I love quotes. There is something immensely satisfying in the encapsulation of a thought in a few cleverly chosen words; in the sudden click of recognising an emotion – or snatching an insight – which helps me to work out where I am.
Like an unexpected reflection, quotes seem to be a way of knowing ourselves – through hearing another – and reaffirming what we do (or don’t) believe. They are a reminder – when I instinctively presume that “no one else feels like me” – that, actually, we quite often feel the same.
And have for years.
Since discovering twitter, I have moved away, slightly, from the random page-turned-down quotes that normally serve to locate me. My books continue to bear testament to my emotional state, but I am privy to a daily stream of snippets that seem to capture my mood or make me stop –
to consider.
I am well positioned for maximum exposure and some satisfying sense making as the quote come flying by, nudging my insights into place.
Last night, I wrote about the importance (to me) of my One Life. This morning, a few lines have caught my eye and compounded the message. I’m sure there’s a little selective reading occurring; but, it’s great to have a few pithy touchstones to hang my emotions on, and reinforce the messages which I don’t always believe, when I come at them alone –
Like – It is never too late to become what you might have been. George Eliot – which is a timely combat to my “but it’s too late for me” complaints.
Or – Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind. F. Scott Fitzgerald – which encourages me to actualise my ideas and feelings, rather than stumble blindly over them, pretending that I can’t hear.
“If you enjoy the process, it’s your dream. If you are enduring the process, desperate for the result, it’s somebody else’s dream” Salma Hayek – which reminds me to distinguish between my personal ambitions, and those imposed by others -
In conjunction with – What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us – Ralph Waldo Emerson – suggesting that I am able, if I chose to, to succeed.
And this one, which I’ve used already, but might need a little action before it steps out of my head…
Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tags: empathy, lightbulb moments, poetry and prose, reading the world
Words are powerful, stirring things. I love the way that one single sentence can encapsulate so much wisdom and touching sentiment. I definitely agree that the insight and positive assistance they can offer in an instant moment makes them useful not just to recovery, but to everyday life as a whole.
Memorable inspirational mantras are great. The same goes for song lyrics and lines of poetry. They were said or written for a reason and thinking on that it makes you realise how much power there is in expression – thus why with eating disorders, talking, doing and creating are really helpful in recovery. You’ve got me looking at words of wisdom from history now, so thanks for nudging me in that direction!
Rumi: “You were born with wings. Why prefer to crawl through life?”
and Zhuangzi: “A frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean.”
Thanks as ever for thought-provoking posts!
I appreciate that you’re sharing this. Yes, those quotes are certainly something worth thinking over.