Quotes added on Saturday, April 2 2016
OH, IT'S INEVITABLE AIN'T IT? YOU LEFT WITHOUT SAYING. I HOPE THE CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT LEAD BACK TO YOU, BABY.
Format ©
dontsellyourself
YOU WERE OUT OF
MY LEAGUE. YOU GOT MY HEARTBEAT RACING. IF I DIE DON'T
WAKE ME, YEAH YOU WERE MORE THAN JUST A
DREAM.
Format ©
dontsellyourself
Always remember that you are absolutely
unique. Just like everyone
else.
IN SILENT SCREAMS
AND WILDEST DREAMS I NEVER DREAMED OF
THIS.
Format ©
dontsellyourself
Nine Important Things
to Remember When Your
Life Feels Like
a Complete S.hitshow
to Remember When Your
Life Feels Like
a Complete S.hitshow
1. Everything is
temporary.
I know this is so cliche, right? Like, what total bullsh*t LOL. Because when painful stuff goes down, it doesn’t feel temporary. It feels like forever. Emotions are often intense, and when you’re looking in all directions, but still see them EVERYWHERE, it’s hard to imagine them ever fading. We don’t see an ending, but I promise there is one.
There are places in northern Alaska where, during the winter, it can be night for up to 67 straight days. But after the longest, darkest night imaginable, the sun does eventually rise. A new day does come. And it will for you too.
2. Growth happens in pain.
Life isn’t a movie as much as it is a painting. We can’t think of things sequentially, this-leading-to-that. Rather, we are living all the parts that will ultimately come together to create a beautiful work — even when it isn’t clear how they will EVER do so.
3. Failing doesn't make you a failure.
Nothing great has every happened without mistakes. Virtually everything great that has ever happened in the world has been preceded by a mine-field of f*ckups and missteps. If you have recently experienced what seems like a domino chain of failings, know that that doesn’t make you a failure.
It means you are slowly weeding out things that don’t work, and won’t work for you. You are one step closer to that dream relationship, dream job, dream life. You just have to summon the courage to keep going.
4. Everyone has bad nights.
We’ve all been there. Those nights that end with us leaning over a toilet hacking up shots of cranberry vodka and regret. Those lonely nights where we text our ex, have a bad hookup, or do something we wish we could take back. Those nights were we feel anger, sadness, fear, helplessness, despair.
These are human emotions, human moments, human experiences. Why do we want so badly to not be human?
Of course, the answer is obvious — these emotions suck. They suck big time. But they are apart of us. Shake it off and keep going. Your life is not defined by your worst moment. You are so so much more than that.
5. People who leave you are people you shouldn't miss.
Too often we surround ourselves with people who have conditional relationships with us. We let ourselves get put into boxes and get used by people who don’t offer us anything permanent. Who don’t offer us anything unconditionally.
And that’s not to say that having acquaintances or superficial friendships is a bad thing. Sometimes they’re great! But you absolutely must stop blaming yourself for people who walk out of your life. If they leave, they weren’t meant to stay, and that’s okay.
6. Drama is inevitable, what you do about it isn't.
People are always gonna talk about people. Sh*t is gonna go down, but it doesn’t have to take you down with it.
Sometimes in the messiest, stupidest drama we discover who our true friends are.
7. Money is important, but not the most important.
So maybe you’re broke, god knows I am. And it’s easy to say, “Oh, money doesn’t matter! Oh live your life, money will come!” but we all know that to one degree or another, we rely on money. But what’s important is that you have enough of it it to sustain your needs, not how much you have relative to other people, which tends to be EXACTLY the thing society focuses on.
If you have enough money to pay your rent, fill your stomach, and buy a box of wine, you’re doing fine.
8. Everybody is jealous of someone.
Don’t beat yourself up for being envious of a classmate or friend. Nobody is immune from a little jealousy now and again. Just don’t let envy completely take over your life. Take a step back every now and again and think about the things you do have, rather than the things you haven’t.
9. Nobody knows what the f*ck they're doing.
Even the most well put together person is worried about something. Even the one co-worker who has a 401k, nice car, and adorable dog is struggling. We are all in this together. Life isn’t easy, but don’t spend it being hard on yourself. We all have a limited amount of time, and nobody is getting out of it alive.
