Why is everyday the same?
Why can’t I just chase after my dreams the way I want to!? WHY CAN'T I STOP PROCRASTONATING!!? WHY AM I SO BORED!!!? AAAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!
These have been my thoughts everyday, for like, the past couple of months. I felt so angry at myself for not following my dreams, out of fear, and doubt, and talking myself out of things. I was mad at myself for doing the same old, same old, everyday.
But suddenly, I wanna Live more. Laugh more. Stop taking life so seriously but at the same time make my life become a reality. And Mark Twain, is part of my encouragement to do so.
You’ve probably heard the name Mark Twain many times before, just as I had. In my case, I didn’t know much about him.
The whole reason I even learned about him was because yesterday, Dad called me into his room with no further explanation. He told me to go on the internet, and simply look up Mark Twain. We found a bunch of videos about him. Then he ordered me to watch one. I was confused. I’d heard of the guy before, but who was he exactly, and what is so great about him that he is still talked about more than 100 years after his time?
After I left Dad’s room (with the video tab still open), I decided to look into him. After a quick internet search, I found out that Mark Twain was an American writer born in the early 1800’s. Mark Twain wasn’t even his real name! It was a pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens. I was thinking, A writer? Dad doesn’t even like reading! Why was he telling me to watch a video about Mark Twain?
I was about to find out.
The video was around sixteen minutes long, but I sat there, replaying and listening to bits for much longer than that. In this video, Twain proved how deep, interesting, and inspiring a phrase of a few words can be.
I came to find out these quotes were about honesty, adversity, and enjoying life in general. Listening to those quotes be read aloud was one of the best half hours I’ve had in a while.
Twain’s quotes made me feel as if I was sitting across from a wise man who’s lived enough life to give someone a good bit of advice. His quotes made me want to improve my life and to do things outside my comfort zone, which I so rarely reach out of.
Some of Mark Twain's quotes are deeper than they appear when you first read them. Even as the narrator read the words aloud, I had to read it again or pause and take a moment to think about them to get the full understanding. For some, I had to look up the meaning of certain words and then go back and read them in the full context to understand the quote, and then things would click.
Lots of Twain’s quotes were about the importance of honesty. There is one quote of his that goes:
“When in doubt, tell the truth.” - Mark Twain
I’m still thinking about that one. What could it mean? How would I apply this quote in real life? Will I one day find out?
Though there were many quotes that I liked, one I appreciated a lot was:
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” - Mark Twain
I see it as saying, you can do what you want in the day, because the worst thing you can do has already been done! It is a quote that makes me feel free.
I can see why Mark Twain is to this day talked about. He had very smart and interesting quotes that even a child of Gen Z like myself can relate to and appreciate. So I am gonna live more. I am gonna laugh more. And I am definitely going to always improve and chase my dreams!
Hey there! I’m Shila! I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!
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