"Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

Steve Jobs (via ronworkman)

I really love the idea of following your heart - it’s so poignant. But you don’t come into the world alone, and you don’t become who you are on your own, so you can’t always make big life choices based just on what your heart says. There are other hearts and other lives involved, and sometimes you have to suck it up for their sake. Sometimes you can’t afford to disappoint or fail.