Inside My Quote Journal

I am a person who loves to find inspirational quotes’ and mantras’ any where I can. Whether it be about self love or a new perspective about the world, I write them down in a journal. It is as if I am collecting lessons that I can look back on when I need a pick me up or for a daily mind set. My friends’ can vouch that in college I hung quote cards on my dorm wall as decoration. Below I have four excerpts of my quote journal to share and how I found them useful in life.

“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order”- Samuel Beckett

I may have mentioned it before that Samuel Beckett is one of my favorite playwrights’. During my years studying theater ,I had been researching more on Mr. Beckett when I came across this quote. It may be a simple short one yet to me there is a deeper meaning. Sometimes we lose the ability to just go with the flow. That many times instead of pursuing what we want to do at that moment, we tend to overthink. For me even the simplest of things as wanting to attend say an event, I will think then make a pros and cons list. Most times I would end up not going or make an excuse to leave. So now I take it as a do it, go to the concert or the store. Unless there is a for sure uneasy or bad feeling about it, just go live life fully!

“Study me as much as you like, you will never know me. For I differ a hundred ways from what you see me to be”- Rumi

This one I happened to find it on a kombucha bottle a few years back. A handful of quotes I have found have been on the glass bottles of teas’ and juices’. Rumi has so plethora of poetic quotes, but this one is towards the top of favorites. I feel that we get placed into a box by how we look or what we do. That we get judged by others by the outward appearance instead of knowing the inside. It’s hard when a person just looks at me or if I do not follow after someone’s example he or she look downs on me. Instead of seeing where I am coming from from or why I am different from them. Unless a person tries to get to know me, they will only be guessing who I am. Which at the same time can be interesting to hear there perspective. We are all different and that is beautiful.

“It does not require many words to speak the truth”- Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce

During one of my cultural classes I was assigned to pick an influential person from a different background than my own. I have always had a respect for the Indigenous people of North America, so naturally I felt drawn for my research to go in that direction. The gentleman I found to be a source of wisdom was Chief Joseph. From reading his speeches this one quote stuck out the most. I have always wanted to know truths of everything and strive to be truthful to myself. There are many times when it will most times never happen and I have accepted it. In a world where so many cover up and use lies to benefit themselves it still be destructive. With one sentence he gracefully states you do not have to say much to be honest. Even though he is from another culture, I agree with him that being truthful is the easiest thing to do and to be.

“Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else”- Judy Garland

Judy Garland to me has always been an icon who had a wonderful career in the movie industry. I feel as if she said this to not only inspire herself but others who had a rough time being themselves. She is right that we need to strive be yourself and not be another person. I can say that many times I have felt like I should look like someone else or try to be just like them. Yet that is more work trying to fit into another persons shoes who you think is better than you. If we all were the same there would not be a uniqueness that each of us have. I’ll take my auburn hair and short height gladly over anything.

Feel free if you enjoy one to write it in one of your own. Comment down below what your perspective is on each of them or which is your favorite. I would love to hear! In the future, I plan on share more quotes and you may see a handful of my own.