No matter how many people make lists of rules to live by, each list will be different. Every list is a guideline that is individually experienced. Some of the rules will be the same for people while other lists vary drastically from the norm. Do you know what? That's alright! We're in this world to share what we know with other people who may not have experience in the things others have seen thus far. Some of the things we want to share won't stop others from making the same successes or mistakes but it certainly can prepare others for what's to come. With that said, I present my own individual list of rules to live by, hoping that, in some way, my experiences will help other people.

1. Always smile. A lot of times things just go downhill from the moment you wake up to the end of the day. You stub your toe getting out of bed in the morning and, at night, you spill your bedside glass of water all over the sheets and carpet. Just when you think nothing else could go wrong, the cat made a mess with the litter box again. Your last nerve has been worked upon and you want to pull out every last strand of your hair. Smile. Remember that no matter how bad something seems at the moment, it's always worse when you let those things get to you.

2. Be yourself. It starts when we're teenagers and extends well into our twenties - not knowing who we are. It's alright to be frazzled in high school when you are a lot of things to different people. It's even alright to go through four years of college and, at the end, still not know what you want to do with the rest of your life. These are minor things that can work out as long as you know who you are on the inside. Every good and bad quality you have, own them. Never deny the complete you in exchange for having the type of personality others want you to have. In the end, people will appreciate you more if you are who you are and nothing more or less. All those other issues (e.g. deciding what to do with your life, making changes with your lifestyle, etc)? They work out when you accept yourself as you are.

3. When you figured out what you want to do, be that. You don't have to have anything firmly decided about your future. All you need is a basic idea and everything falls into place. Have dreams about being a musician? All you need is that dream and the want to fulfill it. The only person that can stop you is yourself. Yes, dream as if it's your last dream and make it happen. However,

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