I can because I think I can.

It had already been over a year since I had cleared my +2 with distinction, but I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. All my friends had already started further studies leaving me behind. It had been a month since I’d talked to my dad, and quite a while since I saw a smile on my mum’s face. My self esteem was very low. Then one day strolling around Sundhara, a poster on sale on the footpath caught my eyes. It had a picture of a goose flying with the caption — “I can because I think I can.” Today, I work in an Emergency Room of one of the renowned hospitals in New York, and living the life which once I dreamed of. And the replica of that poster still stands tall on my wall.

— Raj Shrestha, Syracuse, New York

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

This sentence has had a magical ruse on me since I heard Kevin Spacey utter it in a movie. It is obvious that every present day is the first day of the rest of our lives. But we hardly think of it this way. When something goes off the beam, we just regret for it. What we don’t understand is that time can’t be reshuffled and we have to move on. We still have rest of our life to prove ourselves worthy. Rather than lamenting over past activities, we must learn lessons from the past and plan for a productive future and strive to achieve it. After all, today is the first day of the rest of our life and well begun is half done.

— Bidhi Dhital,

St Xavier’s College

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

I had always turned a deaf ear to my parents and family members asking me to stay neat and clean, until one day when I was in Class V, my teacher said these words. After I started following that advice, I was praised by everyone as a smart and good boy. Not only my family members, but even my teachers praised me. As a result, I got closer to them and focused more on my studies. From that day I have been known as a good and successful student.

— Prakash Dahal

When you think all is lost, the future still remains.

This proverb has provided me a zeal to move on whenever I feel that I’m straggling behind. Besides this, Roger Babson’s saying, When things go wrong, don’t go with them, and Norman Vincent Peale’s, Give life all you’ve got and it will give you all that it has, are some of the words that have inspired me to make the best of each moment of my life and also to undermine the obstacles on my way to victory.

— Ritamvara Aryal, Thamel

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer to those who give.

With these words, I have welcomed all my days with smiles. I look at the sunny side things and am optimistic about everything. I wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every person I meet a smile. Let’s keep smiling, it rocks.

— Subha Dahal,

Tri-Chandra Campus

I am always with you even unto the end of the world.

These are the words of Jesus. And the only person who speaks these very words is my Appus. These words have ignited confidence and hope in me. It’s easy to desire for others to sacrifice but not so easy to sacrifice for the sake of others. True sacrifice is what is lacking in our nation today. Only if we would sacrifice something for others happiness things would have been different. The fact of being valued by somebody and having the assurance of hope makes me to wake up every morning and live a life no matter what the weather or surrounding might be.

— Daniel Song

Rome was not built in a day.

These words made me realise that for every achievement in human life, the first and important thing is to struggle, and struggle is not a one day process. As we know Rome is one of the most beautiful places but for its existing beauty all the citizens of Rome worked really hard. Thus they were able to build the most beautiful town in the world.

I also want to struggle and build my future. I am sure this line will help me cross every obstacle to achieve my aim and a better future.

— Prakash

Ja gayera padh (Go and study).

This isn’t a conventional or a typical saying. But the words mean the world to me. I’ve quoted it exactly as I heard it that day. These words, ja gayera padh, the last words of my sister addressed to me has made a tremendous impact on my life. These words have motivated and inspired me to be a better man. A few simple words like that can touch people even in an emotional level. It’s like ‘emotional blackmail’. But, it seems like I like being blackmailed. That is why I am doing my best to pay the ransom and to live up to my sisters expectations. So fulfil your aim and make the most of time and life because, “You never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

— Saksham Rai,

United Academy

Keep moving forward

These words have helped me not to sink in the ocean of depression but to fight with reality to continue the journey of life.

Nobody’s perfect

Keeping these words in my mind, I strive for more happiness and success even though I am criticised or lagging behind in different steps of my life.

— Shrisha Shrestha

Marks aren’t given by teachers but gained by students.

Until my teacher said these words to me I used to be very nervous during exams. I always remember these words before sitting for any exam, and feel more confident.

— Pooja Lama, Bafal

It’s your life, respect it.

Sometimes words matter when the situation is out of control. I have had problems in my life, but didn’t have anyone to share it with. I found a really nice friend this year. Her words, ‘It’s your life, respect it’ always act like a magical potion on me and gives me the strength to handle my problems.

— Alien

Labour hard you will get success.

These words that have inspired me. I gave my SLC exams recently and I was inspired a lot by my teachers during the exams. Similarly, my parents too inspired my saying, ‘One day of hardship brings two days of pleasure.’ So why not to make the future happy?

