Words to live by.
First, I should say how difficult it has been for me to press publish on this post. It’s more personal than the posts I’ve written so far, and makes me feel quite vulnerable. But one great quote that pushed me on, along with the support of my Upfront buddies, is “JFDI”. I’ll leave you to Google that if you’ve missed it so far in life!
Earlier in the week I wrote about my favourite quote on a couple of social networks. I shared my favourite and asked colleagues and friends to do the same.
“The grass is greener where you water it.”
This has been my favourite quote for years. The one I come back to. The one I share from time to time, most likely on World Mental Health Day or a similar key date.
It’s a pretty simple message, right? Looking after yourself is essential. For me, that usually means the familiar things. Exercise, meditation, reading. Learning. Knowing boundaries and implement them as necessary. Spending time with loved ones, spending time by myself.
There you have it. So many attributes that I’ve applied to a few words written by someone I’ve never met. I wonder if the person who wrote the quote has any idea what it means to me. They don’t know my life, my experiences. But unknowingly they provide a great source of comfort.
I wasn’t surprised that people were quick to share their favourite words too. I received some well known quotes from friends and colleagues, each of whom had a brief description of what the words mean to them.
“We are where we are.”
“Be nice to the people you meet on the way up, you’ll never know who you’ll meet on the way down.”
And some that I’d never heard before, but resonate perfectly for me. Again, with their own words about how that quote connects to them.
“You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
“You don’t have to set yourself on fire to keep other people warm.”
“Always remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”
Thank you to each of the incredible people who shared with me. It shouldn’t be personal – most are pretty well known, after all! – but it’s absolutely personal too.
These quotes connect to some of our deepest, most innermost thoughts and values. We look to them in life’s highest and lowest moments. Dorothy L Sayers once said,
“I always have a quotation for everything – it saves original thinking.”
She has a good point. Perhaps we need to start thinking of our own quotes, providing our own comfort. Words are powerful. And I know we could do a pretty good job cobbling something together ourselves. I’m still working on mine, but I know it won’t be too long before I have more to say.
