As I enter my senior year in college, I look back at the people who have really made an impact on my life for one reason or another. And I discover that many of them have been teachers. Not necessarily the kind who teach you to add or write in cursive, but the kind who show you how to live your life.

I was particularly blessed in high school to have some really amazing teachers. Many of whom I still talk to or visit. Because of them, I learned a lot of things about myself: I love to read, I am a much better writer than I think, do what will make you happy not what others want you to do, I am passionate about math, don't mold to stereotypes, argue a perspective you might not even agree with.

Think about the teachers you have had who really made a difference in your life. The ones who go the extra mile to help you when you need it. The ones who teach you more than just geography. The ones who will start a club about something you both love.

Honestly, there is a lot of bull shit that happens in school. A lot of busy work. A lot of things that people tell you that you'll need again and you really won't. And a whole lot of drama. But... if you sift through all the stuff, sort through the unimportant and the essential, you'll find quite a few gems that really do matter. You might even make a friend.

Let those teachers know in some way that they made a difference in your life. That you will remember them. They helped you. I promise, nothing will make them happier.

Feel free to share with me by contacting me via Twitter, via email, or by commenting.

Spread the word, and spread the beauty.

Shannon

If you haven't checked out my Inspirations page, I suggest you do so. Especially since today's post features one inspiration that I have revisited again and again over the past few years.

The Last Lecture is a speech that was given by Randy Pausch, a man with pancreatic cancer who knew he was going to die, and soon. He created the Last Lecture: the lecture you would hypothetically give to your students if you knew you were going to die.

You can watch the ten minute version of the speech he gave on the Oprah Winfrey show here, or you can watch the full length speech (which I totally suggest because it is beyond worth the hour and forty-five minutes) here.

There are a lot of things that Randy talks about that are really moving, eye-opening, and thought-provoking. It is truly inspirational. But I have come to realize that this blog is sort of my Last Lecture. All of these things that I have been writing about are the things I would share with the people I know and love if I knew I was going to die. Love yourself. You are beautiful. I love each and everyone one of you. You are important to me. Find the beauty in yourself. Take baby steps, and be proud of yourself when you are successful. Be independent. Ask for help when you are struggling. Don't let others define you.

Originally, I was going to write about Randy's Last Lecture, but instead I'll take one piece of his advice and make that another part of my Last Lecture.

"The brick walls in our life are there for a reason."

I believe in this 100%. The struggles we face aren't for nothing. They have a purpose. Maybe it is to show others, or ourselves, how strong or competent we really are. Maybe it is to protect us from another brick wall. Maybe we won't know the purpose for years. This is the hardest part to deal with.

Recently, I have been dealing with a brick wall. And I have no idea what the purpose of it is. But I have renewed faith that there is a purpose to this wall. One day I will discover what the purpose of this brick wall is. And I will be stronger for having dealt with it, and stronger for finally knowing why the wall was built in the first place.

Embrace your brick walls. Climb them, take them down brick by brick, blow it over with a bulldozer. But understand that the wall is there for a reason.

I feel like the purpose for many of my brick walls has been this blog. Because of brick walls I have knocked down, I created this blog. And I couldn't be happier. I am glad to have dealt with some difficult things if this is what the purpose was. Because helping myself, my friends, people I may not even know, is worth any brick wall no matter how high or how thick.

Again, feel free to contact me on Twitter, via email, or by commenting below.

Spread the word, and spread the beauty.

Shannon

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." -Buddha

Happiness. The underlying theme of my blog has been ways to be happy. By seeing beauty in things you may not have noticed before. By finding happiness and self-worth within yourself. But today is about gaining happiness by sharing it with others.

It's why I always write to spread the beauty at the end of each my posts. When you are happy, making others happy only creates more happiness. Sharing it with others, like Buddha says, does not destroy your own happiness. It makes it last longer.

It is so easy to spread messages of negativity. Sharing stories of our bad days with friends. Telling your parents how your teachers really upset you. And sometimes we need to vent. We're human. We need to purge negativity sometimes.

Just don't forget to share the positive stuff too. Let others know about the happiness in your life. And ask them about the great things happening in theirs.

When there is a smile on your face, do something to put a smile on someone else's face. You'll only be happier when you succeed. This world could do with a lot more smiling. Be apart of that.

This is just another reason why kids are so great. They love to tell you about all the great things that happened to them. They got to use bubblegum toothpaste this morning. Then they had a chocolate donut for breakfast. They're going to a birthday party this afternoon! They want you to know about all of the happiness in their life, and they just can't keep it inside. Stop keeping your happiness inside. Let it out into the world. Let it help others to be happy too.

Share the happy things in your life with me by contacting me via Twitter, sending me an email, or commenting below.

Spread the beauty, spread the word, and spread some happiness too!

Shannon

In the approximately 72 hours that this site and blog have been in existence, I have been more than inspired by the friends and family around me, who have supported me while doing this. So many of them have reached out to me to tell me that they think I am doing something great. To hear that from people who have inspired me and really meant something to me is absolutely amazing.

I have never felt more blessed to be surrounded by the people I know and love. Even if they are the only people who see or read my blog, knowing that they love me enough, and want others to see the beauty in this world, has made me so grateful and proud of myself for starting this.

Because of the support I have received, I am more motivated to share what I think is beautiful and to hopefully help others to see the beauty in themselves as well.

And today especially I see the beauty in my friends. I have always tried to surround myself with positive and non-judgemental people, and after starting this blog, I realized just how successful I have been at that. To every single one of you who have helped me thus far, thank you so incredibly much.

I challenge you to look at the people in your life. Cherish the ones who have helped and supported you through the chapters that have really meant something to you. Thank them. Make sure they know that you appreciate them. I also challenge you to give back. Help and support a friend in their new adventure as well. You never know what you might learn by helping someone else follow their dreams.

You can share how someone has supported you by commenting on this post, contacting me on Twitter, or sending me an email.

As always, spread the beauty and spread the word.

Shannon