"The story of your life will be that of the choices you've made. In the end, we are our choices."
- Jeff Bezos
I can't seem to stop thinking about this quote. It's like a catchy Billboard Top 100 song, but far more meaningful. Most quotes always seem meaningful at first glance, but few stick with you past the few minutes after you've read it. Yet this one echoes through my brain all day, every day since I've read it. Why do I resonate so strongly with THIS quote?
There's an underlying message to the quote: The story most worth telling isn't one of the fortune or misfortune born of the randomness of the world, of circumstances out of our control. We are not what happens to us. The story worth telling is that of who we are. And who we are is who we decide to be.
What story do I want to tell?
The story of my happiness. Choose to be happy. Treat it like a skill, and work at it.
The story of my success. Choose the short-term pain for the long-term gain. Choose to apply knowledge, not just consume it.
The story of how I became free. Choose to live life free from social pressures. Choose to focus on single-player instead of multiplayer competitive games. Choose to pursue knowledge and develop skills over a lifetime. Choose not to adopt limiting mindsets. Choose to be as free from trivial desires as possible.
The story of how I sleep well every night. Choose to be a good person. Choose to live without anger.
The story I tell my children of how I met their mother. Choose to talk to that pretty girl.
Every time you make a big decision, imagine yourself telling the story of that decision. Is it a story you're proud of? Make choices you'll be proud of. In the end, we are our choices.