15 Quotes That Keep Me Going

If you know me well, you know my love for a good quote. Perhaps it is the wordsmith, English Literature background side of me waving its dorky flag. But I’m ok with me, as you should be with you.

Life is HARD. Like, excruciatingly and frustratingly so, sometimes. At times like these, I often turn to quotes to sooth my ruffled feelings and help me get back on track emotionally. Therefore, I am providing a list of 15 of my favorite quotes that I’ve found particularly helpful. Perhaps you will find some comfort in them as well. I would safely assume this won’t be the last post I’ll write about some of my favorite quotes, as I’ll likely intersperse these types of posts in to the mix, every now and again.

Words to Live By

1. “Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.” — Immanuel Kant

This sounds super simple, but it rings in truth and it’s not as easy to achieve as one may think. In fact, most of us struggle with one or more of these items at certain points throughout life. Find something to do that fulfils you and that you enjoy. Hint: this is NOT about money. Find someone to love, as long as you can. That someone should not be expected to be your everything, because there will be days you will be disappointed or even wanting to give up. That is honest love. But if it’s someone you can’t imagine your life without, that’s a solid start in the search to finding someone to love. If it’s a right fit, you’ll decide to stick it out through it all, because somehow, you’ll always find a reason to stay. Find something to hope for, where the passing thought of it makes your heart beat quicken and smile a turn up on your lips. Because when we have hope, life holds possibility. And with possibility, we have something to live for.

2. “I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and things have a wonderful habit of working themselves out regardless of how you may plan them to the contrary.” Dawson’s Creek

Things works out however they are meant to. Does that mean everything will turn out the way that we want them to? Absolutely not. We may not ever understand why certain things occur the way that they do. I’ve had a decent number of times in my life when I was completely thrown off by one thing or another. Sometimes it was a pleasant surprise, other times – not so much. But as people have so often said, things always find a way to work themselves out in ways even better than we originally imagined. Often that comes with some challenges in between, but I think many (if not most) of us are willing to deal with that for a better overall outcome.

3. “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Søren Kierkegaard

As is often said, hindsight is 20/20. Looking back now, things seem so clear and we feel silly for not understanding something until it’s too late. But that’s normal because we can’t know things until they occur. Then it all comes clear. However, as far as we are aware, life only moves forward, so we can’t move back and forth in time. Therefore, we look backwards to understand and we move forward to live.

4. “Life is too important to be taken seriously.” Oscar Wilde

There are so many times in life that build us up, and just as many that tear us down. Those moments define us, and they are important. However, life has a tendency to teach us that it’s best not to take it too seriously. Because things will go wrong, despite our best intensions. Experiencing life one day at a time can help make it easier to manage so that we don’t get overwhelmed.

5. “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred Lord Tennyson

Always choose love. Having love, however fleeting it ends up being, is better than never having it. I know it’s scary and it’s easier said than done. But try to keep your heart open and your hopes high when it comes to the concept of experiencing true love.

6. “Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” Jack London

Those of you who follow me as a singer-songwriter may know about my recurring themes. One theme discusses playing whatever cards you’re dealt, the best that you can. We can’t choose the cards we get; all we can decide is how we will play them. Some people are dealt the best cards but squander them, whereas others are dealt a rough hand but play it expertly. That is why sometimes in life it’s just about playing a poor hand well.

7. “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” The Office

Oh yes, this one hits in the heartstrings – and it hits them hard. And it is particularly insightful after all that we went through in 2020, while we still wait to get back a semblance of those “good ole days.” I don’t think I need to explain to you why…

8. “Maybe we're all out there, floating by ourselves in some big black void. But we build connections, you know? We build our own worlds with the people we love.” Californication

I love this one. We are out in the enormous world, and sometimes feeling so alone. But every so often we meet someone special and it makes all the difference. Life and relationships are all about the connections we make with the people we love. The love with those people can be romantic or platonic, both types are essential for a healthy, balanced life. And it is with those people we love that we build our lives and journey through time with.

9. “Noble in thought, weak in action.” Californication

This one struck a chord to me the first time I heard it. In fact, it hit much too close to home. I always have the best of intentions, but it seems like somehow, I always find a way to mess things up. I know that is partially the nature of our human condition in all its finest, but I’m also aware sometimes I’m too hard on myself. While I never intend to hurt anyone, inevitably so at times I make mistakes and say and do the wrong thing. Hence, noble/thought but weak/action.

10. “To be yourself is all that you can do.” Chris Cornell

Just trust me on this one if you are unsure. Never try to be anyone other than who you are. It never works out and it causes stress and distress. You’re on the right track when you feel at peace and content with who you are and how your life is progressing. Many people think being yourself is easy, but unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Far too many of us spend too long chasing some ideal of who we think society wants us to be instead of simply being ourselves.

11. “Most of our lives are a series of images, they pass us by like towns on a highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens and we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever.” One Tree Hill

Pay attention to those little moments, the freeze-frame still images that pass us by, day by day. Because it is those that make up life. And it is those that make all the difference.

12. “There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads, afraid, confused, without a roadmap. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. Of course, when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back.” One Tree Hill

This one stings. Change is scary and there are certainly points in all of our lives when we are going to hit that crossroads, the figurative fork in the road. And what do we do? Choose one path and forge ahead into the unknown, or turn back in fear? I’d like to think I’m a forge ahead person, but I know I’ve always had times I’ve circled back in fear at least at one or another in my life. I suppose we all have. But it is those moments that define the remainder of our days. Choose bravely. Remember, living fearless doesn’t mean living without fear, it simply means that we keep moving forward and that we keep trying, no matter how rough the road ahead appears.

13. “At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world. Six billion souls. And sometimes — all you need is one.” One Tree Hill

Oh yes. This. Sometimes – all… you… need… is… one…

14. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

All it takes is one light. A single spark can illuminate the darkness and sometimes, that is all we need to find our way back home. Be that light for someone else.

15. “I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Frodo Baggins and Gandalf (The Fellowship of the Ring)

None of us wants to go through the junk. But we all will at times and there is nothing we can do to avoid that fact. Therefore, all we have control over is how we will deal with it as we move forward. I could go on and on about this one, but I’ll get more into that another day. For now, I’ll just say this: time is fleeting, so utilize it with care.

Perhaps Darkness Exists to Illuminate the Light

I hope you enjoyed these quotes as much as I do. At times I wrestle with the existence of darkness in our lives, of all those things that happen to us that we’ll never fully understand. Perhaps the darkness serves to allow us to recognize the light? Who knows, really, but that’s a more optimistic way to look at things anyway. We live in some complicated times, and I’m willing to bet it’s certainly not going to be getting any easier. Therefore, let’s all be the one for someone today. OK? Because we all could use a little light.

Questions, comments, or just need to chat? Send me a direct message via LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

Cheers until next time,

Crystal