And I Quote…

“Love yourself into a life that loves you back.” 

My strong desire is to say or write something that really moves people, changes their minds, or makes them smile.  I want to say something profound:1. having intellectual depth and insight; 2. having or showing great knowledge or understanding. Of course I  have “ intellectual depth and insight” and “ great knowledge or understanding”!

I must admit  this desire is partially about my ego, which wants my words to matter that it was I who said them..   “Shut up!” is the last thing I want to hear.  I have something to say, listen up!

When I am in existential pain, or a state of confusion I want simple answers. Something short  to wrap my head and heart around. I often seek comfort in a quote that is particularly meaningful to me:

1. “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in one drop.” – Rumi
2. “Sometimes it’s okay if the only thing you did today was breathe.” – Yumi Sakugawa

These short quotes bring life down to basics for me, cutting through the fog of confusion.

Since quotes are usually short and simple sound bites, there is a danger of oversimplification and skimming the surface which can lead to shallow understanding.”Nice guys finish last.”means what? Depends upon what the meaning of “nice”is.  If I’m “not nice” will I finish first? Doesn’t meet the smell test for me! If it’s  “lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse” then  it’s  a cliche. I don’t want to be a cliche or use cliches. If the words I use do not connect with the listener than silence may be better.

It’s not the number of words used, it’s the power of the words which matter. Sometimes just a few words  have changed the course of history. “ i.e.”Give me liberty or give me death.”, the battle cry for the Revolutionary War.  Quotes can be full of irony,“ Fighting for peace is like F**king for Chasity.”, or sarcasm :  “If your phone doesn’t ring it’s me.” or “ I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong.” The later is one of my favorites these days.

 I want my quote in that pretty book of quotes that people pick up once a year and leaf through, but I want my quote to be the one that you remember and makes a difference in your life. Will you remember this one?

“Love yourself into a life that loves you back.”   Danita Watson