August 24, 2026

"This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy."

Susan Polis Schutz
Did you find this inspiring?
Inspirational quote by Susan Polis Schutz

Explanation

Susan Polis Schutz is reminding us that life doesn’t become ours by accident, we have to claim it. That doesn’t mean controlling everything or having a perfect plan. It means noticing where we’ve been waiting for permission: to change careers, love deeply, rest, create, go outside, say no, begin again. So much of happiness comes from the quiet courage of choosing honestly instead of living on autopilot. No one else can decide what feels meaningful to you. Friends, family, and society may have opinions, but you’re the one who has to wake up inside your own life each day. This quote is a gentle push to participate fully, to choose with care, and to remember that your joy is worth taking seriously.

About the Author

Susan Polis Schutz (born May 23, 1944) is an American poet, author, filmmaker, and entrepreneur whose work has long centered on love, self discovery, and personal empowerment. In 1971, she co-founded Blue Mountain Arts with her husband, Stephen Schutz, turning heartfelt poetry and artwork into one of the most recognizable greeting card and gift book companies in the United States. She is best remembered for her accessible, uplifting poems, shared in cards, books, and calendars, that speak directly to ordinary people’s hopes, griefs, relationships, and inner strength. Her later documentary films on social and humanitarian issues reflect the same belief behind this quote: that people deserve the freedom, courage, and dignity to shape their own lives.

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