As winter break is coming to a close, I am beginning to reflect upon the last couple weeks and while I have come to the realization that I was essentially useless, I also realized that I have started to fall back in love with reading. And more specifically the way simple words can be formatted and placed to create beautiful sentences and paragraphs that can move people emotionally.

I have always had a love and passion for reading and while novels hold a special place in my heart, I am more attracted to shorter excerpts and pieces. There is just something about the way people have the ability to say exactly what they are feeling or thinking in a few short phrases. Authors and writers just seem to understand their audience and produce a composition that puts the words and feelings into our mouths and minds.

So for anyone who is interested in what I am seemingly ranting about, I compiled a few of my favorite pieces of literature, writing, and excerpts.

"She is late, like she always was. And like always, she's worth the wait."

"I studied her grace. Seriously, who needs money when art is your face." (this is one of my favorite haikus by Nicholas Browne)

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel."

"I didn't say I liked it... I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference." (I highly recommend reading anything by Oscar Wilde)

"The distance mattered to you because she did not."

"The calm, cool face of the river asked me for a kiss." (as morbid as this sounds, I have been utterly obsessed with this suicide note for years... there is something so beautiful about it)

"Nobody really cares if you don't go the party."

"She'd laughed, and if he could have bottled the sound and gotten drunk on it every night, he would have."

"Find someone who admires you for something less obvious."

"There are only three things to be done with a woman. You can love her, suffer for her, or turn her into literature."

"I don't pay attention to the world ending. It has ended for me many times and began again in the morning."

"If it gets awkward, let it be awkward. That awkwardness is something they created. You don't owe anyone a performance of being okay when you are not feeling okay so that they can feel better about themselves."

"Feeling beautiful has nothing to do with what you look like. I promise."

But if you are really looking for some beautiful bits of writing, I suggest any of Tyler Knott Gregson's or R.M. Drake's works. Or of course, Milk and Honey or The Bell Jar. You can thank me later.