Little Things Matter

"When you do small, positive things, it increases the chances that other positive things will happen to you."

So today I began reading Success For Teens: Real Teens Talk About Using the Slight Edge by The Editors of the Success Foundation. The handbook, if you will, opened with the extremely encouraging words "Little Things Matter" and goes on to explain in detail that no matter what, "every day, every hour, every moment of your life, you face a choice." The authors explain when faced with a choice, it's up to you to take simple, positive action or simple, negative action; however, no matter the actions, they will help "determine the life you lead" (2-3). 

The handbook goes on to describe these actions that lead to success and in reality, how simple they really are. These actions are mentioned to be as simple as "waking up on time in the morning, showing up for school, and [actually] doing homework" (3). These actions that lead to success were compared with the difficulties of exercising and not immediately receiving results, but in the end seeing that your hard work has payed off. The chapter closes with discussing how these positive steps, too like exercise, will prove that "small actions compound over time." 

Have you ever felt like giving up? Did you ever think that you weren't strong enough or smart enough to complete a task? Take me for example: 

A first-generation college student wanting to pursue my dreams. No one around was able to help me make college decisions, mail applications, or even foot the bill. I found myself at a dead end. I started to think, "Am I able to do this? Did I make the right decision?" At the time, I knew nothing about college life, where to get books, or how to chose my classes. Put it like this, everything Google didn't tell me, I found out the hard way. 

My freshmen year I wasted so much money on things I now look back on and wish I could get back. Being so worried about actually making it through college life, I finished my first semester barely passing simple, freshmen level courses. But did I give up? No. I woke up one day and decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. It was simple: my dreams, only I have the ability to make them come alive. I needed to pay tuition, I got a job. I needed to make friends to have classes with, I introduced myself to four people a day. I wanted to make Dean's List, I studied and did everything I could to earn it. To learn more about myself, I even made a vow to take one class a semester that I would never see myself taking. Turns out, I made three close friends because of it and found hidden interests I never knew I had. 

At the end of the day, you have to think positive to receive positive results. Eventually, positive decisions equals positive outcomes. Attempt to do one positive thing a day like help someone with groceries or pick up a piece of litter off the streets because "when you do small, positive things, it increases the chances that other positive things will happen to you" (11).