— Aakash Parajuli,

Kapan

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — everyday begin the task anew.

These lines have inspired me to do better in life. I was afraid of failing and lost my self-confidence at one point of time. But ever since I read this particular saying, it has helped me mould myself into a totally different individual. I make an effort to do things I think I cannot do. I don’t give up though I fail. If I did I’d lose the ability to learn new things and move ahead. Failure doesn’t deter my purpose, rather I believe it’s a path leading me towards greater heights.

— Prinsa Shrestha

If you want to change the world, start from yourself.

It gives me great enthusiasm to begin any work and toil for success. I am motivated to rectify my faults before blaming others or anything else. In fact, a situation does not change itself. But a person who brings about a good change in the society is an extraordinary one and can make people follow him. So this saying encourages me to do things in the way that is different from others.

— Dev Raj Adhikary, Nepaltar

All the things you do, will end up coming back to you.

It reminds me to respect everyone and help others whenever possible. And it reminds me to be thankful and happy even about little things. Every smile, every butterfly or even a rain drop is a wonder and a great gift.

— Simone

Every man dies but not every man really lives. (From Braveheart)

I think our life is not for only living and eating. We do bear some responsibility for ourselves as well as for others too. We live for ourselves as well as for others who like and love us. To make our lives successful we should leave behind our name even when our soul leaves this body.

— Shekhar KC, KU

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting a bull not to charge at you because you are a vegetarian.

I was really pushed awake by this Dennis Wholey quote. I always thought that no one treats me right or with any respect, but this quote changed my life.

— Anjal Amatya

Watching crime and being silent is support to the crime.

I have always been an introvert. I cannot speak a word in front of a mass of people. Though I am against crime and immoral activities, I cannot raise my voice and tell people that they are doing something wrong. I remain silent and ask God to punish them. But I have realised that I should understand that each and every action and words of mine matter a lot. I realised my mistake hearing the above words. That was my first step in raising my voice against crime, immoral and unethical behaviour. I believe my voice will be heard one day.

— Deepsea

There are two ways that a man can walk through his life. The first one lures you towards it and is joyful in the beginning but its future result is extremely miserable. The other way is full of thorns and hard to accomplish but its outcome is really sweet.

These words by the protagonist in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge have inspired me as I am a youth paving the path for my bright future.

— Aditya Bhattarai, Janakpur

Nothing is Absolute.

A few days back I used to ponder about different things like going abroad, changing my career after graduation, earning name and fame without much studying, cursing God for not making me the physically and financially the best... Then my teacher uttered the above words during a lecture. Everything has its pros and cons. I associated it to the aspects that I was thinking about and got my answer or rather a satisfactory end to the ‘dilemma’ in my mind.

— Roshan Atal, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara

Give this world something so that the world remembers you and you have the guts to do it.

My father have always has always been a great source of inspiration. His inspiring words have always been my guidelines. His positive attitude towards life has taught me the purpose of living. Whenever I am depressed he comes to me and says these words.

— Bibha Dahal

How beautiful to look at when my prayer lights a candle of hope in my heart. How beautiful I look when I live in the daylight of my heart’s blossoming smiles. (Sri Chinmoy)

This beautiful aphorism has inspired me tremendously. It has given me strength to sail my little life-boat positively with smiles. The traveller in us should never give up hope but carry it into the far distant future.

— Medha Upreti

Some days ago, when I asked one of my new friends through SMS whom I haven’t met yet ‘Do you trust me?’, her answer was, ‘Trust is a feeling that a one year old child has when you throw him in air and catch him again and he enjoys it.’ This particular phrase has enlightened me to have faith in others and keep the light of trust alive.

— Shakti Gurung, Pokhara

There are many words that have inspired me but the one that has been very helpful is, ‘You can’t change your past so whatever happened in the past, don’t worry about them as it will hurt you more, so stay in the present, make your life enjoyable and always stay optimistic.’

— Dipendra Pradhan

I’m a science student and I didn’t score high marks in my board exams and was really depressed as I couldn’t meet my mum’s expectations. But my mum inspired me with her words. ‘When the door of one opportunity closes, another opens but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has been opened for us.’ My door will open someday. It may open once or many times. I asked myself, ‘When that huge door of opportunity opens, will I be able to walk through it?’ and I got the answer that I will enter that door being more proactive and more qualified to enter the door. Life is worthwhile if you learn from your experiences, both positive and negative.

— Sanjayaa, NIST