Through any difficult situation, sometimes even the best writers can’t accurately describe what they are feeling as they’re going through it. This is when people turn to songs, stories, poems and my personal favorite: quotes. Seeing words strung together that portray your emotions perfectly helps to give you clarity and reassure you that you’re not the first person to feel this way or have these thoughts. I personally look up quotes often, whether it be for inspiration, perspective or reassurance, and I always seem to find one to match my situation. I find these to be helpful in many aspects of life for myself, as well as for those close to me, because sometimes I am not the best with my words, so I often send a meaningful quote to those who need it. Here are 14 of my favorite quotes to live by:
1. “The carousel never stops turning.” – Ellis Grey
For anyone who, like myself, questions the fundamental parts of life, like why bad things happen to good people, or why life is sometimes cruel and unfair, you can turn to this quote as it always seems to reassure me that life is tough, but it’s tough for everyone. And it is no excuse to not keeping moving forward because life doesn’t stop for anyone.
2. "Love isn’t something you find. It’s something that finds you” – Loretta Young
I feel like this can apply to anything, and it’s not just about trying to find the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend. To me it means just live your life, and you will find your place, and along the way you’ll meet people who you are meant to meet.
3. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.
4. “You can’t control how people treat you, but you can control how you react to it.”
In life you sometimes cross paths with people who don’t always have the best intentions for you. They may deceive you, anger you, or even hurt you and you don’t get a say in most cases. However, the way you respond, or not respond, to a situation is entirely up to you.
5. “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” – Dalai Lama
Sometimes you want someone or something, but realize down the road that it actually worked out better that you didn’t get it. I like to believe that even though you don’t always get what you want, you get what you need.
6. “–Knowing is better than wondering, waking is better than sleeping and even the biggest failure, even the worst beats the hell out of never trying.” – Meredith Grey
I love this quote and not just because my favorite person said it; I love it because it’s true, because the only way you can truly fail at something is if you never even try.
7. “I think you can’t wait for someone to fly underneath you and save your life. I think you have to save yourself.” – Meredith Grey
Too many people are out there waiting for someone to come and change their life, and that’s the biggest waste of time in my opinion. Make yourself happy, do what you want, be who you want.
8. “I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
It is never too late. If you’re unhappy, do something. You only get one shot at life, make it worth it.
9. “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estee Lauder.
There’s no way around it, having dreams is great, amazing even, but turning those dreams into goals, and meeting them, well that’s admirable and inspiring. Nothing worth having comes easy.
10. “Stay away from people who make you feel like you’re hard to love.”
Surround yourself with the people that build you up. Even if there are a million things that make you difficult, find the person who brings out the best in you and makes it easy.
11. “Today you are you that is truer than true there is no one alive youer than you” – Dr. Seuss
Yes, I just quoted Dr. Seuss. Hey, he has some pretty valid points, and the rhyming is just a bonus. Just be yourself, because no one can do it better!
12. “When you are saying “yes” to others, make sure you are not saying “no” to yourself.” – Paulo Coehlo
Whoever told you that putting yourself first makes you selfish is wrong. There is a big difference between being selfish and taking care of yourself. Don’t ever compromise your happiness for someone else when they wouldn’t do the same for you.
13. “When you get the choice, to sit it out, or dance, I hope you dance.” – Lee Ann Womack
This is a quote I love so much I have it on my wall at school. It reminds me every day to take chances, and live life to the fullest.
14. “Never forget where you came from, but strive for a place you have never been.” – Nishan Panwar.
Being successful is all anybody wants, but it’s important to remember the people who got you there, and who were there for you at your lowest.
