“Life is too short to be living somebody else's dream”
— Jay Z
Simplified Meaning:
Everyone has their own dreams and goals, and life is too brief to focus on living out what someone else wants for you instead of pursuing what you truly desire. Imagine if your friend really wants you to become a doctor, but you have always dreamed of being an artist. If you spend your whole life trying to fulfill their dream, you might end up unhappy because you’re not doing what makes you feel excited and fulfilled. In history, many people who made big impacts did so by following their own dreams, not by copying others. Think of Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb; if he had followed a different path that someone else wanted for him, we might still be living in the dark when the sun goes down. For everyday life, remember that it's important to listen to your own heart. If you like cooking but everyone in your family is in construction, it's okay to be the first to open a small restaurant instead of going into construction. Following your passions can bring happiness and a sense of purpose that you wouldn’t get from just doing what others expect of you.