I know this is so cliche, right? Like, what total bullsh*t LOL. Because when painful stuff goes down, it doesn’t feel temporary. It feels like forever. Emotions are often intense, and when you’re looking in all directions, but still see them EVERYWHERE, it’s hard to imagine them ever fading. We don’t see an ending, but I promise there is one.
There are places in northern Alaska where, during the winter, it can be night for up to 67 straight days. But after the longest, darkest night imaginable, the sun does eventually rise. A new day does come. And it will for you too.
2. Growth happens in pain.
Life isn’t a movie as much as it is a painting. We can’t think of things sequentially, this-leading-to-that. Rather, we are living all the parts that will ultimately come together to create a beautiful work — even when it isn’t clear how they will EVER do so.
3. Failing doesn't make you a failure.
Nothing great has every happened without mistakes. Virtually everything great that has ever happened in the world has been preceded by a mine-field of f*ckups and missteps. If you have recently experienced what seems like a domino chain of failings, know that that doesn’t make you a failure.
It means you are slowly weeding out things that don’t work, and won’t work for you. You are one step closer to that dream relationship, dream job, dream life. You just have to summon the courage to keep going.
4. Everyone has bad nights.
We’ve all been there. Those nights that end with us leaning over a toilet hacking up shots of cranberry vodka and regret. Those lonely nights where we text our ex, have a bad hookup, or do something we wish we could take back. Those nights were we feel anger, sadness, fear, helplessness, despair.
These are human emotions, human moments, human experiences. Why do we want so badly to not be human?
Of course, the answer is obvious — these emotions suck. They suck big time. But they are apart of us. Shake it off and keep going. Your life is not defined by your worst moment. You are so so much more than that.
5. People who leave you are people you shouldn't miss.
Too often we surround ourselves with people who have conditional relationships with us. We let ourselves get put into boxes and get used by people who don’t offer us anything permanent. Who don’t offer us anything unconditionally.
And that’s not to say that having acquaintances or superficial friendships is a bad thing. Sometimes they’re great! But you absolutely must stop blaming yourself for people who walk out of your life. If they leave, they weren’t meant to stay, and that’s okay.
6. Drama is inevitable, what you do about it isn't.
People are always gonna talk about people. Sh*t is gonna go down, but it doesn’t have to take you down with it.
Sometimes in the messiest, stupidest drama we discover who our true friends are.
7. Money is important, but not the most important.
So maybe you’re broke, god knows I am. And it’s easy to say, “Oh, money doesn’t matter! Oh live your life, money will come!” but we all know that to one degree or another, we rely on money. But what’s important is that you have enough of it it to sustain your needs, not how much you have relative to other people, which tends to be EXACTLY the thing society focuses on.
If you have enough money to pay your rent, fill your stomach, and buy a box of wine, you’re doing fine.
8. Everybody is jealous of someone.
Don’t beat yourself up for being envious of a classmate or friend. Nobody is immune from a little jealousy now and again. Just don’t let envy completely take over your life. Take a step back every now and again and think about the things you do have, rather than the things you haven’t.
9. Nobody knows what the f*ck they're doing.
Even the most well put together person is worried about something. Even the one co-worker who has a 401k, nice car, and adorable dog is struggling. We are all in this together. Life isn’t easy, but don’t spend it being hard on yourself. We all have a limited amount of time, and nobody is getting out of it alive.
A home is not a single, contained space of air and brick and
walls that hold, that shelter. A home is not a roof, not a
door, not a fence or even a window. It is not sisters and
mothers, not the picture frames hanging on the walls, not the
worn carpet or even the quilt that was passed down through four
generations. A home is not just family. A home is not the
things that exist within it. But most importantly, a home is
not a dwelling place; it is a feeling.
A home is fluttering heartbeats and steady rhythms, sweaty palms and secure hands, tears and smiles, and everything in-between. It is two people who find each other, two people whose beings, whose souls just connect.
