’s how democracy is meant to work. Similarly, in our personal lives, every choice we make is a vote for the kind of person we’re becoming.
Here are just a few examples of those personal “votes”:
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The time you choose to go to sleep.
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The first thing you do when you wake up.
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The dinner you choose to eat.
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The friend you decide to visit on the weekend.
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The movie you watch, the course you postpone, the book you pick up — or don’t.
Each one might seem small, but over time, they stack up and shape your identity — and eventually, your reputation in society.
Final Thought
You are becoming someone every day. Make sure your votes are going toward a future self you’re proud of.
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