11 Pieces Of Wisdom To Read Whenever You're Feeling Down

"Your heart has reasons your head does not know."

In Advice From My 80-Year-Old Self, artist Susan O'Malley asked ordinary people, ages 7 to 88, to channel their future (or past!) selves and ask them for some guidance.

Daniel Garcia

O'Malley, who tragically died shortly after completing the project, said she found each answer compelling because it reminded her "how we all are looking for similar things in our lives: meaning, security, happiness, community, and love." Below are just a few of the poignant and uplifting responses.

1.

(Elaine, 71 years old)

2.

(Margaret, 77 years old)

3.

(Kit, 83 years old)

4.

(Bonnie, 49 years old)

5.

(Rachel, 24 years old)

6.

(Susan, 49 years old)

7.

(Cynthia, 49 years old)

8.

(Bella, 21 years old)

9.

(Lea, 62 years old)

10.

(Caroline, 71 years old)

11.

(Catherine, 45 years old)

Advice From My 80-Year-Old Self is available now.

All images from Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self: Real Words of Wisdom from People Ages 7 to 88 by Susan O'Malley, published by Chronicle Books, 2016.