Home is fitting comfortably, easily into the compartments of someone else’s heart. Home is falling in love and knowing that person is yours. And knowing no matter where you lay your head at night, no matter if the dishes are in the sink, or if the dog’s scratching at the back door, or if the paint is chipping by the porch, that person will always be yours.
Home, then is not a place, but a person. And you are my person.
You are the calm, but also the rush. The comfort of knowing I will always have someone to return to, of knowing that I am never alone. Yet also the excitement when I hear your name because I know I’m going back to you, again and again.
You are my laughter, but also my spark. You hold memories, happiness, slices of time I will never forget. And yet, you drive me crazy. You fire me up, make me angry, push me away. You give me new memories, memories outside of you. But I will always return.
You are my past, but also my future. You carry constant reminders of the girl I used to be, yet you inspire my strength. You build me, you unwind my kite strings and let me rise.
You are what I know, but what I still long for. You are my security, my savior. You are what I’ve always had, always cared for. Yet despite that, I still wish for you, day after day.
You are my place. You are my home. You are my person.
—Marisa Donnelly, You Are My Home
A home is fluttering heartbeats and steady rhythms, sweaty palms and secure hands, tears and smiles, and everything in-between. It is two people who find each other, two people whose beings, whose souls just connect.
Home is fitting comfortably, easily into the compartments of someone else’s heart. Home is falling in love and knowing that person is yours. And knowing no matter where you lay your head at night, no matter if the dishes are in the sink, or if the dog’s scratching at the back door, or if the paint is chipping by the porch, that person will always be yours.
Home, then is not a place, but a person. And you are my person.
You are the calm, but also the rush. The comfort of knowing I will always have someone to return to, of knowing that I am never alone. Yet also the excitement when I hear your name because I know I’m going back to you, again and again.
You are my laughter, but also my spark. You hold memories, happiness, slices of time I will never forget. And yet, you drive me crazy. You fire me up, make me angry, push me away. You give me new memories, memories outside of you. But I will always return.
You are my past, but also my future. You carry constant reminders of the girl I used to be, yet you inspire my strength. You build me, you unwind my kite strings and let me rise.
You are what I know, but what I still long for. You are my security, my savior. You are what I’ve always had, always cared for. Yet despite that, I still wish for you, day after day.
You are my place. You are my home. You are my person.
—Marisa Donnelly, You Are My Home
Take a Chance on Someone
Who Might Feel Invisible
Who Might Feel Invisible
Take a chance on someone you wouldn’t
normally speak to. Speak to the quiet girl who looks like a quiet
Tuesday afternoon. Spend the day by her side and see the world
through her eyes for a while. Lose yourself in the wildness of
her thoughts, wondering how someone so quiet can keep so much
inside. Walk her home and really understand that sometimes girls
who look like Tuesday afternoons hide Saturday nights in the
simple lift of their lips in a smile.
Take a chance on someone you wouldn’t normally spend time with. Do more than smile at that boy with kind eyes you see every day at the bus stop. Ask him where he would go if he could be any place but here right now. Ask him what he would change if there is one thing he could change in the world somehow. Listen to him, really listen to his ideas and find yourself surprised at what you can learn when you actually listen rather than hear.
Take a chance on someone you wouldn’t usually notice. Start a conversation with the girl you see busking in the train station. Ask her who she sings for when no one is listening. Watch her eyes light up when she speaks about that person. Understand what it means to love someone so much that you reserve the very best of yourself, your talent and who you are for that person.
Take a moment for someone who really needs it. Give some time to the homeless old man begging on the street, who you see other people ignore or treat as an annoyance. Don’t just give him money, give him your time and ask him for his story. Understand how he too was once loved, and had a family that cared for him. Allow the tears when you hear him say that he feels like he has been forgotten. Be the first person to really understand him in the longest time when he says he has made mistakes and he truly regrets them.
Take a moment for someone who looks like they are breaking. Ask them if they are fine, and if they say they are, but look like they are not, ask again. Tell them to trust you and tell them you are there for them and mean it, just let them unburden their sorrows for a second, because talking to someone when they are in pain costs nothing. Understand how much pain and how many scarring secrets a human being can pack away inside them just to make sure they cause no one else’s suffering.
