Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

To Thine Own Self Be True

Growing up, my mother would always say,
“To thine own self be true.” — Polonius

At the time, it sounded simple. Almost like one of those sayings adults repeat without explanation.
But the older I get, the more I realize… there’s nothing simple about it.

Because at the end of the day, you are the only one who has to live in your truth.

And that truth can be hard.

We live in a world now where it’s easy to create versions of ourselves that aren’t real. Social media allows us to filter, edit, and present a life that looks whole—even when it isn’t. You can meet someone online, read their story, see their pictures, build an idea of who they are… and then meet them in person and question everything you thought you knew.

It makes you wonder—
how many of us are truly being ourselves?

And even deeper than that…
how many of us even know who we are anymore?

Because somewhere along the way, many of us have lost our sense of self. We’ve adapted, adjusted, performed, and survived so much that being “true” feels unfamiliar.

But if I’m honest, there’s another quote that has been sitting heavy on my heart lately. One I actually keep on my wall as a reminder:

“We shall only pass this way but once; therefore if there is any good that we can do, let us not defer it or delay it… for we shall not pass this way again.”

That one… it grounds me.

It reminds me that life isn’t just about figuring out who we are—
it’s about how we show up while we’re here.

It teaches kindness, even when kindness feels overlooked.
It teaches compassion, even when the world doesn’t always value it.
It reminds me to move with intention… because time isn’t guaranteed.

And lately, that truth has become even more real.

With aging parents, I’m learning just how short life really is. How quickly time moves. How moments we think we’ll always have… slowly become the ones we wish we could get back.

So now, I hold a little tighter.
I show up a little more.
I try to do all the good I can while I still have the chance.

Because tomorrow isn’t promised.

And maybe that’s where the two truths meet—

Being true to yourself…
and being good to others while you’re here.

Because in the end,
you don’t just have to live with your truth—

you have to live with how you loved, how you gave, and how you showed up along the way.