You Can’t Do It Alone

This is my favorite time of year. I love waking up to sunlight, feeling warm air on my skin, hearing birds singing outside my window and seeing colorful petals everywhere I look. Most of all, I love graduation speeches and the inspiration they bring.

Even though I graduated from college long ago, I scour YouTube every spring in search of the newest batch of speeches, clinging to the idea that life is full of possibilities and that each of us can, in our own special way, make a difference.

The other day I came across comedienne Amy Poehler’s address to Harvard. In addition to being funny and charming, she gave some valuable advice that struck a chord with me:

“You can’t do it alone. As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you. Spend a lot of time with them and it will change your life.”

Poehler’s advice resonated with me because, for a long time, I tried to go it alone. I kept my writing dreams locked up in my heart and admitted my aspirations to a rare few. It wasn’t until I confessed my dreams out loud (by starting this blog and connecting with fellow dream chasers, like you) that my dream was set into motion. When I look back at how far I’ve come and look forward to all the places I want to go, I realize I couldn’t be doing be any of this without people who challenge and inspire me.

Without you.

Don’t be afraid to share your dream with other people. Tell the world! Take it from me, or Amy Poehler, it will change your life.