I’ve always loved books. I have loved reading since before I even knew how to. I would look at books and make up my own stories. Since I have read many books, I have come across some great quotes. I love quotes and I love song lyrics, so I tend to give advice using them. My two all-time favorite books are If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. These books have taught me to rethink my opinions and take time to smell the roses. Life happens fast, and you have to stop and cherish the moments you have. You can’t rush through, or you’ll miss it all.

My first favorite quote is from If I Stay.

“Sometimes in life you make choices, and sometimes choices make you.”

I, for one, am very indecisive. Making choices for me can be a very difficult task, so this line made me think. Everyone makes choices about everything. Somewhere down the line (or even immediately) those choices can affect you in ways you didn’t expect. These choices can change who you are later in life by showing you different people or perspectives.

My next favorite quote is from The Five People You Meet in Heaven, it was actually my senior quote in my yearbook.

“All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.”

I read this book as summer reading going into my sophomore year, I believe. I have reread it many times, but the time that sticks out the most to me is when my grandfather was in the hospital for a while my junior year of high school. His condition went back and forth and we never knew when his last day would be. It was a very challenging time for my family. I remember one day in particular my aunt and I were walking through the hospital, just talking, and I began to tell her about this book and how it really emphasized my belief that everything happens for a reason. It taught me that everything we do, every person we meet, every choice we make affects us and the people around us. I also came to realize that the end of some things, leads to the beginnings of others. So, I decided to be super stereotypical and pick my senior quote about change and beginnings and blah blah blah, BUT this quote has always been close to my heart.

My last favorite quote is also from Mitch Albom’s book.

“There are no random acts...We are all connected...You can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind...”

Everything happens for a reason. We’re all connected, and this quote just reiterates my belief that nothing random happens.

I hope everyone has their own favorite books and quotes and found something of their own to live by. I know I appreciate having these books to go back to when I am going through difficult times.