“Honey, it’s too late for baby prayers. It’s time for trust and surrender.” *
Do you keep a Quotes Journal? A dedicated place to keep the words you read or see or hear that particularly speak to you? A friend recently mentioned that she had books that she filled with quotes she loved … didn’t I? Uh. Well. No. I didn’t really want to answer because the truth is I have never been that organized, although I quite frequently wish I were. More than organization, though, I think had not taken my connection with quotes that seriously. My favorite quotes — or words I catch somewhere, somehow — and want to remember, I jot down quickly wherever I am. Mostly in recent years, I grab a pad near the computer. The quote goes there, in the midst of phone numbers, doctor’s appointments, to-do lists, miscellaneous things to remember, or whatever scribble has already taken a space. And then those pads go the way of paper in my world, i.e also here and there.
A few years ago, I found some lovely paper pads that were designed to be mouse pads. Each page was striped for writing, and then framed with a blue flower design, maybe twenty-five or so pages per pad. Perfect. I bought as many as I could find and used them until they were gone. Since they had worked for three or four years, but were no longer available, I decided to try a simple legal pad, which I use for everything anyway. Another perfect. So that is what I have been digging through to find these quotes to share with you today, all kinds of pieces of paper, along with some highlights from my Kindle.
As always I hope you will read each of these quotes slowly. Take a deep breath after reading each one. Take in what the writer was conveying. What is it saying to you in this moment as you read?
Here’s a fun place to start: from Adele Azar- Rucquoi’s Money as Sacrament: “If I can say yippee every day, then I am living on the right cloud.”
And while we are mentioning sacraments: from Anne Lamott’s Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy: “the sacrament of ploppage”
A little humor from Dani Shapiro’s Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage: “Apparently, using two spaces after a period has become anachronistic. But tell that to my right thumb.”
These next two offer more depth, not that “ploppage” is without depth, of course: “Find the love you seek by first finding the love within yourself. Learn to rest in that place with you that is your TRUE home.” —Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Italics are mine.)
“I live my life from a center of stillness which is the true Source of love, joy and fearlessness.” —Arianna Huffington
Now two about life’s personal tragedies: From Laurie Colwin’s Happy All the Time: A Novel : “‘Life is never smooth to the great-granddaughter of tin peddlers who were kicked out of Russia,’ said Misty. ‘It’s no accident that all of my family is in one embattled profession or another. We’re just waiting for the Cossacks to come back.’”
“A fatherless girl thinks all things possible and no thing safe.” —Mary Gordon
Options from Wayne Dyer: “With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”
And a peace-giving thought from A New Zealand Prayer Book: “It is night after a long day. What has been done, has been done; what has not been, has not been done. Let it be.”
And finally one from me as a book end to where I started this: “We fly through the air with the greatest of ease, with our hearts full of trust on our flying trapeze.” —Dale Midgette Smith
♥ ♥ ♥
Remember please that I always like to know when something speaks particularly to you. And a favorite quote of yours that relates is also welcome in the comments. Blessings and love to you …
* Although I did think the first quote on this post sounded like Anne Lamott, I could not find it attributed to her.I had written it on my pad at some time without any quotation marks or a source, and it was too good to not share with you as is. ”
John Carswell
Being a former Marine, I have always liked Napoleon’s quote:
“There are no bad regiments, only bad Colonels.”
Dale
Thanks for adding your quote, John. I always appreciate your comments. Plenty to think about with this one.
Gay McDaniel
From Kate Vaiden by Reynolds Price page 108
“Strength comes in just one brand-you stand up at sunrise and meet what they send to you and keep your hair combed.”
Dale Midgette Smith
I love this one, Gay. I am still laughing, and will try to remember to keep my hair combed now! Thank you so much for sending it in the comments.
Dale
I received another quote from a reader through e-mail:
“It’s easy to get caught up in your own fishing net.” from Lilac Girls (That’s quite a visual, isn’t it?)