Take a moment for someone who you know truly loves you and you have been taking for granted. Call your grandmother just because you know she misses you, and visit your mother and surprise her with flowers or a hug or an ‘I love you’ because you know you should let her know that more often. Go to your grandfather and ask him all about his war stories, it doesn’t matter if you have heard them before, just listen. Spend time with your dad doing something he loves, like playing golf or fixing the car – just because you want him to know that you love him. Find out wonderful things about the people you have known all your life, and look at them in a whole new way once you have learned them.
Take a chance on someone else and find a newer version of yourself in that moment. A you that is cleansing your soul with kindness and understanding. A you that has changed because your eyes have opened to the fact that the world that you didn’t know, and the world that you do know together make your life such a rich and beautiful tapestry of wonder.
Take a chance on someone you wouldn’t normally spend time with. Do more than smile at that boy with kind eyes you see every day at the bus stop. Ask him where he would go if he could be any place but here right now. Ask him what he would change if there is one thing he could change in the world somehow. Listen to him, really listen to his ideas and find yourself surprised at what you can learn when you actually listen rather than hear.
Take a chance on someone you wouldn’t usually notice. Start a conversation with the girl you see busking in the train station. Ask her who she sings for when no one is listening. Watch her eyes light up when she speaks about that person. Understand what it means to love someone so much that you reserve the very best of yourself, your talent and who you are for that person.
Take a moment for someone who really needs it. Give some time to the homeless old man begging on the street, who you see other people ignore or treat as an annoyance. Don’t just give him money, give him your time and ask him for his story. Understand how he too was once loved, and had a family that cared for him. Allow the tears when you hear him say that he feels like he has been forgotten. Be the first person to really understand him in the longest time when he says he has made mistakes and he truly regrets them.
Take a moment for someone who looks like they are breaking. Ask them if they are fine, and if they say they are, but look like they are not, ask again. Tell them to trust you and tell them you are there for them and mean it, just let them unburden their sorrows for a second, because talking to someone when they are in pain costs nothing. Understand how much pain and how many scarring secrets a human being can pack away inside them just to make sure they cause no one else’s suffering.
Take a moment for someone who you know truly loves you and you have been taking for granted. Call your grandmother just because you know she misses you, and visit your mother and surprise her with flowers or a hug or an ‘I love you’ because you know you should let her know that more often. Go to your grandfather and ask him all about his war stories, it doesn’t matter if you have heard them before, just listen. Spend time with your dad doing something he loves, like playing golf or fixing the car – just because you want him to know that you love him. Find out wonderful things about the people you have known all your life, and look at them in a whole new way once you have learned them.
Take a chance on someone else and find a newer version of yourself in that moment. A you that is cleansing your soul with kindness and understanding. A you that has changed because your eyes have opened to the fact that the world that you didn’t know, and the world that you do know together make your life such a rich and beautiful tapestry of wonder.
I want you to remember me when the world gets cold, when you
can’t catch your breath from the weight of the burdens
and chores that you are carrying on your shoulders. I want you
to remember my warmth and how it took some of the weight
away.
I want you to remember me when you are feeling down and anxious, when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want you to remember my naïve optimism and the paragraphs I used to send you about how wonderful life could be and how wonderful you are. I want you to remember how unrealistic I was but it somehow made you feel better.
I want you to remember me when you are doubting yourself, when you are unsure if you can achieve something. I want you to remember how I believed in you and the potential I saw in you. I want you to remember that I said you were destined for greatness. I want you to remember that I always thought you were strong and determined.
I want you to remember me when you are dancing, I want you to remember how much I loved to dance and how I would force you to keep up with me. I want you to remember how you acted like you hated it but you secretly loved it. I want you to remember that our short time together was exactly like a dance; liberating, intimate, fun and hypnotic.
I want you to remember me when you are walking alone in the city, when it’s quiet at night. I want you to remember the conversations we had in every corner and the laughter that echoed between the walls. I want you to remember how easy it was to open up to each other and how it felt like we are the only two people in the world who could truly understand each other. I want you to remember the way we looked at each other and how the moon was looking at us – witnessing the birth of a new love story.
