Sadie Says All the Advice

Over my now nineteen years of life, I have accumulated a lot of words of wisdom from mentors, peers, family members, and friends. I have always put an emphasis on learning from others in whatever I do – I truly believe that there is always more to learn in life, more avenues to take, and adventures to uncover.

Today, I’d like to take the time to review some of the favorite pieces of advice I have ever received, and how I take them with me, attempting to implement them into every single day.

It’s not to say that I fully follow these words 100% of the time; there are surely times I fail to remember the clarity and truth in them. However, I thought there is no better way to kick off spring, our favorite period of growth and rebirth, than with some lessons I’ve learned.

Whether it be from my best friend, from Pinterest, or hearing it in passing – there’s always something new to absorb.

#1: A ship is safe in its harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.

My best friend Rachel dropped this absolute truth bomb on me during our senior year of high school. In the midst of making college decisions and trying to figure out what our futures might look like, this piece of advice came at the total perfect time.

My college decision was fraught with (you guessed it!) indecision, as I had no clue whether to take the safe route or step out of my comfort zone, moving further from home to a place where I knew no one else going.

Saint Mary’s was the choice out of my comfort zone, and this quote truly helped contribute to the mindset of “you never know unless you try”. I was so scared to see what might happen when I made the brave decision to leave what was comfortable or known to me, but I am so grateful that I did.

Looking back at the other contenders in my final search for school, I don’t think I would be as happy or as fulfilled as I am here. Yes, I could have been safe in those other “harbors”, but I would not have found the same lifelong friends and stuck to my core values if not venturing out into the unknown.

No matter if it’s for a college search, a big move, taking a risk on a potential relationship, or something else, just remember, ships aren’t meant to stay in their harbors forever. It’s about time to go explore what the world has to offer.

#2: The sun will rise, and we will try again.

Pinterest, home to inspirational quotes galore, sprinkled this one on my home feed a few months ago, and it has truly stuck with me since. Most of my friends have been accustomed to this specific piece of advice as well, as it has made its way into my typical motivational speeches.

I really appreciate the simple nature of this quote. It is a pure reminder that no matter how bad today was, there is always another opportunity to make tomorrow better. You could have experienced the worst tragedy or failure on the planet on a specific day, but lucky for you, the sun doesn’t operate on your schedule. It never fails to rise the next morning and bring a semblance of brightness to an often tumultuous mindset.

There has been a fair share of emotional days at college, from the highs and lows of a jam-packed soccer season, finals weeks, and the ongoing joys of seasonal depression. However, I find solace in the fact that I get a do-over every new day alongside the sun.

Going to bed, I know that everything will seem just a little bit brighter in the morning, and that inspires me to make the most out of every day – because the next day I have the chance to make the next one the best one.

#3: Visualize your highest self and start showing up as her.

This quote has made its way onto vision boards, desktop backgrounds, and phone wallpapers for years now, and it can truly be classified as a Sadie favorite.

I can’t pinpoint exactly why this quote resonates with me so deeply, but I think it is truly a testament to how we, as humans, have the power to change our narrative. If we aspire to be someone, it is up to us to make that happen.

This closely correlates with the idea of “get up, nobody’s going to come save you” – some people might be fundamental in shaping you into the person you want to be, but at the end of the day, all we have is ourselves.

If you aspire to be athletic or in shape, it is up to you to wake up at 6AM and hit the gym on those days when motivation is lacking (not anybody else). If you aspire to earn an A in a challenging class, it is up to you to attend every session and schedule additional assistance in tutoring or office hours (not anybody else). If you want to earn a raise or a promotion, it is up to you to put in the extra work where your coworkers are lacking, even if it makes your life more difficult (not anybody else).

You are the only one who knows exactly who you want to be, so that means you are the only person who can fully get yourself there.

#4: Life is way too short to spend another day at war without yourself.

Building off of the theme that all you have is yourself, you want to make sure that you’re treating yourself nicely. There are so many naysayers and critics in the world that it would be stupid to count yourself as one.

There are days where you might be frustrated with yourself or upset with how things are going, but trust that you have what it takes to get yourself out of this situation.

You are the only one spending time in your mind, so you might as well make it a nice place to be. Positive thoughts and a gently optimistic mindset will go a long way in terms of your success and wellbeing.

Give yourself grace and know that you can do whatever you put your mind to. You are allowed to be proud of the work you are putting in day in and day out, no matter the results.

 

I hope these quotes served as a reminder of your power and strength in facing every day with a positive outlook. Implementing these ideas into your daily life will surely pay off – trust the process and stay the course. Because as we all know, a ship isn’t meant to just stay in its harbor.