Best Quotes Ever Part 2: A Compilation of YOUR Favorite Words
It’s safe to say I was not anticipating the response that came pouring into my Instagram stories after sharing this post about my favorite quotes for getting up in the morning, tackling big changes, or dealing with the rollercoaster ride known as single life during a pandemic. Y’all took my invitation to share your own inspiration and ran with it, sending a grab bag of hysterical, thoughtful, and downright gorgeous words of wisdom my way, at a time when those of us in Germany were in need of a little hope.
So all I can say on that front is thank you, for making this community so special (and quirky). It’s an honor to have you here, and today I’m giddy to share a compilation of the quotes you sent my way, in part two of this quote series.
I think my affection for quotes hits in waves. And as I shared in my last post, a few months ago when I was in need of some outside inspiration, I found myself frequently turning to the wise words of other people in order to see the bigger picture. So I feel pretty damn lucky that now, in my humble opinion, I have a nice view of the bigger picture of my life.
I love waking up on Monday morning to start a job that both fulfills and motivates me, and forces me to do and be better in this world.
Despite the pandoozy still squeezing its tight grip on Germany, I’ve never been happier with my decision to move to Hamburg for my own happiness. Waking up in my own space here fills me with the greatest sense of pride and joy, even on the typical cloudy, Hamburg morning.
After a crash landing back into the single world early this year, I could never have anticipated how booming and bustling my social life would become (albeit in small groups and against a backdrop completely absent of bars and restaurants). 2021 has been my year of learning to maintain and grow relationships that aren’t the relationship, and putting in the time for extra zoom calls (despite being absolutely sick of them), talks on the phone, and organizing pre-curfew happy hours that turn out to be ridiculously rewarding. I mean, I guess this isn’t totally surprising, as we all know I’m an outgoing oversharer who does not struggle with low enthusiasm… but bottom line: this busy bee is buzzing.
That being said, I always feel the need to put a few disclaimers on here so you think this isn’t some “wow, living that hashtag blessed life in Deutschland” post. So before we proceed with the inspiration, allow me to keep it real by telling you that:
I’ve hit a massive roadblock in my German course (normally, I feel intelligent in these lessons). Tuesday evening I successfully answered every single part of an exercise incorrectly.
I think I officially bought the worst cordless vacuum that Amazon has to offer and I cannot figure out how on earth to empty the damn thing and free the spiders that I’ve sucked up into it. It’s the subject of my nightmares. So much so, that I contemplated changing my dating profile to truthfully read that I’m simply looking for someone to empty my spider-filled trash BUT...
I deleted every dating app known to man the other day because I became too overwhelmed. (Only after getting an Instagram message from a guy who casually asked me to marry him.) I guess it’s me and the spiders… and a lot of friendly happy hours ;)
Oh good, now that you know the pitfalls of my current existence, let’s move on. Because in the moments when these caveats and disclaimers seem to swallow my day, I look to quotes exactly like the ones all of you provided. So as I said once, and I’ll say it again:
Save this page for a rainy day and soak up the words of other people when your own seem to fall short.
(And thanks to my mom for sending over some of her favorites, as well as a good chuckle, which you’ll find listed below.)
Inspo Below
“Sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn”
-John Maxwell
“If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got.”
-Albert Einstein
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.”
-Walt Whitman
“Worrying doesn’t take away tomorrow’s trouble, it takes away today’s peace.”
-Randy Armstrong
“Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong”
-Anonymous
“Everything happens for a reason”
-Aristotle
“A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine”
-Bob Carter
“I didn't come this far to only come this far”
-Jesse Itzler
“Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it’s too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow.”
-Paul H Dunn
“Hold on to the journeys that awoke your soul. Forget not the moonlight that shapes your spirit”
-Anonymous (but leave it to my sister to swoop in with the deep, moving moon quotes)
“Don’t move the way fears makes you move. Move the way love makes you move”
-Rumi
And let’s end with the wise words chosen by none other than
my Mom:
“Words are so impactful; those that are uttered in anger as well as those that are inspirational. There is true power in words. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
‘Children
You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as
Living arrows are sent forth.’
-Kahlil Gibran
‘Do not ask your children
To strive for extraordinary lives
Such striving may seem admirable
But it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
And the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
Tomatoes, apples and pears
Show them how to cry
When pets and people die.
Show them infinite pleasure
In the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.’
William Martin
‘When you are face-to-face with a difficulty you are up against a discovery.’
-William Thomson
And lastly, for a chuckle:
‘Always borrow money from a pessimist as he doesn’t expect to be paid back’
-Anonymous
Keep being powerful with your words.
Love you always,
Mom”
(and Emily…)
If these kinds of posts are your jam, then hop over to my Instagram, where I’ve revamped my highlights and added a section just for quotes and motivation, so you can access it whenever you need it.