Maybe you’re a singer. Maybe you’re a pizza chef. Maybe you’re a post office worker who sends packages across the country and brings smiles to thousands of faces every single morning. Maybe you’re a garbage(wo)man. Maybe you’re a teacher. Maybe you’re a freelance photographer, just scraping by. Maybe you’re an advocate for LGBTQ rights, while hiding your own relationship from your family members. Maybe you’re a mother. Maybe you’re an exhausted graduate student who spends all day at the local coffee shop. Maybe you’re a part-time office assistant while you figure out who you really want to become.

Whatever you are right now, whoever you are right now—be a good one.

Be the best daughter you can be, the most hard-working student, most dedicated father, most responsible office manager. Put your best foot forward every single day. Smile, just because you can. Say hello to others. Be on time. Open doors for strangers. Greet each day with a positive mindset.

This world is too broken and this life is too short for average and purposeless. And you are too beautiful to be anything less than bright.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the people we should be and should become. The life we should have. The directions we should take. We tell ourselves there is a certain path to follow, and we get discouraged when we aren’t walking on it. And we limit ourselves because of fear.

But the thing is, we’re all from different backgrounds and life paths. We all have uniqueness, quirks, and attributes that make us who we are. We all laugh differently, smile differently, approach problems differently, let people in differently.

We aren’t the same, so we should stop trying to fit a certain mold and just be. So listen to this, you amazing human—whatever you are, be a beautiful one.

Let the sun shine from your smile. Let the days brighten with the words from your lips. Let your presence be a light and your voice bring hope. Let life become more beautiful, just because you are in it.

It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are, but what you bring to the world. You could be working what feels like the most insignificant job, but your presence still matters, still makes a sliver of this universe go ‘round.

You could be frustrated with where you’re at right now, but know that better things are coming if you work for them. You could be dissatisfied by the taste life leaves in your mouth, but know that you are more than what you do.

You are what kind of person you choose to become, so become something wonderful.

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t achieved all the goals on the little list in your mind. It doesn’t matter if you’ve check off every ‘to do.’ It doesn’t matter if you’re far from where you want to be, because you’re on the way. And that’s what counts.

So take a deep breath and stop looking down on yourself.

Focus on the person you wish to become, smile, and walk confidently in that direction.