I want you to remember me when you are taking pictures, and how I forced you to take too many of them. I want you to remember the goofy faces and the silly poses and the awkward smiles, and I want you to remember the sweet ones, the ones that captured the beautiful memories, the ones that captured the unforgettable experiences we had together. I want you to remember the smile on my face when I was next to you and the moment we both knew this was something special.
I want you to remember me when you read a poem, I want you to remember my words; how they touched you, how they made you feel, how they described you when you couldn’t even describe yourself and how they built you up when you were tearing yourself down. I want you to remember how my words brought you closer and how they made you fall in love with me. I want you to remember how my sentences completed yours and how my words filled up your silence and slowly pulled you away from your solitude.
I want you to remember me and smile. I want you to remember me and feel like it wasn’t one of those sad endings. I want you to remember that even the ending was sweet. That the ending was inevitable but it was worth it. I want you to remember that for the first time you don’t have to force yourself to forget someone, you don’t have to forget about your feelings or your memories. That my name doesn’t hurt when you hear it, that my pictures don’t make you cringe when you see them. I want you to remember me as the first person that proved to you that lost love is not completely lost, that we sometimes meet wonderful people who are not meant to stay forever and that some people will always hold a special place in our hearts because we want to keep them there.
This is how I want you to remember me, because this is exactly how I remember you.
—Rania Naim, This Is How I Want You to Remember Me
I want you to remember me when you are feeling down and anxious, when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want you to remember my naïve optimism and the paragraphs I used to send you about how wonderful life could be and how wonderful you are. I want you to remember how unrealistic I was but it somehow made you feel better.
I want you to remember me when you are doubting yourself, when you are unsure if you can achieve something. I want you to remember how I believed in you and the potential I saw in you. I want you to remember that I said you were destined for greatness. I want you to remember that I always thought you were strong and determined.
I want you to remember me when you are dancing, I want you to remember how much I loved to dance and how I would force you to keep up with me. I want you to remember how you acted like you hated it but you secretly loved it. I want you to remember that our short time together was exactly like a dance; liberating, intimate, fun and hypnotic.
I want you to remember me when you are walking alone in the city, when it’s quiet at night. I want you to remember the conversations we had in every corner and the laughter that echoed between the walls. I want you to remember how easy it was to open up to each other and how it felt like we are the only two people in the world who could truly understand each other. I want you to remember the way we looked at each other and how the moon was looking at us – witnessing the birth of a new love story.
I want you to remember me when you are taking pictures, and how I forced you to take too many of them. I want you to remember the goofy faces and the silly poses and the awkward smiles, and I want you to remember the sweet ones, the ones that captured the beautiful memories, the ones that captured the unforgettable experiences we had together. I want you to remember the smile on my face when I was next to you and the moment we both knew this was something special.
I want you to remember me when you read a poem, I want you to remember my words; how they touched you, how they made you feel, how they described you when you couldn’t even describe yourself and how they built you up when you were tearing yourself down. I want you to remember how my words brought you closer and how they made you fall in love with me. I want you to remember how my sentences completed yours and how my words filled up your silence and slowly pulled you away from your solitude.
I want you to remember me and smile. I want you to remember me and feel like it wasn’t one of those sad endings. I want you to remember that even the ending was sweet. That the ending was inevitable but it was worth it. I want you to remember that for the first time you don’t have to force yourself to forget someone, you don’t have to forget about your feelings or your memories. That my name doesn’t hurt when you hear it, that my pictures don’t make you cringe when you see them. I want you to remember me as the first person that proved to you that lost love is not completely lost, that we sometimes meet wonderful people who are not meant to stay forever and that some people will always hold a special place in our hearts because we want to keep them there.
This is how I want you to remember me, because this is exactly how I remember you.
—Rania Naim, This Is How I Want You to Remember Me
oh god, we were so in love. we use to think about each other day
and night. i talked about you like you had painted the night sky
and you talked about me like i was the most beautiful thing in the
universe. we would constantly be rushing through everything just to
see or talk to each other. and if we couldnt, then its like we were
suffocating without one another. but little did i know when i
struggled to breathe, you were getting your oxygen from her, while
i was left breathless
