In a world of technology, it is easy to find inspiration. There are endless websites with things like motivational quotes, videos of children taking their first steps or speaking their first words, articles about people breaking down barriers and achieving their goals. With all of these amazing sources that are available in the palm of our hand 24/7 all 365 days of the year, it is easy to forget about books. As a child I hated reading, but as I've gotten older I have found beauty in being able to go to a book store or library and search through thousands of books and the excitement that comes with finally picking one, sitting down and reading the first page.
There are hundreds and thousands of books out there, written by beautiful minds that could easily inspire anyone old and young, but three spectacular books are "The Four Agreements" by Miguel Ruiz, "Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar" by Cheryl Strayed, and "Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World" by Bob Goff. Here are a few excerpts from these books to get your through your week.
For when you feel that your life is out of control:
"Maybe we cannot escape from the destiny of the human, but we have a choice: to suffer our destiny or to enjoy our destiny." - "The Four Agreements"
For when you are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel:
“It’s about going to extremes and expressing the bright hope that life offers us, a hope that makes us brave and expels darkness with light.” - "Love Does"
For when you need the courage to be your own hero:
“Nobody will protect you from your suffering. You can't cry it away or eat it away or starve it away or walk it away or punch it away or even therapy it away. It's just there, and you have to survive it. You have to endure it. You have to live through it and love it and move on and be better for it and run as far as you can in the direction of your best and happiest dreams across the bridge that was built by your own desire to heal.” - "Tiny Beautiful Things"
For when you feel like the craziness of life is crashing down on you:
“Maybe we’re all a little like human origami and the more creases we have, the better." - "Love Does"
For when you feel lose sight of why you are doing what you do:
“The useless days will add up to something. The shitty waitressing jobs. The hours writing in your journal. The long meandering walks. The hours reading poetry and story collections and novels and dead people’s diaries and wondering about sex and God and whether you should shave under your arms or not. These things are your becoming.” - "Tiny Beautiful Things"
For when it is hard to accept that self-love is the most important thing:
“If someone is not treating you with love and respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesn't walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal. Then you can choose what you really want. You will find that you don't need to trust others as much as you need to trust yourself to make the right choices.” - "The Four Agreements"
