What I Know For Sure

by Oprah Winfrey

realized with gratitude that, throughout my life, I had remained faithful, hopeful, and open to seeing the best in people, regardless of whether they were showing me their worst.

in its simplest form, caring begins with opening your heart to yourself and to anyone with whom you might be struggling to find middle ground.

Next time you’re scrolling, think about leaving a nice comment on someone’s post. Maybe call or send a quick text of encouragement to someone who might be struggling, offer kindness to a stressed-out stranger rather than walk away. If you’re buying a latte and have money to spare, pay for the person behind you. They’ll remember it all day.

Everyone just wants to be heard.

What I know for sure is that every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and step out and dance—to live free of regret and filled with as much joy, fun, and laughter as you can stand. You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you can sit quietly by the wall, receding into the shadows of fear and self-doubt. You have the choice this very moment—the only moment you have for certain. I hope you aren’t so wrapped up in nonessential stuff that you forget to really enjoy yourself—because this moment is about to be over. I hope you’ll look back and remember today as the day you decided to make every one count, to relish each hour as if there would never be another. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

What I know for sure is that pleasure is energy reciprocated: What you put out comes back. Your base level of pleasure is determined by how you view your whole life.

It was one of those moments I call a God wink—when out of the blue everything lines up just perfectly.

Whether you flounder or flourish is always in your hands—you are the single biggest influence in your life. Your journey begins with a choice to get up, step out, and live fully.